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What do you suppose God eats? Jesus said that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father. So maybe the better question would be, what did Jesus eat, and what are His favorite foods? Let us pretend that we are listening in on the special meal plans being made by some of the humans that gave God food on earth. Remember that in the Middle East, the custom is that when you like something, you ask for another helping. To do otherwise, would not be polite. So whenever Jesus ate food on this earth, He probably had a second helping.

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Having recently arrived in heaven, some humans are planning a special meal for Jesus to thank him for saving them from sin and bringing them to heaven. Abraham is there along with Gideon, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Jesus’ mother Mary, Peter, James, and John, as well as Adam, Eve, and Pastor Nelson (or your favorite pastor). They are all sitting around a table and brainstorming about what Jesus’ favorite food was, and what to prepare for supper.

Abraham said, “I know what His favorite foods are; it’s roasted veal, flatbread, and curds!”

“Oh no!” said Peter. “He really likes fish. In fact, He cooked fish for us disciples at the shore of Galilee soon after His resurrection.”

“That’s right.” Said James and John the Sons of Thunder, “We were there and ate fish with Him for breakfast.”

Abraham replied, “Well, maybe fish is okay for breakfast but we are thinking about supper.”

Gideon said, “You guys have it all wrong. He likes baby goat with soup and flat cakes. In fact, He liked it so much, He had me put it all on a rock, and then He burned it all up with His staff for a sweet smelling sacrifice!”

Daniel and his three friends had been quietly whispering to themselves when Daniel finally spoke up, “The four of us think that pulse and water will do just fine. Anything more than that will be too fancy and probably have too many calories! Besides, we think that a vegan meal would be best.”

Adam and Eve had been listening with interest to all the suggestions. Adam finally said, “We are not sure about other foods, but we do know that His favorite fruit is—the Tree of Life!”

“Yes!” said Eve. “That just HAS to be His favorite fruit!”

It was then that Pastor Nelson spoke up. “I know that each of you have had some special food experiences with Jesus. But I think we should consider having a large casserole dish of Special K loaf, with slices of Wham, and several pitchers of Kafree Tea.

Then Abraham spoke again, “I think we are making a big mistake if we don’t prepare a fatted calf!”

Finally Mary spoke up, “Some of you may not know this, but I was His mother and prepared meals for Him every day for almost 30 years. I think that should help you understand I have actually had the most experience and know exactly what His favorite foods are for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The foods He likes best are flatbread without yeast, olives, raisins, figs, pomegranates, grapes, honey, and almonds. By the way Pastor Nelson, I have several questions. What is cottage cheese loaf? What is Kafree Tea? And I don’t think I have ever seen a Wham. Is that like roasted lamb, and how do you prepare it?”

Pastor Nelson replied, “Well, cottage cheese loaf is made from cottage cheese—duh! Kafree Tea is a substitute for tea that has caffeine and we drink it instead of coffee. Wham is made from soybeans to taste like ham, and we slice it to put in sandwiches.”

“See,” said Abraham, “there is another vote for curds!”

Mary said, “Pastor Nelson, I really have no idea what you just said. But why would you even want something to taste like pork? And who did the taste testing to make sure it tastes like pig?”

Pastor Nelson suggested, “Maybe we need to talk later.”

Just then Jesus came up to them and said, “I have meat already of which you know nothing about. My food is doing the will of the Father in gathering all the righteous from earth’s harvest.”

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People with all sorts of dietary habits will be in heaven and will need to learn the principles of healthy living and eating. But all of them, like the thief on the cross, will possess a teachable spirit. Everyone will desire to do whatever God shows and asks of them! While on earth Jesus ate lamb, fish, and goat; what does this tell us about God? That the all-powerful Creator—the One who spoke galaxies into existence—would be willing to come to earth and eat dead animals in order to tell and show us what God the Father is like? How gross sin must be for God to be willing to eat the animals he so lovingly created, just so we can understand His love!

 Questions:

Was Abraham a vegetarian? No

Why would Adam & Eve think that the fruit from the Tree of Life was Jesus’ favorite fruit? Various answers, the children may come up with some good ones!

Will there be death in heaven? No

So, animals will not be our food in heaven? Correct

Should we ever be critical of what others eat? No. Every person must be fully persuaded in their own mind, because they must answer to God for the things they do. Romans 14:5, 12

 Additional Comments:

Each person’s view of reality is limited by the experiences they have had within their lifetime. Their language, knowledge, food, and relationships are only their experience and cannot begin to encompass ultimate truth on any topic of discussion. Because of God’s forbearance, that which was allowed in times past should not be our measurement for determining what truth is in the end times. God has always wanted humans to be as healthy as possible so that we can live longer to testify and work energetically for Him!

Comment (2)

Set Up: Write on the board “The Playpen”, “In Loco Parentis” Latin for… . Draw a square with the 10 commandments inside. Pictures of a policeman, a playpen, and the 10 commandments.

Go to your room! Sit in the corner! Take a time out! Do not touch! Do not talk! Have you every had an adult talk to you like this? These phrases are what I call “The Playpen”. How many of you know what a playpen is?

What is a playpen used for?

• Protects the baby—keeps the baby safe.
• Keeps the baby from getting into things that are harmful such as:

1. Eating Vicks or Medicine in the bathroom
2. Drinking chemicals under the kitchen sink
3. Going outside into the street
4. Eating the dog food
5. Falling into the toilet (and maybe drowning)
6. Climbing a ladder and falling
7. Touching the hot stove or boiling water
8. Smashing fingers in the door

• Only “safe” toys are in the playpen and it keeps the toys near the baby unless the baby throws the toys out of the playpen
• Keeps the dog from licking the baby
• Allows parents to do some work without having to worry
• Does the playpen punish the baby? No, but the baby might think so!
• Keeps the baby from destroying things in the house!

The playpen is necessary to keep the baby safe until he or she grows up enough to keep out of trouble. As we grow up, we don’t need the playpen any more because the baby becomes a child, grows up and starts to understand that the dog food is for the dog, chemicals are not for drinking, and hot stoves are not to be touched. The baby even gets tall enough and strong enough to climb out of the playpen. The baby starts to understand through discussion with parents and by experience, that the word “hot” will result in pain if touched. Disobedience to the rule “Don’t touch the hot stove” brings its own punishment immediately and pain is the consequence. Once this rule is broken, it rarely gets broken again on purpose! ALL disobedience and sin has a consequence! The Bible says, “ Sin pays its wage—Death!”

How many of you know what “Discipline” is? (Disciple = to teach). The Bible tells us that new Christians are like new babes in Jesus and that they need to be disciplined (taught) what is right and what is wrong.

So, if and when you get roudy, talkative, or rude; we might need to put you in the playpen! We might make rules, sit boy—girl—boy—girl, re-arrange seating, put you in a different class, raise our voices, or call your parents. But we don’t want to do any of that! We really want you to have self-control. We will treat you like adults when you act like adults, but if you act like undisciplined children, we will need to put you in the playpen! (remember, undisciplined means untaught).

Did you know that God also has a playpen? It’s true! God has a playpen and it is called The 10 Commandments. The Bible tells us that God’s law is like the “Walls of Salvation”.

In the sanctuary where the 10 commandments were kept the room was square—just like a playpen. God’s rules can be compared to “The Playpen”. If you obey the rules, you will not get into trouble! Do not lie, do not steal, obey your parents!

For example: your parents have left you here under our care for about one hour every Sabbath. They expect the adults here to teach you some things about the Bible and about God. If I don’t teach you about God or I let something horrible happen to you, your parents will blame me. I and the other adults are responsible for your safety and care – We are legally your parents during this time! The law is called “In Loco Parentis” Latin for “in the place of a parent”. It refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization (Juniors-2) to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent. I am sort of in a playpen too! Only I don’t teach you because I have to—I really want to! All of the teachers here feel the same way – we do this because we want to.

If you stay “inside the law” or “don’t go faster than the speed limit”, you are safe. Commandments 1-9 show external behavior. There is value in not lieing, stealing, keeping the Sabbath, or killing people. But God wants to put the 10 commandments in our minds! Commandment number 10 says “do not covet” or desire. You don’t even want to go faster than the speed limit! You don’t even want to lie, steal, or murder. Jesus said if we even hate someone, we have already murdered them in our heart. When everyone has God’s playpen in their mind (they don’t even want to disobey) then they are truly free! Everyone is safe! You can remove all the speed limit signs and you can remove all the locks from your doors.

God’s Law of Love is for grownups, not for babies or children – but they still need the rules spelled out because they have the wrong ideas about love. They don’t even know what love is supposed to do or not do! So again, God has had to make a list so that they can know exactly what God means when He asks us to love Him and each other! God’s law of love is for spiritual grownups! Or rather, you are a spiritual grownup when God’s law of love is in the desires of your heart and mind!

God’s love commandment list is found in 1 Corinthians 13.

• "Love never gives up.
• Love cares more for others than for self.
• Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
• Love doesn't strut around,
• Doesn't have a swelled head,
• Doesn't force itself on others,
• Isn't always "me first,"
• Doesn't fly off the handle,
• Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
• Isn't happy when others are in trouble,
• Takes pleasure in the truth,
• Puts up with anything,
• Trusts God always,
• Always looks for the best,
• Never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, I gurgled and cooed like all babies do. But when I became an adult, I got rid of childish things forever."

The 10 commandments are to be obeyed, but we can only really keep them with God’s help! And, when we have God’s love in our hearts and minds, we will be keeping the commandments because with God’s help, His character of love is now our character! We act like Him because He is working with us and in us!

Comment (2)

I wrote this presentation to emphasize that we cannot hide the evidence of our lives from God. We may be able to fool some of our friends and relatives, but you cannot hide the evidence of who you REALLY are as a person. If when you die, an autopsy is done on you, the medical examiner will know more about you than even your closest relative.

*****

When you throw out your trash every week, it would be possible for a person to find out a whole lot about your family, you, and your habits. We could find out what kinds of cereal you like for breakfast, whether you are vegetarian or not, if someone in your family is sick, and what hobbies and interests your family has because of the magazines. Some people have even taken a person’s trash and stolen their bank accounts or their identity!

Is it possible for you to hide the things you do? Well, for sure you can make it more difficult for someone to steal your bank account numbers and your personal information by shreading the documents before throwing in the trash. But is it possible to hide your sins?

Do you know what a Forensic Medical Examiner is? This is a person that examines dead people to find out how they died. They look for clues and evidence that tells a story about what was happening to the person even weeks, months, and years before they died! They look for bullet holes, cuts, and bruises. They look in the stomach to see what the person ate at the last meal. They sometimes look at the heart and blood vessels to find out what caused a heart attack. They sometimes look at the brain to see if there was Alzheimer’s or Mad Cow disease. They test the blood for chemicals, poisons, alcohol, and drugs. They even know what brand of underwear the person wore, and if they washed their hair that day! They analyze the person’s hair and fingernails, which can tell them if the person was healthy 6-12 months before, and if they were taking drugs then. How much about your life can you hide from the Medical Examiner when you are dead? Very little. In fact he or she will probably know more about you than anyone in your family!

(I used to watch a TV show called CSI, but don't anymore because of the violence and graphic bloodshed. I now want God’s thoughts and God’s stories to take up my time, instead of things that will burn up and be gone when Jesus comes again.)

Anyway, the Crime Scene Investigator is always looking for clues for why a person died, sort of like a modern Sherlock Holmes. So let’s spend a few minutes finding some of the clues that the Israelites left in their garbage when they lived in Canaan.

First, let’s think of some of the miracles God did for Israel

• Plagues in Egypt
• Red Sea parted and Pharoh’s army destroyed
• Water from rocks
• Manna – Sabbath, and the vacation day from slavery
• Smoke, Fire, Thunder & Lightening on Sinai
• Crossing the Jordan
• Walls of Jericho fell down

Did the miracles keep them from worshiping idols? No! In fact, six weeks after God thundered His law from Mount Sinai, they were worshipping the golden calf! So even when God terrified them with a loud trumpet, His own voice, lightening, thunder, and earthquakes; it really made no lasting impression on them. And it wouldn't help us much either!

Several months ago I saw a PBS TV show about archaeologists who have excavated the trash dumps of villages all around Palestine. They have found what could be called a physical line between the Philistine and Israelite towns and villages. So they know exactly where the boundary was between the Philistines and Israelites!

In the Phillistine garbage dumbs they find lots of pig bones, but in the Israelite garbage dumps they do not find any pig bones. This means that basically ALL the Israelites were very careful to follow God’s command to not eat pork.

But almost everywhere in Israel—in the Phillistine town dumps AND the Israelite town dumps, the archaeologists have found little clay idols about 2 or 3 inches tall.

What does this fact tell you about the spiritual values of the Israelites? Answer: They followed the rules about food – but their hearts were not pure toward God.

Another word for this is legalism—more concerned with doing the right thing than with desiring to be God’s friend. Yes, it is important to know what God wants us to do, but we can only do those things He wants when we are seeking to be His friend, love Him, and ask Him to change the desires of our heart—so that we want (covet) to do the things He desires for us and our well-being. This actually is the meaning of the 10^th commandment. God says we should not desire to murder, steal, use God’s name in vain, or worship other gods. It is not enough to just not murder someone. God says that we sin if we even want to! Remember, Jesus said that if you hate someone you are already a murderer.

Here are other synonyms for the word “covet”.

• Want—to feel a need or desire for something
• Crave— a strong desire for something
• Hanker— to want something very badly and persistently
• Desire— to wish for and request something very strongly
• Aspire— seek to attain a goal
• Hope for— a wish to get or do something, or for something to happen or be true
• Long for— to have a strong desire for a person, place, or thing, especially when not within immediate or physical reach
• Yearn for— a strong desire for somebody or something combined with feelings of sadness

The word “Covet” can be used for good or for bad. The Bible even tells us to, “…covet earnestly the best gifts” 1 Corinthians 12:31

If in the future someone digs in our garbage, and we are truly God’s friend, they will be much less likely to find any little “idols”. We need to covet the friendship of God more than anything we have ever wanted before, and we do that by thinking about God and what He wants to do for us!

“Finally my friends, fill your minds, meditate, and think about things that are true, honest, noble, pure, lovely, and gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things that curse.”

Philippians 4:8 (adapted from The Message)

Comment (1)

This week the owners of the house we are renting came to visit.  The husband had not seen it for 4 years, and wanted to view it's condition etc. We love living in this house, so wanted to make a good impression, to ensure they would be happy continuing to rent it to us.

To make sure the house and garden were as clean and tidy as we could, we spent a few days doing extra to the normal cleaning - cleaning things you don't do very often - like windows, removing cob-webs, marks off walls, stove-tops, and weeding the garden.  I was grateful for the willing help I had from my son and husband.  We had our own little "working bee."  It is lovely when all is clean and tidy.  The jobs needed doing, and the owner's visit gave us a good excuse to get them done.

 

I Corinthians 3:16 & 17: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
I Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
II Corinthians 6:16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

We are not our own, we are stewards over God's property.  We could look at the Investigative Judgement as one part of "The Owner's Visit" - inspection, to see if we can stay dwelling in His property.  Then the real visit by the owner will be the Second Coming of Christ.

Am I preparing as well as I could - cleaning my character with the resources He has provided - preparing for "The Owner's Visit"?

 

Comment (4)

If a person proclaims the truth as compared with the Bible, it doesn't make any difference who proclaims it be it preacher, evangelist or layperson, its just that Sister White proclaimed way  more than her share and that's interesting enough to say the least. With this read along and listen webb page below, a person would have no excuse exploring the vast facets of the diamond of truth as compared with scripture in the writings of Sister White.  Save in your bookmarks.

 

http://www.richardlemay.com/AUD/EGW/Index.htm

Comment (0)

The Way Into the Most Holy from Maranatha Media on Vimeo.

DOWNLOAD MP3 | Sermon Transcript

 

The Way Into the Most Holy

Introduction

I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. I was shown three steps-- the first, second, and third angels' messages. Said my accompanying angel, "Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received." I was again brought down through these messages, and saw how dearly the people of God had purchased their experience. It had been obtained through much suffering and severe conflict. God had led them along step by step, until He had placed them upon a solid, immovable platform. EW 258

In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.  LS 196

Let none seek to tear away the foundations of our faith--the foundations that were laid at the beginning of our work by prayerful study of the word and by revelation. Upon these foundations we have been building for the last fifty years. Men may suppose that they have found a new way and that they can lay a stronger foundation than that which has been laid. But this is a great deception. Other foundation can no man lay than that which has been laid.  8T 297

Christ is the foundation; the church is the channel of communication.—AA p. 122.

Transition

Ellen White speaks several times about the process that the early pioneers went through to form a solid foundation. The story of the pioneers and how they moved step by step onto the solid immoveable platform is something that we need to go over and over otherwise if we forget then we have much to fear.

1. The Foundation

Ellen White spoke of a solid immoveable platform. To be a solid platform it must be based on a solid foundation. What is that foundation

1 Cor 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ellen White says

Christ is the foundation; the church is the channel of communication.—AA p. 122.

Christ is the foundation of every true church. 9T 147

Christ is the foundation of the Christian's hope. GC 256.

If Christ is the foundation of every true Church and if the Seventh-day Adventist Church is God’s remnant church and if they built on a solid foundation then can we deduce from this that our pioneers indeed built upon the solid rock which is Christ?

Put another if, if Christ is the Truth and all truth comes from Him, is it possible to build a system of truth when you have an incorrect view of Christ?

Again if the cornerstone of your building is not exact in its dimensions, is it possible to build a correct system of truth?

You can draw your own conclusions on that. Let us come back to this process of how the Adventist pioneers built a solid immoveable structure.

2. The Story

During the time of the Dark Ages, the little horn power diverted the minds of many believers away from heaven towards the system of priests controlled by the pope in Rome.  Confession was made to earthly priests and forgiveness of sins was obtained through penance, gifts of money and acts of piety.

Christians were also encouraged to pray to the saints for strength and favour. The work of Christ in the Sanctuary was obscured and men lost sight of where Jesus was and what exactly He was doing.

Through the influence of Rome many Christians lost their knowledge of the coming Judgment. They had no knowledge of the Sanctuary in heaven. They had lost the truth on the Sabbath and what happens when you die and most believed that God was an immaterial spirit comprising three persons in one substance.

The work of the reformation began to shift the minds of men back to heaven and the intercessory work of Christ our true high priest. Salvation by grace alone was restored and forgiveness of sins through the prayer of faith. These truths were a blessing yet there was more to learn. The protestants knew that Jesus was interceding for them but they did not know the context of that intercession. They were not aware that Jesus was in the Holy Place and preparing to move into the Most Holy Place.

This movement between apartments had no context for them because they were disconnected from the Sanctuary system of Israel because they had disconnected from the Sabbath.

Yet God in His mercy raised a movement of people who would glimpse by faith this transition from Holy to Most Holy and in that glimpse came a burst of light that would give context to the Gospel within the Three Angels Messages.

3. Daniel 8:14

The text that opened the door for God’s people to glimpse this movement was Daniel 8:14. The discovery of the 2300 days ending in 1844 gave focus to the event called the cleansing of the Sanctuary and its meaning.

The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Daniel 8:14. These had been familiar words to all believers in the Lord's soon coming. By the lips of thousands was this prophecy repeated as the watchword of their faith. GC 409

The Millerite movement using the key of literal interpretation worked their way through the prophecies relating to Daniel 7 and 8 and traced the 4 kingdoms down through the 10 horns until they landed upon 1844.

One of the keys of arriving at 1844 was the use of the day for a year principle. When the prediction of Josiah Litch concerning the fall of the Ottoman Empire on Aug 11 1840 using the Year/Day Principle came to pass, it gave power to the message and the world was warned about the soon coming of Jesus.

4. Disappointment and Explanation

When Jesus did not return on Oct 22 1844, the faith of God’s people was severely tested. The majority of believers gave up their faith in the 1844 message and the coming of Christ. Through this test emerged a small group of believers who went back to their Bibles on their knees. These were the ones that would be granted the glimpse of the movement from the Holy to the Most Holy.

In April this year I looked from the restored home of Hiram Edson across the field towards Port Gibson and I relived that moment as Hiram walked across that field and sudden caught a glimpse of what Daniel 8:14 meant. The movement was not from heaven to earth, but from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place in heaven where Christ would receive the kingdom through a process of investigative Judgment.

The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people. GC 423

What are some of the steps involved in this complete system of truth?

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament:

As the tested Adventists looked by faith into the Heavenly Sanctuary they saw the Law of God and this led them to the Sabbath truth.  As they continued to look they realized that the hour of Judgment had come and that a work of judgment would take place before the Second Coming. As they continued to see the truths of the law and the Sabbath and the Second Coming they saw that Rome and her daughters comprised Babylon. As they realized that the judgment began in 1844 and that Christ would give each their reward at his coming that the Dead could not know anything.

So in catching this glimpse of movement from the Holy to the Most Holy, the pillars of the Law and the Sabbath, the Sanctuary, the State of the Dead and the Second Coming all began to come together in a beautiful system.

As the pioneers beheld Jesus interceding before the Father and making a final atonement and they saw that this work of cleansing the Sanctuary  would end before the Second Coming, they began to see the high calling of God’s people who would stand before God in the last days without a mediator. This reality changed their whole concept of Sanctification and what God wishes to do in the lives of His Children. Ellen White describes the shift in the prayer life of God’s people as follows.

 

Before the throne I saw the Advent people--the church and the world. I saw two companies, one bowed down before the throne, deeply interested, while the other stood uninterested and careless. Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne. But few would receive this great light. Many came out from under it and immediately resisted it; others were careless and did not cherish the light, and it moved off from them. Some cherished it, and went and bowed down with the little praying company. This company all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory.  {EW 54.2}

We see that the context of the Investigative Judgment and the Third Angel’s message that God’s people are now extremely focused on the ministry of Jesus and pleading for victory over their sins in preparation of the final cleansing of the Sanctuary. The fallen churches do not have the context for this kind of prayer, nor the understanding of true sanctification or where the power comes from the be sanctified because they reject the Sabbath – the sign of Sanctification.

5. The View of the Father and Son.

Yet undergirding all these wonderful pillars that came to Adventists from this glimpse of the movement of the Ancient of Days and the Son of man within the Sanctuary was the very personalities of Father and Son. Notice the question this movement prompted from Ellen White

I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered 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." EW 54

As the pioneers began to think about the Father siting on the throne then standing and then moving through one apartment into another they obtained a clearer picture of the persons of Father and Son.  Notice what James White says:

Our position is, that a change has taken place in the position and work of our literal High Priest in the literal Sanctuary in heaven, which is to be compared to the coming of the bridegroom in the marriage.  This view is a perfect safeguard against spiritualism.  We not only believe in a literal Jesus, who is a "Minister of the Sanctuary," but we also believe that the Sanctuary is literal. - And more, when John says that he saw "one like the Son of man" "in the midst of the seven candlesticks," that is, in the Holy Place, we know not how to make the candlestick spiritual, and the Son of man literal. We therefore believe that both are literal, and that John saw Jesus while a "Minister" in the Holy Place. John also had a view of another part of the Sanctuary, which view applies to the time of the sounding of the seventh angel.…The Most Holy, containing the Ark of the ten commandments, was then opened for our Great High Priest to enter to make atonement for the cleansing of the Sanctuary.  If we take the liberty to say there is not a literal Ark, containing the ten commandments in heaven, we may go only a step further and deny the literal City, and the literal Son of God.  Certainly, Adventists should not choose the spiritual view, rather than the one we have presented.  We see no middle ground to be taken.  – The Parable Page 16

The ability to find a literal Sanctuary in heaven, with a literal law, literal Sabbath and literal judgment was only opened to those who believed in a literal Father and Son. Notice also the pioneer understanding of God helped them to correctly understand Daniel 7.

And Daniel, the prophet, teaches the same doctrine. "I saw in the night visions: and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, (described in the ninth verse) and they brought him near before him; and there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, never to be destroyed." Dan. 7:13,14. Now we all admit this personage was Jesus Christ; for no being on earth or in heaven, has ever had the promise of an everlasting kingdom but him. And does not the Ancient of days give it to him? Would it not be absurd to say that he gave it to himself? How then can it be said (or proved) as it is by some, that the Son is the Ancient of days; - this passage, and the one in fifth Revelations, distinctly prove God and his Son to be two persons in heaven. Jesus says, "I proceeded forth and came from God: neither came I of myself, but he sent me." John 8:42. "I come forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father.". {1846 JB, BP1 18.2} Opening of the Heavens

The whole idea of the Son of man actually receiving a Kingdom literally only makes sense if you believe that the Father is the source of all being and therefore has the sole prerogative to bestow such a thing.

It is no accident that the men who rejected the Trinity were the men who found the way into the Most Holy Place. Let me repeat that.  It is no accident that the men who rejected the Trinity were the men who found the way into the Most Holy Place.

If the Trinity is correct then why did God not choose men like Miller, Himes and the other Trinitarians to establish the Seventh-day Adventist Church? It is because their Trinitarian views of God could not make the logical step from a literal Son to a literal Sanctuary in heaven. It is true they could discuss these things, but such truths could not find traction because the Trinity obscures the real literal and material aspects of God and His Son. Let us remember that Miller and his associates had come a long way with the correct method of Bible study, but they could not come into the truth of the Heavenly Sanctuary while believing the Trinity.

Some Adventists will cry but we believe in the Most Holy Place and the Trinity. To such I would say you inherited the truth of the Sanctuary, you did not find the Way into the Most Holy. There is a big difference between finding the way and inheriting the way.

So rather than accepting the story that the belief of our pioneers on God were an overhang from their time in the Christian connexion, their belief in the Father and Son as literal Father and Son was the key factor in helping them find the Most Place in Heaven. Is it any wonder that since the acceptance of the Trinity in the Adventist Church that we are seeing wide scale rejection of the investigative judgment and a belief in two actual apartments in heaven.

The meaning, movements and actions of the Ancient of Days and His Son become confused when you can collectively refer to Father, Son and Holy Spirit as He as is the case with Fundamental No. 2. It turns the actions of Father and Son into a non-sense.

Conclusion

So the foundation of Adventist was laid on a pure and accurate cornerstone. It was the knowledge of the begotten Son of God that opened the way into the Most Holy.  This is exactly what Ellen White states when she says:

Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor.  {MR760 9.5}

 

Comment (7)

I can easily say that the last little period of time has placed me in most trying circumstances for one reason or another. In this time, my sweet Saviour has allowed me to see much more of my character and the many weaknesses it contains. I openly confess that "I am the man" when it comes to the description of Laodicea. As an Adventist minister in the remnant church I felt rich and increased with goods, having no idea that I had been sucked up into a spiritualistic mystery that allowed me to avoid the deeper work of sanctification through fornication with a false God that is no God at all, but mere dust of man's fanciful imagination.

My exposure to the Son of God and our dear Father has increased this sanctification process manifold. I am coming to see many layers of my nature that cause me to despair except for the grace of our God. Surely in sin was I conceived and I have grown up amongst a people of unclean lips. I have been trained in the arts of self-preservation, protectionism, self-righteousness and salvation by ministry.

Having had most of my former supports stripped away, I have been left feeling vulnerable and looking for human comfort and support which has further compounded my problems. I see how easily my nature seeks to make flesh its arm; foolish pilgrim!

The accumulated experiences of recent times has given me a growing sense of my sinfulness, to the point I have had to bow down a number of times and weep at the foot of the cross and cling to the Saviours words. "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."

As I see how hard my heart is and how cunning my devices, I stand in wonder that my Saviour would ever consider taking upon Himself our wretched nature in order that He might take it to the grave.

As I look more deeply into the complexity of my human sinfulness, I turn and look up as it were into the heavens from my darkened pit and see the bright and morning star. How gloriously it shines and how I love this precious Son of God for being willing to become my substitute and surety.

Words fail me as I contemplate His approach to the Father to ask Him to be allowed to come and die for us. Consider the words of EGW when she says:

The plan by which alone man's salvation could be secured involved all heaven in its sacrifice. The angels could not rejoice as Christ opened before them the plan of redemption, for they saw that man's salvation must cost their loved commander unutterable woe. AG 345

Unutterable woe - FOR ME! Blessed Saviour, I worship you and honour you with all my heart and bow the knee before your excellent majesty. Let me have your Spirit in my heart and let me never depart from your side.

Can any trial on my part be considered too great in light of what my Saviour gave up for me? Could I ever consider that my Father in Heaven would forsake me if He was willing to yield up His only begotten Son for me? Banish the thought and bow the knee to the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

In conclusion, through a deeper view of my sinfulness, I have gained a deeper appreciation of the cost of my salvation and the beauty of my Saviour.

Praise His Mighty Name.

Comment (0)

I am so thankful for Jesus. Oh, I feel so thankful wherever I am, on the water, on the land, that Jesus is my Saviour. There is no caste with God. Whatever the color, whatever the nationality, however weak we may be, rich or poor, God is our Father, and we can come to Him and ask for the things that we need. 

Now here is the word before us. "According to His divine power." We have no strength, we have nothing of ourselves, we are utter weakness. We cannot take one step toward God unless His grace is working upon human hearts and drawing us. Just as soon as we take the first step toward His mercy and grace He advances toward us, He advances with His pardon and grace. He takes away the sins of the world, and imputes to us His righteousness.

Now we may think, "I did not feel just as I wanted to." In that very meeting there was one that thought that he had received the love of God as he never had received it before. The next morning he came to the meeting and he got up. I knew in a moment something was the matter. The light was not in his countenance. Said he, "Somehow I don't feel as I did last night. Somehow I don't feel a nearness to God. I lost the blessing." 

"Where did you lose it, Brother R? Where did you lose it?" "I can't tell." "You slept through the night and God guarded you all night. Then what is the matter this morning?" Well, he did not know. I will tell you. You have not educated yourself to believe in God whatever feelings you have. Feeling is not your God, and it is no use for you to offer sacrifice on the altar of feeling, for feeling and faith are just as distinct from each other as heaven and earth, as the east is from the west. 

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Now faith walks the narrow plank, and walks till it comes to the end, then steps right off onto nothing, as it were. Yet it is everything. It is a mighty upholder. You walk the plank of faith and you cannot see another step to go. You need not consult how you feel. Feeling has nothing to do with it. Do I believe in God, that He is my God, and that His promises will be verified to me? Then I go right about my work. I never look or examine whether I have feeling or have no feeling. I know what my duty is from the expressed will of God, and it is for me to do it and do it intelligently. 

I will tell you when I know that God helps me. It is when I feel utterly unable physically to speak to the people. I go out so weak at times that it seems to me that I could not utter a word. As I stand before the people the blessing of God never fails me. The Lord uses the frail instrument to speak to the people.

Ellen G. White, Manuscript 49, 1894, pp. 10-13. (Camp Meeting, Ashfield, Australia, November 3, 1894.)

Comment (2)

Greetings to all members of Maranathamedia.com.

The following is a brief account of how God has worked His goodness in my life to lead me to repentance. This account will also relate how He led me to Seventh Day Adventism.

Looking back to very early in my life, I fell into sin and became a sinner, albeit ignorantly. As a child, teenager, and young adult I really had no religious associations save that my kindergarten teacher taught me the Lord’s Prayer. What a blessing this prayer has been to me all through life! This prayer was certainly the most valuable thing I learned in school other than reading, writing, and arithmetic!

I know now that the Lord used this prayer in my life in the following way. Every evening at bedtime (without fail for almost twenty years since learning the prayer) the Lord moved on my heart to repeat this prayer to Him before sleep. This prayer was the means for language of communication with Him in my ignorance at that time of who He and His Son really were. I say that this prayer was the means for language of communication with Him because it also opened my heart to talk to Him of the other happenings in my life. Without having read the Bible, I found that I would confess to Him my wrongdoings that I was convicted were such (as the Lord’s prayer says: “Forgive us our trespasses”) and also pour out the sorrows, fears, and thankfulness to Him that were part of my life. I continued living without any victories over particular sins that I knew by the conviction of God’s Spirit were as such. I did not yet know of a Saviour or of God’s plan to save me from my sins. In my great ignorance of God, He was preserving me for the best time when He could lead me to repentance. Over my brief existence, there was more than one time when certain events should have been certain death or serious injury to me had it not been for the Lord’s great mercy!

In 1994 I was twenty-five years old. I became depressed; I quit my job, and went on welfare. I felt dead inside. I knew what lust, hatred, violence, and lying were. But what about love and truth, WHAT WERE THEY? After a few weeks of being in this miserable state I cried out to God in prayer one night with the words: “What is truth? What is love?” Shortly after this prayer, I received a telephone call to return to work at my old employment. I had decision of mind at that point to say “Yes, I will come back to work.” I then returned to my former job in a different branch of the same company.

After a short time working there, I met a man who was also going through a difficult time in his life: a divorce and a child custody battle. I offered him some self-help books that I had been reading which I thought may be of help to him. He took them and then went back to the lunch room and returned with a single book in his hand. Said he: “Have you ever tried reading this book?” It was The Bible! As I reached out to take the book from his hand there was an OVERWHELMING conviction in my mind such as I had never before experienced. This was THE BOOK that I needed to read!

I went home after work and started to read the Bible; the NIV version. As I began to read I thought "Man, this is hard language to understand!" A thought then came into my mind to go to my parent’s house and get my sister's New Testament from their bookcase. This particular Bible was written in modern English - "The Living New Testament." God, who is rich in mercy, was at this time giving me to be able to understand His Word in a simple format. As I read this New Testament from cover to cover, understanding started to dawn in my mind as to the source of my miserable condition in life. By living a selfish life as I was, I was thus living in separation from God. As I continued to read the Bible, a Saviour was made known to me – Jesus Christ. I also confessed my sins to God as they were revealed by the word of God. There were people that I had heretofore wronged. I confessed my wrongdoings to them and made restitution as far as it was possible for me to do. I then had peace with God and with my fellow men! At the same time, by God’s grace, I had a burning desire in my heart to have the whole word of God as the foundation of my life and character and to make it known to others! I was thirsty for more of the Word of God! I then picked up the NIV that I had originally left off reading and read through the Old Testament to the end of the New as I desired to know the WHOLE of the counsels of God.

Over the course of reading the Scriptures (some months time), I was experiencing a very close relationship with God and was led to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour from my sins. What a joy the word of God was to me! Eventually I asked God to be able to meet some of His people. While I was at work one day, a man came in who I had previously met but few times as a customer. We started to talk about spiritual things contained in the Bible. I mentioned a few things from the Scriptures at which he shook his head at me as if to say “You do not know what you are talking about.” As I saw his reaction, words came out of my mouth involuntarily: “How about then a Bible study together?” I had never had a Bible study with anyone! He agreed and I went to his house after a few days for the Bible study. We knelt down and prayed together (which at that time filled me with awe – I had never prayed with anyone!) At the end of the study, he suggested that I exchange my NIV Bible for the KJV version which I did. His wife also gave me the book “Christ’s Object Lessons.” After reading this book, I wanted to read the Conflict of the Ages series that was advertised in the front of the book.This was my introduction to Seventh Day Adventism and these were some of God’s people indeed!

Comment (3)

 

The Holy Spirit

 

This is the final presentation in a series of three. Before reading this paper it is advisable to read the following two presentations also located on this website: (1) The Alpha and the Omega of Deadly Heresies in Seventh Day Adventism and (2) The Personality of God and of Christ

This presentation will identify the Holy Spirit and its relationship to the Father and His only-begotten Son. Note that it is the identity and not the nature of the Holy Spirit that will be presented here. Are there any Seventh Day Adventisits who are in doubt as to whether we can know the identity of the Holy Spirit? If they are trinitarians, particularly tritheist in their belief, let them consider that that they have already identified the Holy Spirit as a third Divine Being.

And please make sure that you read this entire presentation as you will see Biblical testimony from the Holy Spirit itself that it is not a third independent co-equal and co-eternal Divine Being as tritheists maintain. I’ll repeat that again. Make sure that you read this entire presentation as you will see Biblical testimony from the Holy Spirit itself that it is not a third independent co-equal and co-eternal Divine Being.

We begin by travelling back to the time of the emergence of the Seventh Day Adventist church. At that time, fanatical teachings were obscuring the personality of God and of Christ. To correct the influence of these false teachings, God gave a vision to Ellen Harmon in February of 1845. This vision re-established the Bible teaching of the personality of God and of Christ and served as a foundation pillar for the advent people.

 

By examining the vision given to Ellen Harmon in February of 1845, we will also see the identity of the Holy Spirit revealed. Turning to page 54 of the book Early Writings we read a partial account of the vision sufficient for this purpose:

 

I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it ...Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father to the Son, and from the Son it waved over the people before the throne ... This company all received the light and rejoiced in it, and their countenances shone with its glory. I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down ... Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father....Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, "My Father, give us Thy Spirit." Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace. EW 54,55

 

Please note carefully what Mrs. White saw in vision:

 

(1)There are only two personal beings described sitting on the throne: the Father and the Son. Where is the Holy Spirit if it is a third co-equal personal God? Note also that she does not ask Jesus if the Holy Spirit has a form like Himself. Why not? From this evidence it is apparent that she understood that there are only two personal Divine Beings, the Father and His Son.

 

(2) Next note that when God's people pray “My Father, give us Thy Spirit” Jesus then breathes upon them the Holy Ghost. It is the Father’s Spirit that Jesus breathes. The fact that the Holy Ghost is breathed by Jesus gives it some more identification.

Now note the light coming from the Father to the Son and then to the praying company. Then notice that to those who prayed “My Father, give us Thy Spirit” was the Holy Ghost breathed upon them by Jesus. These are two parallel descriptions of the same sequence of events. The breathing of the Holy Ghost from Christ gave the company of believers light, power, and much love, joy, and peace. Thus the identity of the Holy Spirit is made plainer from this part of the vision.

 

(3) The Holy Spirit is not shown to be a third co-equal personal Divine Being like the Father and His Son. Instead, the Holy Spirit is seen to be light from the Father given first to Jesus, then breathed upon the praying company by Christ. In that breath there is much light, power, love, joy, and peace. The Holy Spirit IS THE VERY LIFE OF GOD THE FATHER and not a third Divine Being called God the Holy Spirit. This true identity of the Holy Spirit will now be confirmed from other Bible and Spirit of Prophecy quotes. We will see that:

 

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE BREATH OF LIFE, IS THE LIFE OF GOD THE FATHER AND THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE PERSONAL PRESENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD THE FATHER.

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALSO THE PERSONAL PRESENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

 

 

 

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE BREATH OF LIFE, IS THE LIFE OF GOD THE FATHER AND THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

 

To understand this truth we will first read of God’s original purpose in the creation.

 

From eternal ages it was God's purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life. DA 785

 

First note that it is God the Father Himself who would live in all His created beings. Next note that it was God’s purpose that every created being and not every created thing should be a temple for His indwelling. This is an important truth to note as it does away the doctrine of pantheism. We next read of the creation of man.

 

When God had made man in His image, the human form was perfect in all its arrangements, but it was without life. Then a personal, self-existing God breathed into that form the breath of life, and man became a living, breathing, intelligent being. All parts of the human organism were put in action. The heart, the arteries, the veins, the tongue, the hands, the feet, the senses, the perceptions of the mind--all began their work, and all were placed under law. Man became a living soul. Through Jesus Christ a personal God created man and endowed him with intelligence and power. 8T 264

 

The First man, Adam, was made in God’s image. Note that the first man was made out of the dust of the ground.Then the breath of God’s life was breathed into him making him a living soul. However, through sin, man cut himself off from God, the source of all life. And thus, from His original purpose:

 

God is the fountain of life; and when one chooses the service of sin, he separates from God, and thus cuts himself off from life. He is “alienated from the life of God.” … God gives them existence for a time that they may develop their character and reveal their principles. This accomplished, they receive the results of their own choice. DA 764

 

But it is the purpose of the gospel to restore to fallen man the life of God, the life that he lost when he sinned.

 

When the gospel is received in its purity and power, it is a cure for the maladies that originated in sin. The Sun of righteousness arises "with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2). Not all that this world bestows can heal a broken heart, or impart peace of mind, or remove care, or banish disease. Fame, genius, talent--all are powerless to gladden the sorrowful heart or to restore the wasted life. The life of God in the soul is man's only hope. MH 115,1905

 

Heaven's plan of salvation is broad enough to embrace the whole world. God longs to breathe into prostrate humanity the breath of life. RH, June 24, 1915

 

Here we ask this question: What is the life of God, the breath of life that He longs to breathe into prostrate humanity and thus restore man to God’s original purpose?

 

Answer: Without the Holy Spirit, without the breath of God, there is torpidity of conscience, loss of spiritual life. Unless there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God quickens the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are actuated by heaven-born principles, they are not born of the incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth forever. RH, Dec 3, 1908

 

The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are very plain when harmonized correctly. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God which is also the life of God. And we see this same truth from the Review and Herald in different words:

 

It is the Spirit of God in the soul that quickens its otherwise lifeless faculties, and attracts the soul to God and to the truth. The intellectual talents owe all their advancement to God, and our religious life is dead and spiritless, unless the living Spirit is received from God the life-giving power. Without the enlightenment of his Spirit, we cannot appreciate the things of the heavenly world, and cannot have a relish for communion with God. RH, July 19, 1887

 

The quickening of our souls with the Spirit of God will be accomplished for all who will receive Christ by faith as their personal Saviour. We read of this truth contained in the plan of salvation in the following words:

 

God has sent His Son to communicate His own life to humanity. Christ declares, “I live by the Father,” My life and His being one. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. “For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself… LUH, Dec 2, 1908

In Christ the cry of humanity reached the Father of infinite pity. As a man He supplicated the throne of God till His humanity was charged with a heavenly current that should connect humanity with divinity. Through continual communion He received life from God, that He might impart life to the world. His experience is to be ours. DA 363(1898)

 

Here Jesus tells us that He lives by His Father’s life; their life being one. Also note that His experience is to be ours. That means that when we commune with our Father in heaven through Christ, we receive life from Him just as Jesus does. This life that we receive is the Holy Spirit of the Father given to Christ and then to us. We do not receive a third divine Being called God the Holy Spirit. The following passages make this truth plain:

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... Their will must be submitted to his will, they must act with his spirit, that it may be no more they that live, but Christ that liveth in them. 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. ST, Oct 3, 1892

Christ gives them the breath of his own spirit, the life of his own life. RH, Nov 19, 1908

The Holy Spirit that Jesus breathes upon all his disciples here is described as a vital influence. The word “vital” means pertaining to life, contributing to life, containing life or being the seat of life. [See Webster’s 1828 dictionary] Thus the breath of God, the Holy Spirit, is shown in this passage to be the life of God the Father first given to His Son and from Christ to His people. Also note carefully now what Jesus is seeking to impress upon his disciples. Mrs. White did not say that by Christ giving his Holy Spirit that he was giving them a third personal Divine Being, God the Holy Spirit. No, instead she says that in giving his Holy Spirit, Christ is giving to them the glory [that is character] which the Father has given him that he and his people may be one in God; not part of a trinity of three co-equal and co-eternal Gods!

 

This next quote will also show that the Holy Spirit, the breath of God’s life, is also the impartation of His glory or character to His disciples:

 

The Holy Spirit is the breath of life in the soul. The breathing of Christ upon his disciples was the breath of true spiritual life. The disciples were to interpret this as imbuing them with the attributes of their Saviour, that in purity, faith, and obedience, they might exalt the law, and make it honorable. God's law is the expression of his character. By obedience to its requirements we meet God's standard of character. Thus the disciples were to witness for Christ. The impartation of the Spirit was the impartation of the very life of Christ, which was to qualify the disciples for their mission. RH, June 13, 1899

The Holy Spirit is the breath of life in the soul and the very impartation of the life of Christ. This Divine life imbues its receiver with the attributes or character of Christ.

Another way to say this truth is that the soul’s spiritual life is the Holy Spirit, the very life of God the Father given to Christ. Jesus then imparts this life to His disciple clothing the disciple with the righteousness of Christ. We see how the righteousness of Christ is obtained in the following words:

 

God is your Master, and you are his employed servants. The Holy Spirit must come in contact with your spirit, that it may divinely restore your soul, working your sanctification, and giving life and power to your efforts. When the life of God is restored to the soul, we rest in God, and are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. RH, May 20, 1890

 

Jesus said, Be perfect as your Father is perfect. If you are the children of God you are partakers of His nature, and you cannot but be like Him. Every child lives by the life of his father. If you are God's children, begotten by His Spirit, you live by the life of God. In Christ dwells "all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9); and the life of Jesus is made manifest "in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:11). That life in you will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Him. Thus you will be in harmony with every precept of His law; for "the law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul" (Ps. 19:7, margin). Through love "the righteousness of the law" will be "fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:4). RC 73; Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 76-78

 

All of these quotes harmonized together, reveal the same truth that Mrs. White was shown in vision so many years before in 1845. The Holy Spirit is the breath of life, the life of God the Father given to His Son and then to His people. This life of God the Father will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Christ bringing us into harmony with every precept of the Father’s law and thus, clothing us with the righteousness of Christ. In these words quoted above as well as in the passage to follow, is also presented the third angel’s message of Revelation 14.

 

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. TM 91, 92 (1895).

 

The life of God the Father is His Holy Spirit. This is the life that Christ lives by and is given to the helpless human agent who believes in Christ as his personal saviour. The human agent who is imbued with this life receives the very righteousness of Christ and reveals it by obedience to all the commandments of God. This is the substance of the third angel’s message.

And here also is another very important point to consider. The third angel’s message is to be attended with the outpouring of the Father’s Spirit in a large measure. How can God the Father pour out His Spirit in any measure on someone who professes to believe and teach that He is a trinity or that His own Spirit is a Divine Being separate from Himself? In other words, can a Holy God set the seal of His Holy Spirit of truth on a message or a messenger who promotes a false teaching concerning Himself? It is safe to say that such persons, whether they be trinitarians or tritheists, cannot be used by God to give the third angel’s message while they thus deny Him through their false representations of His personality and the personality of His Son. Passing from these momentous truths, we next see that:

 

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE PERSONAL PRESENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD THE FATHER

 

The Holy Spirit of God the Father is not only His life and the life of Christ, but also the Father’s personal presence. We see this truth from the scriptures and Spirit of Prophecy:

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Psalm 51:11

The divine Spirit that the world's Redeemer promised to send, is the presence and power of God. ST, Nov 23, 1891

 

David understood that the Father’s Holy Spirit was His very presence with him. We also read that the giving of the Father’s Spirit to us is the giving of Himself in the following passages:

 

In giving us His Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine influences, to give health and life to the world. 7T 273

 

God calls upon all men to avail themselves of the blessings he has set before them, that they may co-operate with him in carrying forward the great work of redemption. He has given his Holy Spirit as a power sufficient to overcome all man's hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong. By yielding his capabilities to the control of this Spirit, man will be impressed with God's perfect character, and will become an instrument through which he can reveal his mercy, his goodness, and his love. ST, November 5, 1896

 

The Father Himself is given to the believer by His Holy Spirit. The believer is thus impressed with the Father’s perfect character and becomes an instrument through which the Father can reveal His mercy, goodness, and love. The Holy Spirit is the life and personal presence of God the Father. We see the omnipresence of God the Father from the following passages:

 

God is a spirit; yet He is a personal being, for man was made in His image. Ed 132

Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:23,24

Question: How does God the Father, a spirit; yet a personal Being, fill heaven and earth?

Answer:The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy beings, all waiting to do His will. Through these messengers He is in active communication with every part of His dominion. By His Spirit He is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels He ministers to the children of men. Above the distractions of the earth He sits enthroned; all things are open to His divine survey; and from His great and calm eternity He orders that which His providence sees best. MH 417

The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible. "The Lord's throne is in heaven" (Psalm 11:4); yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in, all the works of His hand. Ed 131

 

God the Father is not only present in every man who has accepted Him, but He is present everywhere by His Spirit. And so we have seen that the Holy Spirit is also the presence and omnipresence of God the Father. We will now see that:

 

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ALSO THE PERSONAL PRESENCE AND OMNIPRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

 

Jesus tells us that He lives by His Father [John chapter 6, verse 57] and that the Father has given His Spirit without measure to His Son [John chapter 3, verse 34] Thus it is that Christ lives by the Spirit or life of His Father. We see that the Spirit of the Father is also the Spirit of His Son from book of Romans:

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. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:9-11

The Holy Spirit of God the Father is also the Spirit of Christ. They have/share/live by the same Spirit of the Father. Thus, as two personal Divine Beings, “They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” MH 422

We now pay particular attention to the truth that the Holy Spirit is also the personal presence of Christ.

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. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:16-18

Who is the Christian’s comforter? Before Jesus had spoken these words to his disciples, he told them that He would be going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. The disciples did not yet understand how Christ, who would be leaving them, would then be able to manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world. We read of this lack of understanding from one of Christ’s disciples:

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? John 14:22

Mrs. White makes this comment on this verse:

That Christ should manifest Himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to the disciples. They could not understand the words of Christ in their spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet He be unseen by the world. They did not understand the meaning of a spiritual manifestation.” The Southern Work, Sept 13, 1898

It is Christ who is the believer’s comforter by His Holy Spirit. After Christ was to leave his disciples, he would yet be present with them by His Spirit. The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy show this truth plainly:

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. John 14:18; Matthew 28:20

 

Christ is formed within, and by His Spirit He fulfils the promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." ST, Sept 27, 1899

 

If by His Holy Spirit Christ abides in the soul, our features, our attitude, our words will reveal Him to the world. ST, Jan 6, 1898

 

This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin. RH, May 19, 1904

…we adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter. 19MR 297

 

Note from these texts who it is that will not leave His disciples comfortless. It is Jesus Himself who is the Christian’s comforter by His Holy Spirit.

We can also see the truth that Christ is our comforter more directly from the scriptures. The word translated “comforter” in John chapter 14, verse16 is “parakletos.” The word “parakletos” is also translated in 1 John chapter 2 and verse1 as “advocate.”

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [parakletos], that he may abide with you for ever. John 14:16

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate [parakletos] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1

The words “Comforter” and “Advocate” have exactly the same meaning in scripture. The text in 1 John then plainly identifies that it is Jesus Christ who is our advocate and comforter. Christ is personally present by His Holy Spirit with the believer.

And that Christ is omnipresent by His Spirit we see from the following:

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 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.” MR14, p. 23

 

We see the same truth from the following quote:

 

While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church. DA 166

 

The Holy Spirit is the one Spirit that proceeds from God the Father. The Holy Spirit is the Father’s life, presence, and omnipresence. The Holy Spirit has been given to Christ without measure [see John 3:34] and therefore is also the presence of Christ. The Father and His only begotten Son are omnipresent by their one Spirit which they share.

 

The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Just how a personal God, the Father can be seated on the throne of His universe and how Jesus, a personal Son, can minister in the sanctuary above and yet both Father and Son be everywhere present by their Holy Spirit, is a mystery not revealed to mortal minds.

 

And finally, as promised at the beginning of this presentation, we have this Bible testimony from the Holy Spirit itself that it is not a third co-equal and co-eternal God. We will see this truth revealed by the Holy Spirit as we apply the principle for searching the scriptures found in Isaiah chapter 28, verses 9 and10. We first read this verse from the gospel of John:

 

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him]. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3:34-35

 

We notice from this text that the Spirit was given to Jesus by His Father and that without measure. The following text confirms the one already quoted that the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father:

 

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: John 15:26

 

God the Father gave His Holy Spirit without measure to His Son. The Holy Spirit is also sent to Christ’s disciples as we noted from this passage and in the following experience of the apostle Paul:

 

… Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 9:17

 

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3:34-35

 

And we already noted earlier that Christ received the Holy Spirit without measure from His Father. In this Bible verse as well as the one in the book of Acts, we see that both the Son of God and Paul the apostle were filled with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is also known as the Spirit of truth. And here we ask this question, the answer to which is most revealing: What was the testimony of the Spirit of truth that moved the Son of God to speak and Paul the apostle to write concerning the God the Father?

 

Let us hear the testimony of Jesus first:

 

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

 

And of Paul:

 

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. 1Corinthians 8:6

 

Now let everyone think carefully who still believes that the Holy Spirit is a third co-equal and co-eternal God with the Father and His Son. What is the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of truth doing here confessing in Christ and through Paul that there is but one God, the Father - the only true God if the Holy Spirit is a co-equal and co-eternal God Himself along with the Father and His Son? Instead, the Holy Spirit acknowledges that there is but one God, the Father - the only true God. This is certainly conclusive Bible testimony from the Holy Spirit itself that it is not a third Divine Being. Rather, as this presentation has shown, the Holy Spirit is the very life and presence of God the Father and of His only-begotten Son. By Christ giving the Holy Spirit to the human agent, He is giving the glory which His Father has given Him that He and His people may be one in God. A-men.

 

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15

 

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

 

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:6

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