Questions and Answers Related to the Godhead Issue In Professing Seventh-day Adventism

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Dear 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.

 

Bryan,

 

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

To: SDAIssues@yahoogroups.com

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:

Confidential,
The answer to your question is in the following document:
https://omega77.tripod.com/bosomcomingforth.htm
Ron

 

Bryan is responding to the above mentioned document.


Bryan speaking: Thanks for that..it has some interesting stuff...on the bosom...sadly it goes into your same imbalanced extremist accusation that almost totally lacks foundation in the Bible and EGW...the holy spirit speculations.  Here's what EGW says to do..but unfortunately you don't care about these ideas..they'll probably be deleted just like the last quotes were.

 

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] :

Bryan’s quoting of Ellen White: “Do not try to explain in regard to the personality of God. You cannot give any further explanation than the Bible has given. Human theories regarding Him are good for nothing. Do not soil your minds by studying the misleading theories of the enemy. Labor to draw minds away from everything of this character. It will be better to keep these subjects out of our papers. Let the doctrines of present truth be put into our papers, but give no room to a repeating of erroneous theories.”-- Letter 179, 1904. {CW 93.4}

Ron responds: I will give balancing quotes to the above statement at the end of this document. I do not try to explain in regard to the personality of God beyond interpreting Ellen White’s statements so that nothing contradicts. For example, if she says that the Holy Spirit is the life and soul of Christ, and at the same time is a separate and distinct person, we can safely conclude that the Holy Spirit was the Son’s Being before He was incarnated. We can do this for the following reasons that are supported by Scripture and Ellen White:

  1. Jesus proffers us His Divine Nature (ONLY) in Scripture[RB5] :
  2. The Nature Christ had BEFORE His Incarnation was DIVINE ONLY—no human combination at that time.
  3. The Holy Spirit is DIVINE ONLY.
  4. Ellen White said that Christ could not be everywhere at once after His Incarnation combination with humanity[RB6] . Thus, His Holy Spirit was divested of the personality of humanity and remained independent thereof. That Divine Nature ONLY of the Son of God was bequeathed to us for two purposes: regeneration back into the image of God, and overcoming sin. Recall that according to God and Ellen White, that was the express purpose of the Holy Spirit as such related to Jesus. I am dealing only with facts that we have been told by God and Ellen White.


Bryan continues: “In regard to the personality and prerogatives of God, where He is, and what He is, this is a subject which we are not to dare to touch. . . . The one who in the daily life holds closest communion with God, and who has the deepest knowledge of Him, realizes most keenly the utter inability of human beings to explain the Creator. . . .” {FLB 42.2}

 

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.


Bryan speaking: Notice this quote Ron.  EGW says that the same power that sustained the OT people, upheld every succeeding age after Jesus.  There was no change whatsoever mentioned.  It explicitly states that it's the same exact power.  Another proof that your foundation is speculative.
Bryan

  
  From the beginning God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the fallen race. . . . The same power that sustained the patriarchs, that gave Caleb and Joshua faith and courage, and that made the work of the apostolic church effective, has upheld God's faithful children in every succeeding age. {FLB 52.5}

Ron responds: I appreciate the living fact that from the beginning God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human instrumentalities. Scripture is replete with examples of that fact. However, that does not preclude the proferring of  the Divine Nature (Holy Spirit) of the Son of God to us at the time of His Incarnation for the purpose of regeneration and empowerment to overcome sin. Ellen White said that was His “GREATEST GOOD, CROWNING GIFT THAT HEAVEN COULD BESTOW, and without which, His sacrifice on the cross would have been of no avail. Why? Because there would have been no cure for sin, only a continuum of pardon for sin. Sin would thus have proliferated for eternity without a cure. The cure was effected by the Incarnation when the Son of God bequeathed to us His Divine Nature (ONLY) Holy Spirit. 

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).

Bryan continues: “There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.-- Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, pp. 62, 63. (1905) {Ev 615.1} 

 

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. 

  1. The Father is eternal.
  2. The Son’s Divine ONLY Holy Spirit Nature is eternal.
  3. The Son’s fully Divine Nature AFTER THE INCARNATION AND NOW, is 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.

Bryan continues: Third Person of the Godhead

     The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14. {FLB 52.1}

     We need to realize that the Holy Spirit . . . is as much a person as God is a person. . . . {FLB 52.2}

     The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. {FLB 52.3}

     The Holy Spirit is a free, working, independent agency. The God of heaven uses His Spirit as it pleases Him; and human minds, human judgment, and human methods can no more set boundaries to its working, or prescribe the channel through which it shall operate, than they can say to the wind, "I bid you to blow in a certain direction, and to conduct yourself in such and such a manner." {FLB 52.4}

     The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He {Jesus} could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. {FLB 52.6}

     The Holy Spirit is an effective helper in restoring the image of God in the human soul. {FLB 52.7}

 

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:

 

  1. The Eternal Father and His ONE eternal Holy Spirit essence and substance.
  2. The Eternal Son and His ONE eternal Holy Spirit essence and substance from which He was divested at His Incarnation.
  3. Christ the eternal, Incarnate, fully divine, but now combined with humanity forever, says Ellen White.

 

I commented after two of Bryan’s quotings of Ellen White’s statements on the Godhead, that I would provide balancing statements. Many use the two quotes Bryan gives as an excuse to not explore the Godhead issue further and to force the SDA church’s acceptance of the blasphemous Trinity Doctrine. Here are just some of the important statements that Bryan has not considered. Anyone who refuses to consider the following evidence in addition to the quotes Bryan furnishes, will make a great mistake.

 

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 garden of Gethsemane, his betrayal, his rejection by the Jewish nation, his trial, the suffering inflicted by scourging and by obliging him to bear his cross,--every incident should be indelibly imprinted upon the minds of men. Each separate event was an important chapter in the working of the redemption of the world." E.G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, 06-18-95, pr. 04.

 

"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 Israel, and symbolized in all their devotions, is a glorious mystery. In His only begotten Son, God was made manifest to the world. The Son of God laid aside His glory, and clothed Himself with humanity. He became the meek and lowly Jesus. For the sake of sinful men He became poor, that they through His poverty might be made rich." E.G. White, Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, 02-20-99, pr. 01.

"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 Israel and symbolized in all their devotions, is a glorious mystery.  In his only begotten Son, God was made manifest to the world.  The Son of God laid aside hsi glory, and clothed himself with humanity.  He became the meek and lowly Jesus. For the sake of sinful men, he became poor, that they through his poverty might be made rich."  E.G. White, The Youth's Instructor, 09-22-98, pr. 01.

 

"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

 


 [RB1]

"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.

 

 [RB2]

 

"The Power of God in the Third Person.--The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.-- Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, p. 37. (1897).

 

 

 

 [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!

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 [RB5]2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

 

 [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.