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This webpage is as a result of a presentation at the SDA Avondale College Church Hall in Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia on the Sabbath afternoon of 15.02.2014. Restitution Ministries Australia had been in dialogue with the Senior Pastor of the Avondale Church, Pastor Vadim Butov and a request or agreement was reached that each side would present their view on the Godhead, for or against the view that the Godhead does not consist of three co-eternal persons. There was a panel of three on each side including the speakers. I was asked to present on behalf of the Godhead believers.
The title of our presentation was "Jesus Christ, the Son of God yesterday, today and forever." which was felt to debunk the idea of a Trinity. The position of the early church pioneers and indeed the church well into the 1950s long after the death of the early church fathers was that God is not a Trinity, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God not as a result of His incarnation at Bethlehem but was the Son of God in Eternity, brought forth by the Father from Himself through a process mysterious to man and which we need not speculate about nor attempt to explain.
In reviewing our past history we noted that the SDA church was not Trinitarian, hence when she says "our present standing" in 1893, one can confidently assume that the Church's position had not changed regarding the Godhead. Therefore, we have nothing to fear for the future as far as doctrine is concerned except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history. That teaching regarding the Godhead is contrary to what is espoused by the corporate church today, that God is a TRINITY.
In the view that Jesus is truly the Son of God, brought forth in eternity, we as Seventh Day Adventists hold firmly to Christ's divinity by the fact of His divine Sonship and therefore, there is not a people on earth who strongly hold to the truth of Christ's pre-existence than do Seventh Day Adventists.
Hopefully, we as SDAs do not make the mistake of closing the door to what is about to be shared below as did the folk in Hastings, New Zealand.
The above slide and those following illustrate an important principle in the study of Bible truth - that which was truth in the past remains truth today and in the context of GOD, we believe the SDA church from its inception has never believed in a TRINITY God and never will because to do so would violate the above principle - when God establishes a truth, it remains truth forever.
And importantly she was not instructed to change that which she had sent out for publication or to retract one word of the message she bore.
I realise the limitation of using the "never" or "absence" argument but the fact is:
1. Never once did she speak of the Trinity as the true God or use the word itself to express anything.
2. Never once did she say that God was a Trinity of three co-eternal beings existing in ONE INSEPARABLE, INDIVISIBLE substance or essence as modern leading trinitarian SDA men espouse today.
3. Never once did she say that three co-eternal beings were involved in role playing as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and neither did she say that any one of the the three could have been the Father, Son or Holy Spirit.
4. Never once did she correct the view of the pioneers.
5. Never once did she attack Waggoner and Jones on their view (see below) regarding Jesus being brought forth in eternity. Compare this with the way she handled John Harvey Kellogg and his book, "The Living Temple".
6. Never once did correct her husband and sons.
But the greatest fact of all is: NEVER ONCE DOES THE BIBLE STATE IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT GOD IS THE TRINITY.
"That which was truth then, is truth today."
Not a word of the past is to be changed or denied. She believed in a God with physical form which included the Father and the Son as separate physical beings. She believed in the Spirit as the Spirit of Christ which does not possess bodily form.
And than comes the warning that in rejecting truth men reject its author. It is sobering but nevertheless true that the church has rejected the author of truth by accepting the doctrine of the Trinity.
THE SON OF GOD - WHEN?
In Revelation 12:7,9 we are told that there was war in heaven and the dragon which symbolised the Devil and Satan was cast out and his angels were cast out with him. He was cast out to this earth and having been cast out he continued to war with the remnant of the woman's seed and this remnant is identified as those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And we know from Rev 19:10 that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. This gift was manifested in the life, work and counsels of a lady chosen by the Lord to be his messenger to the remnant of the woman's seed who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
But why was he cast out and all his angels with him?
Satan knew the position Christ held as the Son of God in heaven and he wanted to obscure the fact that Christ was THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD brought forth by the Father in the days of Eternity. And he continues this work to this day using the Christian church as his vehicle to obscure the true position of Christ in heaven as the Son of God.
However, there were loyal angels in heaven who tried to reason with Lucifer setting before him the fact that Christ was the Son of God, existing with God before the angels were created but Lucifer refused to listen.
Therefore, there were two groups of angels in heaven. The loyal angels who tried to convince Lucifer and his group that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God and the honour due to Christ was, therefore, His by right as Son. Lucifer and His angels did the opposite trying to obscure the fact that Jesus was God's Son.
The issue is no different today - the faithful are saying that Jesus was the begotten Son of God in heaven, brought forth by the Father while others (the majority) are denying this as did the fallen angels. The above testimony is very clear don't you think? That Jesus was the Son of God in heaven, before His incarnation into the human race. We shall see that the church taught this long after the death of the forefathers and Ellen White.
Furthermore a heathen King recognised the pre-incarnate Son of God in the fiery furnace. He did so because Daniel and his companions had witnessed to him of Christ, the Redeemer to come.
Please note the dates of the testimony in the slide below and observe that it was repeated over and over from 1881 to 1917 with it's insertion in "Prophets and Kings".
What have we learnt thus far?
1. Satan knew Christ's position of honour in heaven as the Son of God.
2. Fallen angels knew this and tried to obscure the fact that Christ was the Son of God.
3. Loyal angels also knew Jesus was the only begotten Son of God.
4. Loyal angels tried to reason with Lucifer concerning Christ's position in heaven as the Son of God.
5. Lucifer refused to listen. Many in the church are doing the same today.
6. King Nebuchadnezzar recognised the pre-incarnate Son of God in the fiery furnace.
Therefore, the witness of the Spirit of Prophecy is that Jesus in his pre-incarnate existence is the Son of God and not the second person of a Trinity God playing the role of a Son as many clever theologians and Pastors in the church would have us believe.
Let us consider the witness of the forefathers and what we taught regarding Jesus after the departure of the servant of the Lord.
In 1887 Waggoner taught that Jesus was the Son of God by birth, the only begotten Son of God. Note how he uses the terms begotten, creation and adoption when referring to Jesus, the angels & pre-fall Adam and post-fall Adam as Sons of God. And in case someone suggests that Waggoner was referring to Jesus' birth in Bethlehem as to his being begotten, Waggoner leaves us in no doubt in the following testimony:
Waggoner makes it clear that Christ is God and argues the equality of Father and Son by virtue of Christ's divine Sonship. Christ was begotten and NOT created by the Father. He was begotten from the very substance of the Father mysterious as that process is, hence in His very nature he is God.
Now note in the "Signs of the Times" of 1943, the following teaching and pay attention to the Scripture verses used to support it. These are photos of the original magazine as are the others quoted later.
In Lesson four entitled "CHRIST'S PRE-EXISTENCE AND DEITY", the question is asked:
1. Did Christ exist before He was born of the Virgin Mary?
The answer is a definite yes and John 17:5 and Colossians 1:17 are given as the answer to the question with the commentary on the phrase "Before the world was" explained as follows - "That is, from Eternity, before this world was created". In other words in this "sphere" of unmeasured duration called ETERNITY we have the following occurring according to the above Bible Lesson - "Before the creation of this world, or the starry heavens, even before an angel was brought into existence by the creative hand of God, God BEGOT His Son, Jesus Christ, of His own substance." As we often say in Australia, even blind Freddy can see that this is strictly a non-trinitarian statement and this was 1943. But let us go back to the 1800s. We will be doing some "to & fro" in time in order to see that the Church never believed in a Trinity God.
In 1890 Waggoner made the point of repeating his earlier sentiment of Christ being "the only begotten son of God" emphasising that He was "begotten, not created". As to when He was begotten, Waggoner is very clear that this is a pre-incarnation scenario and that the Son of God was begotten "in the days of Eternity". Note the verses he uses - Micah 5:2 marginal reading, John 8:42, 1:18, Heb 1:4, 3:6. And being a Son, He is of the very substance and nature of God possessing by birth all the attributes of God. Waggoner has no hesitation in using the word "birth" to illustrate the point. Of course it is obvious that the process in heaven cannot be taken to be like how humans are born.
In the Canadian "Signs of the Times" of 1944 we have the following including a word of caution about speculating as to the process of Christ's being begotten.
Note it says sometime in INFINITY or as we saw earlier in the "days of ETERNITY", "He was begotten of His Father. Whatever that may mean, and even more than that we do not know. And wise is the man who refrains from speculating on what has not been revealed about divinity". Maybe Jesus and the Father might some day explain how it all happened but we believe that a snippet of it and it is only a snippet and we do not say this is exactly how Jesus came to be, occurred in the Garden of Eden at the creation of Eve as she was brought forth from Adam's bosom (the rib can be seen to be a structure in the bosom).
Knowing Waggoner's position concerning Christ's being begotten, let us revisit His 1890 statement and note how the SOP picks up on it.
Note the words "begotten", "creation", "birth" and "adoption" for the different sons of God.
Five years later in 1895 Ellen White uses virtually the same words. Now she would have been aware of Waggoner's position on Christ being the begotten Son of God, brought forth in Eternity and therefore supported the same position as Waggoner's and emphasising the fact as he did, that Christ is not a son by CREATION as were the angels and pre-fall Adam but a son begotten in the express image and glory of the Father. And Jesus said this glory of the Father which He was begotten with was in the days before the world was: "John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
In 1896 Waggoner position is much the same using the phrase "first-born of creation" and equating this with being "begotten, "in the days of eternity" - centre margin of Micah 5:3 for everlasting.
Note in the Sabbath School Lesson of 1897 - first Quarter on the Gospel of John, the Jews denial of the Messiah being the Son of God. The Jews "did not look for a real dwelling of a divine person among them. It is quite certain that the Jews of the second century thought it silly of Christians to hold that the Christ pre-existed from eternity as God, and condescended to be born as a man. 'No Jew would allow,' says a writer of that time, 'that a prophet ever said that a Son of God would come; but what the Jews do say is that the Christ of God will come'."
Note the following commentary from the SOP - the Pharisees were doing the same as the fallen angels in heaven - denying that Christ was the Son of God in heaven
Notice that in His DIVINE NATURE, Christ was declared to be the Son of God and it was His divinity that was constantly opposed by the Pharisees and obscured by the fallen angels. Therefore, in denying or opposing His divinity they were in fact denying that He was the Son of God and therefore denied that He had a Father. This of course is what John referred to as Antichrist doctrine - the denial of the Father and the Son. The battle we face today on the divinity of Christ and His literal Sonship in heaven prior to coming to this earth is no different.
Jesus, the divine Son of God, a distinct person existed from eternity with the Father. He received homage from the angels as a right. What right? Why was there the need of a "right" to receive homage if God was the Trinity. Wouldn't you expect homage anyway because you are part of a Trinity God? You see it was Jesus' right to receive homage by virtue of His sonship and that sonship made Him a divine person. And this is the great mystery she alludes to. Jesus himself she declares said "I was set up", "I was brought forth", "before the hills was I brought forth", "I was there". "This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself" - that Christ was brought forth and was one with the Father in the days of eternity is the mystery that no finite mind should venture to explain or oppose.
Note Jesus was the "Son of God" prior to taking human nature upon Him. AT Jones makes it plain in the following slide.
Note it is the year 1895, the same year as noted above, Ellen White quoted EJ Waggoner almost verbatim. Hence Waggoner, Jones and White were all of the same mind regarding Jesus being the Son of God in heaven prior to His incarnation. There is no suggestion that He was another God playing the role of the Son.
AT Jones continues the same theme in 1901 using John 1:1, Ephesians 3:11, Hebrews 1:3, Proverbs 8, Micah 5:2 and Colossians 2:9. Therefore, being the only begotten of the Father and in very substance of the nature of God, by divine right of "inheritance" as the Son of God, Christ bears the name "God" and is, therefore, equal with God.
Flashback to 1895 with the above testimony and note she uses the word "BEGOTTEN" in the express image of the Father's person when quoting Hebrews 1:3. She used Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary and "begotten" in her view and in keeping with Waggoner and Jones and others meant "procreated" or better still "generated", that Christ was generated from the Father in the express image of the Father's person etc. That this is a mystery is an understatement but the Church and the Christian world deny this very thing and therefore, deny His literal Sonship in the days of eternity, thereby denying a literal Father and Son relationship. And that friend is Antichrist doctrine - 1John 2:22.
Furthermore in July 1895 we have the following.
Furthermore in July 1895 we have the following.
Quoting Hebrews 1:3, instead of using "begotten" she uses the word "MADE" "in the express image of his person, AND sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he love mankind." This sort of Jesus is not the "God the Son" of the Trinity friend. This is what happened in heaven, a mystery beyond finite minds.
Now fast forward to 1954 when I suspect all the pioneers and forefathers of the SDA movement have passed on and this is what we have in "Bible Answers" of the Canadian Signs of the Times:
Now fast forward to 1954 when I suspect all the pioneers and forefathers of the SDA movement have passed on and this is what we have in "Bible Answers" of the Canadian Signs of the Times:
"He was before any creature in the universe. Of course we do not believe that He was born in the sense that humans are propagated, but He was GIVEN existence in the divine way." Thirty nine years after the death of Ellen White, there has been no change in the church's position on the Son of God being begotten in heaven before any creature was created and even "before the world was".
Christ was "made" so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. In Strong's concordance, the word translated "being made" is "Ginomai" which means "to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be," or "to become, be made".
This is how EJ Waggoner, AT Jones and EG White viewed the scripture and there was no conflict among them regarding Hebrews 1:3,4. Note the following definitive statement or "first mention" type quote.
This is how EJ Waggoner, AT Jones and EG White viewed the scripture and there was no conflict among them regarding Hebrews 1:3,4. Note the following definitive statement or "first mention" type quote.
Note the date, 1900, two years after the Desire of Ages was written. In treating her line upon line, as we have seen with her use of the words "begotten" and "made" in reference to Jesus' being in the express image of His Father's person, there has been no change in her view regarding Jesus being the Son of God, brought forth in the days of eternity and in harmony with the 1888 messengers. The above testimony lined up with her other ones destroys the idea of a three person inseparable, indivisible Trinity God.
JAMES WHITE
James White believed in a literal Son of God and not some metaphorical son as promoted by pastors and church leaders today.
THE WITNESS OF SON, JAMES EDSON WHITE
In his book "Past, Present, and Future" James Edson White had the following to say on page 52
He compares Christ the creator to the angels stating that angels are created beings whereas Christ is "the ONLY being begotten of the Father". This is well after the Desire of Ages was published. He definitely knew what his mother taught on the subject and nowhere in the "Desire of Ages" (DA) does it say that Christ is part of a trinity god. The often used quote from DA of "life original, unborrowed, underived" is misused / misapplied to mean something Ellen White never intended at all. We will see how the church after her death used this quote and it wasn't to support the trinity doctrine.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON OF 1917
Note the distinction between "God was" "and with Him was His Son." Note also the commentary at the beginning, "...when only the SELF-EXISTENT FATHER and His "ONLY BEGOTTEN SON were in existence."
This Sabbath School Lesson two years or so after the death of Ellen White in no way supports the Trinity God.
Therefore it makes sense when she says Jesus became the Son of God in a new sense at His incarnation into the human race. Because he was already the Son of God in heaven.
This Sabbath School Lesson two years or so after the death of Ellen White in no way supports the Trinity God.
Therefore it makes sense when she says Jesus became the Son of God in a new sense at His incarnation into the human race. Because he was already the Son of God in heaven.
Thus He stood in our world -- the Son of God, YET allied by birth to the human race. And by virtue of that birth became the son of man. Hence from heaven to the manger and all the way to the Cross, even to the heavenly sanctuary stands one who ministers on our behalf, the Son of God and the Son of man.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON OF 1921
The First Quarter Lesson titled "The Son of God".
Paul after his conversion, declared that Jesus was the Son of God (Acts 9:20), and so he continued to preach (2Cor. 1:19). By a voice from heaven, God Himself bore testimony to the same fact. 2Peter 1:16,17. Our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary is still declared to be "Jesus the Son of God" Heb 4:14. God sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour (John 3:17), and the future of every man depends upon his attitude toward this Son of God (John 3:18). Adam was a son of God by creation (Luke 3:38), being made in the image of God (Gen 1:26). He was in fellowship with the life of the Creator. Through sin, he became "alienated from the life of God" (Eph 4:18), and lost his place as a son of God. Only one who stood in the relation of divine Son could restore man to his place as a son (Gal 4:4,5), and bestow upon him the privilege of being once more in the true sense a child of God. Our hope of salvation from sin, and restoration to permanent fellowship with God, finds a sure foundation in the fact that God sent His only begotten Son to be our Saviour.
Paul after his conversion, declared that Jesus was the Son of God (Acts 9:20), and so he continued to preach (2Cor. 1:19). By a voice from heaven, God Himself bore testimony to the same fact. 2Peter 1:16,17. Our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary is still declared to be "Jesus the Son of God" Heb 4:14. God sent His Son into the world to be its Saviour (John 3:17), and the future of every man depends upon his attitude toward this Son of God (John 3:18). Adam was a son of God by creation (Luke 3:38), being made in the image of God (Gen 1:26). He was in fellowship with the life of the Creator. Through sin, he became "alienated from the life of God" (Eph 4:18), and lost his place as a son of God. Only one who stood in the relation of divine Son could restore man to his place as a son (Gal 4:4,5), and bestow upon him the privilege of being once more in the true sense a child of God. Our hope of salvation from sin, and restoration to permanent fellowship with God, finds a sure foundation in the fact that God sent His only begotten Son to be our Saviour.
The Second Quarter Lesson titled "Christ our Priest - After the Work of Melchizedek"
The priesthood of Christ is here based upon His unique relation to God as the only begotten Son, arising from His INHERENT NATURE as a son rather than from a merely arbitrary choice on His part.
This thought of Christ begotten in eternity by the Father is further reinforced in the 1930 Sabbath School lesson of October 4.
The priesthood of Christ is here based upon His unique relation to God as the only begotten Son, arising from His INHERENT NATURE as a son rather than from a merely arbitrary choice on His part.
This thought of Christ begotten in eternity by the Father is further reinforced in the 1930 Sabbath School lesson of October 4.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON OF OCT 4 1930
"Jesus was the Son of God before He was born of the Virgin Mary. He was the only-begotten Son of God from the days of eternity." There is no talk here of another Trinity God being playing the role of a son or suggestion of a metaphorical son.
JOHN MATTESON - 1869
STEPHEN HASKELL
FIRSTBORN
"Christ was the first begotten of the Father."
"Christ was the firstborn in heaven."
"He came from heaven, God's first-born, to the earth, and was born again"
"The first-born of God, was born again,.."
Note the year in Jones' slide above, 1899. The following is from the "Desire of Ages" (1898), the book that is supposed to have changed the Church's God to the Trinity.
"Christ was the firstborn in heaven."
"He came from heaven, God's first-born, to the earth, and was born again"
"The first-born of God, was born again,.."
Note the year in Jones' slide above, 1899. The following is from the "Desire of Ages" (1898), the book that is supposed to have changed the Church's God to the Trinity.
The first-born of heaven? She was aware of what her contemporaries believed and was in harmony with AT Jones and Stephen Haskell. Remember she said:
Note carefully that Christ existed in heaven in the express image of His FATHER. He did have a Father in heaven. The year is 1900, two years after the "Desire of Ages", she continues to promote the Son of God, begotten in heaven.
Fast forward again another 44 years and this is what we find in the Canadian Signs of the Times of December 1944 :
Fast forward again another 44 years and this is what we find in the Canadian Signs of the Times of December 1944 :
"Sometime, in infinity before that, He was "begotten" of His Father. Whatever that may mean, and more than that, we do not know. AND WISE IS THE MAN WHO REFRAINS FROM SPECULATING ON WHAT HAS NOT BEEN REVEALED ABOUT DIVINITY." This is what the Canadian Signs of the Times had in print. They understood what was written in D of A and did not see anything Trinitarian in it re: "life original, un-borrowed, underived". It is the modern church pastors and leaders who have twisted it to mean something she did not intend.
The majesty of heaven is identified as the "only begotten Son of God". In Noah Websters 1828 Dictionary, the word "YET" in the above slide is used as a conjunction and means "Nevertheless", "notwithstanding"; or "however". e.g. "I come to you in the spirit of peace; yet you will not receive me. Yet I say unto you, the Solomon in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:29."
Hence the above testimony can be read as: "Christ was the majesty of heaven, the only begotten Son of God. NEVERTHELESS (or NOTWITHSTANDING this) "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.". In other words God out of His great love for the world did have an only begotten Son and did give that only begotten Son to save the world.
Hence the above testimony can be read as: "Christ was the majesty of heaven, the only begotten Son of God. NEVERTHELESS (or NOTWITHSTANDING this) "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.". In other words God out of His great love for the world did have an only begotten Son and did give that only begotten Son to save the world.
PROVERBS 8
Modern day teachers have departed from the understanding of Proverbs 8 held by our forefathers and EG White. Our forefathers identified the WISDOM of Proverbs 8 as Jesus and used the scripture in harmony with the Bible teaching that Jesus was God's only begotten Son, brought forth in heaven. Many present day pastors and leaders do not like this interpretation because it goes against their teaching of the Trinity.
"So we may read the text thus: "Jehovah brought Me forth, in the beginning of His way, before His works of old".
EG White is of a same view in the following slides - "Wisdom calls to the sons of men, "I love them that love me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." This Wisdom is Jesus hence Proverbs 8 is about Jesus.
EG White is of a same view in the following slides - "Wisdom calls to the sons of men, "I love them that love me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me." This Wisdom is Jesus hence Proverbs 8 is about Jesus.
Hence it is Jesus all the way from the beginning to the end of Proverbs 8. 1Cor 1:30 teaches that Jesus is the Wisdom of God. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"
And it is this Wisdom who is speaking to us in Proverbs 8, finally ending with verse 36 in the slide above. EG White comments on verse 36 in the D of A saying that it is Jesus who is speaking - "All they that hate me love death". Point is Proverbs 8 does not teach that Jesus is part of a Trinity God but one who was brought forth by the Father as the Prophet Micah says in the days of Eternity.
And it is this Wisdom who is speaking to us in Proverbs 8, finally ending with verse 36 in the slide above. EG White comments on verse 36 in the D of A saying that it is Jesus who is speaking - "All they that hate me love death". Point is Proverbs 8 does not teach that Jesus is part of a Trinity God but one who was brought forth by the Father as the Prophet Micah says in the days of Eternity.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON OF 0CTOBER 17, 1936
These Sabbath School Lessons are interesting because these were promoted by the General Conference Sabbath School leadership as Bible truths to be shared with the public at large and not confined to the Sabbath Schools of the churches. This is possibly the first time asides from the 1930 yearbook in which the word "Trinity" is used but it appears to be more descriptive of three powers. The use of the word Trinity in these lessons cannot be used as an endorsement of the Trinity doctrine espoused by certain leading men in the church today. The thoughts in these lessons are very much in opposition to the Trinity as explained today by Whidden, Hatton, Jensen, Mueller etc.
Lesson 3 for October 17, 1936 dealt with the Godhead. Under the heading "The Trinity", the question is asked: "What three powers wrought in the work of creation?" And the answer is given in the quoted Bible verses of Eph 3:9, John 1:3 and Gen 1:2. The "Note" simply says "...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit wrought together in creation. There is no hint here of what modern Trinitarians believe to be the Trinity.
Now observe the Sabbath School Lesson the following week of October 24:
Now observe the Sabbath School Lesson the following week of October 24:
Lesson 4 for October 24, 1936 concerned the "Deity and Pre-existence of Christ" Please do not miss the point - the lesson is dealing not only with the Deity of Christ but also with His PRE-EXISTENCE in heaven so read the answers to the questions with this in mind - His PRE-EXISTENCE.
Under the heading "Deity of Christ", we have two questions:
1. Of whom was Christ begotten?
The answer is given as Ps 2:7 & John 1: 14. He was begotten by the Father. In other words, He was begotten in His pre-existence by the Father.
2. How much was He like the Father?
Hebrews 1:3 and the first part of Col 1:15 is given as the answer. Hence in that PRE-EXISTENCE, Christ was begotten in the express image of the Father in all His brightness and GLORY (John 17:5).
Under the heading "Deity of Christ", we have two questions:
1. Of whom was Christ begotten?
The answer is given as Ps 2:7 & John 1: 14. He was begotten by the Father. In other words, He was begotten in His pre-existence by the Father.
2. How much was He like the Father?
Hebrews 1:3 and the first part of Col 1:15 is given as the answer. Hence in that PRE-EXISTENCE, Christ was begotten in the express image of the Father in all His brightness and GLORY (John 17:5).
Christ's testimony concerning His deity.
7. What testimony concerning His deity did Christ Himself give?
John 16:27, 28 & John 8:58 are given as answers:
John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
"I came out" and "I came forth" is from Strong's "exerchomai" (G1831) which means "to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of" as noted in the next slide..
7. What testimony concerning His deity did Christ Himself give?
John 16:27, 28 & John 8:58 are given as answers:
John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
"I came out" and "I came forth" is from Strong's "exerchomai" (G1831) which means "to come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of" as noted in the next slide..
Question 8: "What is the source of the Son's life?
It is obvious that this question is incompatible with the idea of a Trinity God despite the use of the word "Trinity" at the beginning of the Sabbath School Lesson.
Answer: John 5:26 - "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;". The church believed the Son's life was from the Father. What sort of Life does the Father possess? Why it is "ORIGINAL, UN-BORROWED, UNDERIVED". Hence the Desire of Ages makes sense, the life labelled "original, un-borrowed, underived" when given by the Father to the Son can be known by no label other than "original, un-borrowed, underived." Therefore Jesus is said to possess life "original, un-borrowed, underived." How trinitarians have used this to support the Trinity doctrine sadly does not reflect her other views of Jesus being God's Son in eternity. This Sabbath School Lesson does strongly suggest that those who wrote the lesson understood Ellen White's view in "DofA" of "life original, un-borrowed, underived" very differently from those of today promoting the Trinity.
Question 9: "What kind of life does the Son possess?"
Answer: Eternal life. 1John 5:11,20 - "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. " "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
Question 10: When does the prophet say the life of the Son began?
Answer: Micah 5:2 margin. The "NOTE" states, "While we cannot comprehend eternity - without beginning and without ending - yet it is clearly affirmed here that the life which Christ possesses is "from the days of eternity". Again like question 8, this question is incompatible with the modern day Trinity doctrine.
It is obvious that this question is incompatible with the idea of a Trinity God despite the use of the word "Trinity" at the beginning of the Sabbath School Lesson.
Answer: John 5:26 - "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;". The church believed the Son's life was from the Father. What sort of Life does the Father possess? Why it is "ORIGINAL, UN-BORROWED, UNDERIVED". Hence the Desire of Ages makes sense, the life labelled "original, un-borrowed, underived" when given by the Father to the Son can be known by no label other than "original, un-borrowed, underived." Therefore Jesus is said to possess life "original, un-borrowed, underived." How trinitarians have used this to support the Trinity doctrine sadly does not reflect her other views of Jesus being God's Son in eternity. This Sabbath School Lesson does strongly suggest that those who wrote the lesson understood Ellen White's view in "DofA" of "life original, un-borrowed, underived" very differently from those of today promoting the Trinity.
Question 9: "What kind of life does the Son possess?"
Answer: Eternal life. 1John 5:11,20 - "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. " "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
Question 10: When does the prophet say the life of the Son began?
Answer: Micah 5:2 margin. The "NOTE" states, "While we cannot comprehend eternity - without beginning and without ending - yet it is clearly affirmed here that the life which Christ possesses is "from the days of eternity". Again like question 8, this question is incompatible with the modern day Trinity doctrine.
Now note Question 11 and the accompanying "NOTE".
Question 11: What testimony does Jesus Himself bear concerning His existence before creation?
Answer: John 17:5.
"Note - Cumulative evidence that the Son existed with the Father before creation is abundant in the Scriptures. .... He was therefore no part of creation, but was "begotten" of the Father" in the days of eternity, and was very God Himself".
The following is the endorsement by the General Conference Sabbath School committee of the Sabbath School Lessons of 1936. This was to be shared with neighbours and indeed the whole world.
Question 11: What testimony does Jesus Himself bear concerning His existence before creation?
Answer: John 17:5.
"Note - Cumulative evidence that the Son existed with the Father before creation is abundant in the Scriptures. .... He was therefore no part of creation, but was "begotten" of the Father" in the days of eternity, and was very God Himself".
The following is the endorsement by the General Conference Sabbath School committee of the Sabbath School Lessons of 1936. This was to be shared with neighbours and indeed the whole world.
The highlighted slide above is from the highlighted middle column of the previous slide. It states: "...any one can know that what he teaches as he presents the lesson as a Bible reading or a sermon is correct." as it has been "fully authenticated by the lesson committee of the General Conference Sabbath School Department".
This was to go to the World Field and represented the truth as taught by the church concerning the Godhead which as we have seen while it contained the word Trinity, it no way was representative of the trinity doctrine as we "understand" it today. Neither was it representative of the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Trinity.
Furthermore we continued to teach this beyond the 1930s. A decade later the "Signs of the Times" of January 1st 1946 stated the following in the "Bible Lessons" section.
This was to go to the World Field and represented the truth as taught by the church concerning the Godhead which as we have seen while it contained the word Trinity, it no way was representative of the trinity doctrine as we "understand" it today. Neither was it representative of the Roman Catholic doctrine of the Trinity.
Furthermore we continued to teach this beyond the 1930s. A decade later the "Signs of the Times" of January 1st 1946 stated the following in the "Bible Lessons" section.
The question is asked: "When was the Son brought forth?"
Answer: Proverbs 8:22-30. And then the commentary - " Before any other creature was given life, God brought forth His Son, His only begotten Son, made of His own divine substance and in His express image. Christ was "first-born." The Son was given self-existent life. He was made; that is, He was given perpetual life within Himself."
The Son was given self existent life. He was made; that is, He was given perpetual life within himself. Now this is the faith of the church. This of course does not rhyme or fit the Trinity God doctrine being taught in the SDA church today.
Well, you might ask, what about the following testimony: "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived." DA 530.4 : Doesn't this prove that Jesus was not begotten of the Father but originated this life Himself? No it doesn't! The above slideshow has just shown the very opposite, that Christ was begotten of the Father and when correctly understood, the Bible and the testimonies teach that Christ received this life from the Father by virtue of being God's Son. Just as a human son receives human life from a human father so the divine son of God receives divine life from His divine Father and this life is said to be "original, unborrowed, underived", the same in both Father and Son.
Answer: Proverbs 8:22-30. And then the commentary - " Before any other creature was given life, God brought forth His Son, His only begotten Son, made of His own divine substance and in His express image. Christ was "first-born." The Son was given self-existent life. He was made; that is, He was given perpetual life within Himself."
The Son was given self existent life. He was made; that is, He was given perpetual life within himself. Now this is the faith of the church. This of course does not rhyme or fit the Trinity God doctrine being taught in the SDA church today.
Well, you might ask, what about the following testimony: "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived." DA 530.4 : Doesn't this prove that Jesus was not begotten of the Father but originated this life Himself? No it doesn't! The above slideshow has just shown the very opposite, that Christ was begotten of the Father and when correctly understood, the Bible and the testimonies teach that Christ received this life from the Father by virtue of being God's Son. Just as a human son receives human life from a human father so the divine son of God receives divine life from His divine Father and this life is said to be "original, unborrowed, underived", the same in both Father and Son.
"In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived."
"Martha answered, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." {DA 530.2}
Still seeking to give a true direction to her faith, 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. The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life. "He that believeth in Me," said Jesus, "though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death. The miracle which Christ was about to perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the Author of the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right and power to give eternal life. {DA 530.3} To the Saviour's words, "Believest thou?" Martha responded, "Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." She did not comprehend in all their significance the words spoken by Christ, but she confessed her faith in His divinity, and her confidence that He was able to perform whatever it pleased Him to do." {DA 530.4}
Notice the testimony says: "IN Christ..." meaning the "thing" that was in Him, the Life that was IN Him, was original, it was unborrowed, it was underived. John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" The life of the Father is original, unborrowed, underived. Jesus has this life by virtue of His sonship. The Son has the same life as the Father.
What sort of Life was IN Christ? - Eternal life or divine life. 1John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
What is the believer's assurance of eternal life? - the DIVINITY of Christ is the believer's assurance.
What was the DIVINITY of Christ based upon? - it was based upon the fact that He was the Son of God. 1John 5:12 "He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Hence Martha by acknowledging Christ was the Son of God confessed her faith in His divinity by virtue of that Sonship and hence His ability, right and power to raise Lazarus from the dead.
Therefore, the life that was in the Son is the SAME type of life the Father has, original, unborrowed, underived, unlike our life which is borrowed and derived from God.
As noted in the slide show, Christ being the Son of God received all things from His Father including His life, "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.", the Father.
"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 21.1,2}
Therefore the idea that the phrase "life original, unborrowed, underived" somehow makes Christ part of a trinity God is unfounded and twists the meaning originally intended by the author.
She did not say that Christ ORIGINATED this life Himself. The only way for this to be so is to deny that Jesus was the Son of God in eternity. And that is exactly the controversy which is now raging among us. There is nothing new under the sun - it began in heaven with the fallen angels, it continued with the pharisees who denied His divinity by denying He was the Son of God.
And now friend, it is your turn. Do you believe in Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of man? If you do, then send this slideshow to your SDA friends.
May God bless you richly as you ponder these things.
See the video under the "Sermon Videos" menu.
Still seeking to give a true direction to her faith, 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. The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life. "He that believeth in Me," said Jesus, "though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming. Then the righteous dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living righteous shall be translated to heaven without seeing death. The miracle which Christ was about to perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the Author of the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right and power to give eternal life. {DA 530.3} To the Saviour's words, "Believest thou?" Martha responded, "Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." She did not comprehend in all their significance the words spoken by Christ, but she confessed her faith in His divinity, and her confidence that He was able to perform whatever it pleased Him to do." {DA 530.4}
Notice the testimony says: "IN Christ..." meaning the "thing" that was in Him, the Life that was IN Him, was original, it was unborrowed, it was underived. John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" The life of the Father is original, unborrowed, underived. Jesus has this life by virtue of His sonship. The Son has the same life as the Father.
What sort of Life was IN Christ? - Eternal life or divine life. 1John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
What is the believer's assurance of eternal life? - the DIVINITY of Christ is the believer's assurance.
What was the DIVINITY of Christ based upon? - it was based upon the fact that He was the Son of God. 1John 5:12 "He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Hence Martha by acknowledging Christ was the Son of God confessed her faith in His divinity by virtue of that Sonship and hence His ability, right and power to raise Lazarus from the dead.
Therefore, the life that was in the Son is the SAME type of life the Father has, original, unborrowed, underived, unlike our life which is borrowed and derived from God.
As noted in the slide show, Christ being the Son of God received all things from His Father including His life, "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.", the Father.
"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 21.1,2}
Therefore the idea that the phrase "life original, unborrowed, underived" somehow makes Christ part of a trinity God is unfounded and twists the meaning originally intended by the author.
She did not say that Christ ORIGINATED this life Himself. The only way for this to be so is to deny that Jesus was the Son of God in eternity. And that is exactly the controversy which is now raging among us. There is nothing new under the sun - it began in heaven with the fallen angels, it continued with the pharisees who denied His divinity by denying He was the Son of God.
And now friend, it is your turn. Do you believe in Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of man? If you do, then send this slideshow to your SDA friends.
May God bless you richly as you ponder these things.
See the video under the "Sermon Videos" menu.
