The Father, the Son

and the Holy Spirit

Father,Sonand

Holy Spirit

There are many different theoriesregarding the subject of Deity. Somepeople think there is one person who hasthree different titles. Other people thinkthat there are three separate persons whomysteriously morph into one being. Yetothers think that Jesus was merely agood man, a creation to redeem us.Some others think that only the Father isGod. Some think that both the Fatherand the Son are God, and that the HolySpirit is only a force that does theirbidding. Another view is that there arethree living persons, the Father, the Sonand the Holy Spirit. Each of theseconflicting ideas has loyal followers, andeach one thinks that they are right, andthat the others are wrong.Many of our friends have been influencedby some preachers on this subject. Theyhave accepted a view that is different fromthe teachings that we can read in the Bible.We sincerely hope that this study will openthe eyes of those who have been led intothis deception.

Even though this topic is difficult, there isonly one truth; and we have seen that somepeople twist many Bible texts so it can fitinto their own beliefs. May the Holy Spiritlead us to the whole truth through thisstudy!

CHRIST CAME AS A MAN AND WASTEMPTED IN ALL POINTS AS WEARE.

Let us first read some Bible texts, and seeif we can understand them correctly.

Jesus said, “He that hath seen Me hath seenthe Father” (John 14:9). Jesus so mirroredthe character of the Father that He perfectlyreflected Him, hence the title “TheEverlasting Father.”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us aSon is given; and the government shall beupon His shoulder: and His name shall becalled Wonderful, Counselor, The mightyGod, The everlasting Father, The Princeof Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Here we see that Jesus was mentioned asa Son in connection with His birth, but Hewas also called the Mighty God and theEverlasting Father.

Jesus came to this earth as you and us.“Forasmuch then as the children arepartakers of flesh and blood, He alsoHimself likewise took part of the same…”(Hebrews 2:14).

“Wherefore in all things it behoved Himto be made like unto His brethren, that He

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

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might be a merciful and faithful high priestin things pertaining to God, to makereconciliation for the sins of the people.For in that He Himself hath suffered beingtempted, He is able to succor them thatare tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18).

“For we have not an high priest whichcannot be touched with the feelings of ourinfirmities; but was in all points temptedlike as we are, yet without sin. Let ustherefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and findgrace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews4:15-16).

Because Christ was God and was temptedon this earth as a man - in all points likeus, yet without sin, He is the only one thatcan forgive sin. (Luke 5:20-21).

CHRIST CAME IN SINFUL FLESH

“For what the law could not do, in that itwas weak through the flesh, God sendingHis own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”(Romans 8:3).

“Let this mind be in you, which was alsoin Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form ofGod, thought it not robbery to be equalwith God: but made Himself of no

reputation, and took upon Him the formof a servant, and was made in thelikeness of men: and being found infashion as a man, He humbled Himself,and became obedient unto death, even thedeath of the cross. Wherefore God alsohath exalted Him, and given Him a namewhich is above every name: that at thename of Jesus every knee should bow, ofthings in heaven, and things in earth, andthings under the earth; and that everytongue should confess that Jesus Christis Lord, to the glory of God the Father”(Philippians 2:5-11).

Here we see that Christ was equal to Godthe Father, but that he humbled Himselfand came to this earth as a man, in orderto save mankind. He clothed His divinitywith humanity and came here as a man.We also read in Romans chapter 8, thatHe came in the likeness of sinful flesh. SoHe came here as a man. In His life as aman He was tempted as we are, (not as aGod), but as a man. Because where Adamfailed, there Christ had to win the victoryover every temptation – and He didachieve this. He was tempted as we are,but without sin. Therefore He can be ourSaviour.

Christ came in the fallen sinful nature thatAdam had after the fall, and He even cameto this earth with the degenerated state that

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man had at that time. And just as we needto pray to God for help, He prayed to HisFather in Heaven for help – as a man. Jesussaid, “I can of mine own self do nothing:as I hear, I judge: and my judgement isjust; because I seek not Mine own will,but the will of the Father which hath sentMe” (John 5:30).

Many times in the New Testament we seethat Jesus is calling God the Father - HisFather. We have also seen that Christ issaying, “I can of My own self do nothing.”As a man He was dependent upon the helpof His Father. Christ was God, but He didnot use His divinity when He was temptedby the Devil. We have seen that He clothedHis divinity with humanity.

“In Christ dwelt all the fullness of theGodhead. But the only way in which Hecould reach men was to veil His glory bythe garb of Humanity” (ST Jan. 20,1898).

“When we want a deep problem to study,let us fix our minds on the most marvelousthing that ever took place in earth orheaven – the incarnation of the Son ofGod. God gave His Son to die for sinfulhuman beings, a death of ignominy andshame. He who was Commander in theheavenly courts laid aside His royal robeand kingly crown, and clothing His

divinity with humanity, came to thisworld to stand at the head of the humanrace as the pattern-man. He humbledHimself to suffer with the race, to beafflicted in all their afflictions.

The whole world was His, but socompletely did He empty Himself thatduring His ministry He declared, ‘Foxeshave holes, and the birds of the air havenests; but the Son of man hath not whereto lay His head” (Hebrews 2:14-18 quoted.Manuscript 76, 1903).

“To redeem man, Christ became obedientunto death, even the death of the cross. Thehumanity of the Son of God iseverything to us. It is the golden linkedchain which binds our souls to Christand through Christ to God. This is to beour study. Christ was a real man, and Hegave proof of His humility in becoming aman. And He was God in the flesh.

When we approach the subject of Christ’sdivinity clothed with the garb ofhumanity, we may appropriately heed thewords spoken by Christ to Moses at theburning bush, ‘Put off thy shoes from offthy feet, for the place whereon thoustandest is holy ground.’ We must come tothe study of this subject with the humilityof a learner, with a contrite heart. And thestudy of the incarnation of Christ is a

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fruitful field, and will repay the searcherwho digs deep for hidden truth”(Manuscript 67, 1898).

In Isaiah 9:6, we have already seen thatJesus was called the Son of God by Hisbirth. In Luke 1:35 we read: “And the angelanswered and said unto her, The HolyGhost shall come upon thee, and the powerof the Highest shall overshadow thee:therefore also that holy thing which shallbe born of thee shall be called the Son ofGod.”

Again we see that Jesus was called the Sonof God when He was born here on thisearth.

When Jesus was baptized a voice camefrom Heaven. “And suddenly a voice camefrom heaven, saying, ‘This is My belovedSon, in whom I am well pleased’”(Matthew 3:17).

Here again we see that Jesus was calledthe Son of God, as a man.

After Jesus died and rose again, Heascended to the right hand of God. Romans8:34. This indicates that Jesus and theFather are two individuals.

IS JESUS FULLY GOD?

We have already read that He was equalwith God, and He is called Mighty God,Everlasting Father.

“For I am the LORD thy God (Yah-weh),the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…”(Isaiah 43:3).

We continue in verse 10 in the samechapter: “Ye are My witnesses, said theLORD (Yah-weh), and My servant whomI have chosen: that ye may know andbelieve Me, and understand that I am He:before Me there was no God formed,neither shall there be after Me. I, even I,am the LORD (Yah-weh), and besideMe there is no Saviour. And I havedeclared, and have saved, and I haveshewed, when there was no strange godamong you: therefore ye are My witnesses,saith the LORD (Yah-weh), that I amGod” (Isaiah 43:10-12).

Here Jesus as the “I AM” is mentioned asGod – Yah-weh. He is the Saviour.

In the next chapter we read: “Thus saiththe LORD (Yah-weh) the King of Israel,and his Redeemer the LORD (Yah-weh)of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last;and beside Me there is no God” (Isaiah44:6).

Jesus is called the first and the last.

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In chapter 45 we read more about Christ:“I am the Lord, and there is none else, thereis no God beside me: I girded thee, thoughthou hast not known Me… For thus saiththe LORD (Yah-weh) that created theheavens; God Himself that formed theearth and made it; He hath establishedit, He created it not in vain, He formedit to be inhabited: I am the LORD (Yah-weh); and there is none else” (Isaiah45:5, 18).

So Jesus is God, Yah-weh. All was createdby Him (John 1:3).

In the beginning we read about thecreation, “And God (Elohim) said: ‘LetUs make man in Our image, after Ourlikeness…and God (Elohim) createdman in His own image, in the image ofGod (Elohim) created He him, male andfemale created He them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

We read: “Let US make man in Ourimage”. This word “US” tells us that it wasmore than one of the Divine beings thatcreated man. The Hebrew word for Godis Elohim, which is a word in plural.Therefore, the word Elohim indicates thatit was more than one that took part in thecreation.

John explains this a little more. We read:“In the beginning was the Word, and theWord was with God, and the Word wasGod. The same was in the beginning

with God. All things were made by Him,and without Him was not any thing madethat was made…and the word was madeflesh, and dwelt among us…” (John 1:1-3, 14).

The “Word” is an expression of Christ. Hewas there in the beginning with God andHe was God. He did not come intoexistence after the Father, but He was therein the beginning with the Father. Somepeople say that Jesus was born in Heaven,but this text says very clear that Jesus wasthere with God in the beginning. It doesnot say that the Word (Christ) came intoexistence after the Father. If this were thecase, then the Father would have beennumber one, and Christ would have beennumber two. But it is not like this. TheWord was there with the Father from thebeginning. We also see that the Bible saysthat Christ is the first – not the second one

(Revelation 1:17-18).

In the last book in the Bible, Revelation,John writes about Christ like this: “Behold,He cometh with clouds; and every eye shallsee Him, and they also which pierced Him:and all kindreds of the earth shall wailbecause of Him. Even so, Amen. I amAlpha and Omega, the beginning and theending, saith the Lord, which is, and whichwas, and which is to come, theAlmighty…and when I saw Him, I fell atHis feet as dead. And He laid His righthand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I

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am the first and the last: I am he thatliveth, and was dead; and, behold, I amalive for evermore, Amen; and have thekeys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:8,17-18).

In this text it is very clear that Jesus is thefirst and the last, the beginning and the end,Alpha and Omega. So He was not bornfrom the Father in Heaven, and thus thesecond one, but the first. We have just readthat the WORD (Christ) was with God INTHE BEGINNING. When we are talkingabout existence, there is no space betweenthe Father and the Son. He is called Sonbecause the plan of redemption wasestablished before the creation of thisearth. Peter wrote about this: “Forasmuchas ye know that ye were not redeemed withcorruptible things, as silver and gold, fromyour vain conversation received bytradition from your fathers; but with theprecious blood of Christ, as of a lambwithout blemish and without spot: whoverily was foreordained before thefoundation of the world, but was manifestin these last days for you, who by Him dobelieve in God, that raised Him up fromthe dead, and gave Him glory; that yourfaith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter1:18-20).

The Bible is also talking about Christ asthe Lamb that was slain from thefoundation of the world. We read: “Andall that dwell upon the earth shall worship

Him, whose names are not written in thebook of life of the Lamb slain from thefoundation of the world” (Revelation13:8).

“The beast that thou sawest was, and isnot; and shall ascend out of the bottomlesspit, and go into perdition: and they thatdwell on the earth shall wonder, whosenames were not written in the book of lifefrom the foundation of the world, whenthey behold the beast that was, and is not,and yet is” (Revelation 17:8).

“For we which have believed do enter intorest, as He said, As I have sworn in Mywrath, if they shall enter into My rest:although the works were finished fromthe foundation of the world” (Hebrews4:3).

So before the foundation of this world, theplan of redemption was already inexistence. Jesus would come as the Son ofGod.

The text in John 1:1-3 also reveals that theWord (Christ) is Self-existent. He wasthere with the Father in the beginning. Heis God. Only God is Self-existent. Jesus isTHE LIFE.

“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, thetruth, and THE LIFE: no one cometh untothe Father, but by Me” (John 14:6).

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“LORD, THOU hast been our dwellingplace in all generations. Before themountains were brought forth, or everThou hadst formed the earth and the world,even from everlasting to everlasting,Thou art God” (Psalms 90:1-2).

So Jesus is THE LIFE. He did not receiveit from the Father, as some people like topreach, but He is THE LIFE. These arethe facts from the word of God, and wecan doubt these facts, and use manytheories to defend another teaching, butthen we drift away from the word of God.So it is best for all of us to accept thatChrist is THE LIFE. He has life inHimself. He is self-existent.

We also see that Christ defines Himself aseternal. “I am Alpha and Omega, thebeginning and the ending, saith the Lord,which is, and which was, and which is tocome, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

The word I AM is coming from the Greekword EGO EIMI, which is the same asJahve in Hebrew. It was Christ that metMoses in the burning bush and said I AM- I am God = Jehovah. In John chapters8 and 18 Christ says this about himselfmany times.

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things thatshould come upon Him, went forth, andsaid unto them, Whom seek ye? Theyanswered Him, Jesus from Nazareth. Jesussaith unto them, I am He (the word he is

an added word, therefore it is written inItalic). And Judas also, which betrayedHim, stood with them. As soon then as Hehad said unto them, I am He, they wentbackward, and fell to the ground. Thenasked He them again, Whom seek ye? Andthey said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesusanswered, I have told you that I am He: iftherefore ye seek Me, let these go theirway” (John 18:4-8).

So Christ is telling us that He is God,Jehovah, the Almighty.

“And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast bothseen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.And he said, Lord, I believe. And heworshipped Him” (John 9:37-38).

“And as they went to tell His disciples,behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail.And they came and held Him by the feet,and worshipped Him” (Matthew 28:9).

“And when they saw Him, theyworshipped Him: but some doubted”(Matthew 28:17).

“And this is the record, that God hathgiven to us eternal life, and this life is inHis Son” (1 John 5:11).

The life is in the Son. He is the life. Thisis very strong evidence that Christ is God.He came as a man, but clothed His divinitywith humanity. The Bible says: “For inHim dwelleth all the fullness of theGodhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). This

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is a very powerful text. All the fullness ofthe Godhead dwelt in Him. So Jesus wasGod but He did not use His divine powerwhen tempted by the Devil. As a man Hehad to pray to God for help by the HolySpirit, just as we pray to God for help (John5:30).

In Colossians 2:9 we find the wordGODHEAD. All the fullness of theGodhead was in Christ. This is a strongstatement. This tells us that all the divinepowers were in Christ.

“God always has been. He is the great IAM. The psalmist declares, ‘Before themountains were brought forth, or ever thouhadst formed the earth and the world, evenfrom everlasting to everlasting, thou artGod.’ Ps. 90:2. He is the high and loftyOne that inhabiteth eternity. ‘I am the Lord,I change not,” He declares. With Him thereis no variableness, neither shadow ofturning. He is ‘the same yesterday, andto day and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. Heis infinite and omnipresent. No words ofours can describe His great majesty”(Manuscript 132, 1902; Medical Ministryp. 92; The Faith I Live By, p. 42).

“Therefore doth my Father love Me,because I lay down My life, that I mighttake it again” (John 10:17). When Jesusdied it was not the divine God in Him thatdied, but Christ as a man. He laid downHis life when He died on the cross, buttook it up again when He rose from the

grave. He had power to lay it down, andHe had power to take it up again.

When Lazarus was raised from the dead,Jesus said: “I am the resurrection andthe life: he that believeth in Me, thoughhe were dead, yet shall he live” (John11:25).

Here again Christ Himself is saying thatHe is THE LIFE.

We have seen so many scriptures that tellus clearly that Christ is God, the eternalGod, not created or born before the earthwas made, that He has not been given lifefrom the Father, but rather that He is THELIFE, God from everlasting to everlasting,from eternity.

“And He is before all things, and by Himall things consist” (Colossians 1:17).

So, how could Christ be created or bornfrom the Father, when Christ is before allthings?

“But while God’s Word speaks of thehumanity of Christ when upon this earth,it also speaks decidedly regarding His pre-existence. The Word existed as a divinebeing, even as the eternal Son of God, inunion and oneness with His Father.From everlasting He was theMediator of the covenant, the Onein whom all nations of the earth, both Jewsand Gentiles, if they accepted Him, were

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heavens, I was there: when He set acompass upon the face of the depth.”

There are light and glory in the truth thatChrist was one with the Father before thefoundation of the world was laid. This isthe light shining in a dark place, making itresplendent with divine, original glory.This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself,explains other mysterious and otherwiseunexplainable truths, while it is enshrinedin light, unapproachable andincomprehensible.

“Before the mountains were brought forth,or ever thou hadst formed the earth andthe world, even from everlasting toeverlasting, Thou art God.” “The peoplewhich sat in darkness saw great light; andto them which sat in the region and shadowof death light is sprung up.” Here the pre-existence of Christ and the purpose of Hismanifestation to our world are presentedas living beams of light from the eternalthrone. “Now gather thyself in troops, Odaughter of troops: he hath laid siegeagainst us: they shall smite the Judge ofIsrael with a rod upon the cheek. But thou,Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be littleamong the thousands of Judah, yet out ofthee shall he come forth unto me that is tobe ruler in Israel; whose goings forth havebeen from of old, from everlasting” (TheReview and Herald, April 5, 1906).

“The name of God, given to Moses toexpress the idea of the eternal presence,

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to be blessed. “The Word was with God,and the Word was God.» Before men orangels were created, the Word was withGod, and was God.

The world was made by Him, “and withoutHim was not anything made that wasmade.” If Christ made all things, Heexisted before all things. The wordsspoken in regard to this are so decisive thatno one need be left in doubt. Christ wasGod essentially, and in the highestsense. He was with God from alleternity, God over all, blessedforevermore.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son ofGod, existed from eternity, a distinctperson, yet one with the Father. He wasthe surpassing glory of heaven. He was thecommander of the heavenly intelligences,and the adoring homage of the angels wasreceived by Him as His right. This wasno robbery of God. “The Lord possessedMe in the beginning of His way,” hedeclares, «before His works of old. I wasset up from everlasting, from thebeginning, or ever the earth was. Whenthere were no depths, I was brought forth;when there were no fountains aboundingwith water. Before the mountains weresettled, before the hills was I brought forth;while as yet He had not made the earth,nor the fields, nor the highest part of thedust of the world. When He prepared the

had been claimed as His own by thisGalilean Rabbi. He had announcedHimself to be the self existent One, Hewho had been promised to Israel, “whosegoings forth have been from of old, fromthe days of eternity.» Micah 5:2, margin.(The Desire of Ages, p. 469, 470).

When God (Elohim) met Moses at theburning bush, He said, “I AM (Yah-weh)THAT I AM (Yah-weh): and He said,Thus shalt thou say unto the children ofIsrael, I AM (Yah-weh) hath sent me untoyou” (Exodus 3:14).

Here we again is seeing that Christ is God,he is I AM = Yah-weh.

“Then the LORD (Yah-weh) said untoMoses, Now shalt thou see what I will doto Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall helet them go, and with a strong hand shallhe drive them out of his land. And God(Elohim) spake unto Moses, and said untohim, I am the LORD (Yah-weh): And Iappeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, andunto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty,but by my name JEHOVAH (Yah-weh)was I not known to them” (Exodus 6:1-3).

“The heavenly gates are again to be liftedup, and with ten thousand times tenthousand and thousands of thousands ofholy ones, our saviour will come forth asKing of Kings and Lord of lords.

Jehovah Immanuel «shall be King overall the earth; in that day shall there be oneLord, and His name one” (Thoughts Fromthe Mount of Blessing, p. 108).

“Jehovah revealed Himself, not alone inthe awful majesty of the judge andlawgiver, but as the compassionateguardian of His people: “I am the Lord thyGod, which have brought thee out of theland of Egypt, out of the house ofbondage.” He whom they had alreadyknown as their Guide and Deliverer, whohad brought them forth from Egypt,making a way for them through the sea,and overthrowing Pharaoh and his hosts,who had thus shown Himself to be aboveall the gods of Egypt - He it was who nowspoke His law.

“The law was not spoken at this timeexclusively for the benefit of the Hebrews.God honored them by making them theguardians and keepers of His law, but itwas to be held as a sacred trust for thewhole world. The precepts of theDecalogue are adapted to all mankind, andthey were given for the instruction andgovernment of all. Ten precepts, brief,comprehensive, and authoritative, coverthe duty of man to God and to His fellowman; and all based upon the greatfundamental principle of love. “Thou shaltlove the Lord thy God with all thy heart,and with all thy soul, and with all thystrength, and with all thy mind; and thy

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neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27. Seealso Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; Leviticus 19:18.In the Ten Commandments these principlesare carried out in detail, and madeapplicable to the condition andcircumstances of man.

“Thou shalt have no other gods beforeMe.”

Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent,uncreated One, Himself theSource and Sustainer of all, is aloneentitled to supreme reverence and worship.Man is forbidden to give to any otherobject the first place in his affections orhis service. Whatever we cherish that tendsto lessen our love for God or to interferewith the service due Him, of that do wemake a god.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any gravenimage, or any likeness of anything that isin heaven above, or that is in the earthbeneath, or that is in the water under theearth: thou shalt not bow down thyself tothem, nor serve them” (Patriarch andProphets p. 305).

It was Christ that gave the law to Moses.“There is One Lawgiver, who is able tosave and destroy: who art thou that judgesanother» (James 4:12)?

“Therefore the Jews sought the more tokill Him, because He not only had brokenthe Sabbath (healing a man on theSabbath), but said also that God was HisFather, making Himself equal with God”(John 5:18).

“Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou artnot yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seenAbraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abrahamwas, I Am. Then took they up stones tocast at Him: but Jesus hid Himself, andwent out of the temple, going through themidst of them, and so passed by” (John8:57-59).

When Jesus said “I and My Father areOne, then the Jews took up stones againto stone Him. Jesus answered them, Manygood works have I shewed you from myFather; for which of those works do yestone Me? The Jews answered Him,saying, For a good work we stone Theenot; but for blasphemy; and because thatThou, being a man, maketh Thyself God”(John 10:30-33).

“By His humanity, Christ touchedhumanity; by His divinity, He lays holdupon the throne of God. As the Son of man,He gave us an example of obedience; asthe Son of God, He gives us power to obey.It was Christ who from the bush onMount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, «IAM THAT I AM. . . . Thus shalt thou say

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unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sentMe unto you.” Ex. 3:14. This was thepledge of Israel’s deliverance. So when Hecame “in the likeness of men,” Hedeclared Himself the I AM. The Child ofBethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour,is God «manifest in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3:16.And to us He says: “I AM the Good

Shepherd.” “I AM the living Bread.” “I

AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” “Allpower is given unto Me in heaven and inearth.” John 10:11; 6:51; 14:6; Matt.28:18. I AM the assurance of everypromise. I AM; be not afraid. “God withus» is the surety of our deliverance fromsin, the assurance of our power to obeythe law of heaven” (The Desire of Ages, p.24-25).

So Jesus Himself said in many cases thatHe was God. The Jews tried to stone Himbecause of this. Today many also will stonethe people that proclaim this truth, thatJesus is God essential and equal with God.

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I sayunto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.Then took they up stones to cast at Him;but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of thetemple, going through the midst of them,and so passed by.” What a history is this!The Jews were so blinded by the deceptionof the enemy that, without any form of trial,they would have stoned Christ to death.They saw that He made Himself equalwith God, and because they had no

knowledge of God or of Jesus Christ, theythought this to be blasphemy. Had theyhad a knowledge of God, they would nothave rejected His Son, and charged Himwith blasphemy.

How many today are passing over the sameground! In their ignorance of God, in theirmisinterpretation of His Word, men wrestthe Scriptures to their own destruction.They cherish error as truth, and have a zealnot according to knowledge.

The incarnate I AM is our abidingSacrifice. The I AM is our Redeemer, ourSubstitute, our Surety. He is the Daysmanbetween God and the human soul, ourAdvocate in the courts of heaven, ourunwearying Intercessor, pleading in ourbehalf His merits and His atoning sacrifice.The I AM is our Saviour. In Him ourhopes of eternal life are centered. He isan ever-present help in time of trouble. InHim is the assurance of every promise. Wemust acknowledge and receive thisalmighty Saviour; we must behold Him,that we may be like Him in character. «Asmany as received Him, to them gave Hepower to become the sons of God, even tothem that believe on His name.”...

Jehovah is the name given to Christ.“Behold, God is my salvation,” writes theprophet Isaiah; “I will trust, and not beafraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is mystrength and my song; He also is becomemy salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye

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draw water out of the wells of salvation.And in that day ye shall say, Praise theLord, call upon His name, declare Hisdoings among the people, make mentionthat His name is exalted” (The Sins of theTimes, May 3, 1899).

“Then said the Jews unto Him, “Thou artnot yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seenAbraham?” “Verily, verily, I say unto you,”Jesus answered, “Before Abraham was, IAM. Then took they up stones to cast atHim; but Jesus hid Himself, and went outof the temple, going through the midst ofthem, and so passed by.” Their eyes wereblinded that they might not see Him.

“Before Abraham was, I AM.” Christ isthe pre-existent, self-existent Sonof God. The message He gave to Mosesto give to the children of Israel was, “Thusshalt thou say unto the children of Israel, IAM hath sent Me unto you.» The prophetMicah writes of Him, «But thou,Bethlehem Ephratah, tho’ thou be littleamong the thousands of Judah, yet out ofthee shall He come forth unto Me that isto be ruler in Israel; whose goings forthhave been from of old, from everlasting.”

Through Solomon Christ declared: “TheLord possessed Me in the beginning of Hisway, before His works of old. I was set upfrom everlasting, from the beginning, orever the earth was. When there were nodepths, I was brought forth; when there

were no fountains abounding with water.Before the mountains were settled, beforethe hills was I brought forth. . . . When Hegave to the sea His decree, that the watersshould not pass His commandment; whenHe appointed the foundations of the earth;then I was by Him, as one brought up withHim; and I was daily His delight, rejoicingalways before Him.”

In speaking of His pre-existence,Christ carries the mind back throughdateless ages. He assures us that therenever was a time when He was not inclose fellowship with the eternal God.He to whose voice the Jews were thenlistening had been with God as onebrought up with Him.

“Christ’s words were spoken with a quietdignity and with an assurance and powerthat sent conviction to the hearts of thescribes and Pharisees. They felt the powerof the message sent from heaven. God wasknocking at the door of their hearts,entreating entrance. But they refused tolisten. By their persistent rejection ofwarnings and invitations they caused Himto abandon them to their blindness and itsresults. Satan was working with all hispower to secure them in his cause, andunder his control they developed astubbornness which brought upon themtheir ruin” (The Signs of the Times, August29, 1900).

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“Jesus declared, “I AM the resurrection,and the Life” (John 11:25) In Christis life, original, unborrowed,underived. “He that hath the Son hathlife.” 1 John 5:12.

The divinity of Christ is the believer’sassurance of eternal life. “He thatbelieveth in Me,” said Jesus, “though hewere dead, yet shall he live: and whosoeverliveth and believeth in Me shall never die.Believest thou this?” Christ here looksforward to the time of His second coming.Then the righteous dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and the living righteous shallbe translated to heaven without seeingdeath” (The Desire of Ages, p. 530).

Many people do not believe that Ellen G.White actually wrote this passage foundin the book The Desires of Ages; but M.L.Andreassen had a Chapel Talk in LomaLinda, California, November 30, 1948 onthis subject. Here is a small extract fromhis sermon:

“When I began to preach, I came directlyface to face with the question of SisterWhite. If I were to teach others, I felt Imust know for myself. Believing in directaction, I went out to California to see SisterWhite. She received me graciously and Istayed for some months. I told her what Ihad come for. She listened kindly to meand said that I might have access to herwritings. I said, ‘I am not interested in that

which has been printed. I think I have readit all. I want to know in what form it wasbefore it was sent to the printer.’ I believedat that time that her copyist andproofreaders had fixed it up, for it seemedcertain to me that she could not havewritten it in the form it appeared in print. Ihad with me a number of quotations that Iwanted to see if they were in the originalin her own handwriting. I remember howastonished we were when Desire of Ageswas first published, for it contained somethings that we considered unbelievable,among others the doctrine of the Trinitywhich was not then generally accepted bythe Adventists. Some of the quotationsconcerned theology, others I had selectedfor their beauty of expression. I wanted tosee how these quotations looked beforethey were corrected by the proofreaders.

So I was given access to the manuscripts.I stayed in California several months.Being a reasonably fast reader, I readnearly all Sister White had written inher own handwriting. I was particularlyinterested in the statement in Desire ofAges which at one time caused greatconcern to the denominationtheologically: ‘In Christ is life, original,unborrowed, underived.’ p. 530. Thatstatement may not seem very revolutionaryto you, but to us it was. We could hardlybelieve it, but of course we could notpreach contrary to it. I was sure SisterWhite had never written, ‘In Christ is life,

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original, unborrowed, underived.’ But nowI found it in her own handwriting justas it had been published. It was so withthe other statements. As I checked themup, I found that they were Sister White’sown expressions.

Were there no corrections made in hermanuscripts? Yes, corrections were made.She wrote rather fast, yet her writing wasquite legible. But she would make spellingmistakes at times. There were also errorsin punctuation. To her, punctuation was aminor matter. At times she would leave outnot only a comma and semicolon, but alsoperiods. This would cause difficulty attimes to decide where the period shouldbe. In all cases where Sister White wroteby hand the manuscript would be taken bythe copyist and comma and periodsinserted; Then it would be taken to SisterWhite for her approval or correction. Inthe final analysis it was her work all theway through” (Andreasen, Chapel Talk,Loma Linda, California, Nov. 30, 1948,DF 961).

“Christ was not compelled to endure thiscruel treatment. The yoke of obligationwas not laid upon Him to undertake thework of redemption. Voluntarily Heoffered Himself, a willing, spotlesssacrifice. He was equal with God,infinite and omnipotent. He was aboveall finite requirements. He was Himself the

law in character. Of the highest angels itcould not be said that they had never bornea yoke. The angels all bear the yoke ofdependence, the yoke of obedience. Theyare the appointed messengers of Him whois Commander of all heaven.

No one of the angels could become asubstitute and surety for the human race,for their life is God’s; they could notsurrender it. On Christ alone the humanfamily depended for their existence. He isthe eternal, self-existent Son, on whomno yoke had come. When God asked,“whom shall I send, and who will go forUs?” Christ alone of the angelic host couldreply, “Here am I; send Me.” He alone hadcovenanted before the foundation of theworld to become a surety for man. Hecould say that which not the highestangel could say—“I have power overMy own life. I have power to lay it down,and I have power to take it again” [seeJohn 10:18]. (Manuscript Releases, vol.12, p. 395).

“What a Saviour we have! It was he thatrevealed himself to John on the Isle ofPatmos, and proclaimed, “I AM Alpha andOmega, the beginning and the ending, saiththe Lord, which is, and which was, andwhich is to come, the Almighty.” Nonebut just such an ever-living, mighty God,could pay the ransom to save sinners fromgoing down into the pit of death” (TheReview and Herald, February 18, 1896).

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THE HOLY SPIRIT

Perhaps the most frequently discussedtopic is the Holy Spirit. Some peoplebelieve that The Holy Spirit is only a spirit(or even a person) of the Father and theSon. Others believe that the Holy Spirit isa part of the Godhead. We have to admitthat we do not understand this topic fully,not at all, and each one of us has toconsider this following quote:

“The nature of the Holy Spirit is amystery. Men cannot explain it, becausethe Lord has not revealed it to them. Menhaving fanciful views may bring togetherpassages of Scripture and put a humanconstruction on them, but the acceptanceof these views will not strengthen thechurch. Regarding such mysteries, whichare too deep for human understanding,silence is golden” (The Acts of theApostles, p. 52).

Even though this topic is difficult and eventhough we cannot understand the natureof the Holy Spirit, God has revealed someimportant information about the HolySpirit!

Let us consider some texts! The first isGenesis, chapter 1, verse 2.

“And the earth was without form, and void;and darkness was upon the face of thedeep. And the Spirit of God moved uponthe face of the waters.”

We also read many times in the OldTestament about the Spirit of God or theHoly Spirit, statements such as these: “Andwhen they came thither to the hill, behold,a company of prophets met him; and theSpirit of God came upon him (Saul), andhe prophesied among them” (1 Samuel10:10).

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil, andanointed him in the midst of his brethren:and the Spirit of the LORD came uponDavid from that day forward. So Samuelrose up, and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel16:13).

We have many examples in the OldTestament telling us about the work of theHoly Spirit or the Spirit of God.

In the New Testament we read about theHoly Spirit in connection with the baptismof Christ. It says, “And Jesus, when Hewas baptized, went up straightway out ofthe water: and, lo, the heavens were openedunto Him, and He saw the Spirit of Goddescending like a dove, and lighting uponHim: And lo a voice from heaven, saying,This is my beloved Son, in whom I amwell pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17).

Here we find the voice from Heaven,which is the Father, then Christ and theHoly Spirit. There are three distinctbeings or persons, and the Spirit of Godis not Christ or the Father, but the third

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being or person descending as a dove andlighting upon Christ.

This happened when Christ was baptized.And while we are on the subject ofbaptism, it is interesting to note that Christ,just before He ascended to heaven, toldHis disciples that they should baptize thepeople in the name of the three persons.We read:

“And Jesus came and spake unto them,saying, All power is given unto Me inheaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, andteach all nations, baptizing them in thename of the Father, and of the Son, andof the Holy Ghost: teaching them toobserve all things whatsoever I havecommanded you: and, lo, I am with youalways, even unto the end of the world.Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Here we again have the three persons; theFather, the Son and the Holy Ghost. AndChrist has commanded us that all peoplewho are baptized should be baptized in thisway. If we do not accept this, then we breakthe Testament that Christ has given us.

Consider that when we are baptized all thethree divine persons are there and wantto co-operate with us in our daily life.Christ is ascended to heaven, and both theFather and the Son are working throughthe Holy Spirit in order to help us. (Wewill write more about this a little later).

When a person is living on this earth hehas the opportunity to write a Will orTestament, and the Testament will start towork when the person is dead. It is likethis also with Christ. All His life andteaching was His Testament to us. Hiswords in Matthew 28, 18-20, are a part ofthat Testament. After Christ died we shouldnot change his Testament and baptizepeople in another way. We should use thewords that Christ used, and baptize peoplein the names of the Father, The Son andthe Holy Spirit.

Paul writes: “The grace of the Lord JesusChrist, and the love of God, and thecommunion of the Holy Ghost, be withyou all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Here again we have the three livingpersons: Jesus Christ, God the Father andthe Holy Spirit. And Paul wants us to haveall these three with us.

Peter starts his writing like this: “Peter, anapostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangersscattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, electaccording to the foreknowledge of Godthe Father, through sanctification of theSpirit, unto obedience and sprinkling ofthe blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you,and peace, be multiplied” (1 Peter 1:1-2).

Peter is writing about God the Father, theHoly Spirit and Jesus Christ. Threepersons.

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“Now there are diversities of gifts, but thesame Spirit. And there are differences ofadministrations, but the same Lord, andthere are diversities of operations, but it isthe same God which worketh all in all” (1Corinthians 12:4-6).

Here the Holy Spirit, Jesus the Lord andGod the Father are mentioned. Threepersons.

John writes much about the three divinepersons, for example:

“For there are three that bear record inheaven, the Father, the Word and theHoly Ghost: and these three are one. Andthere are three that bear witness in earth,the Spirit, and the water, and the blood:and these three agree in one” (1 John 5:7-8).

Here we also have the three persons,namely the Father, The Word and the HolySpirit.

Many Bible commentators today refer tothis full text as Comma Johanneum. Theydo not think that this verse should be inthe Bible, just as some people also thinkthat the verses in Matthew 28:18-20should not be in the Bible. Both these textsare dealing with the Godhead, and somepeople do not like to have it, because itdoes not fit into their theology. Even if weomit 1 John 5:7 from the Bible, it is still

the case that many other texts also speakof the three persons in the Godhead.

1 John 5:7 belongs in the King James Bibleand was preserved by faithful Christians.But the passage was removed from manyGreek manuscripts, because of theproblems it seemed to cause.

It is true that there are a small number ofScriptures that are not the same betweenthe King James Bible and the so-called“Majority” Greek text. There are a numberof reasons for this:

1.The so-called “Majority” text was notreally based on the majority of texts, butrather a relatively small number ofmanuscripts. The last person to try to findthe differences between the majority ofGreek manuscripts, Dr. Von Soden, did notcollate more than 400 of the more than5,000 Greek texts available. In otherwords, what is commonly called the“Majority” Greek text is not a collation ofthe majority of manuscripts at all.

2. The “Majority” Greek text is also themain Greek text used by the EasternOrthodox religion. They had a vestedinterest in changing (or deleting) sometexts.

The Greek Eastern Orthodox religion wascombating a heresy called “Sabellianism”,and would have found it easier to combat

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the heresy by simply removing thetroublesome passage from their Bibles.

But writers like Tertullian (200 AD),Cyprian of Carthage (250 AD), Priscillian(350 AD), Idacius Clarus (350 AD),Athanasius (350 AD), Aurelius Augustine(398 AD), Council of Carthage (415 AD)and African writers like Vigilius Tapensis,Victor Vitensis and Fulgentius quoted anddefended the full text in 1 John 5:7, and ofcourse, the Waldensians (that is Vaudois)Bibles have it.

The Waldensian or Vaudois Bibles stretchfrom about 157 to the 1400s AD. The factis, according to John Calvin’s successorTheodore Beza, that the Vaudois receivedthe Scriptures from missionaries of Syriain the 120s AD and finished translating itinto their Latin language by 157 AD. ThisBible was passed down from generationto generation, until the Reformation of the1500s, when the Protestants translated theVaudois Bible into French, Italian, etc.This Bible carries heavy weight whenfinding out what God really said. JohnWesley and Jonathan Edwards believed,as did most of the Reformers, that theVaudois were the descendants of the trueChristians, and that they preserved theChristian faith for Bible-believingChristians today.

The evidence of history shows us that theRoman Catholic religion was relentless inits effort to destroy the Vaudois and their

Bible. But the Vaudois were successful inpreserving God’s words to the days of theReformation. Today we have this text inthe King James Bible, and therefore werefer to this Bible. This is the real Biblebased on the Groundtext Textus Receptus(meaning The Received Text).

Most modern Bibles do not have this fullverse in 1 John 5:7-8. Usually it stands likethis: “There are three that testify: the Spiritand the water and the blood, and thesethree agree.»

In this text we see that they have removedthe words “in heaven” and in verse 8 theyhave removed the words “in earth.” Inaddition they have removed the words,“the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost:and these three are one.” In doing so, theyhave avoided discussion on this topic. Butwe also read in the Bible:

“If any man shall add unto these things,God shall add unto him the plagues thatare written in this book: and if any manshall take away from the words of the bookof this prophecy, God shall take away hispart out of the book of life, and out of theholy city, and from the things which arewritten in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).

“For I am the LORD, I change not…”(Malachi 3:6).

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The text in 1 John 5:7 is not the only textthat has been changed in many Bibles. Theenemy, Satan, has worked through humanagencies to make so many different Bibles,that it is difficult to find out what is theright Bible that is inspired by God.Therefore we appeal to you to use the oldand good King James Bible, that is mostloyal to the correct Groundtext, TextusReceptus. May God help you to make theright choice on this subject!

GODHEAD

In the King James Bible the word‘Godhead’ is used three times, as follows:

“Forasmuch then as we are the offspringof God, we ought not to think that theGodhead is like unto gold, or silver, orstone, graven by art and man’s device”(Acts 17:29).

“For the invisible things of Him from thecreation of the world are clearly seen,being understood by the things that aremade, even His eternal power andGodhead; so that they are without excuse”(Romans 1:20).

“For in Him dwelleth all the fullness ofthe Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

In each of these scriptures, a differentGreek word is used! In Colossians andRomans, ‘Godhead’ is used in its correct

sense to mean the quality of being God,divine nature. In Acts 17:29 it appears tomean God.

So we use the word Godhead and not theword Trinity, because many people thinkthat the word Trinity is linked to theteaching of the Catholic Church. But shehas a different teaching on this topic. Wewill come back to that later on in thisbooklet.

“The enemy was overcome by Christ inHis human nature. The power of theSaviour’s Godhead was hidden. Heovercame in human nature, relying uponGod for power. This is the privilege of all.In proportion to our faith will be ourvictory” (The Youth’s Instructor, April 25,1901).

THEY ARE ONE

Many times the Bible refers to God as one,for example, in 1 Corinthians 8:4: “…andthat there is none other God but one.”

“One God and Father of all, who is aboveall, and through all, and in you all”(Ephesians 4:6).

How can we understand this word one? InGalatians 3: 28-29 we read, “There isneither Jew nor Greek, there is neitherbond nor free, there is neither male norfemale: for ye are all ONE in Christ

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Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are yeAbraham’s seed, and heirs according to thepromise.”

Jesus prayed that the apostles would beone, saying, “And the glory which Yougave Me I have given them, that they maybe one just as We are one: I in them andYou in Me; that they may be made perfectin one” (John 17:22,23).

Here in these two examples we read thatwe are ALL ONE in Christ and that weshall be ONE just as the Father and Christare one. How can this be? What does itmean? Well, the people must then all haveaccepted Christ as their Saviour and theyhave the same faith as Christ and theFather. In that way they are one in Christand one with the Father.

In the beginning God said, “Thereforeshall a man leave his father and his mother,and shall cleave unto his wife: and theyshall be ONE flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Thewords «one flesh» does not mean that amarried couple melt into one human aftertheir wedding, but rather they are to beunited into one family. Like one rope withthree united strands, the three persons ofthe Father, Son and Spirit have the samefaith, the same mind, the same goal ...andso on.

MORE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Some people think that the Holy Spirit isa part of the Godhead, but some otherpeople only see the Holy Spirit as a personof the Father and Christ, and some peoplebelieve that the Holy Spirit is a cosmicforce or essence – an impersonal powerthat is doing the bidding of the Father andthe Son.

Let us now examine if the Holy Spirit hasall the credentials of a separate anddistinct, intelligent, individual being?

Jesus said: “And I will pray the Father, andHe shall give you another Comforter, thatHe may abide with you for ever” (John14:16).

Jesus was a Comforter when He was hereon this earth. (1. John 2:1-2). But here weread that Christ will send to us ANOTHERComforter. The Greek word of Comforteris paraclete. This word signifies a multi-sided personal ministry as counselor,advocate, helper, comforter, ally andsupporter. These are all traits that usuallybelong to a person or friend.

Christ speaks: “Nevertheless I tell you thetruth; It is expedient for you that I go away:for if I go not away, the Comforter willnot come unto you; but if I depart, I willsend Him unto you. And when He iscome, He will reprove (convict) the worldof sin, and of righteousness, and of

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judgement…when He, the Spirit of Truth,is come, He will guide you into all truth:for He shall not speak of Himself; butwhatsoever He shall hear, that shall Hespeak: and He will shew you things tocome. He shall glorify me: for He shallreceive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.All things that the Father hath are Mine:therefore said I, that He shall take ofMine, and shall shew it unto you” ( John16:7-8,13-15).

It is obvious from this text that the HolySpirit would be more personally presentafter Jesus ascended to heaven. If the HolySpirit is mere energy, there is simply noexplanation or logic as to why he wouldnot come unless Jesus left.

In this text we also notice that the HolySpirit is called “He” many times. This tellsus that He is a person. Jesus will send Himto us. He will glorify Christ. He willreceive from Christ – He will take fromChrist and give to us. Christ is workingthrough the Holy Spirit. This is the missionof the Holy Spirit. He is the representativeof Christ. He is like an ambassador forChrist. What He has received fromChrist, He will give to us. So He has thesame truth to tell us as Christ told us. Heis Christ’s spokesman, representative orambassador. He will guide us into all thetruth! Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!

We have now seen that the Holy Spiritleads and guides. “He will lead you into

all truth.” It’s true that a map or GPS canlead you, but no one calls a map “he”. Itwould be very easy for Jesus to say, “Whenit comes,” but Jesus called the Holy Spirit“He” more than 15 times.

Paul writes: “And grieve not the HolySpirit of God, whereby ye are sealed untothe day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).So the Holy Spirit can be grieved. If itwere just a spirit or a force, then it couldnot be grieved. A car can act, but it doesnot have feelings like a man and it cannotbe grieved like a human. It seems as ifrobots could have a personality, but in factthey cannot produce inspired thoughts.Robots are directed by computerprogrammes made by men. The HolyScriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit(2 Peter 1:21).

The Holy Spirit can be both grieved, andspeak. “Then the Holy Spirit said toPhilip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot’”(Acts 8:29). Since the Holy Spirit can begrieved and speak, He must have apersonality and be a person.

It is a serious matter to speak against theHoly Spirit. “Wherefore I say unto you,All manner of sin and blasphemy shall beforgiven unto men: but the blasphemyagainst the Holy Ghost shall not beforgiven unto men. And whosoeverspeaketh a word against the Son of man, itshall be forgiven him: but whosoever

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speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shallnot be forgiven him, neither in this world,neither in the world to come” (Matthew12:31,32).

We can wonder why it is so, but this doestell us that the Holy Spirit must also beGod. This is the reason why Peter said thatto lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God.The text says, “But Peter said, Ananias,why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie tothe Holy Ghost, and to keep back part ofthe price of the land? Whiles it remained,was it not thine own? And after it was sold,was it not in thine own power? Why hastthou conceived this thing in thine heart?Thou hast not lied unto men, but untoGod” (Acts 5:3,4).

The Holy Spirit can be a witness. We readthat he should testify of Christ (John15:26). In Hebrews 10:15 we also read,“Whereof the Holy Spirit also is awitness to us.” In any court of the world,only living beings can be called witnesses.In this connection the Holy Spirit is alsosaid to have his own mind. We read, “Andhe that searcheth the hearts knoweth whatis the mind of the Spirit, because hemaketh intercession for the saintsaccording to the will of God” (Romans8:27).

“But God hath revealed [them] unto us byHis Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth allthings, yea, the deep things of God. For

what man knoweth the things of a man,save the spirit of man which is in him? evenso the things of God knoweth no man,but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:10-11).

We can clearly see that the Holy Spirit isnot simply a force, but the third divineperson of the Godhead. Though a spirit,He has all the characteristics of a personand individual. The Spirit is plainlyportrayed as a being who speaks, teaches,guides, makes choices, witnesses, comfortsand can be grieved.

It is not essential for us to be able todefine just what the Holy Spirit is. Christtells us that the Spirit is the Comforter,“the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth fromthe Father.” It is plainly declared regardingthe Holy Spirit that, in His work of guidingmen into all truth, “He shall not speak ofHimself” (John 15:26; 16:13).

“The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery.Men cannot explain it, because the Lordhas not revealed it to them. Men havingfanciful views may bring together passagesof Scripture and put a human constructionon them, but the acceptance of these viewswill not strengthen the church. Regardingsuch mysteries, which are too deep forhuman understanding, silence is golden.

The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctlyspecified in the words of Christ: “WhenHe is come, He will reprove the world ofsin, and of righteousness, and of

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judgment.” John 16:8. It is the Holy Spiritthat convicts of sin. If the sinner respondsto the quickening influence of the Spirit,he will be brought to repentance andaroused to the importance of obeying thedivine requirements.

To the repentant sinner, hungering andthirsting for righteousness, the Holy Spiritreveals the Lamb of God that taketh awaythe sin of the world. “He shall receive ofMine, and shall show it unto you,” Christsaid. “He shall teach you all things, andbring all things to your remembrance,whatsoever I have said unto you.” John16:14; 14:26.

Having brought conviction of sin, andpresented before the mind the standard ofrighteousness, the Holy Spirit withdrawsthe affections from the things of this earthand fills the soul with a desire forholiness. “He will guide you into all truth”(John 16:13), the Saviour declared. If menare willing to be molded, there will bebrought about a sanctification of the wholebeing. The Spirit will take the things ofGod and stamp them on the soul. By Hispower the way of life will be made so plainthat none need err therein.

From the beginning, God has beenworking by His Holy Spirit throughhuman instrumentalities for theaccomplishment of His purpose in behalfof the fallen race....” (The Acts of theApostles, p. 51-53).

“Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spiritare constantly interceding in man’s behalf,but the Spirit pleads not for us as doesChrist who presents His blood, shed fromthe foundation of the world; the Spiritworks upon our hearts, drawing outprayers and penitence, praise andthanksgiving” (Manuscript 50, 1900).

“At the age of twelve the Holy Spirit wasabiding upon Jesus, and He felt somethingof the burden of the mission for which Hehad come to our world. His soul was stirredinto action” (The Signs of the Times, July30, 1896).

“The Holy Spirit is the breath of spirituallife in the soul. The impartation of theSpirit is the impartation of the life ofChrist. It imbues the receiver with theattributes of Christ. Only those who arethus taught of God, those who possess theinward working of the Spirit, and in whoselife the Christ-life is manifested, are tostand as representative men, to minister inbehalf of the church” (The Desire of Ages,p. 805).

Now we will give you some comments onthis topic, that will open your eyes evenmore, and you will see that these commentsare fully in harmony with the Bible. Beready!

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IS HIMSELF

“Let not man seek to fasten minds tohimself. God Himself is the Founder of Hischurch, and we have His unalterablepromise that His presence and protectionwill be given to His faithful ones, who walkin His counsel. To the end of time, Christis to be first. He is the source of life andstrength and righteousness andholiness” (Letter 39, March 12, 1902; TheUpward Look, p. 85).

“By receiving Christ we are madepartakers of this nature. We live in Him,and are enriched by the highest, fullestblessedness. This means a life hid withChrist in God, a life purified, exalted,devoted to the grandest, noblest purposes.This is indeed having eternal life. GodHimself is enthroned in the hearts of Hispeople, who are His representatives”(Youth’s Instructor, July 13, 1899).

“The messengers who proclaim the truthfor this time are labouring in co-operationwith all the forces of heaven. In tendercompassion God Himself is speaking toan impenitent world through judgements;and will continue to speak in this manner”(Review & Herald, July 5, 1906).

“There is no excuse for man to remain intransgression and sin, because strength hasbeen provided for him in Jesus, that he mayovercome. The God of heaven Himselfis working by His Holy Spirit”

(Manuscript 18, 1887; ManuscriptReleases, Volume 9, p. 233).

“The promise of the gift of the Holy Spiritis not comprehended as it should be; theprivileges to be enjoyed through itsacceptance are not appreciated as theymight be. God desires that His churchshould lay hold by faith upon Hispromises, and ask for the power of theHoly Spirit to help them in every place.He assures us that He is more willing togive the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him,than parents are to give good gifts untotheir children. Since it is possible for everyone to have the heavenly unction, ‘ye neednot that any man teach you,’ and there isno excuse for shunning responsibilities; noduty should be unwelcome, no obligationevaded. Christ Himself is the renewingpower, working in and through everysoldier by the agency of the Holy Spirit.The efficiency of the Spirit of God willmake effective the labours of all who arewilling to submit to His guidance”(Australasian Union Conference Record,April 1, 1898).

THE OFFICE (WORK) OF THEHOLY SPIRIT

“The Holy Spirit exalts and glorifies theSaviour. It is His office to present Christ,the great salvation that we have throughHim, and the sacred, elevated purity of His

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righteousness. Says Christ, ‘He shall takeof Mine, and shall show it unto you.’ TheSpirit of truth is the only effectual teacherof divine truth; those who are taught ofHim have entered the school of Christ.How must God esteem the race, that hegave His Son to die for them, and appointsHis Spirit to be man’s teacher andcontinual guide” (Signs of the Times, April3,1884; Signs of the Times, October 24,1906, Steps to Christ, 1892, p. 91;Christian Education, 1893, p. 59).

“Christ, our Mediator, is the one who givesthe Holy Spirit; and by the office workof the Holy Spirit, the atonement madeon Calvary is brought in contact with thesoul of man to transform his character, andchange his nature, until it can be said inheaven, ‘Ye are labourers together withGod, wearing Christ’s yoke, bearing hisburden’”(Youth’s Instructor, July 5, 1894).

“What wonderful statements Christ hasmade concerning His representative tothe world! This is the theme ofencouragement to be kept before thepeople. In comprehending the office workof the Holy Spirit, we shall bring allblessings to ourselves. He will make uscomplete in Christ” (Manuscript 8, 1898;Manuscript Releases, volume 2, p. 23;Manuscript Releases, volume 4, p. 329).

THE HOLY SPIRIT AS GOD’SREPRESENTATIVE

“These are our themes – Christ crucifiedfor our sins, Christ risen from the dead,Christ our intercessor before God; andclosely connected with these is the officework of the Holy Spirit, therepresentative of Christ, sent forth withdivine power and gifts for men” (Letter86, September 25, 1895; Evangelism, p.187).

“The Holy Spirit leads men to Christ,links the soul to the Saviour, and causesthe human agent to identify himself withChrist” (Signs of the Times, October 3,1895).

“The Holy Spirit, sent in the name ofChrist, was to teach them all the thingsand bring all things to their remembrance.The Holy Spirit was to be therepresentative of Christ, the Advocatewho is constantly pleading for the fallenrace. He pleads that spiritual power maybe given to them, that by the power of Onemightier than all the enemies of God andman, they may be able to overcome theirspiritual foes” (Manuscript 44, 1897, p.2; Reflecting Christ, p. 129; SouthernReview, September 13, 1898).

“The Spirit had been waiting for thecrucifixion, resurrection, and ascensionof Christ. For ages prayers had beenoffered for the fulfillment of the promise,

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for the impartation of the Spirit; and notone of these earnest supplications had beenforgotten. Now for ten days the disciplessent up their petitions, and Christ in heavenadded His intercession. He claimed the giftof the Spirit that He might pour it out uponHis people. . . . [Christ] having reachedHis throne, the Spirit was given as He hadpromised, and like a rushing, mighty wind,it fell upon those assembled, filling thewhole house. It came with a fullness andpower, as if for ages it had been restrained,but was now poured forth upon the church,to be communicated to the world. Whatfollowed this outpouring? Thousands wereconverted in a day” (Manuscript 44,1898).

“The Holy Spirit is a person, for Hebeareth witness with our spirits that we arethe children of God. When this witness isborne, it carries with it its own evidence.At such times we believe and are sure thatwe are the children of God. . . The HolySpirit has a personality, else He could notbear witness to our spirits and with ourspirits that we are the children of God. Hemust also be a divine person; else Hecould not search out the secrets which liehidden in the mind of God. “For what manknoweth the things of a man, save the spiritof man which is in him? Even so the thingsof God knoweth no man, but the Spirit ofGod” (Manuscript 20, 1906).

“The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, inChrist’s name. He personifies Christ,yet is a distinct personality. We may havethe Holy Spirit if we ask for it and make ita habit to turn to and trust in God ratherthan in any finite human agent who maymake mistakes. The eternal heavenlydignitaries - God, and Christ, and theHoly Spirit – arming them [the disciples]with more than mortal energy . . . wouldadvance with them to the work andconvince the world of sin” (Evangelism,p. 616).

“When God’s people search the Scripturewith a desire to know what is truth, Jesusis present in the person of Hisrepresentative, the Holy Spirit, revivingthe hearts of the humble and contrite ones”(Manuscript 158, 1898; ManuscriptReleases, volume 12, p. 145).

“We need to realize that the Holy Spiritis as much a person as God is a person.The Holy Spirit has a personality, else Hecould not bear witness to our spirits andwith our spirits that we are the children ofGod. He must also be a divine person,else He could not search out the secretswhich lie hidden in the mind of God. TheHoly Spirit is a free, working, independentagency. The God of heaven uses His Spiritas it pleases Him; and human minds,human judgement, and human methodscan no more set boundaries to its working,or prescribe the channel through which it

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shall operate, than they can say to the wind,“I bid you to blow in a certain direction,and to conduct yourself in such and such amanner.” From the beginning God hasbeen working by His Holy Spirit throughhuman instrumentalities for theaccomplishment of His purpose in behalfof the fallen race. The same power thatsustained the patriarchs, that gave Caleband Joshua faith and courage, and thatmade the work of the apostolic churcheffective, has upheld God’s faithfulchildren in every succeeding age. The HolySpirit was the highest of all gifts that He[Jesus] could solicit from His Father forthe exaltation of His people. The Spirit wasto be given as a regenerating agent, andwithout this the sacrifice of Christ wouldhave been of no avail. The power of evilhad been strengthening for centuries, andthe submission of men to this sataniccaptivity was amazing. Sin could beresisted and overcome only through themighty agency of the third person of theGodhead, who would come with nomodified energy, but in the fullness ofdivine power. The Holy Spirit is aneffective helper in restoring the image ofGod in the human soul” (The Faith I LiveBy, p. 52).

“The Lord says this because He knows itis for our good. He would build a wallaround us, to keep us from transgression,so that His blessing and love may bebestowed on us in rich measure. This isthe reason we have established a schoolhere. The Lord instructed us that this wasthe place in which we should locate, andwe have had every reason to think that weare in the right place. We have been

brought together as a school, and we needto realize that the Holy Spirit, who is asmuch a person as God is a person, iswalking through these grounds, that theLord God is our keeper, and helper. Hehears every word we utter and knows everythought of the mind” (Manuscript 66,1899. (From a talk to the students at theAvondale School, April 15, 1899. Alsoquoted in the book Evangelism p. 616.)

“The Holy Spirit indites all genuine prayer.I have learned to know that in all myintercessions the Spirit intercedes for meand for all saints; but his intercessions areaccording to the will of God, nevercontrary to His will. “The Spirit alsohelpeth our infirmities;” and the Spirit,being God, knoweth the mind of God;therefore in every prayer of ours for thesick, or for other needs, the will of God isto be regarded. “For what man knoweththe things of a man, save the spirit of manwhich is in him? even so the things of Godknoweth no man, but the Spirit of God”(The Signs of the Times, Oct. 3, 1892).

“The Holy Spirit is Christ’srepresentative, but divested of thepersonality of humanity, and independentthereof. Cumbered with humanity, Christcould not be in every place personally.Therefore it was for their interest that Heshould go to the Father, and send theSpirit to be His successor on earth. Noone could then have any advantagebecause of his location or his personalcontact with Christ. By the Spirit theSaviour would be accessible to all. In thissense He would be nearer to them than if

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He had not ascended on high” (The Desireof Ages, p. 668-669).

THE FATHER, SON AND HOLYSPIRIT

“Before He left them, Christ gave Hisfollowers a positive promise that after Hisascension He would send them the HolySpirit. ‘Go ye therefore,’ He said, ‘andteach all nations, baptizing them in thename of the Father (a personal God) andof the Son (a personal Prince and Saviour),and of the Holy Ghost (sent from heavento represent Christ); teaching them toobserve all things whatsoever I havecommanded you; and lo, I am with youalways, even unto the end of the world”(Manuscript 41, 1897, p. 11,12;Manuscript Releases, volume 12, p. 260;Review & Herald, October 26, 1897).

“If a man love Me, he will keep My words,and My Father will love him, and We willcome unto him.» We, that is, the Father,Son, and the Holy Ghost, and make ourabode in him” (Letter 44, April 9, 1893,p. 5; Manuscript Releases, volume 8, p.408; Manuscript Releases, volume 9, p.12).

“The waters cover the candidate, and inthe presence of the whole heavenlyuniverse the mutual pledge is made. In thename of the Father, the Son, and theHoly Spirit, man is laid in his watery

grave, buried with Christ in baptism, andraised from the water to live the new lifeof loyalty to God. The three great powersin heaven are witnesses; they are invisiblebut present…

“The work is laid out before every soulthat has acknowledged his faith in JesusChrist by baptism, and has become areceiver of the pledge from the threepersons, the Father, The Son, and theHoly Spirit” (Manuscript 57, August 12,1900, p. 4; The Faith I Live By, p. 146).

“The fact that you have been baptized inthe name of the Father, the Son, and theHoly Spirit is an assurance that, if youwill claim Their help, these powers willhelp you in every emergency”(Testimonies, volume 6, 1900, p. 99).

“Those who claim to be Christ’s followerspledge themselves to obedience at the timeof their baptism. When they go down intothe water, they pledge themselves in thepresence of the Father, the Son, and theHoly Ghost that they will henceforth bedead unto the world and its temptations,and that they will arise from the waterygrave to walk in newness of life, even alife of obedience to God’s requirements”(Manuscript 80, August 1, 1903;Manuscript Releases, volume 1, p. 222;Manuscript Releases, volume 1, p. 312;Sermon and Talks, volume 2, p. 228).

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THE THREEFOLD POWERS OFTHE GODHEAD

“The three highest powers of heavencombined to organize a church composedof members who would be distinguishedfrom world-lovers and world-servers bythe spiritual nature of their profession andtheir practical godliness” (Manuscript 27½, April 19, 1900, p. 4).

“Three distinct agencies, the Father, theSon, and the Holy Ghost, work togetherfor human beings. They are united in thework of making the church on earth likethe church in heaven. They place theresources of heaven at the disposal of thosewho will appreciate and impart thesespiritual treasures, multiplying them byusing them to the glory of God”(Manuscript 27 ½, April 19, 1900, p. 7).

“In the name of the Father, the Son, andthe Holy Spirit, man is laid in the waterygrave, buried with Christ in baptism, andraised from the water to live the new lifeof loyalty to God. The three great powersin heaven are witnesses; they are invisiblebut present…

“The work is laid out before every soulthat has acknowledged his faith in JesusChrist by baptism, and has become areceiver of the pledge from the threepersons, the Father, the Son, and the HolySpirit” (Manuscript 57, August 12, 1900,p. 4; The Faith I Live By, p. 146).

“Our sanctification is the work of theFather, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It isthe fulfillment of the covenant God hasmade with those who bind themselves upwith Him, to stand with Him, His Son, andHis Spirit in holy fellowship. Have youbeen born again? Have you become a newbeing in Christ Jesus? Then cooperate withthe three great powers of heaven whoare working in your behalf” (Manuscript11, February 5, 1901, p. 2).

“We are baptized in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, andthese three great, infinite powers areunitedly pledged to work in our behalf ifwe will cooperate with them” (Manuscript144, 1901; Lift Him Up, p. 109; Sermonsand Talks, volume 2, April 3, 1901, p.167).

“The Godhead was stirred with pity forthe race, and the Father, the Son, and theHoly Spirit gave themselves to theworking out of the plan of redemption”(Counsels on Health, p. 222).

“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,the three holy dignitaries of heaven,have declared that They will strengthenmen to overcome the powers of darkness.All the facilities of heaven are pledged tothose who by their baptismal vows haveentered into a covenant with God”(Manuscript 92, September 22, 1901, p.9).

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“Christ has given you a work to do. Hiscommission is, go throughout the worldand make disciples of all nations, baptizingthem in the name of the Father, and of theSon, and of the Holy Ghost. Before thedisciples shall compass the threshold, thereis to be the imprint of the sacred name,baptizing the believers in the name of thethreefold powers in the heavenly world.The human mind is impressed in theceremony, the beginning of the Christianlife. It means very much. The work ofsalvation is not a small matter, but so vastthat the highest authorities are taken holdof by the expressed faith of the humanagency. The Father, the Son, and the HolyGhost, the eternal Godhead is involvedin the action required to make assuranceto the human agent to unite all heaven tocontribute to the exercise of humanfaculties to reach and embrace the fullnessof the threefold powers to unite in thegreat work appointed, confederating theheavenly powers with the human that manmay become through heavenly efficiency,partakers of the divine nature, and workerstogether with Christ” (Manuscript 45, May14, 1904, p. 9,10; partly in The UpwardLook, p. 148).

“The Father cannot be described by thethings of earth. The Father is all thefullness of the Godhead bodily, and isinvisible to mortal sight. The Son is allthe fullness of the Godhead manifested.The Word of God declares Him to be “the

express image of His person.” “God soloved the world, that He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth inHim should not perish, but haveeverlasting life.” Here is shown thepersonality of the Father. The Comforterthat Christ promised to send after Heascended to heaven, is the Spirit in allthe fullness of the Godhead, makingmanifest the power of divine grace to allwho receive and believe in Christ as apersonal Saviour. There are three livingpersons of the heavenly trio; in the nameof these three great powers, the Father, theSon, and the Holy Spirit, those who receiveChrist by living faith are baptized, andthese powers will co-operate with theobedient subjects of heaven in their effortsto live the new life in Christ.” (SpecialTestimonies, series B, No 7, pages 62-63;Evangelism p. 615).

“We are to cooperate with the threehighest powers in heaven, the Father, theSon, and the Holy Ghost, and these powerswill work through us, making us workerstogether with God” (Special Testimonies,p. 617).

“The comforter that Christ promised tosend after he ascended to heaven, is theSpirit in all the fullness of the Godhead,making manifest the power of divine graceto all who receive and believe in Christ asa personal Saviour. There are three livingpersons of the heavenly trio; in the nameof these three great powers – the Father,

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the Son, and the Holy Spirit – those whoreceive Christ by living faith are baptized,and these powers will co-operate with theobedient subjects of heaven in their effortsto live the new life in Christ” (Manuscript21, January 9, 1906, p. 4; SpecialTestimonies, Series B, No, 7, p. 63;Evangelism, p. 615).

“In the first chapter of Second Peter ispresented the progressive work in theChristian life. The whole chapter is alesson of deep importance. If man, inacquiring the Christian graces, works onthe plan of addition, God has pledgedHimself to work in his behalf upon the planof multiplication. “Grace and peace bemultiplied unto you through the knowledgeof God, and of Jesus our Lord.” The workis laid out before every soul that hasacknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ bybaptism, and has become a receiver of thepledge from the three persons - theFather, the Son, and the Holy Spirit”(Manuscript 57, 1900).

“In the name of whom were you baptized?You went down into the water in the nameof the three great Worthies in heaven –the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.In the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Ghost you were buriedwith Christ in baptism; and you were raisedup out of the water to live in newness oflife” (Sermons and Talks, volume 1,October 20, 1906, p. 363).

“Here is where the work of the Holy Ghostcomes in, after your baptism. You arebaptized in the name of the Father, the Son,and of the Holy Ghost. You are raised upout of the water to live henceforth innewness of life – to live a new life. Youare borne unto God, and you stand underthe sanction and the power of the threeholiest beings in heaven, who are able tokeep you from falling” (Manuscript 95,October 20, 1906, p. 8; ManuscriptReleases, volume 7, p. 267,268; Sermonsand Talks, volume 1, p. 367,368).

“In whose name are we baptized? In thename of the Father, and of the Son, andof the Holy Ghost—the three highestpowers in the heavenly courts. Theypledge Themselves in our behalf. We mayclaim the strength and the victory that Theymay give us as we stand before the world,not to ape its fashions, not to study thefashion books, but to walk humbly withour God. “Ye are dead, and your life is hidwith Christ in God. When Christ, who isour life, shall appear, then shall ye alsoappear with Him in glory” [Col. 3:3]. Thendo not dishonor your Saviour by lightness,or trifling, or by seeking for the things ofthe world” (Sermons and talks, vol. 2, p.287).

“Those who proclaim the third angel’smessage must put on the whole armour ofGod, that they may stand boldly at theirpost, in the face of detraction and

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falsehood, fighting the good fight of faith,resisting the enemy with the word, “It iswritten.” Keep yourselves where the threegreat powers of heaven, the Father, theSon, and the Holy Spirit, can be yourefficiency. These powers work with theone who gives himself unreservedly toGod. The strength of heaven is at thecommand of God’s believing ones. Theman who takes God as his trust isbarricaded by an impregnable wall” (TheSouthern Watchman, Feb. 23, 1904, p.122).

“He that loveth pureness of heart, for thegrace of his lips the King shall be hisfriend.» Proverbs 22:11. By faith webehold Him here and now. In our dailyexperience we discern His goodness andcompassion in the manifestation of Hisprovidence. We recognize Him in thecharacter of His Son. The Holy Spirittakes the truth concerning God and Himwhom He hath sent, and opens it to theunderstanding and to the heart. The purein heart see God in a new and endearingrelation, as their Redeemer; and while theydiscern the purity and loveliness of Hischaracter, they long to reflect His image.They see Him as a Father longing toembrace a repenting son, and their heartsare filled with joy unspeakable and full ofglory” (Thoughts from the Mount ofBlessing, p. 26).

“The Holy Spirit is the breath of spirituallife in the soul. The impartation of theSpirit is the impartation of the life ofChrist. It imbues the receiver with theattributes of Christ. Only those who arethus taught of God, those who possess theinward working of the Spirit, and in whoselife the Christ-life is manifested, are tostand as representative men, to minister inbehalf of the church” (The Desire of Ages,p. 805).

“In describing to His disciples the officework of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought toinspire them with the joy and hope thatinspired His own heart. He rejoicedbecause of the abundant help He hadprovided for His church. The Holy Spiritwas the highest of all gifts that He couldsolicit from His Father for the exaltationof His people. The Spirit was to be givenas a regenerating agent, and without thisthe sacrifice of Christ would have beenof no avail. The power of evil had beenstrengthening for centuries, and thesubmission of men to this satanic captivitywas amazing. Sin could be resisted andovercome only through the mighty agencyof the Third Person of the Godhead, whowould come with no modified energy, butin the fullness of divine power. It is theSpirit that makes effectual what has beenwrought out by the world’s Redeemer. Itis by the Spirit that the heart is made pure.Through the Spirit the believer becomes apartaker of the divine nature. Christ has

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given His Spirit as a divine power toovercome all hereditary and cultivatedtendencies to evil, and to impress His owncharacter upon His church. Of the SpiritJesus said, “He shall glorify Me.» TheSaviour came to glorify the Father by thedemonstration of His love; so the Spiritwas to glorify Christ by revealing Hisgrace to the world. The very image of Godis to be reproduced in humanity. Thehonour of God, the honour of Christ, isinvolved in the perfection of the characterof His people” (The Desire of Ages, p.671).

“The three powers of the Godhead havepledged Their might to carry out thepurpose that God had in mind when Hegave to the world the unspeakable gift ofHis Son” (Review & Herald, July 18,1907).

“Those who have by baptism given to Goda pledge of their faith in Christ, and theirdeath to the old life in sin, have enteredinto covenant relation with God. The threepowers of the Godhead, The Father, Son,and Holy Spirit, are pledged to be theirstrength and their efficiency in their newlife in Christ Jesus” (Australasian UnionConference Record, October 7, 1907).

“The presence of the Father, the Son, andthe Holy Spirit, the three highest powersin the universe and those in whose namethe believer is baptized, is pledged to bewith every striving soul. It will impart

grace and strength to all who will watchunto prayer, to all who will purify the soulby obedience to the truth!” (Pacific UnionRecorder, July 2, 1908; The Watchman,December 15, 1908).

“The Lord has pledged Himself to makeHis name a praise in the earth. What powerHe has promised to all who will work inco-operation with heaven! The threehighest powers in the universe arepledged to labour with those who will seekto save the lost” (Review & Herald, August12, 1909).

“Baptism is a most solemn ceremony.When men and women, truly converted,are baptized in the name of the Father, Son,and Holy Ghost, these threerepresentatives of heavenly authoritybehold the scene, and accept the vowsmade by human agents to walk henceforthin newness of life” (Letter 174, December21, 1909, p. 1; Manuscript Releases,volume 6, p. 29).

So far you have seen what the Bible hasrevealed about the Godhead, and you havealso seen that many of the quotes fromEllen G. White are in full harmony withthe Bible. Now we will compare this withthe teaching of the Roman CatholicChurch. They do not use the wordGodhead, but the word Trinity.

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Following is the Catholic Trinity-teaching

“The Son proceeds from the Father andthe Holy Spirit proceeds out of both ofthem-” The Father begets the Son, and theSon proceeds from the Father. The Fatherand Son breathe forth the Holy Ghost, andHe proceeds from them, as from oneSource.”-“One God in Three Persons”(My Catholic Faith: A Manual of Religion,Louis Laravoire Morrow, Bishop ofKrishnagar).

“The Son proceeds from the Father; theHoly Ghost proceeds from the Father andthe Son”

(The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1914 Edition,art. “Holy Ghost”).

“The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Christ.He is also the Spirit of the Father.”

Thus St. Augustine argues (in Joan, tr.Xcix, 6, 7 in PL, XXXV, p.188).

“Just as there is only one Father, just asthere is only one Lord or one Son, so thereis only one Spirit, who is, consequently,the Spirit of both” (Thus St. AugustineArgues (in Joan, tr. Xcix, 6, 7 in PL,XXXV, 188).

“Proceeding both from the Father and theSon, the Holy Ghost, nevertheless,proceeds from them as from a singleprinciple. The Holy Ghost proceeds fromthe two, not insofar as they are distinct,but inasmuch as their divine perfection isnumerically one. Besides, such is theexplicit teaching of ecclesiastical tradition,which is concisely put by St. Augustine”(De Trin., lib. V, c. xiv, in P.O., XLII, p.921).

“We confess that the Holy Ghostproceeds eternally from the Father andthe Son, not as from two principles, butas from one principle, not by twospirations, but by one single spiration.The mystery of the Trinity is the

central doctrine of the Catholic faith.Upon it are based all the other teachingsof the church”

(Denzinger, Enchiridion, 1908, n. 460a).

“Even though the Three Persons areOne God, yet they are distinct: for theFather has no origin, He came fromno one. But the Son is begotten, Hecomes from the Father alone. TheHoly Spirit comes or proceeds fromboth the Father and the Son” (Taken

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from The Basic Catholic Catechism.Rev. William G. Most).

“And the Council of Florence, AD 1338-1445, can help us in this regard.

The Council’s definitions concerning theTrinity are really as easy as one, two,three… four. It taught there is one naturein God, and that there are twoprocessions, three persons, and fourrelations that constitute the BlessedTrinity. The Son “proceeds” from theFather, and the Holy Spirit “proceedsfrom the Father and the Son.” These arethe two processions in God. And theseare foundational to the four relations thatconstitute the three persons in God.These are those four eternal relations inGod:

1. The Father actively and eternallygenerates the Son, constituting theperson of God, the Father.

2. The Son is passively generated of theFather, which constitutes the person ofthe Son.

3. The Father and the Son activelyspirate the Holy Spirit in the one relationwithin the inner life of God that does notconstitute a person. It does not do so

because the Father and Son are alreadyconstituted as persons in relation to eachother in the first two relations. This iswhy CCC 240 teaches, “[The SecondPerson of the Blessed Trinity] is Sononly in relation to his Father.”

4. The Holy Spirit is passively spiratedof the Father and the Son, constitutingthe person of the Holy Spirit” (Catholic

Answers, Explaining the Trinity, June

20, 2014).

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The Catholic Church has made the Trinity Model like this:

The FatherThe Sonof God

TheHoly Spirit

The Catholic Church believes that the Father is God essentially. Jesus Christ hasbeen born/created by him in heaven, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God theFather and of his Son Jesus Christ. Many Christians have unfortunately accepteda similar teaching. They do not believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person ofthe Godhead, but that he proceeds from The Father and the Son. If Christ had beencreated or born by the Father, he would be the second one, but Christ is the firstone. In the beginning he was with the Father. Then also, if Christ was born by theFather, he could not be our Saviour.

(the first one) (the second one)

(From the Fatherand the Son)

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Comment -

TRINITY ERRORS

* The Son and the Holy Spirit had abeginning.

* The Son has been born of the Fatherin heaven. (If so, he cannot be ourSaviour, because no created being canbe our Saviour).

* The Holy Spirit is a force comingfrom the Father and the Son.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses has a similarteaching about the Father, Son and HolySpirit – like the Catholic Church. As youwill soon discover many Christians haveaccepted a similar teaching, and theydeceive other Christians with theirteaching. May God help everyone to seeSatan’s deception and cling to theteaching of the Bible. The differencebetween the two teachings is so big, thateach one of us has to make a decision.Jesus is saying, “I am the Way, theTruth, and the Life: no man cometh untothe Father, but by Me» (John 14:6). Paulwrites, “One Lord, one faith, onebaptism» (Ephesians 4:5).

So it is not many ways, truths and faiths,but we have to follow the narrow path,we have to follow the footsteps of Christ

our Saviour. May the Holy Spirit guideyou to the whole truth!

In the blessed hope,

Abel & Bente Struksnes, CIS,

Vestrumsbygda 26,

2879 Odnes,

Norway

www.endtime.net

For more information, please, read the

book:

The Trinity

What Has God Revealed?

Objections Answered

Glyn Parfitt

Printed in Australia by Signs Publishing

Company, Victoria, Australia

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When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers...