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Seventh-day Adventist theology teaches “Christ + something = the Gospel”
There are two formulas that are suggested for salvation. One is the basic Christian formula. The other is the one often promoted by the cults:
Faith in Christ = Salvation + Good Works
or
Faith in Christ + Good Works = Salvation
In Ephesians 2:8–10, Paul explains that salvation is a gift of God based on faith. But even the faith itself comes from God. Then, after salvation comes good works. Why are people saved by God’s unmerited grace? One reason, Paul says, is to do good works. Salvation caused mankind to become new creatures in Christ “unto good works.” Christians will do good works, not because they must do so to gain salvation, but because it has become their new nature to do good works. Because they have become new creatures in Christ, they will desire to do good works. Hence, the first formula is biblical.
However, it is the second formula that the cults will always use. They will place works before salvation. What works? Each group will have its own unique list that must be followed to the letter of the law, or else salvation is out of reach.
Following are summaries of the teachings of Ellen White, whose writings “continue as an authoritative source of truth”: She said that William Miller’s 1843 date-setting, second-coming, message was a “saving message” and pastors who resisted this message had “the blood of souls” upon them. Faith in Christ was not enough. They had to add to their faith the “good work” of date setting. Churches that rejected the revised 1844 sanctuary “truth” fell from God’s favor and became “Babylon” even though they continued to have faith in Christ! She said that the people in these churches were deceived by Satan, and their prayers were useless. Ellen White said that Christians should never say “I am saved.” She said that only those who keep the Sabbath will be saved in the last days. She wrote:
"I saw that the Sabbath is, and will be, the separating wall between the true Israel of God [Adventists] and unbelievers." Early Writings, p. 33
Paul, however, said, "For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity." Eph. 2:14-16
Ellen White taught that there will be no change in character at the second coming. She said we are not saved by faith alone and we must live a life of “perfect obedience” before God’s promises will be fulfilled to us (emphasis added). While some SDAs reject this theology, it is none-the-less historic Adventist teaching endorsed by their “messenger of God,” Ellen White.
Most historic Adventists have little assurance of salvation. Many (if not most) cannot tell you when they were born again, if, indeed they were.