Questions and Answers Related to
the Godhead Issue In Professing Seventh-day Adventism
Click to go to our Home PageDear Reader, The following is Bryan Bissell’s response to my
document at this link: https://omega77.tripod.com/bosomcomingforth.htm The objective of this document is NOT to expose
anyone, but to answer questions and issues that affect all professing
Seventh-day Adventists. Ron B. My response to your post is interspersed under your
comments in this color
print. Because many other
professing Seventh-day Adventists might have the same sentiments concerning the
Godhead, I will include your comments on my Website and respond to them there
as well. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bryan Bissell Sent:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 2:16 AM Subject: [SDAIssues] speculative foundations that disregard EGWs instructions At 09:37 AM 10/15/2007, you wrote:
Ron responds: There are certain
conclusion in Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy that are FORCED by certain
statements of fact. For example: 1.
When
Ellen White says that the Holy Spirit is the life and soul of Christ[RB1] ,
and in other statements says that the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct
person, it is not speculation to interpret such statements so that nothing contradicts.
In fact, such a course is following the explicit instruction of Ellen White
in her weight of evidence formula. 2.
Ellen
White says[RB2] that only the powers of the Third Person, the
Holy Spirit, can hold the prince of the power of evil (sin) in check. 3.
God says[RB3] that only Jesus can turn us away from our
iniquities (sins). How do we resolve this “apparent contradiction?” Ellen
White also said that the Holy Spirit is the life and soul of Christ. This
forces the conclusion that the Holy Spirit was the first estate of the
existence of the Son of God before He was combined with humanity in His
Incarnation. This conclusion dispenses with any contradiction and answers to
Ellen White’s instructions concerning the weight of evidence formula[RB4] :
Ron responds: I will give balancing
statements to the above quote at the end of this document. I have not dared
to touch the personality and prerogatives of God, where He is and what He is,
beyond the domain of conclusions forced by Scripture and Ellen White, while
interpreting both so that nothing contradicts in either source. We are given
that privilege in forming a theory. We are told in the weight of evidence
formula, that if we interpret so that nothing contradicts, WE CANNOT BE IN
ERROR.
The power of the Son’s Holy Spirit has
upheld God’s faithful children in every succeeding age, but it is very
evident as part of the New Testament Covenant that God would place His
Covenant in the hearts of men and He does that by the grace act (unmerited
favor) of giving them His Divine Nature Holy Spirit if they will die to self
daily and partake of that Spirit. 2 Peter 1:4. The life that WAS His, can now
be ours, to wit: "He (Christ) suffered the death which was
ours, that we might receive the life which WAS His." Desire of Ages,
p. 25 1 Cor. 11:24-265, cf. John 6:53, 54, Titus 3:5, 6. It is thus apparent
to me that we could not receive the life that WAS His until Christ suffered
the death which was ours. You, my friend, imply that this was possible before
the Incarnation, in all ages, but I do not accept that. Though the Holy
Spirit aided God’s faithful of all ages, His life and soul Holy Spirit was
not proffered them until He suffered the death which was ours that we might
receive the life which WAS His. I would call
special attention to the words: “…the
life which WAS His.” This refers to a past tense life. This refers to
the pre-Incarnation DIVINE ONLY life and soul of Christ, which was not as yet
combined with humanity. This life was eternal and it was certainly an eternal
dignitary (person). Ron responds: I fully support the three
living persons of the heavenly trio, to wit: The Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. I believe that all three
are eternal.
What we cannot
speculate on because we are given no details on, is how the Son, after His Incarnation,
after laying off His Royal robes, after being divested of His Holy Spirit’s
attributes of omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience, WAS STILL FULLY GOD.
Man simply cannot yet discern how Jesus could empty Himself (divest Himself)
of the attributes of His former Holy Spirit Divine Nature, and still be FULLY
DIVINE. I can offer no explanation of that nor do I try. That is sacred
ground upon which no man can now enter. Ellen White said that we will explore
this issue for eternity. Ron responds: I make no challenge to
the third person of the Godhead. I believe and teach that there are three
eternal persons to the Godhead:
I commented after two of Study
of Incarnation Profitable "The bible is a treasure house of
knowledge, and all who make this book their study, sinking the shaft deep in
the mine of truth, will exclaim, 'I behold wondrous things out of Thy Word.'
The INCARNATION of Christ is but dimly appreciated by many students who have
studied long in our schools. This subject should be and will be better
understood by all who in truth love truth, and walk in the way of the Lord.
The experimental knowledge of this is as essential to sanctify daily, as to
redeem." E.G. White, The
Educational Messenger, 03-19-09, pr. 06. "When we want a deep problem to
study, let us fix our minds on the most marvelous thing that ever took place
in earth or heaven--the INCARNATION of the Son of God." E.G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 25. AS ESSENTIAL TO SANCTIFY DAILY AS TO
REDEEM: "The Bible is a treasure house of knowledge, and all who make
this book their study, sinking the shaft deep into the mine of truth, will exclaim,
'I behold wondrous things out of thy word.' The INCARNATION of Christ is but
dimly appreciated by many students who have studied long in our schools. This
subject should be and will be better understood by all who in truth love
Truth, and walk in the way of the Lord. The experimental knowledge of this is
as essential to sanctify daily as to redeem." E.G. White, The Advocate, 05-01-99, pr. 03. "How necessary that this mine of
truth be explored, and the precious treasures of truth be discovered and secured
as rich jewels. The Incarnation of Christ, his divinity, his atonement, his
wonderful life in heaven as our advocate, the office of the Holy Spirit,--all
these living, VITAL THEMES of Christianity are revealed from Genesis to
Revelation." E.G. White, Special
Testimonies on Education, p. 235. "As the worker studies the life of
Christ, and the character of His mission is dwelt upon, each fresh search
will reveal something more deeply interesting than has yet been unfolded. The
subject is inexhaustible. The study of the INCARNATION of Christ, His ATONING
SACRIFICE and MEDIATORIAL WORK, will employ the mind of the diligent student
as long as time shall last." E.G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 251. SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7a, p. 444.
"When we approach the subject of
Christ's divinity clothed with the garb of humanity, we may appropriately
heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, 'Put off thy
shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground.' We must come to the study
of this subject with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And
the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, and will repay
the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth (MS 67, 1898). E.G. White Comments,
SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p.
904. "As the life of Christ and the
character of His mission are dwelt upon, rays of light will shine forth more
distinctly at every attempt to discover truth. Each fresh search will reveal
something more deeply interesting than has yet been unfolded. The subject is
inexhaustible. The study of the INCARNATION OF CHRIST, His atoning sacrifice
and mediatorial work, will employ the mind of the diligent student as long as
time shall last; and looking to heaven with its unnumbered years he will
exclaim, 'Great is the mystery of godliness.'" E.G. White, Lift Him Up, p. 378. "No one can search the Scriptures
in the Spirit of Christ without being rewarded. When a man is willing to be
instructed as a little child, when he submits wholly to Christ, he will find
the truth in His Word. If men would be obedient, they would understand the
plan of God's government. The heavenly world would open its treasures of
grace and glory for exploration. Human beings would be altogether different
from what they are now; for by exploring the mines truth, men would be
ennobled. The mystery of redemption, the Incarnation of Christ, His atoning
sacrifice, would not be, as they are now, vague in our minds. They would be,
not only better understood, but altogether more highly appreciated."
E.G. White, My Life Today, p. 108. "Disobedience has closed the door
to a vast amount of knowledge that might have been gained from the Word of
God. In eternity we shall learn that which, if we had received the
enlightenment that it was possible for us to obtain here, would have opened
our understanding. And understanding means obedience to all God's
commandments. The plan of God's government would have been understood. The
heavenly world would have opened its chambers of grace and glory for
exploration. Human beings would have been altogether different from what they
now are in form, in speech, in song, for, by exploring the mines of truth,
they would have been ennobled. The mystery of redemption, the knowledge of
God and of Jesus Christ in His mediatorial character, the INCARNATION of
Christ our Redeemer, His atoning sacrifice, would not be as they now are,
vague in our mind. They would have been, not only better understood, but
altogether more highly appreciated." E.G. White, The Upward Look, p. 103. "The humanity of the Son of God is
everything to us...We should come to this study with the humility of a
learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is
a fruitful field, which will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden
truth." E.G. White, Selected
Messages, Bk. 1, 244. INCARNATION A CONDESCENSION NOTHING SO SHOWS THE WONDERFUL
CONDESCENSION OF GOD AS THE INCARNATION "The doctrine of the incarnation
of Christ in human flesh is a mystery, 'even the mystery which hath been hid
from ages and from generations' (Col. 1:26). It is the great and profound
mystery of godliness. 'The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us' (John
1:14). Christ took upon Himself human nature, a nature inferior to His
heavenly nature. Nothing so shows the wonderful CONDESCENSION OF GOD as
this." E.G. White, Selected
Messages, vol. 1, p. 246. INCARNATION A GREAT SACRIFICE "The day of Christ's coming will
be a day of judgment upon the world. When the multitude of the lost--those
who might have been saved, had they obeyed God's law, but who refused to
obey--when these see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, they will
understand the great sacrifice made in their behalf; they will understand the
unmeasured love of the Redeemer, his INCARNATION, the sweat-drops of blood,
the marks of the nails in his hands and feet, the pierced side; and they will
ask to be hidden from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from
the wrath of the Lamb. They see as in reality the condemnation of Christ, and
hear the loud cry, 'Release unto us Barabbas.' They hear the question, What
shall be done with Jesus? and the answer, crucify Him, crucify Him!"
E.G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath
Herald, 11-22-06, pr. 08. THE PURPOSE OF HEAVEN IS FULFILLED BY
THE INCARNATION "From eternal ages it was God's
purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man,
should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin,
humanity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the
heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the divine One. But by the
INCARNATION of the Son of God, the purpose of heaven is fulfilled. God dwells
in humanity, and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again his
temple." E.G. White, Advent Review
and Sabbath Herald, 12-31-08, pr. 02. SACRIFICE OF THE INCARNATION,
HUMILIATION AND CRUCIFIXION "The only plan that could be devised
to save the human race was that which called for the INCARNATION,
humiliation, and crucifixion of the Son of God, the Majesty of heaven. After
the plan of salvation was devised, Satan could have no ground upon which to
found his suggestion that God, because so great, could care nothing for so
insignificant a creature as man." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, 01-20-90, pr. 08. Offering and Offerer INCARNATION AN ACT OF SELF-SACRIFICE "Christ has purchased the world by
making a ransom for it, by taking human nature. He was not only the offering,
but He himself was the Offerer. He clothed His
divinity with humanity, and voluntarily took upon Him human nature, making it
possible to offer Himself as a ransom." E.G. White, Manuscript 92, 1899. SDA
Bible Commentary, Vol. 7a, p. 460. EACH SEPARATE EVENT AN IMPORTANT
CHAPTER: "The mystery of the INCARNATION of Christ, the account of his
sufferings, his crucifixion, his resurrection, and his ascension, open to all
humanity the marvelous love of God. This imparts a power to the truth. The
attributes of God were made known through the life and works of Christ. He
was the representative of the divine character. The agony of Christ in the "When we want a deep problem to
study, let us fix our minds on the most marvelous thing that ever took place
in earth or heaven--the INCARNATION of the Son of God." E.G. White, That I May Know Him, p. 25. "The incarnation of Christ was an
act of self-sacrifice. His life was
one of continual self-denial. The highest glory of the love of God to man was
manifested in the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son, who was the express image
of His person. This is the great mystery of godliness. It is the privilege
and the duty of every professed follower of Christ to have the mind of
Christ. Without self-denial and cross bearing we cannot be His
disciples." E.G. White, Selected
Messages, Bk. 2, p. 185. "Christ took upon Himself
humanity, and laid down His life a sacrifice, that man, by becoming a
partaker of the divine nature, might have eternal life." E.G. White, Selected Messages, Bk. 3, p. 141. Note: Both His Incarnation sacrifice
and the sacrifice of His humanity on the cross were necessary for salvation,
and one without the other is an incomplete sacrifice resulting in no
atonement--no Sanctuary Service completed. "Christ bore the guilt of the sins
of the world. Our sufficiency is found only in the INCARNATION and DEATH of
the Son of God. He could suffer, because sustained by divinity. He could
endure, because He was without one taint of disloyalty or sin." E.G.
White, The Youth's Instructor, Aug. 4, 1898, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7a, p. 451. THE THEMES OF THE GREAT SALVATION
"Those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ will be dwelling upon
the themes of the great salvation. The Bible is the storehouse that supplies
their souls with nourishing food. They meditate upon the INCARNATION of
Christ, the contemplate the great sacrifice made to save them from perdition,
to bring in pardon, peace, and everlasting righteousness. The soul is aglow
with these grand and elevating themes. Holiness and truth, grace and
righteousness, occupy the thoughts. Self dies, and Christ lives in His
servants. In contemplation of the word, their hearts burn within them, as did
the hearts of the two disciples while they went to Emmaus, and Christ walked
with them by the way, and opened to them the scriptures concerning
Himself." E.G. White, Testimonies
to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 89. INCARNATION GLORIFIES THE FATHER:
"And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ by receiving
and welcoming Christ's friends as His friends. He is satisfied with the
atonement made. He is glorified by the incarnation, the life, death, and
mediation, of His Son." E.G. White, Counsels
to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 14. INCARNATION: "The only plan that
could be devised to save the human race was that which called for the
incarnation, humiliation, and crucifixion of the Son of God, the Majesty of
heaven. After the plan of salvation was devised, Satan could have no ground
upon which to found his suggestion that God, because so great, could care
nothing for so insignificant a creature as man." E.G. White, The Signs of the Times, Jan. 20, 1890,
SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7a, p.
443. The INCARNATION IS THE VERY HEART OF
THE PLAN OF SALVATION: INCARNATION OF CHRIST TYPIFIED IN THE
SANCTUARY SACRIFICIAL SERVICE "The INCARNATION of Christ, typified in
the sacrificial service of "The plan of salvation, of which
the incarnation is the very heart, is an exhaustless theme into which we may
now look, and that will be the PRIME TOPIC of study through the ceaseless
ages of eternity." Selected
Messages, Bk. 3, p. 126. AS ESSENTIAL TO SANCTIFY DAILY AS TO
REDEEM: "The Bible is a treasure house of knowledge, and all who make
this book their study, sinking the shaft deep into the mine of truth, will
exclaim, 'I behold wondrous things out of thy word.' The INCARNATION of
Christ is but dimly appreciated by many students who have studied long in our
schools. This subject should be and will be better understood by all who in
truth love Truth, and walk in the way of the Lord. The experimental knowledge
of this is as essential to sanctify daily as to redeem." E.G. White, The Advocate, 05-01-99, pr. 03. "The Lord did not make man to be
redeemed, but to bear His image. But through sin man lost the image of God.
It is only by man's redemption that God can accomplish His design for him in
making him a son of God." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 3, p. 134. SON OF GOD IN A NEW SENSE "(See EGW on John 1:1-3, 14).--The
Son of God in a New Sense. Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He
came to this world in human form, to live a man amongst men. He assumed the
liabilities of human nature, to be proved and tried. In His humanity He was a
partaker of the divine nature. In His incarnation He gained IN A NEW SENSE
the title of the Son of God. Said the angel to Mary, 'The power of the Highest
shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of
thee shall be called the Son of God.' While the Son of a human being, He
became the Son of God IN A NEW SENSE. Thus He stood in our world--the Son of
God, yet allied by birth to the human race...."
E.G. White Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 1114. SAME SUBSTANCE "The Jews had never before heard
such words from human lips, and a convicting influence attended them; for it seemed
that divinity flashed through humanity as Jesus said, 'I and my Father are
one,' The words of Christ were full of deep meaning as he put forth the claim
that he and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same
attributes.--The Signs of the Times,
Nov. 27, 1893, p. 54, E.G. White
Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7a, p. 437. INCARNATION AND CROSS AS SEPARATE
SACRIFICES "The INCARNATION of Christ
typified in the sacrificial service of "The darkness rolled away from the
Saviour and from the cross. Chirst bowed His head and died. In His Incarnation He had reached the
prescribed limit as a sacrifice, but not as a Redeemer. The controversy in
regard to the rebellion was answered.
The human race has an open door set before them." E.G. White, Manuscript Releases Volume Twelve, p. 409. Study of Incarnation Taxes the Mind "This earth has been honored and
blessed with presence of the Son of God.
In the Scriptures we red of His INCARNATION, His teaching, His
miracles, His death, and His resurrection.
The effort to understand these wonderful subjects puts to the tax the
highest powers of the mind, and then there is an infinity beyond which can
not be exhausted. The oftener the mind
is called to this study, the stronger and clearer it will become. In the daily life will be revealed the
mysteries of godliness, which may be experienced, but can not be explained. Throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity
the redeemed will study these subjects, ever gaining from them a deeper and
clearer knowledge of God and of Christ."
E.G. White, The Signs of the
Times, 04-26-05, Pr. 01. "It requires considerable effort
to climb hills, to get upon the rock.
And so we find that it will require the exercise of all our abilities,
of every spiritual nerve and muscle, to get upon the Living Rock, the Saviour
of mankind. It will require all our
mental and spiritual power to understand the Word of God, to understand the
INCARNATION of Christ, to understand the great plan of redemption. The mind may faint beneath the effort, and
yet, there is an infinity beyond. You
have only then touched the surface."
E.G. White, Manuscript Releases
Volume Nine, pr. 3, P. 68. Old Testament Holy Spirit: "But Jesus, in His questions about
the prophecies of Isaiah that pointed to His first appearing, flashed light
into the minds of those who were willing to receive the truth. He Himself had given these prophecies
before His INCARNATION in humanity, and as the Holy Spirit brought these
things to His mind, and impressed Him with regard to the great work that He
was to accomplish, He imparted light and knowledge to those around Him." E.G. White, Lift Him Up, p. 77. "In times past holy men of old
spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In ancient times the prophets
searched what the spirit of God which was in them signified. The Spirit was
not then given in power because Jesus was not yet glorified." E.G. White
Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 364. The Incarnation and the Sanctuary
Service: "The wonderful symbol of the
living bird dipped in the blood of the bird slain and then set free to its
joyous life (Lev. 14:4-8), is to us the symbol of the atonement. There were
death and life blended, presenting to the searcher for truth and hidden
treasure, the union of the pardoning blood with the resurrection and life of
our Redeemer. The bird slain was over living water; that flowing stream was a
symbol of the ever flowing, ever cleansing efficacy of the blood of Christ,
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world..." E.G. White, Sons and Daughters of God, p. 226. There would have been no complete
Atonement without the Icarnation sacrifice of the
life and soul of Christ. The living bird symbolizes the living first
estate of the Son. That living bird never died. That living bird that was
sacrificed from the foundation of the earth, was the innate Holy Spirit life
of Christ. That life [the Holy Spirit life and Soul of Christ] was dipped in
the blood of Christ, the Lamb slain on the cross. One sacrifice did not die.
The bird dipped in the blood of the bird that died, never died! The other
sacrifice, the Lamb, did die, but they symbolized the same person--the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. This is why Christ had to ascend to
His Heavenly Father so that the bird (the Holy Spirit life of Christ) could
be dipped in the blood of Christ, before His Holy Spirit life could be set
free and descend to us as a regenerating agency. This occurred in the
Heavenly Sanctuary where all matters concerning the Atonement had their
original type. That living bird that was later dipped in the blood of Christ,
was the Holy Spirit, appointed for this act from the foundation of the world.
That accounts for the three heavenly dignitaries from the foundation of the
earth. The trinity doctrine makes that
"bird" dipped in the blood of the bird slain, a person other than the
Holy Spirit pre-Incarnation life of the Son. It was the Holy Spirit life of
the Son which never died, but was slain from the foundation of the earth.
This had everything to do with the Atonement, and symbolizes a sacrificial
Atonement other than the Atonement on the cross. This living bird dipped in
the blood, was the Holy Spirit life of Christ from the foundation of the
earth, and any other third person Holy Spirit is inimical to this great
symbol, and is therefore idolatry. The inimical third person of the trinity
doctrine is non other than Satan Himself. The real third person of the Holy
Spirit is the life, soul and breath of the Son prior to His Incarnation,
which became the free bird after the dipping in the blood of Christ. Both
were the same person at two different forms of Being and existence. God Bless, Ron Beaulieu |
"Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his
church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul
of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. With his
Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin.
In the gift of the Spirit, Jesus gave to man the highest good that
heaven could bestow....
The Spirit was given as a regenerating agency, and without this the
sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail....
It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the
believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit
as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil,
and to impress his own character upon the church." E.G. White, Review and Herald Articles, May 19,
1904, vol. 5, p. 42.
[RB3]Act 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his
Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his
iniquities. God
says that Christ turns us away from our iniquities! |
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1. [RB4]Weight of Evidence Formula: "1. Every word must have its proper
bearing on the subject presented in the Bible 2. All Scripture is necessary,
and may be understood by diligent application and study 3. Nothing revealed
in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering 4.
To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you
wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence and if you can
form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error 5. Scripture
must be its own expositor, [interpreter] since it is a rule of itself. If I
depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or
desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought
wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the
Bible." E.G. White, Second Advent
Review and Herald, 11-25-34, pr. 24. |
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[RB6]“Cumbered with humanity
Christ could not be in every place personally, therefore it was altogether
for their advantage that He should leave them to go to His Father and send
the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself
divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent
Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit.” E.G. White, (Manuscript Releases Volume 14 (No’s
1081-1135) MR No.1084. |