Divine

The love of God may be describe in so many ways that it would be impossible to describe it

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The advisory knows that if he can obscure our vision, so that the eye of faith cannot see God, there will be no barrier against sin. {MB 92.1}

The love of God is given in the death of God’s only Son. Was God hungry for blood or rather was it from the beginning that man shed blood and Christ’s blood was at the hands of man to draw men to God as the Savior and life giver. God spoke and gave His Word- Christ was that Word, the Bible with it’s promises. His Word is given to us to comfort our thoughts and feelings and subdue the flesh. So the Word is given by letter and in the flesh by the Father to us. Jesus would step the way of a sinful man, yet without sin, showing us the way to live without sin- to love one another- a sign that we have passed from death to life 1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Even in the most simplest of things God is seen. Dog the spelling being the opposite of God is faithful, loyal under abuse and loves to smile and warms the heart of the lonely. God is with us in so many ways, trying and correcting our hearts in preparation for heaven. This simple dwelling in the mountains represents a picture of heaven for me but of course will be so much more, so grand and beautiful.

In this area are several articles

Spirit -considering some aspects of what our spirit & what God’s Spirit is
Life is not static– measuring up to the Divine mind of Christ
Well done & overcooked– human misbehaviour
Trinity or no? Understanding divinity in terms of Trinity
The Nature of God

The natural order of things is given in the Bible. We find in society today a rebellion against the order God ordained as spoke of in Isaiah 3:12 [As for] my people, children [are] their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause [thee] to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
3:13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.

There is a questioning of what a family really is and people have lost there way in their God given role in families as the man and the husband and the exalted nature of a women in relation to the children and its vital importance. Children and women rule over you. There is an isolation of family members in the West and high divorce and suicide rates that are a consequence of Culture and not understanding God’s family plan. Again the church instead of leading are emulating the trend of the world.

Understanding Christ also reveals an attitude and roles played that we should emulate- you will find this idea in the section called the nature of God.

Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. {MH 409.1}

A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service.
It is the only real safeguard against temptation.
It is this alone that can make us like God in character. {MH 409.2}

This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come. {MH 409.3}

Spirit

Mysticism is a confused road to nowhere to tantalize but never taste for it is a mirage. The mysteries of heathen worship are replaced by the secret associations and seances, the obscurities and wonders, of the sorcerers of our time.
Yet we are more engaged by ghosts, vampires and witches than anything God has to say.

Leviticus 19:30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD.
19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your God.
20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I [am] the LORD your God.
20:8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I [am] the LORD which sanctify you.
20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood [shall be] upon them.

Deuteronomy 18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
18:10 There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
18:12 For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

The Lord knows the thoughts of each person
Ezekiel 11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, [every one of] them.

The nature of man refers to the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting.

At the fall of man the body gradually deteriated and the first generation lived for many years however the spirit or mind with its thoughts feelings and purposes was at variance with God and radically and instantly changed. Man was seperated from God for the Spirit of God could not bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God but rather the children of rebellion: for the thoughts feelings and purposes were self destructive and selfish.

“The nature of man is threefold …the physical, intellectual, and moral powers.” The world does not undertand the true nature of man with the need for moral development but a Christian must if that for which he waits is to be obtained.
Is it little wonder that the world has trouble defining the nature of man for they reject the word of God.

If men had been willing to receive the truth so plainly stated in the Scriptures concerning the nature of man and the state of the dead, they would see in the claims and manifestations of spiritualism the working of Satan with power and signs and lying wonders.

The Spirit of man is also confused by worldy definition. The spirit of your mind which Paul refers to is personal attributes and feelings, affections, inclinations, that is the individual thoughts, feelings and purposes,
Ephesians 2:2 the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience is not God’s spirit of life and goodness and freedom. The body is a house for the spirit of man but without the spirit a man does not exist.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun.
The idea of an eternal spirit without a body in heaven is not scripural but a lie of spiritism.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Love is loyal and respectful and prolife.
As the word comes to our attention and its command for life, we step forward in faith that Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Sounds simple but the greatest battle be aginst self.

2 Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. The renewing of the mind makes us eligable and safe to be entrusted with an eternal body that is like Christ risen body.

The perception and appreciation of truth, He said, depends less upon the mind than upon the heart. Truth must be received into the soul; it claims the homage of the will. If truth could be submitted to the reason alone, pride would be no hindrance in the way of its reception. But it is to be received through the work of grace in the heart; and its reception depends upon the renunciation of every sin that the Spirit of God reveals. Man’s advantages for obtaining a knowledge of the truth, however great these may be, will prove of no benefit to him unless the heart is open to receive the truth, and there is a conscientious surrender of every habit and practice that is opposed to its principles. DA 456
Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

‘The will is the governing power in the nature of man’ bringing all other faculties under its way.
The gift of life with our decisions is a very powerful one that needs to be directed by the Word of God. satan has a vicious cycle of depression and blame, Christ says ur valuable get up and walk with me.

The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden. {AA 52.1}

“By the Spirit the Father and the Son will come and make their abode with you.”

By His Spirit He is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels He ministers to the children of men. {MH 417.2}
We need to realize that the Holy Spirit . . . is as much a person as God is a person. . . . {FLB 52.2} 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
The Holy Spirit is a free, working, independent agency. The God of heaven uses His Spirit as it pleases Him;
An extension of His person was The son and an extension of the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit. We note that the Holy Spirit is independent as Christ is independent from the Father yet it is this independence that marks the work of the Father is the creation of life- to be individuals, unique in person yet acting in harmony.
Should we set up a throne to the Holy Spirit- no this is not the Father’s will.
Should we pray to the Holy Spirit- this is not correct but praying in the Spirit is different
Do we need to demonstrate that this is not a person- we are told it is. Independent yet united in action with the Father.
In try to discover more we fall into errors for God has not revealed the nature of the Holy Spirit.
“The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies the Saviour and the saviour glorifies the Father and everything comes from the Father through the Son. It is the office of the Holy Spirit to present Christ and reveal Christ who reveals to us the Father. They are our ne mind and they ask us to join in the same mind ans Spirit.

The attributes of the FATHER are given to the Son are manifest in creation of everything that exists Colossians 1 and the mind of the Father and the Son are united by the Spirit that communicates between themselves in one mind and that mind draws men. The existence of Christ the Archangel as the great I Am who created all, was a begotten Son hence the controversy began with Lucifer that he too might be taken into the counsels of God. Men are given a spirit but that spirit is to be united through the clear teachings of the Word of God with His Spirit. The Father is Lord in His own right, the Son is God through the power of the Father and has been given life in Himself to create all. The Spirit of God communicates between the Father and the Son as one mind and draws men- His nature is unknown. We are god in that we can create but we are only so in our capacity as adopted sons.

Life is not Static

Life is not static for those that desire to progress and change, learning by their mistakes and by God’s grace are able to repent, correct their ways and move on. But many would draw us back to past mistakes and disappointments.

The Lord in speaking to David about the great sin committed with Bathsheba gave David opportunity to correct his ways and find restoration. He gives all such opportunity yet many are what the other brother was to the prodigal son.

Christ was accused of Satan because of his jealous and selfish heart, but let us not participate in this evil between one another.

Evil surmising- to suggest something that is not true is the work of the enemy and many times constructions are made about other people through their impressions when the Lord would have us give them the benefits accustomed to ourselves as sinners. Impression of the mind, though thought to be impressions of the Holy Spirit are a form of fanaticism if they are not true, and having no substance of truth in them, they are damaging to the individual and the relationships between one another. Let us uphold our brethren until we have blinding evidence that we cannot do otherwise. Thoughts and feelings must be established in absolute truth of the word and evidence of the situation. Are we praying and befriending our brethren? Are we loyal to their reputation and well being?

Treating the person by the history of their faults- does forgiveness mean bringing faults up to remembrance? Thank God He does not do this or yet our sins will remain on record if we don’t repent of this evil. Repentance and confession and humbling of heart is necessary on all side if we are to be in unity and by such unity the power of the Holy Ghost bless us. Without such we shall not enter into heaven’s gates. Many times the fault of others are whispered amongst the believers by evil tongues or someones misfortunes in a broken life are rumored around that are positively hurtful- such work is not of God’s plan.

Some minds are so distorted through their own perverseness that they are ever suspicious or so damaged that they cannot let go and forgive. We need to all ask God for healing of body and soul. We can move on when we stop the blame of everyone around us and get up take up your bed and walk. Blaming our parents and others when we are not acting our part and are self focused is crippling to maturity and our potential in Christ. There are no natural born Christians or perfect hereditary of which we can be proud- let all take account for him or herself before God and join the family of heaven in sincere restoration of ourselves and one another.

Inner beauty that becomes outer beauty: Jealousy has a self focus, monitoring the actions, what someone is thinking, misinterpreting other’s thoughts and actions and constructing what that means and accumulating other’s words and actions for further future negative reference, together with their own poor self esteem, is crippling their own individual beauty. How few really understand beauty what it means to both an intelligent person and God. How self limiting we can be, when God whats us to be free. How diverse, unique and individual is humanity, let us embrace who we are to be potentially in Christ.

Remaining in a state of please forgive me Lord and regret and guilt is good for only the duration of the time in which we need to improve the situation and move on. Feelings of guilt no longer are valuable but deceptive if we do not believe in the power of God to forgive us, and likewise we forgive ourselves, and be able to learn and move on from the situation.

Paul said I have learnt to be content in all things- what does that mean? In disputes with others, in family disruptions, in loss, in work changes- in everything! How? I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. The Word and God’s promises through the Holy Spirit must rise above one’s own thoughts and feelings at times of crisis by faith, to walk in the narrow path that overcomes the world.

‘Christians’ taking Christians to the law courts to exact their rights and financially gain by such means, are taking a dangerous course that heaven does not approve of, and such actions which is Papal, using civil power to exact her own means, will suffer great loss and unless there is repentance among brethren. Such do not recognize the body of Christ and by what means brethren should settle differences.

The word that makes us clean says Let us then remember that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. God wants us to becomes clean inside to out, physically and spiritually.

Well done and overcooked

A fun look at people behaving badly

Complexity: not giving a simple answer may simply mean there is no truth in it

Reconstruction: ‘you miss the point and clearly made an attempt to construct another in my name’

Draw at straws: look for the minor flaws to draw on the argument

Milking: to bring and regurgitate again from post to post the winning point or the opponents flaws

Diversion: side railing or railroading- come up with a silly question completely off topic or just simply question the minor point

Tyranny: an authoritative questioning demanding yes no answers – court trial – one must answer our questions on demand and prove

Swamping: a whole lot of quotes- overkill to impress, prove and uphold ones own thoughts

Authoritative: use another popular revered author to prove your stand with little personal input to the topic’s theme

Rational evasion: refusing to acknowledge an obvious point blank statement or just avoid a ‘difficult’ post or message and rejoin at a more convenient moment

Dazzle: bold color enlarge and underline furiously

Derision: laugh at and belittle

Salutes and halos and Uh huh… zzzzzzzz, Hmmmmmm

I’m not against harmonics but on the contra I thought it worthwhile to place herein

Patronizing: airs and graces to begin and wishing you God’s mercy and spiritual eyesight @ the end or ‘when you come over to our side’

Tapping: incessant smart …. answers that will never end if you dare to continue on down the post or in the conversation

Tree jumping: jumping schools of theological thought for a winning end or just not understanding the primary starting point to begin with and/ or its logical conclusion

Pakman: a surround attack by buddies against the ‘evil’ intrusion

Labeling: to insight bigotry and deride – to capture the natural man’s allegiance

Filing: data bank years of other’s people’s answers ready for the salient moment

Policing: reporting or handing out tickets to perceived offenders

Back pats: smooth talks with theological eloquence comes with reward

Man praise: lets see …..says he represents the church- a pin helps him get over it and come back through the door he came in

Elephant shot gun: give it to them babe

Superhero status: answers all questions whether he knows the answer or not, protects and wears a cape and has tight pants. Kryptonite is a problem

[bq id=”overcooked quote1″ type=”simple”]God’s word condemns also the use of those meaningless phrases and expletives that border on profanity. It condemns the deceptive compliments, the evasions of truth, the exaggerations, the misrepresentations in trade, that are current in society and in the business world. “Let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.” Matthew 5:37, R.V. {Ed 236.1}[/bq]

[bq id=”overcooked quote2″ type=”simple”]“As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?” Proverbs 26:18, 19. {Ed 236.2}[/bq]

Trinity or no?

[Show slideshow]

1 Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
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.

It was a revelation of God that changes the life of Isaiah & will change ours too.

It was concerning the teachings of the trinity that Popes were established and nations ceased to exist. The prophecy of 1260 years of Papal rule was established on taking away the power of Arian kings and popes of Arian persuasion.

How literal was the image given that God would allow the life to be taken of His only begotten son?

Do we have a right to question the person, divinity and humanity of Christ? Yes,it is by these means of controversy that our minds and are brought to focus on important issues. It is by controversial means that the Sabbath truth will come to the forefront for the world to consider and by that which Satan causes controversy on Biblical matters we should see the battle for the most important matters that when unravelled presents marvellous light.

Why would the nature of God be under controversy in a people who claim to be God’s own? Answer is,”the nature and the thoughts and feelings of man are at variance with God. The reality is that man does not want to be like Christ or has never realised that his thoughts and feeling are at variance with God and could be otherwise. 2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. The power can be denied for it was never realised and experienced by faith– full-ness.

Before His death the Saviour was deeply anxious for His disciples to understand for what pur-pose His divinity was united to humanity. He came to the world to display the glory of God, that man might be uplifted by its restoring power. God was manifested in Him that He might be manifested in them. DA 665. The power of the Holy Spirit is denied through a denial of the humanity or divinity of Christ through which the power of the gospel is extended to us, to be over comers as He was an over comer while on earth.

Divinity– could only uplift the fallen nature of man, whose nature is in rebellion against his own creation.

(This rebellion is evident in all the war and chaos world wide. With amazement heavenly intelligences saw the soon result of the fall– Gen 4:10 And God said to Cain, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood Abel crieth unto me from the ground.)

How Christians speak with derision against such a point as the humanity of Christ connected to his Divinity is both amazing and Satanic in origin. So where there is smoke there is fire. The very weapon against demonic forces that would rescue men and women from their fallen condition, has its key in the divinity and humanity of Christ. A revelation of these attributes is what gives us an appre-ciation of who God is and follows on to conversion.

The doctrine of the Trinity which was established in the church by the council of Nicea. d. 325. This doctrine destroys the personality of God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The infamous measures by which it was forced upon the church, which appear upon the pages of ecclesiastical history– J N Andrews

Thus it is, as given in the words of Cardinal Gibbons:— We affirm that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Word of God, who in His divine nature is, from all eternity, begot-ten of the Father, consubstantial with Him, was in the fullness of time again begotten, by being born of the virgin, thus taking to himself from her maternal womb a human nature of the same substance with hers. {January 15, 1901 AT Jones ARSH 40}

As far as the sublime mystery of the incarnation can be reflected in the natural order, the blessed Virgin, under the overshadow-ing of the Holy Ghost, by communicating to the Second Person of the adorable Trinity, as mothers do, a true human nature of the same substance with her own, is thereby really and truly His mother.”—”Faith of Our Fathers,” pages 198, 199. {January 15, 1901 AT Jones, ARSH 40}

Now put these two things together. First, we have the nature of Mary defined as being not only “very different from the rest of mankind,” but “more sublime and glorious than all natures;” thus putting her infinitely beyond any real likeness or relationship to mankind as we really are.

Next, we have Jesus described as taking from her a human nature of the same substance as hers.

From this theory it therefore follows as certainly as two and two make four, that in His human nature the Lord Jesus is “very different” from mankind; indeed, His nature is not human nature at all, but divine.

That is the Roman Catholic doctrine concerning the human nature of Christ. But Catholic faith is not the faith of Christ; it is the faith of Antichrist.{January 15, 1901 AT Jones, ARSH 40}

You ask what we teach about the Trinity. Inasmuch as we find no such expression in the Scriptures, we do not teach anything about it. But as to the Being of God,-the Godhead,-Divinity as revealed in the Father, the Word (the Son), and the Holy Spirit, we believe and teach just what the Bible says, and nothing else. No man can by searching find out God. No creature can understand the Almighty to perfection. The finite mind cannot comprehend infinity. Therefore, in discussions about the Trinity, about the nature of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, are manifestations of gross presumption. {February 6, 1902 EJW, PTUK 83.12}

The Trinity of Roman Catholic teaching is a vague misconception. The mother of God is a falsehood that destroys what the divinity of Christ should mean to us. It takes away the meaning of the The Word or God made flesh and abandons us to the role of priests chosen to intercede with one altogether different from ourselves.

Many Sabbath keeping Christians are divided on the nature of Christ– His divine and human nature. The result must only be a confused concept of matters of salvation and the gospel.

Another denial of divinity, we find in translations- 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Though many Christians support the doctrine of the trinity, they accept various Bibles that do not support their teachings. NIV omits the above passage from its Bible.

“The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light cov-ered him. I asked Jesus if his Father had a form like himself. He said he had, but I could not behold it, for said he if you should once behold the glory of his person you would cease to exist.” Periodical to the little remnant scattered abroad.

Text book of the universe– controversy over divine right

In the Christian/ Jewish realm the Father and His authority was never under dispute nor was it in heaven. But Lucifer claimed an equal right with the Son. “I will be like the most High Isaiah 14:14

I would suggest that to a greater extent, the Old and New Testament is a record of the Divinity– OT; and Humanity– NT of Jesus Christ. Jesus identifies Himself to Moses and then in the New Testament times as while inhumanity declares Himself as the Great ‘I AM’

“All through the pages of sacred history, where the dealings of God with His chosen people are recorded, there are burning traces of the great I AM….All the communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ….Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.” (GAG 43) Whatever we read about Yahweh in the Old Testament we are reading about Christ. In Isaiah 40:28 Yahweh is “the everlasting God,” “the Creator of the ends of the earth.” PP 367

The Father identifies Jesus at His baptism as my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:17

Ps 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Fa-ther, and he shall be to me a Son?

1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

The term and concept of the Trinity, first introduced by theologians in the third century, was catapulted into the limelight at the Council of Nicaea, 325 AD. The Emperor Constantine gathered the religious leaders of the world in an effort to achieve unity on the nature of the Godhead.

In the Roman Rite Mass, the Latin text of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, with “Deum de Deo” (God from God) and “Filioque” (and from the Son), phrases absent in the original text, was previously the only form used for the “profession of faith”

Some evangelical and other Christians consider the Nicene Creed helpful and to a certain extent authoritative, but not infallibly so in view of their belief that only Scripture is truly authoritative.[25][26]Other groups, such as the Church of the New Jerusalem, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses explicitly reject some of the statements in the Creed.[27][28][29][30] Where do Seventh-Day Adventists stand on this

“Assembling under the sanction of a united church and state, that famous gathering commanded the sub-mission of believers to new doctrines. The burning question of the decades succeeding the Council of Nicaea was how to state the relations of the Three Persons of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Council had decided, and the papacy had appropriated the decision as its own. The personalities of the Trinity were not confounded, and the substance was not divided. The Roman clergy claimed that Christianity had found in the Greek word homousios (in English, consubstantiality) an appropriate term to express this relationship.

“Then the papal party proceeded to call those who would not subscribe to this teaching, Arians, while they took to themselves the title of Trinitari-ans. An erroneous charge was circulated that all who were called Arians believed that Christ was a created being. This stirred up the indignation of those who were not guilty of the charge. “It will be interesting to examine for a moment this word, this term, which has split many a church and has caused many a sincere Christian to be burned at the stake. In English the word is‘consubstantial,‘ connoting that more than one person inhabit the same substance without divi-sion or separation. The original term in Greek is homoousios, from homos, meaning ‘identical,’ and ousia, the word for ‘being.’

“However, a great trouble arose, since there are two terms in Greek of historical fame. The first homos, meaning ‘identical,’ and the second, homoios, meaning ‘similar’ or ‘like unto,’ had both of them a stormy history. The spelling of these words is much alike. The difference in meaning, when applied to the Godhead, is bewildering to simple-hearted believers. Nevertheless, those who would think in terms of homoiousian, or ‘similar,’ instead of homoousian, or ‘identical,’ were promptly labeled as heretics and Arians by the clergy.” Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant, pp. 91,92.

Benjamin Wilkinson in a letter to Dr. T.S. Teters 1936, “Replying to your letter of October 13 regarding the doctrine of the Trinity, I will say that Seventh Day Adventists do not, and never have accepted the dark, mysterious, Catholic doctrine of the Trinity.”

Council of Nicaea stated-

“But those who say: ‘There was a time when he was not;’ and ‘He was not before he was made;’ and ‘He was made out of nothing,’ or ‘He is of another substance’ or ‘essence,’ or ‘The Son of God is created,’ or ‘changeable,’ or ‘alterable’—they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.]

They said that the Godhead consists of three personalities and one essence or substance, using very philosophical terms.” or Platonic terms. THERE APPEARS TO BE TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT but is the trinity expressed by the Roman church true?

A lesson in Divinity and our role—equality under submission

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; be-cause I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

An apparent contradiction-

A woman has a different role in life though equal with a male both are under the bonds of love yet both have very different roles to play. This is a very different concept to that of the world. Ps 82:6 I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High.

Ephesians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in every thing. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:

Expansion– New and distinct order

In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer’s assurance of eternal life. {FLB 47.2}

All the communion between heaven and the fallen race has been through Christ. It was the Son of God that gave to our first parents the promise of redemption. It was He who revealed Himself to the patriarchs. Adam . . . understood the gospel. . . . {FLB 47.3}

Divinity was showing Himself to an unfallen universe through the example of those whom He made after His own image.

John 1:3 All things were made by him (Jesus); and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or domin-ions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Pioneers of the SDA said that Christ was a created being. Is this a true statement?

Expansion– E G white’s comment on the meaning of begotten

A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”– not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father’s person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and di-vine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. {ST, May 30, 1895 par. 3} Arian view??????

The union of divinity with humanity brings to the fallen race a value which we scarcely comprehend. The human and the divine were united in Christ, in order that he might rep-resent those who should believe in him.

The Father gave to the Son all power and authority to create the uni-verse– there is one God who created the universe– Jesus Christ but there is more to this. Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, not only equal but as we just saw in Colossians created all things without which the heavens and earth have no existence.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image

2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground

Expansion-

The Father and Son had a plan, through Christ that plan was executed

In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works of creation. It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung the worlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field. “His strength setteth fast the mountains.” “The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalm 65:6; 95:5. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all things in earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of the Father’s love. {DA 20.1}

Circuit of life, the tide of love

Divinity was His right given to Him through the Father– He has life in Himself– the life given to us by the Father was through Christ.

Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, un-derived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the believer’s as-surance of eternal life

All things Christ received from God (the Father), but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life. {DA 21.2}

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, not only equal but as we just saw in Colossians created all things without which the heavens and earth have no existence.

Job 38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

Genesis 5:4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

John 10:30 I and [my] Father are one.

10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever be-lieveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right. This was no robbery of God. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,” He declares, “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 depths” (Proverbs 8:22-27). {LHU 16.4}

Expansion- The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct per-son, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right. This was no robbery of God. {1SM 247.4}

“He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent”

There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was One with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory. This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light unapproachable and incomprehensible (RH April 5, 1906).

God exists outside the human concept of time, but also inside of time.

Christ’s life on earth was in fulfillment of the plan that had existed from the days of eternity. 5BC chapter 1

Paradox– how could Christ exist from eternity yet begotten of the Father? Human reason-ing comes in here to explain but is mere speculation

Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: The Jews rejecting Jesus, rejecting the Holy Spirit say there is one God and no Christ. The Jehovah’s witnesses say there is one God Jehovah and that is the Father.

There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was one with the Father before the foun-dation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplen-dent with divine, original glory. This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light, unap-proachable and incomprehensible. (Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 247, 248).

“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived.” (DA 530) “Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God.…He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God….He is the eternal, self-existent Son.” (Ev 615) “From all eternity Christ was united with the Fa-ther.” (5BC 1115) “Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity.” (RH April 5, 1906) Is this not a paradox!

What is that light and glory then? Is there a glimpse? I would sug-gest there is no wisdom or help in this knowledge except we seek to stand in moral independence, free from sin, in the strength of a character moulded after the divine similitude.

Zech 3:8 I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. “A Son begotten in the express image of the Father’s person” ST May 13 1895

Before the entrance of sin among the angels: Christ the Word, the only-begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father, –one in nature, in character, and in purpose,–the only be-ing in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ, the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings.–The Great Controversy, p. 493.

Attributes of Christ–

 Eternal—unknown quantity and unfathomed by mortals. This 20th century revealed some of this in the exploration of space

 Self-existent— It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. . . . {1MCP 247.4} he needs no other to supply his existence for life is in Himself

 Pre-existent– He lived before all creation existed

 Begotten– given some rendering of the meaning by came forth

Came forth– came from the Father . Waggoner says He is begotten, not created. As to when he was begotten is not for us to inquire nor could our minds grasp it if we were told. 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 de-clared [him]… But the point is that Christ is a begotten Son and not a created subject. Christ and His Righteousness by E J Waggoner p29

One with the Father—> a very crude presentation of this concept is the budding of a micro-organism. We really cannot say or comprehend time and space before planets and earth and space existed. Human birth is a limited representation for the great ‘I AM.’

Another paradox—How can God be a Spirit if He is a person and has a throne. John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Holy Spirit is both the Spirit of the Father and of Christ– to explain the Holy Spirit as far as Christ himself did as the wind John 3:8 and by His attributes is as far as we can go John 14

The Holy Spirit communicates with a million perhaps greater than we could contemplate minds personally in conversation. The Spirit also came forth from the Father and the Son. The Father and the Son can communicate with creation through the Spirit and cre-ate. If the Spirit was not a person how could He thus converse with us. While Christ laid aside His divinity He did so to share it with us for our uplifting, therefore he said I will pray the Father that he may send you another comforter.

Publish the truth, do not publish error. Do not try to explain in regard to the person-ality of God. You cannot give any further explanation than the Bible has given. Hu-man theories regarding Him are good for nothing. Do not soil your minds by study-ing misleading theories of the enemy. E. G. White, Counsels to Writers and Edi-tors (Nashville, Tennessee: Southern Publishing Association, 1946), pp.93, 94. Cit-ing Letter 179, 1904.

Revelation 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Not All Evangelicals and Catholics Together

Protestant debate on justification is reigniting questions about Rome.

The group Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) touted a 1994 statement, “The Gift of Salvation,” in which several prominent Roman Catholics affirmed “justification by faith alone.”

The long debate over how Protestants should view the Roman Catholic Church has received sev-eral jolts of intensity in the past 15 years. The group Evangelicals and Catholics Together (ECT) touted a 1994 statement, “The Gift of Salvation,” in which several prominent Ro-man Catholics affirmed “justification by faith alone.” The unofficial statement predated an official agreement be-tween the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation in 1999, called “The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.” The church allowed that anathemas the Council of Trent delivered in the mid-1500s do not apply to Protestants who agree with the joint declaration.

Righteousness by faith alone? Catholics affirm? Doesn’t quite sound right does it

Has not there been ongoing controversy over the issue justification by faith in the church, from where do these influences come? Righteousness by faith alone is often a misconception and all misconceptions must inevitably lead us back to Rome.

Is this the righteousness and faith or the Saviour we place our faith in? I say no but only by a Saviour whose nature was blended with ours that we maybe uplifted, that transformation might take place.

The fiery darts of the enemy are aimed right at the very foundation of the end time message- ‘the everlasting gospel’.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: be-cause many false prophets are gone out into the world.

4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Note the NIV and many other Bibles state ‘every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is from God..’ However a critical point is missing.

Next, we have Jesus described as taking from her a human nature of the same sub-stance as hers.

That is the Roman Catholic doctrine concerning the human nature of Christ. But Catholic faith is not the faith of Christ; it is the faith of Antichrist.{January 15, 1901 AT Jones, ARSH 40}

It was Mary’s linage that connected Christ with man’s fallen nature. The Trinity of Catholic teaching is to place trust in a divine mother Mary and a divine Son Jesus through the mediation of a human priest.

Our mediator the Bible tells us is through a priest divine but touched by the feelings and thoughts of our weakness as fallen humans yet never entering into sin or the propen-sities that come with participation in sin.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

Jesus is to be our perfect example, His faith was obedient to the will of the Father.

QUESTION

Is there one God or is there two or three? Psalms 82;1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

One God the Father– then who is Christ?- ‘my servant the branch’- AN EXTENSION OF HIS PERSON ,YET HIS OWN PERSON.

Then is Christ God? Yes ,through Christ the Father created all things. Our existence be-longs to Christ. Shall we say that Christ is any less than the Father when He created all that exists?

This is my Son in whom I AM well pleased.

Was Christ brought to view in the Old Testament? He lead Israel in their wanderings etc —His death was illustrated by Abraham and Isaac.

Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

22:11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I.

22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.

22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

The Holy Spirit who then is He? Another branch of the Father AND Son. The details of the Holy Spirit are not given.

There is one God– The Father– the source of all

There is only one who has created all – Jesus Christ

There is one who communicates constantly between all intelligences– The Holy Spirit

Then who are we? Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] chil-dren of the most High. Those that join the divine nature of Jesus are given life everlast-ing life and judgement. They have been given that right through the righteousness of Christ.

The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would tran-spire under the first and second angels’ messages. It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must neces-sarily be tested. In the order of God most wonderful and ad-vanced truths would be proclaimed. The first and second angels’ messages were to be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work. This is represented by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with a most solemn oath that time should be no longer. {7BC 971.6}

Further light cannot be given until we be ready to accept, proclaim and advance. How can we advance if we reject-

 The humanity and divinity of Christ

 The gospel

 The avenue for advancement, the health message

These have been substituted by-

A Christ that has a divine nature and therefore is altogether different from our own. This is a road leading to Rome.

A people living the perfect will of God, without sin and without a mediator just prior to Christ’s return, is graphically portrayed by E G White in the book Great Controversy, yet many members say this is a false teaching amongst many Seventh Day Adventists. Detractors in the church say its a false teaching of Historical Adventists, then why not say it is a false teaching of E G White. At root of the problem is faith, self and ones own ideas con-cerning inspiration.

Moral excellence has not been sought by following Christ’s instruction to find for the families and the future a rural retreat. The home may even be in a rural location but the wickedness of the city is beamed in through the air waves and thus the thoughts and feeling are imbued that are not of Christ.

The gospel presented is often lip service to acknowledge a change of nature is necessary but in reality it is behaviour modification. The service of heart for the church and the world is not as it ought to be.

The health message– a test of the faith of God’s people is ad-ministered through allopathic medicine– the very avenue that E G White warned against. How can the three angels message about

The creator be expounded through an international drug com-pany? It says nothing of a Saviour and His healing means

At the heart of the gospel is the nature of God

Roman Catholic practice emphasises the divinity of Christ with salvation by works and penance. The Eucharist- ‘The Catholic Church teaches that when the bread and wine are consecrated in the Eucha-rist, they cease to be bread and wine, and become, respectively, the body and blood of Christ, each of which is accompanied by the other and by Christ’s soul and divinity.’

Protestantism practice emphasises the divinity of Christ and salvation by faith in Christ alone

Seventh-day Adventist are divided as a people between a protestant belief and historical belief.

The Pioneers of whom E G White belongs emphasised the divinity and humanity of Christ as part of the gospel message to perfect His people and make them ready for translation.

I would suggest the reason for the shifting is on the heart of the matter– our belief in Christ and the application of that in the life.

In vision I saw two armies in terrible conflict. One army was led by banners bearing the world’s insignia; the other was led by the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Standard after stan-dard was left to trail in the dust, as company after company from the Lord’s army joined the foe, and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God. An angel flying in the midst of heaven put the standard of Emmanuel into many hands, while a mighty general cried out with a loud voice: “Come into line. Let those who are loyal to the commandments of God and the testimony of Christ now take their position. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters. Let all who will, come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” {CET 228.1}

The SON came forth from the Father

The Father gave to the SON

The SON took to give

The SON breathed forth

The Holy Spirit took to give to us –therefore He speaks not of Himself

John 6:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you.

I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the Word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and ex-plaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the Word of God plain and simple in declaring the way of life, but the Holy Spirit is given as a guide in understanding the way to life therein revealed. {EW 220.2} http://www.calltorepent.com/trinity/

Publish the truth, do not publish error. Do not try to explain in regard to the personality of God. You cannot give any further ex-planation than the Bible has given. Human theories regarding Him are good for nothing. Do not soil your minds by studying misleading theories of the enemy.1

On the other hand, she indicated that there are certain truths on the nature of God revealed in the Bible which are available to those who prayerfully seek to understand them:

The revelation of Himself that God has given in His Word is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this we are not to penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out on conjectures re-garding the nature of God, but the effort will be fruitless. This problem has not been given us to solve. No human mind can comprehend God. None are to indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion.2

Thus the oneness between the Father and the Son is declared to be a myste-rious union not yet explained to mortals

“I and my Father are one.”

It might be asked of the Arian how Christ could be inferior to the Father and yet be “all the fullness of the Godhead manifested.” gane

But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. “I do nothing of Myself,” said Christ; “the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.” “I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life. {DA 21.2}

No More Night The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away. It’s not a dream, God will make all things new that day. Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell. Evil is banished to eternal hell. No more night. No more pain. No more tears. Never crying again. And praises to the great “I AM.” We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. See all around, now the nations bow down to sing. The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King. Slowly the names from the book are read. I know the King, so there’s no need to dread. No more night. No more pain. No more tears. Never crying again. And praises to the great “I AM.” We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. See over there, there’s a mansion, oh, that’s prepared just for me, Where I will live with my savior eternally. No more night. No more pain. No more tears. Never crying again. And praises to the great “I AM.” We will live in the light of the risen Lamb. All praises to the great “I AM.” We’re gonna live in the light of the risen Lamb.

The Nature of God

Who are you Lord?

Key text John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Unity of the faith 100 hits

Unity 1821

Perfect 7184

Perfection 2117

Exodus 3:5 Draw not nearer: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground. Who are you Lord?

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

What does the sanctification of Jesus mean? Jesus came as one of us and brought His mind in harmony with His Father’s mind. He grew in wisdom and stature from a child and learnt truth to obey, and sanctified body and soul and spirit, that He as well as we shall be enabled to rise above temptation. He humbled Himself that we might be sanctified.

His prayer is for us

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

What is truth that Jesus was so anxious to reveal to His own for whom He so earnestly prayed before His death?

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. – this is our theme text.

Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

So we all recognise that this is God’s son but there is contention over who in essence He really is. Do you understand these issues have occurred with much contention since 1888? If you don’t know you best know because the world is peering in and noticing some inconsistencies in what is being said. Why is this so? Because the natural heart is at variance with God and the enemy has brought the very heart of the message, the gospel into dispute.

Striving in knowledge and obedience.

Have you ever felt like you are suspended somewhere between heaven and earth?

In the work of redemption we may have a knowledge of Jesus Christ by planting the feet on one round after another in perfect obedience to all the commandments of God. This is a necessity for each individual–striving and making progress at every step. It is simply impossible to enter heaven without constant striving. There is fearful peril in relaxing our efforts in spiritual diligence for a moment, for we are hanging, as it were, between heaven and earth. {19MR 353.4}

So many views

If one man takes his views of Bible truth without regard to the opinion of his brethren, and justifies his course, alleging that he has a right to his own peculiar views, and then presses them upon others, how can he be fulfilling the prayer of Christ? And if another and still another arises, each asserting his right to believe and talk what he pleases, without reference to the faith of the body, where will be that harmony which existed between Christ and His Father, and which Christ prayed might exist among His brethren? {CET 201.2} Is there a unity of belief in the gospel amongst us?

But what if the body has drifted from the foundations? Or was the foundation really ever accepted and if it had of been accepted we would have already entered the kingdom of heaven?

We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel; but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action.–Letter 184, 1901. {Ev 696.3}

What Christ Is Waiting For

Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. {LDE 39.2} You must know Him or see Him to reflect that image.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Can we lay hold of this greatest of all science? Is our fellowship with the Father, and with Christ? {20MR 350.4}

“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” [John 5:17.] {CE 194.3}

Does the essence of God in what He has revealed really matter really matter to us as Christians? Is it just a matter of curiosity? Will it make any difference to us? I mean if we did not know about Christ would it really matter? The Jews rejected Christ but they believed in God the Father or do they? What tends to happen is misconceptions about God lead to spiritism for example the JWs came out of the Advent movement.

Knowing the truth of who God is affects the way we act and think. It is at the heart of conversion and the depth of the gospel.

Well I can be a good person. Jesus was a good person right. So we can follow Him or can we? How can we be like someone we thought we knew but really didn’t at all.

On the outside we are moving in the right direction but inwardly the old man is struggling;

It was the Father’s free will that makes us special and being made in God’s image were given the gift of free will or choice. Satan understands this and at the opposite end of the scale the occult says do what you will. Christ say speaking of His father, not my will but thy will be done.

Jesus could not save us and retain the essence of who we are without our consent, and our co-operation. The whole thing would have to be destroyed and start again but to retain the race and us- a new and distinct order and have it right- free from rebellion and sin the free will would have to be retained and a new nature put within, this is something only God could do; offering His divine nature to us, a role that no other person could fulfil.

To retain the free will of man yet make Him pro-life (a universally social being) and abiding by the laws of life requires a change of nature. Man was in rebellion against his own nature, his environment and the life of others and himself. Such freedom to self serve and destroy for selfish gain is called in the Bible transgression or sin and not freedom at all but chains.

A new creation must be wrought which is prolife, friendly to the environment and respects others. The law of God is an evidence in itself of His existence which is life. The essence of the person is retained, who they are and their unique qualities but a change is brought about that is prolife and does not want to cross the line of good behaviour and citizenship. Such is brought about by trial and work and having a relationship with Him.

1 Cor 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Every fibre of the person’s being is to be put to the stretch. God asks us to be perfect. As jesus is the pattern so we are to follow his testimony of who the Father is. Many have said but have you ever seen a perfect person? Laughing at the very idea and sad to say this is common in SDA circles. But God called Job a perfect man. Nathanial was a man in whom Jesus said there was no guile. God sees the heart as the plant that is growing toward him. It is impossible for us to know when a person is sealed. Paul says Phil 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

But He is serious about running the race and he is stepping up to the mark. This is when the adversary also gets serious with you.

Is the Trinity we hold part of an effective gospel message?

While the Seventh-day Adventist Church today espouses the doctrine of the Trinity, this has not always been so. The evidence from a study of Adventist history indicates that from the earliest years of our church to the 1890s a whole stream of writers took an Arian or semi-Arian position.1 The view of Christ presented in those years by Adventist authors was that there was a time when Christ did not exist, that His divinity is an inherited divinity, and that therefore He is inferior to the Father. In regard to the Holy Spirit, their position was that He was not the third member of the Godhead, but the power of God.

A number of Adventist authors today who are opposed to the doctrine of the Trinity are trying to resurrect the views of our early pioneers on these issues.2 They are urging the church to forsake the “Roman doctrine” of the Trinity and to accept again the semi-Arian position of our pioneers.

Today we say there are three co-equals. Yet we do not qualify who they are by their relationship & have we not presented something that resembles many gods which pagans spoke of- that being many deities. Are there not in fact three Gods? What appears to be said in SDAism today is: there are three Gods one in purpose and that is how the three become one which appears to be lacking detail of inspiration because they are one in purpose but more is said than this.

When the Father said this is my begotten Son what did he mean? Begotten or born

Sister White clears up the difficulty. Why don’t we pray to Christ? Why did He direct us to the Father? Was it just His equal who He wanted to be included? My God and your God He says

That light which God sent into the world Jesus His only son which was a part of Himself- His only-begotten Son,”– not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father’s person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. {ST, May 30, 1895 par. 3}

Did Sister White have a semi- arian view? No in SDA circles dares to ask that.

Do we believe in one God or do the devils just believe this only?

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Now, as never before, we need to understand the true science of education. If we fail to understand this, we shall never have a place in the kingdom of God.

A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service.
It is the only real safeguard against temptation.
It is this alone that can make us like God in character. {MH 409.2}

Here is a very important statement-

Your knowledge of God and of His attributes has been lessened since you have begun to theorize regarding His nature and prerogatives. {MM 96.2}

The church is now engaged in a warfare that will increase in intensity on the very point on which you have been misled. Not one pillar of our faith is to be moved. Not one line of revealed truth is to be replaced by new and fanciful theories. {MM 96.3}

In clear lines truth has been given us. Under the guidance of God, books have been prepared which state clearly the truth for this time. If you will not believe these evidences, neither would you believe if one rose from the dead. {MM 96.4} Found in Medical Ministry. Who was theorizing on the nature of God?- Dr Kellogg. What books had been brought out clearly on this subject? Books that contain the 1888 message from Waggoner, Sister White in particular.

That the Father and Christ have ever existed and yet Christ proceeded forth from the Father are as incomprehensible as eternity & beyond human reasoning. Again to imagine God and what He did before a planet ever existed is beyond human comprehension. To understand eternity or infinity or endless time and space is not something a man cannot grasp, but such falls into speculation.

He calls upon His army of workers to fall into line, taking their stand under the banner of truth. He warns them to beware of occupying their time in the discussion of matters that God has not authorized any human being to discuss. {MM 93.5} Satan desires to call their attention from the real issues to false theories. {MM 93.6}

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

What is the message of the gospel about? The Father and His Son, It is the message of God – His power unto salvation. Their relationship and who they are is powerful. How can the fall of Babylon be given without first a message that is in contrast to uplift humanity.

Now, just now, we are to proclaim present truth, with assurance and with power. Do not strike one dolorous note; do not sing funeral hymns.–Letter 311, 1905. {Ev 122.1} but rather the power and salvation of our God.

When we take away the truth that Jesus was not a man altogether like we are we are saying that His work is at a higher level that is independent of the will of man. Christ makes up our short fall for who we are, in this we take away the descion or man’s part in salvation- the will and the new nature and the power of God to transform the life. We start to imbue the ideas of the world- a person is born a homosexual and we should accept him as he is. No one is born a natural Christian but must be born again.

Christ’s humanity that links us to Him- Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level of those He wished to save. In Him was no guile or sinfulness; He was ever pure and undefiled; yet He took upon Him our sinful nature. Clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might associate with fallen humanity, He sought to regain for man that which, by disobedience, Adam had lost for himself and for the world. In His own character He displayed to the world the character of God.–The Review and Herald, Dec. 15, 1896. {7ABC 452.6}

False statements on the gospel: We should understand clearly that Christ did not assume a “sinful body” or “sinful flesh” or “sinful nature” after the fall for four thousand years, rather He has assumed a “form” or “likeness” or “outlook” of a servant after the fall for four thousand years (see Rom 8:3; Phi 2:7) …… However, if Christ took the sinful nature as we are in order to show us examples on how to be a victorious Christian, then how could Jesus being a male show an example to female overcomes their physical, emotional, and psychological problems?

The Alpha Now Seen gives us warning as to the Omega- it’s a salvation issue.

Be not deceived; many will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a most startling nature. {1SM 197.4}

Notice now the scripture quoted-

We need to study the words that Christ uttered in the prayer that He offered just before His trial and crucifixion. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word” (John 17:1-6). {1SM 197.5}

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.

Well what is this text saying. The Father of whom are all things.

The son by whom are all things.

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.

1 Timothy 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

The Father though equal with Christ, is still the Father of all, for through Him all things came into existence and Christ is an extension of His own being, from whom all things exist.

It was at this point that Lucifer had a controversy with Christ that he had a right to be part of the counsels of God. But Lucifer did not have the power of God, he did not have life in himself something that Christ had been given.

I can do nothing of myself- not just on earth was this true but in heaven also-His purposes with the Father are closely intricately bound, they are not independent.

The Father is the source of all benevolence and Jesus came to demonstrate this. Through Christ from the Father the blessings of life flows and returns in praise back to the Father.

Our talk and conversation is with the Father- our closest connection is to Him of whom Jesus has made intercession and it is Jesus joy to share that which is foremost and rightly His- my God and my Father.

John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Show us the Father?

Amazed at his dullness of comprehension, Christ asked with pained surprise, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip?”

The very heart of Christ’s mission was to declare and show who the Father is.

Now we are gods but it is life borrowed from the one who had life in Himself- Jesus; & He took that divinity from the Father.

The message of the gospel is that which saves- that is the work of the Father and the Son which is carried in the three angels messages to all the world.

The depth & the relationship, the love was illustrated a long time ago but many have missed the most obvious Genesis 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

Will the truth give us a greater depth and appreciation to who He is?

The bonds of love

1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

2 Samuel 1:25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, [thou wast] slain in thine high places.

1:26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

Few relationships are as close as David’s words expressed here- one in purpose and mutual admiration and self sacrifice. Jonathan’s sacrifice is an example of the greater sacrifice of Jesus.

Song of Solomon 7:10 I [am] my beloved’s, and his desire [is] toward me

The family tie is the closest, the most tender and sacred, of any on earth. It was designed to be a blessing to mankind. And it is a blessing wherever the marriage covenant is entered into intelligently, in the fear of God, and with due consideration for its responsibilities. {AH 18.5}

Every home should be a place of love, a place where the angels of God abide, working with softening, subduing influence upon the hearts of parents and children. {AH 18.6}

Our homes must be made a Bethel, our hearts a shrine. Wherever the love of God is cherished in the soul, there will be peace, there will be light and joy.

In the marriage tie the representation is given of the Father and the son and the son to the Bride- His church.

Jesus answer to His Father in the earthly realm is I delight to do thy will. This is not new but heaven lost values here placed on earth. The answer is not I have the Holy Spirit which has call me to another responsibility at this time but I delight to do thy will.

Unity-unity, perfection are reoccurring theme of the Spirit of Prophecy.

The church in its confusion of roles and domineering ways is not ready for the groom. Gender roles, a submissive attitude, humility. courtesies seen in the relationship of God and His son is to abound in the family and in the church. The shutting out of ‘heresies’ has also included the shutting out of truth & shutting out God’s people & obstructing the way of the Holy Spirit. Progressive reform is to build on the Elijah message given to us on the platform of our church forefathers and the work of E G White. The gospel message is lost and Jesus is waiting to see Himself perfectly reproduced in His people.

If the people had prayed instead of gossiping, if they had talked with God, the condition of things would have been very different.

How much trouble and what a tide of woe and unhappiness would be saved if men, and women also, would continue to cultivate the regard, attention, and kind words of appreciation and little courtesies of life which kept love alive and which they felt were necessary in gaining the companions of their choice. Add- These kind words are to flow from the inner circle to the outer circle as the Father and the Son to His children. From the Adventist Home.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Slow to speak, slow to wrath. It only takes a word to fire up a man who has not made a practice of talking with God. This spirit is as contagious as the leprosy.

Add- In the sanctuary of the home words should be building blocks and appreciation that God himself desire should be seen in the home atmosphere.

God wants every person to begin at home, and there live the Christ-life. In the church and in every business transaction a man will be just what he is in his home. If he submits to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the home, if he understands his responsibility to deal with minds there, then when in responsible positions he will pursue the same course. 1901 General Conference Bulletin

The maxims and precepts of men are not to control His laborers. Let no man be placed in a position where he can lord it over God’s heritage; for this imperils alike the soul of him who rules and the souls of those who are under his rule.–Manuscript 140, 1902 (Nov. 6, 1902 Principles for the Guidance of Men in Positions of Responsibility). {ChL 32.2}

Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Satan condemns through other people who are closest to us. Injecting ideas which are false or negative or regurgitating past issues- May God pity those who are watching, as did the Pharisees, to find something to condemn in their brethren, and who pride themselves on their wonderfully acute discernment or sense. Many times this sense of things unseen and unproven is Satanic. That which they call discernment is cold, satanic criticism, acuteness in suspecting and charging souls with evil intent who are less guilty than themselves. They are, like the enemy of God, accusers of the brethren. This happen to partners, in families and in the church.

Satan uses those closest to His people to maim and injury just as he used Peter. Why are we the most unkind to those who are closest to us- is not the church brethren brothers.

To heal the broken hearted- Will we remain in our Laodicean state which is non-responsive, that dares not to risk, to go out of its way to chance finding a brother and sister in need to share our family with for those who are without. If we can’t do it in the church how will we possibly entertain strangers and make up the courts of heaven with happiness.

Neither husband nor wife is to make a plea for rulership. The Lord has laid down the principle that is to guide in this matter. The husband is to cherish his wife as Christ cherishes the church. And the wife is to respect and love her husband. Both are to cultivate the spirit of kindness, being determined never to grieve or injure the other. . . . {AH 106.4}

Do not try to compel each other to do as you wish. You cannot do this and retain each other’s love. Manifestations of self-will destroy the peace and happiness of the home. Let not your married life be one of contention. If you do, you will both be unhappy. Be kind in speech and gentle in action, giving up your own wishes. Watch well your words, for they have a powerful influence for good or for ill. Allow no sharpness to come into your voices. Bring into your united life the fragrance of Christlikeness. {AH 107.1}

God tests and proves us by the common occurrences of life. It is the little things which reveal the chapters of the heart. It is the little attentions, the numerous small incidents and simple courtesies of life, that make up the sum of life’s happiness; and it is the neglect of kindly, encouraging, affectionate words, and the little courtesies of life, which helps compose the sum of life’s wretchedness. It will be found at last that the denial of self for the good and happiness of those around us constitutes a large share of the life record in heaven. And the fact will also be revealed that the care of self, irrespective of the good and happiness of others, is not beneath the notice of our heavenly Father. {AH 108.2}

“Floating rumors are frequently the destroyers of unity among brethren. There are some who watch with open mind and ears to catch flying scandal.

Pro-life proactive

Truth, present truth for this time, is to be believed and acted upon in connection with the principles of health reform. {MM 159.4

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are].

These men, differing in natural characteristics and in habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought, and action. This unity it was Christ’s object to secure. To this end He sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The burden of His labor for them is expressed in His prayer to His Father, “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us;” “that the world may know that Thou has sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” John 17:21, 23.

Healing the broken hearted

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The hopes and dreams of the disciples prior to the cross where dashed to pieces as are many of our own-it leaves us with a need for help beyond ourselves for fulfilment that cannot be obtained through things of this world- therefore jesuus said i send you the comforter- his own abiding presence.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Has your heart been broken? Do you feel out of love and in need? Do you not trust your self, your discions? Talk to the father thats why he call Father. Make known your heart desires and test Him, try Him prove He is true.

Beholding and being aquainted with who He really is

Getting to know the father through the Son

Filling and Thanksgiving

Partner courtesy

Drawing in family ties- prayer and study together

Extending the family in the church

Holding sacred trusts in office and conversation

Reaching out to the greater community

Our time here is short. We can pass through this world but once; as we pass along, let us make the most of life. The work to which we are called does not require wealth or social position or great ability. It requires a kindly, self-sacrificing spirit and a steadfast purpose. A lamp, however small, if kept steadily burning, may be the means of lighting many other lamps. Our sphere of influence may seem narrow, our ability small, our opportunities few, our acquirements limited; yet wonderful possibilities are ours through a faithful use of the opportunities of our own homes. If we will open our hearts and homes to the divine principles of life we shall become channels for currents of life-giving power. From our homes will flow streams of healing, bringing life and beauty and fruitfulness where now are barrenness and dearth. {MH 355.1}

God ordained that the beings He created should work. Upon this their happiness depends.

Let us show people where we are in prophetic history, and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awakening the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious liberty so long enjoyed.–Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 716. {ChS 163.1}

Truth, present truth for this time, is to be believed and acted upon in connection with the principles of health reform. {MM 159.4}

The only true

John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Show us the Father?

Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. “He that hath the Son hath life.” 1 John 5:12. He has divinity in Himself, the power to create and raise the dead is His unborrowed, which was given Him from the Father

These two statements seems incompatible. But as a Son there comes a time when I can build things on my own. Lets say a house. Though my Father gave me life, the building is contruction without the need for my Fathers help or through His power or strength – those things that he has that I might borrow to build the house. I consulted with Him as a builder and the plans were drawn and yet He stood back and I created and he watched on with great pleasure. The power i had in me given from him allowed me to build on my own and yet not alone at all he watched on with great jpy to see the building I constructed which we planned together.

Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 1:16 For by him 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:

By His life and His death, Christ has achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan’s purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken.

The Son of God came to this earth to reveal the character of the Father to men, that they might learn to worship Him in spirit and in truth. He came to sow the world with truth. He held the keys of all the treasures of wisdom, and was able to open doors to science, and to reveal undiscovered stores of knowledge, were it essential to salvation. The Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, every phase of truth was evident to Him.