Religion 3 - 1st Semester Study Guide

Restate the Preamble to the SDA Fundamental Beliefs, and why is it so important?

• The beliefs we all share

• These beliefs up for debate and change

An early group in the SDA church was very against the establishment of a Doctrinal Creed because:

* They believed that if you set a rule of faith in “stone”, that you would no longer allow for freedom of conscience, and would eventually come to persecute those who did not follow the stated creed

Share a Bible verse (Book & Chapter) from the PP that illustrates heaven is a real place:

• Revelations 20:11-13

• “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.”

According to 1 Corinthians 2, what is the primary condition that will allow entrance into heaven?

• Accepting the things that come from the Spirit of God

• Accepting the mind of Christ

T/F: According to the description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation, the size of the city is a cube that is about as large as Wyoming.

* False

T/F: The final statements of Revelation seem to indicate the one of the biggest changes that takes place is the transformation of our emotional well-being (i.e. no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow).

* True (?)

What are the 2 main lies of Satan, that were used to decieve Eve in Genesis 3.

1. You shall not die

2. You will be like God

What are the “Effects of Sin”

• Fear of God, of punishment, and of death

• Blame, Guilt

• Separation, Broken relationships

T/F: The 3 curses given to Adam, Eve, and the Serpent all represent a loss of trust and require each of them to sustain themselves through their own labors and pain

* True

T/F: The loss of trust between Man and God was the first and most damaging immediate effect of sin in the world.

* True

What was the main cause of the slow decline in mental and physical abilities, that mankind has experienced since the fall of Adam & Eve?

• Lost access to “Tree of Life” - God’s sustaining power for immortality

• Lack of connection with God

How is the Nature of Man different than what it was when Adam & Eve were first created?

• We now have to live in suffering

• Humans chose to live in self-reliance rather than reliance on God

• (?)

In Isaiah 28, the destruction of the wicked at the end of time is described as:

* A strange work, alien to His natural state and inclination

What are 3 other places/stories that the Bible talks about Divine destruction, which we can compare the destruction of the wicked in Revelation with?

• Flood

• Sodom & Gomorrah

• Jonah * Ninevah

• Amorites/Canaanites

What are some of the explanations that people have given to explain God’s destruction of the wicked?

• Probationary Time & Ultimate Depravity - God investigating humanity and seeing if they have reached their lowest state of moral compass

• God’s destruction only necessary to protect others

• God destroys when people have consistently refused to follow commands

• Human accountability (Humans destroy their free will, not God)

• God doesn’t ultimately destroy

T/F: The Second Coming occurs before the destruction of the wicked, in the Revelation timeline of events.

* True

T/F: The meaning of “Ultimate depravity” is that there is a certain point where people will no longer choose, of their free will, to do the right thing no matter the outcome.

* False

How do the ideas of “Ultimate Depravity” and “Probationary Time” help us to understand stories like the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Final destruction of the wicked?

• God wants us to live happily

• Will wipe the world clean if He needs to

In various parts of human history, attempts to legislate morality have:

According to Romans 7:7 - “I would not have…”

“… known sin except through the law.”

Why did Jesus summarize God’s law as simply a call to…?

• … love.

• Displays this as the golden rule; greatest commandment in the law

T/F: Grace does away with the O.T. law, because it clarifies that we are no longer under the Law, but under Christ’s free grace.

* False

T/F: Adventists have always taught that God’s law is still binding, and a necessary element in determining a believer’s salvation.

What are some of the differences between early versions of the Adventist poster, “The Way of Life” from the 1800s, and why were there such major changes made?

• At first, Adventists believed that obeying the 10 Commandments was the only way to salvation. Then as time went on, they realized that a sense of faith overcomes works.

• Jesus is at the center

Describe what the New Jerusalem looks like

• Streets of gold

• Pearly gates

• Symbolizes how great it is going to be in comparison to Earth

Which of the following is NOT the result of the fall?

* A loss in the ability to love

T/F: Last Generation Theology says that there will be a remnant who obeys God’s law perfectly and can’t return until they are followed perfectly.

* True

T/F: Ultimate Depravity is when God gives us leeway so that we can have as much time to change as possible.

* False

What do modern adventists believe about the gift of prophecy?

• We receive the gift of prophecy from the Holy Spirit so that we can share God’s message with others.

• It should be considered as an honor to recieve them.

Name 3 Adventist beliefs and describe them.

• The State of the Dead - we enter a “dreamlike” state when we die

• Trinity - belief in one God and unity of three coeternal Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

• Sabbath - protects man’s relationship with God

• Sanctuary - unique plan for God’s salvation, answer to Great Disappointment

How would you explain the idea of the end of sin and the millennium to a non-believer?

What do Universalists believe in and how is this similar to Adventist beliefs?

• Believe that there is no literal hell

• Similar to Adventists as Adventists don’t believe in a literal hell

T/F: Adventists believe in a literal hell

* False

What is an example of a place in the Bible that God destroys?

• Flood

• 10 Plagues

• Sodom & Gomorrah

• Nineveh

T/F: There are 28 Fundamental Beliefs in Adventism

* True

What are the primary arguments for God’s destruction?

• The presence of Ultimate Depravity & Probationary Time

• Flood, Sodom & Gomorrah, Nineveh

What is the Adventist belief on the state of the dead?

• When you die, put in a “dreamlike” state

• No consciousness

• No nothing until God’s return

Why do we have fundamental beliefs?

• Gives us something to all agree on

• Prevents people from saying we believe in things that we don’t

• Answer questions of what we believe & corrects false statements

What are the three curses?

1. Pain in childbearing (not only physical, but emotional)

2. Pain in food gathering (not only physical, but in self-reliance)

3. Cursed to slither (serpents)

Why is the idea of God only coming back after a perfect remnant is formed a problem?

• Puts God on trial to see if His law is fair

• Puts the blame on us

T/F: The Sabbath commandment is alluded to in the Three Angels’ Message.

* True

T/F: The fundamental belief of stewardship encourages us to share ourselves with others.

* True

T/F: There have always been 28 beliefs.

* False

What is justification, glorification, and sanctification when speaking of The New Earth?

• Being forgiven

• Receiving a new body

• Becoming more like Jesus

T/F: The effects of sin was only physical pain.

* False

T/F: Ultimate Depravity is the point that someone is too far in sin to ever repent.

* True

Give a brief description of probationary time.

* Probationary time is the period of leeway God gives to preserve the humans and give them a chance to repent

T/F: Adventist believe we go straight to hell/heaven immediately after death.

* False

What are some examples of probationary time & Ultimate Depravity?

• Story of Saul

• Story of Hezekiah

• Story of Nebuchadnezzar

• People of Israel

What 3 Effects of Sin?

• Fear God & punishment of death

• Blame & Guilt

• Separation and broken relationships

T/F: The Bible suggests that the 2nd Coming will be the secret rapture.

* False

What are some ways you can connect with God and grow in Him?

• Talk with him

• Pray with Him

• Read His word

• Live a life you feel like He will want you to live

What are the counterarguments to the Adventist belief of Death & Resurrection?

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T/F: God’s sacrifice on the cross is atonement for our sins.

* True

T/F: After brainstorming solutions during conflict resolution, end the conversation quickly without affirmation to avoid restarting the conflict.

* False

T/F: The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every member in the church to better the church & humanity.

* True

T/F: Stewardship only exists so that the church can make money.

* False

T/F: Last Generation Theology is the idea that there is a final perfect remnant generation that proves God’s law is fair by perfectly following it; and ultimately bringing down Satan’s accusations.

* True

Which of the following is a result of sin entering humanity.

• Fear of God

• Separation & Broken relationships

The three main immediate effects of sin were:

• Fear of God & death

• Separation b/w God & man

• Blame & Guilt

What is NOT one of the reasons God allowed Lucifer to live, and why He casted Him down to Earth?

* God needed him to test Adam & Eve’s loyalty

What are some implications of the fall of mankind?

• Loss

• Guilt

• Tragedy

What is the most evil city that was describe in the Bible?

* Babylon (Maybe Sodom & Gomorrah)

What is one of the listening skills?

• Clarify

• Reflective listening

• Empathy

• All of the above

What religion decided to make Sabbath on Sunday?

* Catholics

Examples of God’s “strange” destruction in the Bible include:

• The Flood

• The 10 Plagues

• Sodom & Gomorrah

Some of the additional results of sin include:

• Loss of trust

• Sinful nature

• Degradation of physical & mental abilities

Briefly describe/summarize what Last Generation Theology teaches.

• There will be a “last generation” of true believers

• Achieved moral perfection before Second Coming of Jesus

What was the difference between Cain & Abel’s sacrifices? Why was God willing to accept Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s?

• Cain’s was based of his own abilities and works

• Abel’s was based on trusting that God save to Him

What do people misinterpret “eternal death” in the Bible as, and what does it actually mean?

* People often misinterpret “eternal death” as an eternal suffering when in reality, it is an eternal punishment of not existing

What does the Bible mean when it tells us to “fear” God?

* It means to respect Him

Briefly explain the core ideas behind reflective listening?

* The core ideas are listening and responding to your partner’s statements

Briefly explain the symbolism of the most holy place and the contents of the Arc.

• God giving us sustainment & life

• Contents - Law, Rod, Manna

Brifely describe seances and their purpose.

• Means of communing with the dead

• Means for people to ask questions to the dead

T/F: Hermeneutics is a way Jesus taught His students.

* False

T/F: The sanctuary doctrine exists because we needed an answer to the Great Disappointment.

* True

T/F: The Fox sisters created modern Adventism.

* False

T/F: Spiritualism teaches that the soul is immortal, Egyptians believed that, along with Catholic philosophy.

* False

T/F: The Communion service is fundamentally based on cannibalism.

* False

T/F: The worst thing to do when talking to someone is not paying attention.

* True

T/F: The definition of sin is “anything done in direct opposition to the Law”

* True

T/F: Hell is a real place that people go to when they have not accepted God

* False

T/F: Sin is not just disobeying God & the Law, but even having the intent or desire to do so.

* True

T/F: The 10 Commandments were created in order to teach the former Hebrew slaves how God should be worshipped/followed.

* True

God punishes humans when they achieve (?) and (?).

* Ultimate depravity & probationary time

Which fundamental belief is unique to Adventists?

* Sanctuary

What is the name of the Day of Atonement in Hebrew?

* Yom Kippur

What is the foundation of God’s love?

* Love

What was the first thing that Satan did when talking to Eve?

* Satan told her God was lying

What was the result of the first sin?

* Fear

Who are the end time saints?

* Those who best keep the commandments and recognize they are saved by grace.

What Roman council decided the status of the Trinity?

* Nicea

What does the “everlasting punishment” mean in Matt. 25:46?

* Punishment which the results last forever

T/F: Jesus came to Earth on Oct. 22 1844.

* False

T/F: According to the Bible, there is a rapture.

* False

T/F: It is impossible to know when Jesus will come again.

* False

T/F: Only 144,000 people will be in heaven.

* False

T/F: The SDA church believed in the trinity since its founding.

* False

T/F: The wicked in the end times will be burned up and killed in hell.

* True

T/F: Jesus is not truly divine because he was begotten.

* False