OUR BELIEFSTHE 28 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST

FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF 8THE GREAT CONTROVERSY

LAST WEEK: Nature of Man

Once molded in God’s image, now fractured by sin, it took a perfect Savior to reconcile us. The Spirit restores God’s reflection within us so God can work through us.

Man and woman were made in the image of God with individuality, the power and freedom to think and to do. Though created free beings, each is an indivisible unity of body, mind and spirit, dependent upon God for life and breath and all else. When our first parents disobeyed God, they denied their dependence upon Him and fell from their high position under God. The image of God in them was marred and they became subject to death. Their descendants share this fallen nature and its consequences. They are born with weaknesses and tendencies to evil. But God in Christ reconciled the world to Himself and by His Spirit restores in penitent mortals the image of their Maker. Created for the glory of God, they are called to love Him and one another, and to care for their environment. (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:7; Ps. 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28; Gen. 3; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Ps. 51:10; 1 John 4:7, 8, 11, 20; Gen. 2:15.) [http://www.adventist.org/en/beliefs/humanity/nature-of-man/]

A quarterly study of The Nature of Man can be found at: http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/99b/

Our study broke #7 into three main themes and you can find additional reading via the links provided.1. The Original Man [http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/99b/less01.html & 2,3,4]2. The Fallen Man [http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/99b/less06.html]3. The Restored Man [http://ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/99b/less07.html]

THIS WEEK: Great Controversy

All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the universe.

This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom of choice, in self-exaltation became Satan, God’s adversary, and led into rebellion a portion of the angels. He introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This human sin resulted in the distortion of the image of God in humanity, the disordering of the created world, and its eventual devastation at the time of the worldwide flood.

Observed by the whole creation, this world became the arena of the universal conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation. (Rev. 12:4-9; Isa. 14:12-14; Eze. 28:12-18; Gen. 3; Rom. 1:19-32; 5:12-21; 8:19-22; Gen. 6-8; 2 Peter 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 1:14.) [http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/]

What are angels, demons, and spirit beings?Who is Satan the Devil?What is so controversial about Heaven and Earth?

The Great Controversy

Seventh-day Adventists Believe…The Doctrine of Salvation

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While in a funeral service in Ohio, Ellen White received a vision in 1858. She had a vision about Christ and his angels. It was about a cosmic battle between Christ and Satan. She almost was killed according to her by Satan two days later. She published her vision in a book called Spiritual Gifts, volume 1, The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels and Satan and His Angels in 1858. The book was a hit and enjoyed by the Seventh Day Adventists as a view of the Earth’s History and purpose.

Great Controversy Vision

The root cause of all the evil we see on earth today is Lucifer’s (Satan) rebellion against God, which has led to a universe-wide conflict.

The conflict began in heaven. Revelation 12:4-9

Satan was created perfect. Ezekiel 28:12-18Satan’s pride led him to want to be equal to

God. Isaiah 14:12-14

When he was cast out of heaven, Satan came to earth and tempted Adam and Eve to join his rebellion. Their fall changed earth from a paradise to a battlefield. All the inhabitants of the universe have witnessed the results of Satan’s work here.

When Adam and Eve followed Satan in rebellion, all of mankind became tainted by sin. Genesis 3

Sin has distorted the image of God in mankind. Romans 1:19-32

Sin caused God’s beautiful creation to become so vile that he had to destroy it in a flood.

All of creation watches events here, waiting for redemption of God’s children. Romans 8:19-22

Gods sends his Son, his spirit, and his angels to help us in our struggles against evil. Romans 5:15-21

In the end, all the universe will see that God’s way is right and Satan’s way wrong, and God will be vindicated as the only just ruler for the universe.

Every knee will finally bow to Christ. Philippians 2:5-11

All will acknowledge Christ as worthy of worship. Revelation 5:11-14

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingledwith fire: and them that had gotten the victoryover the beast, and over his image, and overhis mark, and over the number of his name,stand on the sea of glass, having the harps ofGod. And they sang the song of Moses theservant of God, and the song of the Lamb.”—Revelation 15:2-3