搜寻结果

在这最后的日子里，我们致力向世界各地的华人传扬天国的福音，恢复上帝赐予基督复临安息日会先知和先贤们的一切亮光、将三天使信息大声传扬出去。 由于守基督复临安息日会先贤信仰的中文事工的数目比起其他语言的要少得多，我们想要为世界各地的华人弟兄姐妹提供一个崇拜、学习和亲近上帝的地方。 本事工使用线上聚会的方式与分散到世界各地的弟兄姐妹相聚。活动包括——安息日崇拜、安息日学、预言之灵研究、圣餐礼等。希望主内弟兄姐妹能聚在一起，互相帮助和鼓励，活泼地互相谈论上帝的爱和救赎真理。 如果我们忽略与弟兄在一起聚会的特权，不在侍奉上帝的事上互相帮助和鼓励，就会蒙受损失。我们的心将不再体验圣经真理的活力和重要意义，不再被成圣的影响所启迪和鼓舞，于是就在属灵上衰退了。在我们基督徒的交际中，常因缺乏彼此的同情而蒙受许多损失。独善其身的人没有尽到上帝要他尽的本分。要适当培养我们的社交天性，使我们能体谅他人，在侍奉上帝的事上能得到力量和进步。 （怀爱伦著，《喜乐的泉源》原文第101页，第2段） 基督徒如果能聚在一起，互相谈论上帝的爱和救赎的宝贵真理，他们自己的心就会得到鼓舞，并且能彼此鼓舞。我们每天可以从天父那里学到更多，并对祂的恩典有新的体验。于是我们就会乐意讲述祂的慈爱。我们这样做的时候，内心就得到温暖与振奋。我们越多默想耶稣，谈论耶稣，而少注意自己，与祂就越亲近。 （怀爱伦著，《喜乐的泉源》 原文第101页，第3 段） 欢迎参加我们的聚会 在这最后的日子里，我们致力向世界各地的华人传扬天国的福音，恢复上帝赐予基督复临安息日会先知和先贤们的一切亮光、将三天使信息大声传扬出去。 由于守基督复临安息日会先贤信仰的中文事工的数目比起其他语言的要少得多，我们想要为世界各地的华人弟兄姐妹提供一个崇拜、学习和亲近上帝的地方。 本事工使用线上聚会的方式与分散到世界各地的弟兄姐妹相聚。活动包括——安息日崇拜、安息日学、预言之灵研究、圣餐礼等。希望主内弟兄姐妹能聚在一起，互相帮助和鼓励，活泼地互相谈论上帝的爱和救赎真理。 与我们联系以获得最新资讯 电邮: onetruegodchineseministry@gmail.com 安息日聚会 我们每一个安息日都会在线上举行崇拜。早上有安息日学，领唱，祷告和证道等环节。下午则有预言之灵研究和讨论的时间。 聚会多采用Google Meet举行 ，最新链接会在Telegram Channel 发布。请与我们联系以了解更多。 安息日学课 鉴于现代全球总会旗下的基督复临安息日会组织(GCSDA)的安息日学课内容参杂了许多三位一体假神和宣传神学观念的错误信息，本事工不建议使用这些与先知和先贤们的教导背道而驰的学课资源。 我们认为先贤出版的安息日学课资源 都非常优秀，内容既忠於圣经，又有良好的节奏，提供学员良好的思考和讨论空间，实在是上帝的祝福。 故此本事工决定将先贤的英文学课内容翻译成中文，并制作成 中英对照 的版本，供我们在线上安息日学使用。 这些学课资源也会上传到事工网站上供大家使用。 下载学课资源 圣餐礼 我们大约每三个月就会在该星期的安息日举行线上圣餐礼， 为纪念耶稣的死和上帝的大爱，与众主内弟兄姐妹一起领受耶稣的同在，一同常存希望等候祂的第二次降临。 欲参加的弟兄姐妹，请留意我们的网站和社交媒体发出的通告，并在礼前自行烘烤无酵饼和预备葡萄汁。请大家预备身心来领受主的圣餐，认罪悔改，并纪念上帝儿子伟大的牺牲。愿上帝赐福每一位。 哥 林多前书 11：23-26 23主耶稣被卖的那一夜，拿起饼来， 24祝谢了，就擘开，说：“这是我的身体，为你们舍的（“舍”有古卷作“擘开”）。你们应当如此行，为的是记念我。” 25饭后，也照样拿起杯来，说：“这杯是用我的血所立的新约。你们每逢喝的时候，要如此行，为的是记念我。” 26你们每逢吃这饼，喝这杯，是表明主的死，直等到他来。 祷告晚会 除了安息日的线上聚会外，我们 每周 星期二晚上 7 : 00 也会举行线上的祷告晚会。希望能在一周的中间有机会与弟兄姐妹相聚，分享个人见证、互相勉励和代祷。时而会有简短的交流和分享，但整体聚会时间一般不会太长。 现今世界正迅速步向灭亡，灵性的堕落和败坏随处可见。仇敌时刻都在工作，在这最后的日子里，属灵的争战将越演越烈。我们需要不住地祷告，求上帝赐我们力量履行每一天的职责，应付每一天的试探。除了个人私下在密室的祷告外，几个基督徒聚在一起，同心虔诚地向上帝祈求也是非常重要的。 “ 我们相聚一堂，乃是要彼此交换思想感情而互相造就，彼此了解各人的盼望和志向而互相得到力量、光明和胆量。本着信心献上我们恳切衷心的祷告，使我们从能力之源领受奋兴和活力。这些聚会应当是最宝贵的时辰...... ” ——怀爱伦著，《教会证言》卷二，原文第578页，第2段 “我又告诉你们，若是你们中间有两个人在地上同心合意地求什么事，我在天上的父必为他们成全。因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间” 【马太福音 18:19-20】 “ 主应许说，无论在哪里，有两三个人奉衪的名聚会，就有衪在他们中间。聚集祷告的人会得到圣者的恩膏。私下的祷告是非常需要的，但也需要几个基督徒聚在一起，同心恳切地向上帝祈求。耶稣与这样的小群人同在，他们心中对生灵的爱就加深了，圣灵发出大能，使人能从事拯救迷失之人的工作。耶稣总是设法表明外表的仪式多么没有价值，努力使门徒铭记，圣灵定会使人得到光照、更新和成圣。 ” ——怀爱伦著， 《评论与通讯》1896年6月30日，原文第9段

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All trinity studies Previous Download Next EGW Quotes on Holy Spirit Who or What is the Holy Spirit? “The HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of CHRIST, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3) “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894) “but it is the leaven of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, which is sent down from heaven, called the HOLY GHOST,” — (E.G. White, Ms36-1891) There is no mistaking that Ellen White says the HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST. What many fail to understand is that the “Spirit of Christ” can function like a person separate to Himself so it is like it is “another” person, though not a literal person of course. So we do have a heavenly Trio, but NOT a heavenly Trinity! That is twice we have just proven that Ellen White said the SPIRIT OF CHRIST is the third in the Heavenly Trio with unmistakable confirmation. But let's prove it three more times, not that it should be necessary. Ellen White also wrote in the quote, “The COMFORTER that CHRIST PROMISED TO SEND after He ascended to heaven.” The COMFORTER of course is the HOLY SPIRIT which is third in the Heavenly Trio. So whose Spirit does Ellen White say Christ sent? “We cannot be with CHRIST in person, as were His first disciples, but HE HAS SENT HIS HOLY SPIRIT to guide us into all truth, [John 16:13 quoted]” — (E.G. White, Ms30, June 18, 1900) One more time: “CHRIST came to our world, but the world could not endure His purity. He has gone to His Father, but HE HAS SENT HIS HOLY SPIRIT to REPRESENT HIM in the world till He shall come again.” — (E.G. White, Ms1, Jan 11, 1897) Thus Christ sent HIS SPIRIT. It was not Christ physically but HIS Spirit which can function like a person though is not a literal person of course. So His Spirit is like “ANOTHER” person and why she wrote Heavenly Trio! Therefore, it should also require no explanation that the Comforter is not Christ physically but His Spirit. “This refers to the omnipresence of the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, called the COMFORTER.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 179.2) So the Spirit that was sent to be our Comforter and is the third in Heavenly Trio is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST. Why would we expect anything else since she wrote: “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894) And last, Ellen white wrote “THREE GREAT POWERS—the FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.” We know the Father and Son are great powers, and since Ellen White wrote the HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, who do you think the third great power is? There is only one possible answer. “CHRIST has given HIS SPIRIT as a divine POWER.” — (E.G. White, RH, Nov 19, 1908) Trinitarians conclude that the third power is another being. But there is NO other POWER in you apart from CHRIST ABIDING IN YOUR HEART by His Holy Spirit in you! “There is NO POWER in you APART from CHRIST, but it is your privilege to have CHRIST ABIDING IN YOUR HEART by faith, and He can overcome sin in you,” — (E.G. White, OHC, 76.5) How easily we can be deceived if we do not let SOP explain SOP and just assume with a Trinitarian mindset as so many do. So she was not saying that there is a third god as per the satanic doctrine of the Trinity at all. NOTE: God raised the Adventist Church as non-Trinitarian. The Trinity doctrine was slowly brought into the Adventist Church long AFTER the death of Ellen White and the pioneers by a suspected Jesuit who is also a known Freemason. The idea of the Holy Spirit as another being was Satan's idea so he could get worship for his creation. The real truth is that the “Holy Spirit” is the power and presence of God and of Christ which can function independently of themselves like a third (but not a literal third) and is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 Read in English 下一篇 至高的上帝是谁 至高的上帝是谁？ 创世纪 14:18 又有撒冷王麦基洗德带着饼和酒出来迎接，他是至高上帝的祭司。 创世纪 14:19 他为亚伯兰祝福，说：“愿天地的主、至高的上帝赐福与亚伯兰。 创世纪 14:20 至高的上帝把敌人交在你手里，是应当称颂的。”亚伯兰就把所得的拿出十分之一来，给麦基洗德。 创世纪 14:22 亚伯兰对所多玛王说：“我已经向天地的主、至高的上帝耶和华起誓， 民数记 24:16 得听上帝的言语，明白至高者的意旨，看见全能者的异象；眼目睁开而仆倒的人说， 申命记 32:8 至高者将地业赐给列邦，将世人分开，就照以色列人的数目，立定万民的疆界。 撒母耳记下 22:14 耶和华从天上打雷，至高者发出声音。 诗篇 7:17 我要照着耶和华的公义称谢他，歌颂耶和华至高者的名。 诗篇 9:2 我要因你欢喜快乐，至高者啊，我要歌颂你的名。 诗篇 21:7 王依靠耶和华，因至高者的慈爱必不摇动。 诗篇 47:2 因为耶和华至高者是可畏的，他是治理全地的大君王。 诗篇 50:14 你们要以感谢为祭献与上帝，又要向至高者还你的愿， 诗篇 56:2 我的仇敌终日要把我吞了，因逞骄傲攻击我的人甚多。 诗篇 57:2 我要求告至高的上帝，就是为我成全诸事的上帝。 诗篇 73:11 他们说：“上帝怎能晓得？至高者岂有知识呢？” 诗篇 77:10 我便说：“这是我的懦弱，但我要追念至高者显出右手之年代。” 诗篇 78:17 他们却仍旧得罪他，在干燥之地悖逆至高者。 诗篇 78:56 他们仍旧试探悖逆至高的上帝，不守他的法度， 诗篇 82:6 我曾说：“你们是上帝，都是至高者的儿子； 诗篇 83:18 使他们知道，惟独你名为耶和华的，是全地以上的至高者。 诗篇 91:1 住在至高者隐密处的，必住在全能者的荫下。 诗篇 91:9 耶和华是我的避难所。你已将至高者当你的居所， 诗篇 92:1（安息日的诗歌。）称谢耶和华，歌颂你至高者的名。 诗篇 92:8 惟你耶和华是至高，直到永远。 诗篇 107:11 是因他们违背上帝的话语，藐视至高者的旨意。 诗篇 113:5 谁像耶和华我们的上帝呢？他坐在至高之处， 以赛亚书 14:14 我要升到高云之上，我要与至上者同等。 耶利米哀歌 3:35 或在至高者面前屈枉人， 耶利米哀歌 3:38 祸福不都出于至高者的口吗？ 但以理书 3:26 于是，尼布甲尼撒就近烈火窑门，说：“至高上帝的仆人沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌出来，上这里来吧！”沙得拉，米煞，亚伯尼歌就从火中出来了。 但以理书 4:17 这是守望者所发的命，圣者所出的令，好叫世人知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁，就赐与谁，或立极卑微的人执掌国权。’ 但以理书 4:24 “王啊，讲解就是这样：临到我主我王的事是出于至高者的命。 但以理书 4:25 你必被赶出离开世人，与野地的兽同居，吃草如牛，被天露滴湿，且要经过七期。等你知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁就赐与谁。 但以理书 4:32 你必被赶出离开世人，与野地的兽同居，吃草如牛，且要经过七期。等你知道至高者在人的国中掌权，要将国赐与谁，就赐与谁。” 但以理书 4:34 日子满足，我尼布甲尼撒举目望天，我的聪明复归于我，我便称颂至高者，赞美尊敬活到永远的上帝。他的权柄是永有的，他的国存到万代。 但以理书 5:18 王啊，至高的上帝曾将国位、大权、荣耀、威严赐与你父尼布甲尼撒。 但以理书 5:21 他被赶出离开世人，他的心变如兽心，与野驴同居，吃草如牛，身被天露滴湿，等他知道至高的上帝在人的国中掌权，凭自己的意旨立人治国。 但以理书 7:18 然而，至高者的圣民，必要得国享受，直到永永远远。” 但以理书 7:22 直到亘古常在者来给至高者的圣民伸冤，圣民得国的时候就到了。 但以理书 7:25 他必向至高者说夸大的话，必折磨至高者的圣民，必想改变节期和律法。圣民必交付他手一载、二载、半载。 但以理书 7:27 国度、权柄和天下诸国的大权，必赐给至高者的圣民。他的国是永远的，一切掌权的都必侍奉他、顺从他。” 何西阿书 7:16 他们归向，却不归向至上者；他们如同翻背的弓。他们的首领必因舌头的狂傲倒在刀下，这在埃及地必作人的讥笑。” 何西阿书 11:7 我的民偏要背道离开我，众先知虽然招呼他们归向至上的主，却无人尊崇主。 马可福音 5:7 大声呼叫说：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干？我指着上帝恳求你，不要叫我受苦！” 路加福音 1:32 他要为大，称为至高者的儿子，主上帝要把他祖大卫的位给他。 路加福音1:35 天使回答说：“圣灵要临到你身上，至高者的能力要荫庇你，因此所要生的圣者，必称为上帝的儿子（或作”所要生的必称为圣，称为上帝的儿子”）。 路加福音1:76 孩子啊，你要称为至高者的先知；因为你要行在主的前面，预备他的道路， 路加福音 2:14 “在至高之处荣耀归与上帝，在地上平安归与他所喜悦的人（有古卷作“喜悦归与人”）。” 路加福音 6:35 你们倒要爱仇敌，也要善待他们，并要借给人不指望偿还，你们的赏赐就必大了，你们也必作至高者的儿子，因为他恩待那忘恩的和作恶的。 路加福音8:28 他见了耶稣，就俯伏在他面前，大声喊叫，说：“至高上帝的儿子耶稣，我与你有什么相干？求你不要叫我受苦。” 路加福音19:38 说：“奉主名来的王是应当称颂的！在天上有和平，在至高之处有荣光。” 使徒行传 7:48 其实，至高者并不住人手所造的，就如先知所言： 使徒行传 16:17 她跟随保罗和我们，喊着说：“这些人是至高上帝的仆人，对你们传说救人的道。” 希伯来书 7:1 这麦基洗德就是撒冷王，又是至高上帝的祭司，本是长远为祭司的。他当亚伯拉罕杀败诸王回来的时候，就迎接他，给他祝福。 答案：圣父 （耶稣基督的父亲） 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Is the Holy Spirit the Third Highest Being in Heaven Is the Holy Spirit the Third Highest Being in Heaven? The Trinity doctrine teaches 3 CO-EQUAL beings and hence it claims the 3 highest BEINGS in Heaven are therefore the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus the Trinity doctrine declares the Holy Spirit is the third highest being in heaven. But according to Ellen White in the first chapter of Patriarchs and Prophets (p. 35), the third highest being in Heaven before the entrance of sin was Lucifer. And after the fall, Ellen White says Gabriel was the next in line. “It was Gabriel, the angel next in rank to the Son of God, who came with the divine message to Daniel.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 234) Now consider the following. Who wants to be like the most High and be worshipped and prayed to as God? Isaiah 14:12-14 informs us that this is Satan's desire. Has Satan devised a clever scheme to regain his lost third position and the worship he craves? By Satan creating the Trinity doctrine, it creates a non-existent third being. Satan can then step into that position he has created and not only receives the worship he desires, but he would also effectively regain the position he lost as the third highest being in heaven. This is known as worship by representation and is what Satan has also done with Sunday worship. Has Satan succeeded in accomplishing his goal of being included as deity? If we now believe the Holy Spirit can be worshipped and prayed to just like the Father and the Son, who actually receives our worship? If the Holy Spirit is not a third being then what spirit would we have according to our belief and who would we be giving our adoration to? It would be Satan himself! Below is even a clearer quote from Ellen White that reveals the Holy Spirit is NOT a being let alone the third highest being as the Trinity doctrine claims. She wrote that Satan was second to Christ making Satan the third highest being in heaven. Hence the Holy Spirit is not some third being called “god the holy spirit” as the Trinity doctrine claims but the Spirit of the Father and Son. Below we find that Satan wanted to be next to God and have Christ second to Him. In other words, for the three highest beings in Heaven to be the Father, Satan and Christ. This also proves Ellen White was not a Trinitarian and never saw the Holy Spirit as a third being as some have misunderstood due to her use of the word person in regards to the Holy Spirit. “Satan, who was once a beautiful angel in the heavenly courts, became a fallen angel because HE DID NOT WANT TO OCCUPY A SECONDARY PLACE, BUT TO BE NEXT TO GOD. HE WOULD HAVE THE LORD JESUS BECOME SECOND TO HIM, for his own glory was very precious in his own sight. He was jealous of Christ, the Saviour. Study the Word of God, and see what this jealousy led to in the end. There is nothing to be gained by jealousies. Although in the beginning Satan was an exalted angel of great glory in the heavenly courts, THAT GLORY BECAME EXTINGUISHED THROUGH HIS CRAVING TO BE THE HIGHEST ONE NEXT TO GOD.” — (E.G. White, Ms74, March 20, 1910) This quote from Ellen White proves inarguably that the Holy Spirit is NOT and CANNOT be a third highest CO-EQUAL being in Heaven, and hence is NOT and CANNOT be a being at all. By Satan creating the Trinity doctrine and the idea of the Holy Spirit as a third being, Satan effectively gets his third highest position back, but more importantly, he obtains worship as a god by representation just as he always wanted. Thus the third person in the Trinity is actually Satan! It should be obvious that if you get this wrong you will not be in the kingdom. Note the table for clarity. The Holy Spirit is not included in the Biblical view as it is not a literal being but the Spirit of the Father and Son. Satan used to hold the third highest position in Heaven until he was thrown out and Gabriel took his place. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

返回研究目录 上一篇 下载中文 下一篇 耶稣在世时是否全知全能 耶稣在世时是否全知全能？ 在约翰福音21:17中，彼得对基督说：“主啊，你是无所不知的。” 那么我们又该如何理解耶稣这句话：“但那日子，那时辰，没有人知道，连天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟有父知道。” （马可福音13:32）这里似乎有个矛盾，因为耶稣承认自己不知道一件事。《圣经》也说：“耶稣的智慧和身量（或作：年纪），并上帝和人喜爱他的心，都一齐增长。” （路加福音2:52）如果你已知道一切事，你又如何增长智慧呢？又说：“他虽然为儿子，还是因所受的苦难学了顺从。“ （希伯来书5:8）耶稣是否因那所为祂预备的身体而受到限制呢？祂是否像我们一样不得不学习各样事情呢？那彼得的话是什么意思呢？他说得对吗？因为耶稣并没有驳斥他。或许耶稣有一定的方法能有效的知道任何祂所需要知道的事？ 我们在许多《圣经》章节中找到了答案，例如约翰福音14:26，说：“...父因我的名所要差来的圣灵，他要将一切的事，指教你们，” 这句话是否意味着我们可以真的知道一切的事？人类的脑袋是否真的可以装得下上帝一切无限的智慧呢？这里所要申明的重点是，没有任何事是上帝的灵所无法向我们或向祂儿子指教或启示的。父知道一切的事，那么基督也可以透过圣灵的能力来知道祂所需要知道的任何事，不论是别人的想法，或者是按上帝的旨意所需的任何知识都好。 这不止涉及上帝圣灵的全知，也包含了祂的全能在内。在马太福音12:22-32中，耶稣赶走了魔鬼。法利赛人就告祂借着魔鬼的力量赶鬼。但耶稣由于是个百分百的人，就告诉他们说，祂是靠着上帝的灵赶鬼的。然后祂又告诉他们说，他们可以说话干犯人子而获得赦免，但亵渎圣灵总不得赦免。为什么呢？因为第28节说祂是靠着上帝的灵赶鬼的。别忘记，耶稣道成肉身，是百分百的人类。法利赛人所亵渎的不是人子，而是上帝的灵，因为那鬼是靠着上帝之灵的能力被赶走的。他们把圣灵的工作归因于撒但，因而亵渎了圣灵。无论如何，耶稣若不是暂时放下了祂的全能，就不会靠着圣灵的能力赶鬼了。耶稣说：“我凭着自己不能作什么。” （约翰福音5:30） 注意，马太福音12:22-32透露，那不得赦免的罪和亵渎圣灵，就是把圣灵的工作归因于撒但。有些三位一体论信徒不明白这一点，便结论说亵渎圣灵就是分享反三位一体论的课题。这是明显不对的。那主张三位一体论又如何呢？他们是否有可能实际上犯了亵渎圣灵的罪呢？如果“上帝的灵”是真的“上帝的灵”，就如《圣经》所说，而不是《圣经》从来没有用过的什么“圣灵上帝”呢？如果三位一体论是错的话，那么他们口中的圣灵就确实是撒但的创作，而不是父和子的灵。如果这是撒但的杰作，那么信三位一体论的人便是将圣灵的工作归因于谁呢？他们将无意间把上帝之灵的工作归因于撒但，这才是不得赦免的罪！你千万不能弄错这一点。 给复临信徒参考： “是什么构成干犯圣灵的罪？是将圣灵的工作刻意归因于撒但。” （怀爱伦著，《教会证言卷五》第634页，第1段，1889年） “干犯圣灵最常见的方式是执着不断的轻视上天请人悔改的邀请。拒绝基督的每一步骤，就是朝向拒绝救恩和干犯圣灵的一个步骤。” （怀爱伦著，《历代愿望》第324页，第2段） “犹太民族因拒绝基督而犯下了那不得赦免的罪。我们也可能因拒绝接受救恩的邀请而犯同样的错误。” （《历代愿望》第324页，第3段） 据《圣经》若干次披露，基督在世所行的神迹都是祂在天上的父行的。约翰福音11:40-41显示，拉撒路的复活是借着祂父亲所行的。耶稣所行过的每一件大神迹也都是由祂的门徒或旧约的众先知以类似的方式施行的，包括在水面上行走和叫死人复活。（太14:29 ；约14:12；徒20:9-10；王上17:22）这并非说明他们是万能的，而是说明上帝与他们同在，正如祂与祂儿子同在一样。耶稣医好了那瘫子后，“众人看见都惊奇，就归荣耀与神，因为他将这样的权柄赐给人。” （马太福音9:8）彼得解释说：“上帝怎样以圣灵和能力，膏拿撒勒人耶稣，这都是你们知道的，他周流四方行善事，医好凡被魔鬼压制的人，因为神与他同在。” （使徒行传10:38）耶稣也解释说：“...住在我里面的父作他自己的事。” （约翰福音14:10） 给复临信徒参考： “基督为有病和痛苦的人所行的所有神迹都是本着上帝的能力，因着众天使的服侍而行的。” （怀爱伦著，《评论与通讯》1873年1月21日） 据《圣经》透露，基督所知道的事，就只有祂成为人之后所学习的事，还有祂父亲借着祂的灵向祂启示的事。既然我们在天上的父知道万事，那么基督也可以有效的知道万事，“如果”上帝的灵向祂启示。这样说来，如果耶稣不知道祂复临的日子时辰，那只能是因为祂父亲没有向祂启示这一点，而我们没有被告知其背后的理由。 《圣经》显示耶稣知道别人心里所想的，但为了使这事与其他经文保持一致起见，耶稣这种洞察人心的能力必然是透过圣灵而得的。彼得、以利沙和但以理也都是借着上帝的启示而能知道别人心里所想的。（徒5:1-4；王下5:25-27；但2:28-30） 有些人会回应说，耶稣的人性不知道，但祂的神性知道，这是因为三位一体论教导说，耶稣一个人但祂以两种性质存活。耶稣不可能有两个心，一个知道，另一个不知道。当然，除非你要说身体与心灵是没有联系的荒唐论调。 为什么有些人难以接受和明白门徒还有其他先知都是本着圣灵的能力去行耶稣所行的所有相同神迹呢（罗15:9）？所以当耶稣成为人来到世间时，祂也以同样的方式行神迹。这也不明白吗？很多人似乎拒绝接受他们的主和救主成为人的时候放弃了许多事。他们似乎不能相信耶稣暂时放下了祂的全在、全知和全能。虽然很多人能接受耶稣放下了祂的全在功能，但那是因为他们没有办法避免这个事实。 然而，有多少人停下来想想他们救主那难以置信的爱，因祂暂时放下这些事而得以作出了远远更大的牺牲，还要冒着巨大失败的可能。耶稣甚至放下自己的尊严而经历了婴儿尿床的时期。只要我们接受《圣经》所记载的史实，就不需要到处去寻找策略来解释其他指出错误的经文。我们需要能够让所有经文和谐一致，并意识到当我们开始尝试把四方形的钉子或橛子硬塞进一个圆形的洞子里，那我们就会一事无成。 保罗在腓立比书2:5-9谈到基督的牺牲与谦卑时说，祂来世上时舍去了许多事，以至于死，而我们应当有祂这种心志和态度。希腊原文说祂本有上帝的形象或性情，但祂反倒虚己，意味着祂放下了那些使祂不能像我们一样活着和死亡的神性特性。如果祂保留着与上帝同样的形象和性情，那祂就不可能会感到困倦或遭受痛楚和人类所经历的各样事。耶稣本有一切包括不死的身体，但是祂却乐意为我们放弃一切，牺牲所有。可是到最后祂还做了一个更大的牺牲，祂放弃了不死的特性，以人类的身份而死，而且还死得异常痛苦且漫长。有些人不愿意承认基督所放弃的一切，那么他们也是不承认祂为了我们所付出的牺牲的程度与深度，及其如何彰显祂与祂父亲对我们那不可估量的爱。 那当耶稣回到天上祂父亲的身边时，祂得回了什么？事实上我们没有被告知具体的情况。但是我们知道祂得回了祂的全在特性，就是透过作我们的保惠师圣灵。比如耶稣说过：“我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。” （马太福音28:20）我们也知道，耶稣保留着祂手脚和肋旁上的伤痕（约20:25-27）。我们设想祂得回了一切，但我们还必须等到我们见到祂的时候才能知道祂与祂父亲为了我们究竟付出了多大的牺牲。 还有一个例子可供我们参考的，这也是很多人略过不看的地方。启示录1:1 说：“耶稣基督的启示，就是上帝赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人，他就差遣使者，晓谕他的仆人约翰。” 这启示是上帝赐给耶稣基督的。如果耶稣知道所有事的话，那祂怎么还需要祂父亲给祂启示这些事呢？ 这也说明耶稣不可能是那独一真神父上帝，或与父平行同等同永恒，如三位一体论所声称的那样。 上一篇 返回研究目录 下一篇 到最頂

All trinity studies Previous Download Next E. J. Waggoner on the Trinity E. J. Waggoner on the Trinity Once again, these are the words of one of the founding members of the Seventh day Adventist Church and the truth the Adventist Church was founded on. “In arguing the perfect equality of the Father and the Son, and the fact that Christ is in very nature God, we do not design to be understood as teaching that the Father was not before the Son. It should not be necessary to guard this point, lest some should think that the Son existed as soon as the Father; yet some go to that extreme, which adds nothing to the dignity of Christ, but rather detracts from the honor due him, since many throw the whole thing away rather than accept a theory so obviously out of harmony with the language of Scripture, that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He was begotten, not created. He is of the substance of the Father, so that in his very nature he is God; and since this is so “it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” Col. 1:19 ... While both are of the same nature, the Father is first in point of time. He is also greater in that he had no beginning, while Christ's personality had a beginning.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Signs of the Times, April 8, 1889) “In Ps. 45:6 we read these words, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter.” The casual reader might take this to be simply the Psalmist's ascription of praise to God, but when we turn to the New Testament, we find that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker and that He is addressing the Son, calling Him God. See Heb. 1:1-8.This name was not given to Christ in consequence of some great achievement, but it is His by right of inheritance. Speaking of the power and greatness of Christ, the writer to the Hebrews says that He is made so much better than the angels, because “He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Heb. 1:4. A son always rightfully takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only begotten Son of God,” has rightfully the same name. A son, also, is, to a greater or less degree, a reproduction of the father; he has to some extent the features and personal characteristics of his father; not perfectly, because there is no perfect reproduction among mankind. But there is no imperfection in God, or in any of His works, and so Christ is the “express image” of the Father's person. Heb. 1:3. As the Son of the self- existent God, He has by nature all the attributes of Deity.It is true that there are many sons of God, but Christ is the “only begotten Son of God,” and therefore the Son of God in a sense in which no other being ever was or ever can be. The angels are sons of God, as was Adam (Job 38:7; Luke 3:38), by creation; Christians are the sons of God by adoption (Rom. 8:14, 15), but Christ is the Son of God by birth. The writer to the Hebrews further shows that the position of the Son of God is not one to which Christ has been elevated but that it is one which He has by right. He says that Moses was faithful in all the house of God, as a servant, “but Christ as a Son over His own house.” Heb. 3:6.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ Our Righteousness, pp. 11, 12) “The Word was “in the beginning.” The mind of man cannot grasp the ages that are spanned in this phrase. It is not given to men to know when or how the Son was begotten; but we know that he was the Divine Word, not simply before He came to this earth to die, but even before the world was created. Just before His crucifixion He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” John 17:5. And more than seven hundred years before His first advent, His coming was thus foretold by the word of inspiration: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. We know that Christ “proceeded forth and came from God” (John 8:42), but it was so far back in the ages of eternity as to be far beyond the grasp of the mind of man.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, p. 9, 1890) “The Scriptures declare that Christ is “the only begotten son of God.” He is begotten, not created. As to when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told. The prophet Micah tells us all that we can know about it in these words, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. There was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God, from the bosom of the Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning. But the point is that Christ is a begotten Son and not a created subject. He has by inheritance a more excellent name than the angels; He is “a Son over His own house.” Heb. 1:4; 3:6. And since He is the only-begotten son of God, He is of the very substance and nature of God and possesses by birth all the attributes of God, for the Father was pleased that His Son should be the express image of His Person, the brightness of His glory, and filled with all the fullness of the Godhead.” — (E.J. Waggoner, Christ Our Righteousness, pp. 21, 22) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next The Bible was Written by Non-Trinitarians The Bible was Written by Non-Trinitarians and so is a Non-Trinitarian Book! Have you ever heard it said that the word TRINITY is NOT in the Bible? The deceived often respond by saying, “The word is NOT in the Bible but the doctrine is.” Not only is the word Trinity NOT in the Bible, but neither is the doctrine. And it is in fact IMPOSSIBLE for it to be in the Bible! Here are the facts… True Christianity originated from Judaism, not Catholic paganism. You cannot argue the doctrine of the Trinity from the words of the Jews who wrote them when they never believed in it. Most of the Bible was in fact written by the Jews who never believed or taught the Trinity doctrine and still do not today! And Jesus of course was a Jew as were His disciples. How do you teach a 3 in 1 god from the Bible when it is a non-Trinitarian book? The apostle John for instance could never have been teaching that the Comforter and Spirit of truth is another being as the Jews have never taught or believed that ever! So the Bible had non-Trinitarian authors in fact. In a discussion between Summerbell and Flood on Trinity, p. 38, in regards to the Trinity he says, “it is certain that the Jewish church held to no such doctrine. Says Mr. Summerbell, “A friend of mine who was present in a New York synagogue, asked the Rabbi for an explanation of the word 'Elohim'. A Trinitarian clergyman who stood by, replied, 'Why, that has reference to the three persons in the Trinity,' when a Jew stepped forward and said he must not mention that word again, or they would have to compel him to leave the house; for it was not permitted to mention the name of any strange god in the synagogue.” We also know the Bible is a non-Trinitarian book as the word Trinity did not exist until about 200 AD at which point the idea of the Holy Spirit as a third being and the 3 in 1 still did not exist. The fully developed Trinity doctrine did not exist until 381 AD. The word “Trinity” originated from Tertullian who was a pagan turned Catholic theologian around 200 AD. This word can have no relationship with Scripture as it came from the Platonic term “trias” which is philosophical in origin, and the Bible does not teach Greek philosophy! “The term trinity is not itself found in the Bible. It was first used by Tertullian at the close of the 2nd century, but received wide currency and formal elucidation only in the 4th and 5th centuries.” — (“Trinity,” New Bible Dictionary, 1996) Tertullian did NOT teach the Holy Spirit as a third being and he NEVER taught the 3 in 1 god as the Trinity doctrine does today. So we know this doctrine developed in stages as Tertullian who introduced the word TRINITY did NOT teach it! So we know that the Trinity doctrine did NOT exist before 200 AD. It was about 225 years “after” the death of the Apostles that the Nicene Council (325 AD) under the pressure of Emperor Constantine ruled in favour of Athanasius who taught a 3 in 1 god. It was about 280 years “after” the death of the Apostles in 381 AD when the Holy Spirit was officially declared as a third being. The Trinity doctrine was now fully established as we know it today. So the Trinity doctrine is a manmade doctrine from the Catholic Church which was formed in two parts. The first part was made up in 325 AD which states it is a 3 in 1 god. The second and final part was made up in 381 AD. This final part states that the Holy Spirit is a third being. So it is impossible for any of the Bible authors to have written about something that did not exist in their lifetime, and not forgetting that the Bible authors were non-Trinitarian! Christians have been indoctrinated with many nice sounding erroneous ideas to make them think the doctrine is in the Bible when in fact it cannot be. It is time to wake up and look at what the real truth is which makes much more sense than the lie. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next One God and One Lord “One God and One Lord” “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Cor. 8:6) The distinction between the Father and His Son here in this text is clear. The Father is the one God “of whom are all things.” Even Christ belongs to God the Father. 1Corinthians 3:23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. “...Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24)“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.” (Prov. 8:22) “...he [Father] giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.” (Acts 17:25) “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26) Therefore unto us, there is but one God, the Source of life to all. “One God and Father of all, who is ‘ABOVE ALL,’ and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:6) But unto us, there is also but one Lord, Jesus Christ “by whom are all things.” “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath ‘MADE’ that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both ‘Lord’ and Christ.” (Acts 2:36) The Father “made” Jesus “Lord,” or kurios in Greek which means “supremacy.” And this supremacy was given to Christ when He sat at the right hand of God after His ascension, which was the glory He had before the world was (John 17:5). So even before the world was, the Father “made” His Son, “Lord,” and if the Father made Him “Lord,” it implies that before that, He was not “Lord.” Supremacy was invested in Him by His Father before the world was. “But to us there is but... one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Cor. 8:6) This verse already provides us the reason for the Supremacy invested in Christ, it said, “by whom are all things.” “...God, who created all things BY Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:9) “For ‘BY HIM’ [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created ‘BY HIM,’ and ‘FOR HIM.’” (Col. 1:16) This is why we have one God the Father because we recognize Him as above all because He is the Great Source of all. This is why we have one Lord, Jesus because the Father made Him Supreme over all creations, by making Him our Great Creator. What is the implication of the invested supremacy in Christ over all creation? “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is ‘Lord,’ to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11) If the worship of the Son is for the glory of the Father, then this must be included in the context and proclamation of the everlasting gospel in the first angel’s message in Revelation 14:6,7. “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Rev. 14:7) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Unmasked Bible Study Bible Study Lesson 1 IS IT IMPORTANT, AND CAN WE KNOW? 1. Is God pleased when His people do not know Him? Hosea 4:1 “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” (Controversy: strife, dispute, quarrel, something against) 2. What is the whole duty of man?Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” 3. What does it mean to “fear God?”The Bible writers, often used a style of writing called parallelism where they would write a thought and then repeated it using different words, yet implying the same meaning. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 2:5 “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” “fear of the Lord” = “knowledge of God” 4. What is the first message that we are to give in the last days? Revelation 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (A part of the first angels message is to bring back the knowledge of God to the people.) 5. Is it important to know God? Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” 6. Why is knowing God so important? John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord...” 7. What does knowing God involve? a. Know who God is 2 Timothy 1:12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (Paul knew who God is, that is why he was able to declare Him to those who worshiped Him ignorantly: Act 17:23) b. Know His ways/glory/character Exodus 33:13 “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.” Exodus 33:18 “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” (ways = glory) Exodus 34:6,7 “And the LORD passed by before him, and pro-claimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” (God’s character is here displayed as his glory.) 1 John 4:7-9 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (know God = love God and man, because God is love) c. Keep His commandments Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Knowing God leads to obeying Him. Doctrine is not the end; it is the means to know God better, to get closer to Him. ) 8. What must I do to know God intimately? Proverbs 2:3-5 “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding. If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” 9. Can we know who God is? Has God revealed Himself to us in His Word? Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse ...” 1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” 10. What is the only thing we can glory in? Jeremiah 9:23,24 “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Bible Study Lesson 2 WHO IS THE GOD OF THE BIBLE? 1. According to the Old Testament, how many Gods are there? Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD...” Deuteronomy 4:35 “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.” Jeremiah 10:10 “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.” (see Question 6) 2. According to the New Testament, how many Gods are there? 1 Corinthians 8:4 “As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.” Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 1Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;...” James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” 3. Who is the most qualified person to tell us about the true God? John 1:18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” John 3:11 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.” 4. According to Jesus— a. Who is “the only true God”? John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” b. Whom did Jesus say we should pray to? Matthew 6:9-13 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” c. Which is the first commandment of all? Mark 12:28-32 “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:” Knowing God is required before we can love Him. A correct knowledge of God is vital for our relationship with Him. The scribe agreed that there is only one God, and none other but He. d. Did Jesus correct the scribe? Mark 12:34 “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.” (The belief of the scribe reflected the faith of the entire Jewish nation. The Jews believed in one God only.) John 8:41 “Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.” e. Who is the God of the Jews? John 8:54 “Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: ...” (see Romans 3:29) f. Who will the true worshippers worship? John 4:21-23 “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” 5. According to the apostles, who is the one God? 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” James 3:9 “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;...” 6. Who is the living and true God? 1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” Bible Study Lesson 3 THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD THE FATHER What does the Bible have to say about the sovereignty of the Father? Here are some facts about God the Father that will shed some light on this topic. The Father is the ultimate Source of all things. 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” 2 Corinthians 5:18 “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;...” Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14,15 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,...” 2. The Father is the God of Christ. a. During the Incarnation Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” b. After His Resurrection John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: …” Revelation 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (see Hebrews 1:9, 1 Peter 1:3) 3. The Father is exclusively called the Most High … Compare the following two verses: Psalms 78:17 “And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.” Isaiah 63:8-10 “For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.” God the Father is the subject of these verses. Two Beings are mentioned, God the Father (who is called “their Saviour”) and Christ (who is called “the angel of his presence”). … While Jesus is called the “Son of the Most High.” Mark 5:7 “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” Luke 8:28 “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee,torment me not.” The above verses clearly distinguish between the Father and the Son. The Father is called “the Most High,” while Jesus is called the “Son of the most high God.” 4. The Father is older than Jesus. John 14:28 “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” The word “greater” in the above text comes from (G3187 “μείζων” meizon) which can mean “older” as translated in Romans 9:12, “It was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger.” 5. The Father is greater than all. John 10:29 “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” 6. The Father is the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” 7. The Father is above all. Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 8. The Father is the Lord of heaven and earth. Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” (See Luke 10:21) Not only that, but the Bible also reveals to us some things which Jesus received from His Father which sheds a bit more light on the sovereignty of God the Father. 9. What did Jesus receive from His Father? a. His life John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;...” b. His power and authority Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (see Matthew 11:27; John 5:22-27; 17:2) c. His kingdom Daniel 7:14 “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Luke 1:32 “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: ...” (see also 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:22) d. His right to receive worship John 5:22-23 “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” (see Acts 2:36; Philippians 2:9-10; Hebrews 1:6) e. His name Philippians 2:9-10 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;...” Hebrews 1:4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” f. All things John 3:35 “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 13:3 “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; ...” (see Hebrews 1:2) The above verses are ample evidence to prove to us the sovereignty of God the Father. But, by this, we do not diminish the position, value or divinity of Jesus, the Son of God. (For further information on the equality of the Father and the Son, please refer to Lesson 5.) Bible Study Lesson 4 WHO IS JESUS? 1. Who did Jesus claim to be? John 10:36 “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” 2. What did God the Father say regarding the identity of Jesus? Matthew 3:16, 17 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 17:5 “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” 3. Who did the disciples understand Jesus to be? Matthew 16:15, 16 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 11:27 “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Matthew 14:33 “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” Acts 9:20 “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” 4. Did the fallen angels know that Jesus was the Son of God? Luke 4:3 “And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” Luke 8:28 “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.” Mark 5:7 “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.”Satan and the fallen angels knew before their fall that Jesus was the Son of God, hence Satan’s challenge in the wilderness and the demon’s confession. 5. Who else is referred to as the “son of God” in the Scriptures? Luke 3:38 “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” Adam was the son of God by creation (Genesis 5:1), as also were the angels ( Job 38:7). 1 John 3:1 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” We are sons of God by adoption (Romans 8:15). 6. How is Christ the Son of God? 1 John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” Jesus is not a son by creation, as Adam was; nor a son by adoption, like us; but He is the only begotten Son; He is the Son because He was begotten of the Father. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God giving His only begotten Son indicates that God must have had a Son, before the Incarnation, to give. 7. When did Jesus become the Son of man? Galatians 4:4 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Luke 1:31 “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Jesus became the Son of man when He was brought forth of Mary; at the Incarnation. 8. When was Christ begotten of the Father? Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” “Goings forth” also means “origin.” Jesus was brought forth in the days of antiquity, or from everlasting (margin: the days of eternity). 9. What happened in the days of eternity? Proverbs 8:22-30 “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” In the above passage, speaking under the title of wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; Colossians 2:3), Jesus points the reader to the duration, before the creation of anything, as the time when He was “brought forth” or “possessed” by the Father. 10. Was Jesus referred to as the ‘Son of God’ before Bethlehem? Proverbs 30:4 “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Daniel 3:25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Psalms 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” 11. During the Incarnation, did Jesus teach that He came forth from the Father? John 8:42 “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.” John 16:27 “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” 12. Is it important for us to believe that Jesus is the real and literal Son of God? 1 John 2:22, 23 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” 1 John 5:10, 11 “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 20:31 “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” 13. Why did the Jews kill Christ? Matthew 26:63-65 “But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.” John 19:7 “The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Jesus preferred to die than to deny His true Sonship! How much more should we mere mortals confess the Sonship of Jesus? 14. What is promised to those who receive Jesus as the Son of God? John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” Bible Study Lesson 5 EQUALITY OF THE FATHER AND THE SON We have established that Jesus is the Son of God because He was begotten/brought forth from the Father in the days of eternity. 1. Are the Father and the Son equal? Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:...” In this lesson we will search the Scriptures to see if God reveals to us the basis of this equality. Why are the Father and the Son equal? 2. What did Jesus inherit by virtue of His divine Birth? Hebrews 1:4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Exodus 23:20, 21 “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.” Jesus, as the Son of God, inherited His Father’s name. We also know that Jesus, who was the Angel that went before the Israelites, had the Father’s name back then. Hence, we conclude that Jesus inherited the Father’s name before Bethlehem, which means that Jesus’ Sonship predates the Incarnation. 3. What does “name” mean? Nature: ”Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” Genesis 5:2 Authority: “I am come in my Father’s name.” John 5:43 (see John 10:25; Matthew 21:23) Character: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1 (see Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 15:30) By inheriting the Father’s name, Jesus inherited the Father’s God-nature or divine nature. 4. What does this fact make Christ? Hebrews 1:1-3 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Christ is the express image of the Father. He has the same divine nature and life as His Father has. His sonship and inheritance qualified Jesus to be: a. Owner—“heir of all things”b. Creator—“by whom also he made the worlds”c. Image of and equal with God—“the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person”d. Sustainer—“upholding all things”e. Saviour—“himself purged our sins”f. Mediator—“sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” Does the Bible reveal to us that Christ was the image of God before the Incarnation? Revelation 12:7 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” “Michael” means “one who is like God.” Again this confirms the fact that Jesus inherited this name in the days of eternity. 6. What else did Christ inherit? John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” The very same life that the Father has, was given to His Son by inheritance. This is immortal, original life that the Son can give to those who believe ( John 17:2). 7. Does this make Jesus, a divine Being, worthy of our praise and worship? Hebrews 1:8, 6 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Colossians 2:9; 1:19 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” The fullness of the Godhead, or divinity, dwells in the Son. He is fully divine because His Father is God. 8. Should we honor the Son as we honor the Father? John 5:23 “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” We honor and worship the Son as much as the Father. They are both of the same divine nature. We pay supreme honor to God when we honor and reverence His Son (Philippians 2:11). 9. Did the Jews understand that Jesus claimed equality with the Father? John 5:18 “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” 10. Why did the Jews want to stone Jesus? John 10:33-36 “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” By claiming to be the Son of God, the Jews understood Jesus to mean that He is equal with God. Jesus also understood that. Jesus’ equality with the Father is based on His Sonship. Bible Study Lesson 6 HOLY SPIRIT—PART 1:GOD’S SPIRIT/MAN’S SPIRIT 1. In what image was man made? Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:...” 2. Who was God talking to? Is there another divine Being in the image of God? The Bible describes Christ as the only divine being in God’s image. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:...” Colossians 1:15 “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:...” Hebrews 1:4 “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Unless the Bible reveals to us another divine Being in the image and likeness of God, we must conclude that, in Genesis 1:26, God the Father was talking to His Son. 3. What does the term “image” and “likeness” entail? Genesis 5:3 “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth” We see here that Seth was in the likeness and image of Adam. That includes physical and spiritual aspect. 4. What is man (living soul) made of? Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” human body + human spirit = living human being 5. If man was made in the image of God, and man has two aspects, a spirit and a body, does that mean that God and Christ have a spirit and a bodily form? a. Does God have a bodily form? •Prophets saw God: –Jeremiah 1 Kings 22:19 “And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.” – Isaiah Isaiah 6:1 “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (Also Daniel [Daniel 7:9, 13] and John [Revelation 4:2, 3] saw God) •Christ was in the form of God before the Incarnation: Philippians 2:6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:...” • Jesus said that His Father has a form which no man has seen: John 6:46 “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.” (see also John 5:37) •We will see God: Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” b. Does God have a spirit? Father: John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (see also Matthew 10:20) Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (see also Philippians 1:19) Divine Body/Form + Divine Spirit = Divine Being 6. Are there any parallels between “man and his spirit” and “God and His spirit?” 1 Corinthians 2:11 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (“even so” means “in like manner”) The above text tells us that “what man’s spirit is to man” is the same as “what God’s spirit is to God.” Yet the text marks out a very important difference. While the spirit of man is “in him,” the spirit of God is not limited to the bodily form of God. 7. What does the spirit of man refer to? • Mind—Daniel 2:1 “And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.” (Obviously Nebuchadnezzar could not sleep because he was thinking of the dream he had. In other words, his mind was troubled.) •Heart—Psalms 34:18 “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (see also Psalms 51:10, 17; 77:6; 78:8; Ezekiel 36:26) • Life/breath—Job 27:3 “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;...” (Isaiah 38:16; see also Job 27:3; Revelation 11:11) The spirit of man is the personality, character and life of the man. It is one’s own person. 8. How does the Bible explain God’s Spirit? • Mind—compare Isaiah 40:13 with Paul’s quote in Romans 11:34. Isaiah 40:13 “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” Romans 11:34 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (see also 1 Corinthians 2:16) •Life—John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Romans 8:10 “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (see also Genesis 2:7; Job 27:3; 33:4; Revelation 11:11) Just like the relation between man and his spirit, so is the relation between God and His spirit. The spirit of God is His own personality, character, life and thoughts. 9. If the spirit of man is none other than his own presence/person, then can we say that the spirit of God is His own presence? Psalm 139:7 “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” Psalm 51:11 “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Conclusion: God has a bodily form and has a spiritual presence. His spirit is not limited to His body. In the same way that your spirit is your own person, mind, and presence so is God’s spirit His own person, mind, presence. Bible Study Lesson 7 HOLY SPIRIT – PART 2: IDENTITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT In the previous lesson we established that God’s spirit is His own mind, life, presence and person. In this lesson we want to see where the Spirit proceeds from and the identity of the Spirit. 1. What did Jesus promise before He left? John 14:16, 17, 26 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. … But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” 2. According to the Bible, whose spirit is the “Holy Spirit?”Compare the following two verses: Mark 13:11 “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye:for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” Matthew records it as follows: Matthew 10:19, 20 “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Holy Spirit = Spirit of the Father Also compare the following two verses: 2 Peter 1:21 “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” While in his first letter talking about the same thing, Peter says: 1 Peter 1:10,11 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” Holy Spirit = Spirit of Christ According to the previous four verses, we can safely conclude: Spirit of Christ = Holy Spirit = Spirit of your Father 3. How many holy spirits are there? Ephesians 4:4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” (See also 1 Corinthians 6:17; 12:13; Ephesians 2:18) 4. When we receive the Holy Spirit who do we receive? John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” According to Jesus, when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive both, the Father and the Son. 5. Do the Father and the Son possess the same Spirit/life? Romans 8:9, 10 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” In this verse, while talking about the same spirit, Paul uses the following terminologies: Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, Christ. This tells us Paul believed that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit/ Life of both, the Father and the Son. 6. Where does the Spirit come from? John 15:26 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:...” 7. Why does the Spirit proceed from the Father? 1 Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” The Spirit (life of God) proceeds from the Father, because all things are of Him. He is the source of all things. (Please see Lesson 3 for further information.) 8. Through whom does this spirit come to us? Ephesians 2:18 “For through him [Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:...” The Spirit of the Father comes to us through Jesus, and through Him, it returns. 9. Who comes to us to be our Comforter? John 14:18, 19 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” 10. How does the Father send Jesus to us? Is it Jesus in flesh or in Spirit? Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Note: Paul tells us in Galatians that when we receive the Spirit of Jesus, we cry “Abba Father.” Yet, he also tells us in Romans 8:15 that when we receive the Spirit we cry “Abba, Father.” This is another confirmation that the Holy Spirit is none other than the spirit of Jesus. Also compare Galatians 4:6 with Acts 3:26 11. When we receive the Spirit of Jesus, is that someone different to Christ? 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Paul told us, in 1 Corinthians 8:6, that there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, and in Ephesians 4:4, that there is one spirit. Yet Paul tells us in the above verse, that “the Lord is that Spirit.” If the Lord is Jesus and there is one spirit, then it is only logical and scriptural to believe that the Holy Spirit is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit form. Jesus Himself comes to us as a personal Comforter. The Spirit is the person of Jesus. 12. Does the Bible tell us that Jesus became a spirit? 1 Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” 13. Why does the Bible sometimes say that when the Comforter comes both the Father and the Son will come, while in other places it says Jesus is that Spirit? 2 Corinthians 5:19 “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,...” John 14:10, 20 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” 14. Who is it that knocks on the door of our heart? Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” 15. What is the hope of Glory? Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:...” Bible Study Lesson 8 THE FATHER AND SON IN THE SANCTUARY 1. Where can we look to study and learn more about God’s way?The Bible tells us that God’s way is in the sanctuary: Psalms 77:13 “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” What does the sanctuary have to say about the Godhead? How many Beings does the sanctuary and its services reveal to us? 2. How many stages does the sanctuary service entail? The sanctuary service entailed three stages the courtyard, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. We will look at the three stages independently to see what we can learn from them. I. The Most Holy Place: a. What lessons can we learn from the Most Holy Place in regards to the Godhead? God gave strict instructions that only one being, other than Himself, is allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. 1. Jesus, our High Priest: Only the high priest was allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:6, 7). Jesus is our heavenly High Priest (Hebrews 4:14; 5:10; 6:20). 2. God the Father on the throne: God’s presence dwelt on top of the mercy seat -(Exodus 25:21, 22; Psalms 80:1). God the Father is the One sitting on the throne in the heavenly sanctuary (Revelation 4:2; 5:1-6). 3. Jesus presents our prayers to the Father: Only one being, the high priest, was able to take the incense in before the presence of God on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:11-13). The incense represents the prayers of the saints mingled with Christ’s righteousness (Psalms 141:2, Revelation 5:8; 8:3). It is Christ who receives our prayers and presents them to His Father mingled with His merit and righteousness. b. How many divine Beings does the Most Holy Place present us with? And who are They? A simple study of the Most Holy Place in the earthly sanctuary presents us with only two divine Beings, the Father and the Son, represented by the earthly high priest and God’s presence on the throne. II. The Holy Place: a. What lessons can we learn from the earthly Holy Place in regards to the Godhead? 1. Jesus is our heavenly Priest/High Priest: The priests or the high priest who officiated in the first apartment is a symbol or type of Christ, our High Priest. 2. God’s presence in the Holy Place: The Bible also tells us that in the earthly sanctuary God manifested His glory in both apartments. Exodus 33:9-11 “And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” (See also Exodus 29:42-44; 30:36; 40:34, 35; 1Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicals 5:13, 14; 7:1, 2.) In Exodus 33:9-11, we have the example of the presence of two living beings—Moses, the Mediator, and God. Of course we know that Moses represents Jesus, the only Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Hence, this example points forward to the presence of both—Jesus, our Mediator and High Priest, and God the Father in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. 3. Table of Showbread: The Table of Showbread had two rows of bread on it, six in each row (Leviticus 24: 5, 6). These two rows represented the Father and the Son; here is why: • Two Crowns: The Table of Showbread had two crowns or a double crown on it (Exodus 25:2325). Why two? • Jesus is the Bread: The bread represents Jesus (John 6:51). But Jesus said “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Hence, the bread could represent the Father as well. That is why God instructed the priest to place the bread in two stacks (not 1 or 3), representing the Father and the Son, on a table, which had two crowns (not 1 or 3). • Jesus shares the Father’s throne: Revelation 3:21 tells us that Jesus shares His Father’s throne; hence, there are two divine Beings on the throne. • The Table of Shewbread with the two stacks on it is a fit representation of the Father and Son’s presence in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in which Jesus fulfilled His ministration in the Holy Place. b. How many divine Beings does the earthly Holy Place present us with? And Who are They? A study of the earthly Holy Place proves the presence of only two Beings: Jesus, the Mediator/Priest, and God the Father. Again only two living Beings, not three. c. What about the Holy Spirit? Is it present in the Holy Place? In the Holy Place there are impersonal and inanimate elements that represent the Holy Spirit, such as the oil used to light the candle stick. But the point is, that nowhere do we see a third living being representing the Holy Spirit. The spirit is there, yes, but not bodily like the Father and the Son. The oil is a symbol of the spirit, yet the oil is used in the Holy Place to produce light, which is a symbol of Jesus (John 8:12, 9:5). II. The courtyard: a. What lessons can we learn from the courtyard in regards to the Godhead? The service in the courtyard involved three living beings: 1. Jesus is the Sacrifice: The sacrifice, whether a lamb or a bullock, etc. (Leviticus 4:3), represented Jesus, the Son of God (John 1:26, 39). 2. We are the sinners: The sinner, who slew the sacrifice with his own hands (Leviticus 4:4) represented the sinner who confesses his sins and offers up spiritual sacrifices (1Peter 2:5). 3. Jesus is the anointed Priest: The anointed priest took the blood into the sanctuary (Leviticus 4:5). This also represents Jesus, our High Priest. (Hebrews 4:14; 5:10; 6:20) b. How many divine Beings does the courtyard service present us with? These were the only living beings that were involved in the courtyard service. We only see one divine Being. c. What do the other priests represent? Of course, more than one priest officiated in the courtyard as well as in the Holy Place. These priests can represent one of two options: 1. a type of Christ 2. all the saints (The Bible calls the followers of Jesus a “royal priesthood” (1Peter 2:9). They represent the people working in cooperation with Divinity.) Regardless which one you believe to be the correct one, the point still stands, there is no living being representing the Holy Spirit. d. What about the Holy Spirit, is it represented in the courtyard? Again we see in the courtyard some representations of the Holy Spirit, but they are impersonal and inanimate unlike the representations for Jesus. For example: 1. fire on the altar of burnt offering—In Acts 2:3, we see the Spirit poured out in the appearance of cloven tongues of fire. 2. water in the laver—In the New Testament, water has been used to represent the Spirit (see John 4:14; 7:38, 39; Revelation 22:1). But the point still stands, nowhere do we see the Spirit represented as a living being like the Father and the Son. e. What is one of the roles of the high priest in the courtyard that relates to Jesus’ work on Earth? It is important to note that one of the roles or duties of the high priest was to teach the people (Ezekiel 44:23), which of course took place outside the tabernacle since none other than the priests could enter therein. In other words, the priest was not only to minister in the sanctuary before God, he was also to go out and teach the people. The fascinating thing is that the priests were to change their garments before going out to the people. They had to put on a different garment (or outfit) than the one they wore in the presence of God. Ezekiel 44:19 “And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.” It is here where I believe the type gives us a very interesting and illuminating insight. One of the duties of Christ, our High Priest, is to teach the people outside the sanctuary. Not only that, but according to the type, He is to wear a different outfit, or He is to appear in “another form,” different than while in the presence of God. And that is exactly what Christ is doing. While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above in His physical or bodily form, He is still—by His Spirit—the minister of the church on Earth. (Galatians 4:6). Jesus Has promised to be with us always, and never leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). The Bible tells us that Jesus was with His followers “working with them” (Mark 16:20). As you can see, the earthly sanctuary presents us with only two divine Beings: the Father and the Son. There is no room for a third living being in the sanctuary. In addition to that, the sanctuary service teaches us that to fulfil the type, Jesus has to do what the priest did, namely: go out and teach the people, which He does through His own spirit, the Holy Spirit. The apostles understood that, hence Paul’s declaration that Jesus is the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 8:6; also please refer to Lesson 7 for further information.) Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download 看中文 Next Transforming Knowledge of God Transforming Knowledge of God Proverbs 2:5 – “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” 2 Peter 1:2-3 – “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, v3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” Ephesians 1:17-18 – “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: v18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” 1 Corinthians 12:8 – “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.” God is not a mystery. It is important to have full knowledge of who you are truly worshipping. For those people who follow their clergy that says God is a mystery. What are they missing? What knowledge are they missing? Hosea 4:1-2 – “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Who will we be worshipping? Will we be worshipping a trinity god in heaven and on the new earth? No. We will worship Jehovah who is our heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, “the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10 – “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; v10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Revelation 20:6 – “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 21 – “v1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. v2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. v3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. v4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.v5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. v22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. v23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelation 22:1, 3 – “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.v3 - And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.” Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top

All trinity studies Previous Download Next Who is the Holy Spirit Who Is The Holy Spirit? Below is the truth about the Holy Spirit that God gave to our pioneers, which is a pillar of our faith. “The terms “Holy Ghost”, are a harsh and repulsive translation. It should be “Holy Spirit” (hagion pneuma) in every instance. This Spirit is the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ; the Spirit being the same whether it is spoken of as pertaining to God or Christ. But respecting this Spirit, the Bible uses expressions which cannot be harmonized with the idea that it is a person like the Father and the Son. Rather it is shown to be a divine influence from them both, the medium which represents their presence and by which they have knowledge and power through all the universe, when not personally present.” — (Uriah Smith, RH, Oct 28, 1890) Ellen White wrote it this way. “They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet ONE IN SPIRIT,” — (E.G. White, YI, Dec 16, 1897) They are ONE in Spirit because God gave HIS Spirit to HIS Son. “The Father gave HIS Spirit without measure to his Son,” — (E.G. White, RH, Nov 5, 1908) “In giving us HIS Spirit, God gives us HIMSELF,” — (E.G. White, 7T 273.1, 1902) And so the Holy Spirit is the mind, power, character and personal presence of the very life of God that the Father sends through His Son to us. Or to put it another way to make sure this is clear; the Holy Spirit is the presence and power of the Father manifested through Jesus Christ, His only begotten son. This is not a separate person of the Godhead who is being sent, it is the very life of God coming to us through His Son. And so the SPIRIT OF GOD comes to us through His only begotten Son. “The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only begotten Son of God,” — (E.G. White, RH, April 5, 1906) Thus the HOLY SPIRIT is also called the SPIRIT OF CHRIST. “The HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of CHRIST, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3) “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST. If we commune with God, we shall have strength and grace and efficiency.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894) “but it is the leaven of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, which is sent down from heaven, called the HOLY GHOST, and that Spirit affects the heart and the character.” — (E.G. White, Ms36-1891) Did you ever wonder how we can have the Father and Son live in us? Because the HOLY SPIRIT is the Spirit of the FATHER AND SON. So who do we have in us when we have the HOLY SPIRIT? The FATHER AND SON! “BY THE SPIRIT the Father and the Son will come and MAKE THEIR ABODE WITH YOU. [John 14:23 quoted]” — (E.G. White, BEcho, Jan 15, 1893) This is the truth God gave His remnant Church. It is not another being which is a creation of Satan via the Catholic Church so he could achieve worship and steal souls! And so the “Holy Spirit” is the power and presence of God and of Christ which can function independently of themselves like a third (but not a literal third) and is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present. Thus Ellen White continually identifies the “Holy Spirit” as being the “Spirit of Christ” which is also His Fathers Spirit. And so it is by the “Spirit of Christ” that we have access to the Father. “For through HIM [CHRIST] we both have access by ONE SPIRIT unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18 As Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 Below is an overwhelming amount of evidence that proves who Ellen White was calling the Holy Spirit. _______________________________________________________ THE COMFORTER IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “This refers to the omnipresence of the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, called the COMFORTER.” — (E.G. White, 14MR 179.2) “Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of CHRIST. HE is THE Comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full.” — (E.G. White, RH, Jan 27, 1903) “As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving JESUS THE COMFORTER.” — (E.G. White, 19MR 297.3) “CHRIST is to be known by the blessed name of COMFORTER. “The Comforter,” said Christ to His disciples, “which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, [John 14:26 quoted]” — (E.G. White, Ms7-1902, Jan 26, 1902) “The SAVIOUR is our COMFORTER. This I have proved Him to be.” — (E.G. White, 8MR 49.3) ______________________________________________________ THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “JESUS comes to you as the SPIRIT of TRUTH; study the mind of the Spirit, consult your Lord, follow His way.” — (E.G. White, 2MR 337.1) “The SPIRIT of TRUTH is the only effectual teacher of divine truth; those who are taught of Him have entered the school of CHRIST. How must God esteem the race, that He gave His Son to die for them, and appoints HIS SPIRIT to be man's teacher and continual guide.” — (E.G. White, ST, Oct 24, 1906) “Christ was about to depart to His home in the heavenly courts. But He assured His disciples that He would send them another Comforter, who would abide with them forever. To the guidance of this Comforter all who believe in CHRIST may implicitly trust. HE is the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, but this truth the world can neither discern nor receive.” — (E.G. White, 12MR 260.1) “We cannot be with CHRIST in person, as were His first disciples, but HE has sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to guide us into all truth, and through this power we too can bear witness for the Saviour. [John 16:13 quoted]” — (E.G. White, Ms30, June 18, 1900) _______________________________________________________ THE SPIRIT BREATHED ON THE DISCIPLES WAS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “And when He had said this, He [Christ] breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ... Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, CHRIST breathed HIS SPIRIT upon them.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 805) “JESUS is waiting to BREATHE upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of HIS sanctifying SPIRIT, and transfuse the vital influence from HIMSELF to his people.” — (E.G. White, ST, Oct 3, 1892) “JESUS is seeking to impress upon them the thought that in giving HIS HOLY SPIRIT He is giving to them the glory which the Father has given him, that He and his people may be one in God.” — (E.G. White, ST, Oct 3, 1892) _______________________________________________________ THE SPIRIT GIVEN AT PENTECOST WAS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “And when He had said this, He [Christ] breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained. The Holy Spirit was not yet fully manifested; for Christ had not yet been glorified. The more abundant impartation of the Spirit did not take place till after Christ's ascension. Not until this was received could the disciples fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to the world. But the Spirit was now given for a special purpose. Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, CHRIST breathed HIS Spirit upon them.” — (E.G. White, DA, p. 805) “Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost—Christ ascended on high, to take His position as our Advocate in the heavenly courts. Having reached His throne, HE SENT HIS HOLY SPIRIT, as He had promised, in response to the prayers of His disciples.” — (E.G. White, 10MR 98.1, 1899) “When the HOLY SPIRIT was poured out upon the early church, 'The whole multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.' The SPIRIT of CHRIST made them one. This is the fruit of abiding in Christ.” — (E.G. White, GCDB, Feb 6, 1893) “The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. CHRIST declared that the divine influence of HIS SPIRIT was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day of PENTECOST to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service.” — (E.G. White, AA, 49.2) _______________________________________________________ THE SPIRIT THAT REPRESENTS CHRIST IS HIS OWN SPIRIT: “CHRIST came to our world, but the world could not endure His purity. He has gone to His Father, but HE has sent HIS Holy Spirit to REPRESENT HIM in the world till he shall come again.” — (E.G. White, Ms1, Jan 11, 1897) “CHRIST has left HIS Holy Spirit to be HIS REPRESENTATIVE in the world, to give celestial aid to every hungering, thirsting soul.” — (E.G. White, Lt84, Oct 22, 1895) “The Holy Spirit is the SPIRIT of CHRIST; it is HIS REPRESENTATIVE. Here is the divine agency that carries conviction to hearts. When the power of His Spirit is revealed through the servants of God, we behold divinity flashing through humanity.” — (E.G. White, 13MR 313.3, 1895) “Cumbered with humanity, CHRIST could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is [Christ] HIMSELF, divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. HE would REPRESENT HIMSELF as present in all places by HIS Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent.” — (E.G. White, Lt119, Feb 18, 1895) _______________________________________________________ THE THIRD GREAT POWER IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “CHRIST has given HIS SPIRIT as a divine POWER.” — (E.G. White, RH, Nov 19, 1908) “They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity into their ranks.” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909) _______________________________________________________ THE THIRD PERSON IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “Sin could be resisted and overcome ONLY through the mighty agency of the third person [Spirit Of Christ] of the Godhead,” — (E.G. White, DA, 671.2) Who is the third person who is the “ONLY” one who can overcome sin in you? “There is no power in you apart from CHRIST, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and HE can OVERCOME SIN in you, when you cooperate with His efforts.” — (E.G. White, OHC, 76.5) “With HIS SPIRIT CHRIST sends a reconciling influence and a power that TAKES away SIN.” — (E.G. White, RH, May 19, 1904) “The prince of the POWER OF EVIL can ONLY be held in check by the power of God in the third person [Spirit Of Christ] of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” — (E.G. White, Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10, p. 37, 1897) “JESUS ALONE has power to SAVE FROM SIN, to free from the POWER OF EVIL; and to doubt him who has laid down his life for us, is to grieve and insult the Father,” — (E.G. White, RH, Feb 10, 1891) “The ONLY defense AGAINST EVIL is the indwelling of CHRIST in the heart through faith in His righteousness.” — (E.G. White, DA, 324.1) “They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity into their ranks.” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909) THIRD PERSON = ONE + ONE + ONE = “the Spirit of Christ.” _______________________________________________________ THE THIRD PERSON IN THE HEAVENLY TRIO IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: The Holy Spirit is the third person who is? “The HOLY SPIRIT is the SPIRIT of CHRIST, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency,” — (E.G. White, 14MR 84.3) “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894) “but it is the leaven of the SPIRIT of JESUS CHRIST, which is sent down from heaven, called the HOLY GHOST,” — (E.G. White, Ms36-1891) “They have ONE God and ONE Saviour; and ONE Spirit--the Spirit of Christ--is to bring unity into their ranks.” — (E.G. White, 9T 189.3, 1909) THIRD PERSON = ONE + ONE + ONE = “the Spirit of Christ.” _______________________________________________________ THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON AND IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “remember the words of CHRIST, remember that HE [CHRIST] is an unseen presence in the PERSON of the Holy Spirit,” — (E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897) “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894) “Lift up CHRIST in His power in the PERSON of the Holy Spirit. He is waiting for them to open the door and admit Him.” — (E.G. White, Lt59, March 29, 1899) _______________________________________________________ WHO WALKS UNSEEN THROUGH OUR HOMES AND STREETS? THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST: “We want the HOLY SPIRIT, which is JESUS CHRIST.” — (E.G. White, Lt66, April 10, 1894) So we can add to this quote CHRIST BY HIS SPIRIT. “We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, [CHRIST BY HIS SPIRIT] who is as much a person as God is a person, is WALKING THROUGH THESE GROUNDS, UNSEEN BY HUMAN EYES; ... HE HEARS EVERY WORD WE UTTER and knows every thought of the mind.” — (E.G. White, 2SAT, pp. 136, 137, 1899) QUESTION 1: Who was walking through those grounds, through our streets, and by our side and hears every word we utter? “CHRIST WALKS UNSEEN THROUGH OUR STREETS. With messages of mercy He comes to our homes.” — (E.G. White, MH, p. 107) “How few realize that JESUS, UNSEEN, IS WALKING BY THEIR SIDE! How ashamed many would be to hear His voice speaking to them, and to know that HE HEARD ALL THEIR FOOLISH, COMMON TALK!” — (E.G. White, 14MR 125.3) “Remember that JESUS IS BESIDE YOU WHEREVER YOU GO, noting your actions and LISTENING TO YOUR WORDS.” — (E.G. White, YI, Feb 4, 1897) QUESTION 2: Who is the person of the Holy Spirit who is unseen by human eyes? “The human agent, the seen instrument, is to preach the Word, and the LORD JESUS, THE UNSEEN, AGENCY, BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT is to make the Word efficacious and powerful.—Letter 105, 1900.” — (E.G. White, 2SM 18.3) “He [CHRIST] is an UNSEEN PRESENCE in the PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,” — (E.G. White, DG, 185.2, 1897) _______________________________________________________ The answer never changes. There are a few quotes from Ellen White that can be misunderstood on their own as you have just seen, which a Jesuit used to bring the Trinity doctrine into the SDA Church. But letting SOP explain SOP, there is no mistaking she was referring to the SPIRIT OF CHRIST every time. She said: The Comforter is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the Spirit of truth is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the third person is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the third great power is the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost was the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, the Holy Spirit Jesus breathed on His disciples was HIS own SPIRIT, the Holy Spirit Christ sent to represent Himself was HIS own SPIRIT, the Heavenly trio is the Father, Son and SPIRIT OF CHRIST, and she reveals over and over again that there are only two divine beings. NOTE: God raised the Adventist Church as non-Trinitarian. The Trinity doctrine was slowly brought into the Adventist Church long AFTER the death of Ellen White and the pioneers by a suspected Jesuit who is also a known Freemason. The idea of the Holy Spirit as another being was Satan's idea so he could get worship for his creation. The real truth is that the “Holy Spirit” is the power and presence of God and of Christ which can function independently of themselves like a third (but not a literal third) and is how “They” represent “Themselves” where they are not personally present. Previous All trinity studies Next Back to top