What we believe
What we believe
Jesus at the centre. The Bible as our source. Grace as the whole point. Here is the short version, in plain language, with a link to read the full story for yourself.
Start with Jesus
Edmonton Central is part of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, a Christian movement of more than 22 million people on every continent. We share the historic Christian faith, and together the global Adventist family has written down what we hold in common as 28 Fundamental Beliefs.
You do not have to understand or agree with all of it to be welcome here. Faith is a journey, and everyone is somewhere on the road. What follows is those beliefs grouped into six simple areas, written for a first-time visitor rather than a theology class. When you are ready to go deeper, the full text is one click away.
The short version
Six areas, one story of grace.
The 28 beliefs fall into six natural groups. Here is what each one is about.
God
There is one God, and he has made himself known to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is powerful and personal, and he speaks to us through the Bible, the trustworthy written Word of God.
Beliefs 1–5: the Holy Scriptures, the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Humanity
God created the world and made people in his own image, with purpose and dignity. Something has since gone wrong, and a real conflict between good and evil runs through the world. God has not walked away from that story; he is at work to put it right.
Beliefs 6–8: Creation, the nature of humanity, and the conflict between good and evil.
Salvation
Jesus lived among us, died in our place, and rose again. Because of him, being made right with God is a free gift we receive by trusting him, never something we earn. And he keeps growing us, one day at a time.
Beliefs 9–11: the life, death and resurrection of Christ, the experience of salvation, and growing in Christ.
The Church
The church is a family, not a building. Around the world we are united in Jesus, welcomed through baptism, and fed at his table. Every member is given gifts to serve, and together we carry a message of hope to our neighbours.
Beliefs 12–18: the church and its mission, unity, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and the gift of prophecy.
Christian life
Faith is meant to be lived on an ordinary Monday. Love for God shapes how we treat people, use our time and money, and care for our bodies. The seventh-day Sabbath is the heart of this, a weekly gift of rest and worship from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Beliefs 19–23: the law of God, the Sabbath, stewardship, Christian living, and marriage and family.
Restoration and hope
This is not the end of the story. Jesus is our high priest in heaven right now, and he has promised to come again, personally and visibly. Death is a rest, not the end, and one day God will make all things new. That hope shapes everything.
Beliefs 24–28: Christ’s ministry in heaven, the Second Coming, death and resurrection, the millennium, and the new earth.
Read the full 28 Fundamental Beliefs on the official Adventist site →
If you are still exploring
Good questions are welcome here. You will never be pressured to believe, sign, or say anything before you are ready.
If you want to talk it through with a real person, the best next step is a no-pressure Bible study. It is simply a conversation, at your pace, in your home or over video, about Jesus, the Bible, and the questions you actually have. Pastor Guzman and our Bible-study team would be glad to start one with you.
Come and see for yourself.
Sabbath worship every Saturday at 11:30am. The best way to understand a church is to sit in it.