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This article has been compiled to outline the major doctrinal differences between Seventh Day Baptists and Seventh Day Adventists.  On a very simple level it is often thought there is very little difference; a false and simplistic conclusion drawn from the similarity of our names.  Though we are both Christian Sabbath keeping denominations, we bare significant doctrinal differences.

Within the SDA church there are many true believers and much of their doctrine is biblically orthodox, however SDA’s hold to a few unique doctrines that are plainly unbiblical and others that are irreconcilable with the biblical gospel.  These include SDA teachings on water baptism as an essential prerequisite to salvation, its teaching about the end time significance of Sabbath observance to the identification of true believers, and its doctrine of the Investigative Judgement.  Also included is the doctrine of Soul Sleep, the “Spirit of Prophecy” and the belief that they are the “Remnant Church”

Note : The following reflects the beliefs taught and published by the SDA General Conference; it however may not be representative of the many Adventists splinter groups that exist or the individuals who acknowledge the doctrinal discrepancies, but remain a part of the denomination.

Seventh Day Adventists belief on Baptism

Baptism: ". . .Christ made it clear that He required baptism of those who wished to become part of his church, His spiritual kingdom." "In baptism believers enter into the passion experience of our Lord." ". . .[Baptism also marks [a] person's entrance into Christ's spiritual kingdom. . .it unites the new believer to Christ. . .Through baptism the Lord adds the new disciples to the body of believers - His body, the church. . .then they are members of God's family" (SDA's Believe. . ., pp. 182, 184, 187).

Seventh Day Baptists belief on Baptism

Baptism: Rom. 3:21-26, 28; 4:4-6, 23-24; 5:1; Gal. 2:16; 3:26; 5:1-6; Eph. 2:4-10; Col. 1:13-14; 2:13-14. These passages make it clear that salvation is entirely by God's grace alone, apart from any works, and laid hold of by faith alone.  The reader will note baptism mentioned in close proximity to some of these passages. This need not be confusing if it is kept in mind that there are various usages of the word baptism in the New Testament. The "one baptism" (Eph. 4:4-5) that really counts is the baptism of the Spirit.  If a passage makes baptism essential to salvation it can only refer to the baptism of the Spirit, or it would conflict with other Scriptures which plainly teach salvation apart from any human work.

Seventh Day Adventists belief on the Sabbath

In one of her most revered works, Ellen White wrote that Sabbath observance would be the "line of distinction" in the "final test" that will separate God's end-time people who "receive the seal of God" and are saved, from those who "receive the mark of the beast" (The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan, p. 605). 

Seventh Day Baptists belief on the Sabbath

The quoted statements, particularly Ellen White's, are crystal clear. Sabbath observance, not trust in Christ alone for complete forgiveness of sins and eternal life, is to be the dividing line between the saved and the lost in the end time. This is certainly antithetical to the gospel. See, Rom.14:5-6; Col.2:16-17.  We as Seventh Day Baptist hold to the truth and observance of the seventh day Sabbath, but do not attempt to mix its observance with the Grace of God.

Seventh Day Adventists doctrine of the Investigative Judgement

The Investigative Judgement: "In 1844. . .[Christ] entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgement which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin. . .It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgement vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom" (SDA's Believe. . ., p. 312; emphasis added).

Seventh Day Baptists reject the doctrine of the Investigative Judgement

After the "Great Disappointment," one "little flock" which still insisted the date of their original predictions had been correct decided the event marked by 1844, rather than being the Second Coming, was the entrance of Christ into the Holy of Holies in the Heavenly Sanctuary, where He began the "Investigative Judgement." This doctrine was received and endorsed by Ellen G. White (Ibid., p. 680).

Jesus did not wait until 1844 to enter the Holy of Holies in heaven (Heb. 1:3; 6:19-20; 8:1; 9:6-12, 24; 12:2). Neither is he still making atonement in heaven (Heb. 9:25-26; 10:11-14). The investigative judgement proposes to "vindicate the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus," by showing they were "loyal," "penitent," and "faithful" commandment keepers. This is an outrage. God's justice in saving sinners is vindicated by Christ's death on the cross (Rom. 3:24-26).

When Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished, " i.e. completed, paid in full, it cannot be that there is yet another salvation event more than 1800 years later, just as essential to salvation as Christ's death on the cross, in which one must believe in order to be saved. This is clearly "another gospel"(Gal. 1:6-9).

Seventh Day Adventists belief on the Spirit of Prophecy

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.

Seventh Day Baptists reject Adventist teaching on the Spirit of Prophecy

Ellen White never held official title as the head of the church, but was one of its founders and acknowledged spiritual leader. She rather disingenuously declined to claim the title of "prophet," calling herself a "messenger" instead (Damsteegt, P.G., et. al., Seventh-day Adventists Believe. . ., p. 224). But she claimed to have the "spirit of prophecy," and that her messages were direct from God for the guidance and instruction of the church. With her knowledge and consent others called her a prophet, and even "the Spirit of Prophecy" (Barnett, Maurice, Ellen G. White & Inspiration, pp. 5-17). Having only a third grade education, Ellen White said for years she was unable to read, bolstering the claim that her beautiful prose was inspired by God. However, it has been discovered that she not only read but plagiarized other Christian authors through virtually all her writings. The sad facts of this matter have been thoroughly and indisputably established in several books. (e.g., see; Rea, Walter, The White Lie; and, Judged by the Gospel, pp. 361-383). Ellen White dies in 1915 at age eighty-eight.

Seventh Day Adventists belief on the doctrine of Soul Sleep

The wages of sin is death. But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord. The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later.

Seventh Day Baptists reject the doctrine of Soul Sleep

The clear teaching of scripture is that eternal life is the present possession of the believer 1 John 5:11-13.  Though the body dies, the believer will never be separated from the Father; that is to experience spiritual death John 11:25-26. Thus the believer continues to experience conscious fellowship.  It would of course be ludicrous for Paul to believe that it would be better for him to depart and be with the Lord if being with the Lord did not mean continued conscious fellowship. Philippians 1:21-23  see also Luke 16:19–31, 23:42-46, Acts7:59, Revelation 6:9-11.

The main scriptures used in support of such a belief come from the words of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes - when taken out of context tend to suggest that the souls sleeps.  However if this were the case, the Apostle Paul would be contradicting himself and the clear teachings of Jesus would be false.  When the scriptures in Ecclesiastes are considered in their historical context, you will find that they are the writings of a man, though once led by God, is now steeped in apostasy after following the idolatrous ways of his pagan wives.  He is a man who can only speak with the wisdom of the world, having departed from the ways of God.  Thus the surmising of Solomon are purely carnal and do not contradict the teaching of scripture as they are not of God.