the nature of christ -revisited - the baker letter

“Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin, his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience.

The Baker Letter

Letter 8, 1895 To W. L. H. Baker and wife

“But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden. Bro. Baker, avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood.

The Baker Letter


Truth lies close to the track of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard strenuously every assertion,

His birth was a miracle of God; for, said the angel, “Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring fort a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David”.

The Baker Letter


“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing that I know not a

man? And the angel answered and said unto her, Thy Holy Ghost shall

come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee;

therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” These words are

not addressed to any human being, except to the Son of the

Infinite God.

Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds, that a taint of, or inclination

to corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called

that holy thing.Letter 8, 1895 To W. L. H. Baker and wife

The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but

let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be.

The exact time when humanity blended with divinity, it is not necessary for us to know. We are to keep our feet on the rock, Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity. I perceive that there is danger

in approaching subjects which dwell on the humanity of the Son of the infinite God. He did humble Himself when He saw He was fashioned as a man, that He might understand the force of all

temptations wherewith man is beset”.


1.Some have interpreted this statement to mean that Christ to an unfallen nature

2.Some have said that Christ had a uquie nature both the unfallen nature and the fallen nature of Adam.

3.Other teach that Christ only had innocent infirmities and was not tempted like we are, in other words he was tempted from without and not within.

In Ministry , December, 1989, Tim Poirier studied Melvill's sermon, "The Humiliation of the Man Christ Jesus." "Poirier commented: 'Ellen White drew extensively from this sermon...,for her article entitled, "Christ Man's Example," in the Review and Herald of July 5, 1887.' In this sermon, Melvill digresses 'to consider the question of Christ's humanity.' It is from this digression that the theology on the nature of Christ was drawn in Seventh-day Adventists Believe... (pp. 47, 57), and which Dr. George Knight goes to great lengths to explain in his annotations in the republished Questions on Doctrine (pp. 522-524).”

“But whilst he [Christ] took humanity with the innocent infirmities, he did not take it with the sinful propensities. Here Deity interposed. The Holy Ghost overshadowed the Virgin, and, allowing weakness to be derived from her, forbade wickedness; and so caused that there should be generated a sorrowing and a suffering humanity, but nevertheless an undefiled and spotless; a humanity with tears, but not with stains; accessible to anguish, but not prone to offend; allied most closely with the produced misery but infinitely removed from the producing cause”

(Melvill’s Sermons, p. 47 quoted in Webster, p. 128)

“So that we hold – and give it you as what we believe the orthodox doctrine –

It was not the Adamic, because it had the innocent infirmities of the fallen. It was not the fallen, because it never descended into moral impurity. It was, therefore, most literally our humanity, but without sin.”

(Melvill’s Sermons, p. 47 quoted in Webster, p. 128)

“Webster concludes that “in his summary of the discussion, Melvill makes it clear that, in his view, Adam had neither ‘innocent infirmities’ nor ‘sinful propensities;’ we are born with both, and Christ took the first but not the second.” . . . Hence it is possible

(p. 129).

Temporal penalties of Adam; Sorrow, bodily infirmities,pain and death.

Weakened Body Fall , all depraved emotions, passions, and debilities, essentially pertaining.

Jesus Christ

Was Exempted

But it is enormously significant that "Ellen White did not borrow a single concept from the digression. Even Poirier admits this....'We have not found that Ellen White directly borrowed any material from this digression.'...Since there was extensive borrowing from the sermon, the failure to find a single reference where anything from the digression was borrowed, would indicate that Melvill's conclusions in the digression were rejected by Ellen White! BUT these rejected conclusions were accepted by the author...of Seventh-day Adventists Believe... as well as by Knight."

For Melvill, the Fall brought two primary consequences: (1) "innocent infirmities," and (2) "sinful propensities." "From both was Adam's humanity free before, and with both was it endowed after, transgression." 1

By "innocent infirmities" Melvill means such things as hunger, pain, weakness, sorrow, and death. "There are consequences [of] guilt which are perfectly guiltless. Sin introduced pain, but pain itself is not sin." 2 By "sinful propensities," on the other hand, Melvill refers to the proneness or "tendency" to sin.

In his summary of the discussion, Melvill argues that before the Fall Adam had neither "innocent infirmities" nor "sinful propensities," that we are born with both, and that Christ took the first but not the second: "But whilst He took humanity with the innocent infirmities, He did not take it with the sinful propensities. Here Deity interposed. The Holy Ghost overshadowed the virgin, and, allowing weakness to be derived from her, forbade wickedness; and so caused that there should be generated a sorrowing and a suffering humanity, but nevertheless an undefiled and a spotless; a humanity with tears, but not with stains; accessible to anguish, but not prone to offend; allied most closely with the produced misery, but infinitely removed from the producing cause.

"So that we hold—and we give it you as what we believe the orthodox doctrine—that Christ's humanity was not the Adamic humanity, that is, the humanity of Adam before the Fall; nor fallen humanity, that is, in every respect the humanity of Adam after the Fall. It was not the Adamic, because it had the innocent infirmities of the fallen. It was not the fallen, because it had never descended into moral impurity. It was, therefore, most literally our humanity, but without sin.”3

The Melvill Explanation

Certain Adventists who defend the pre-Fall view of Christ’s humanity have tried to use one of the authors from which she

seems to have borrowed some language, as the true explanation of what she taught on this subject (69). In the

words of one contemporary Adventist author:

While Ellen White did not quote the words (of Melvill, such as “innocent infirmities,” “sinful propensities,” and “prone to

offend”) the sentiments of Melvill could very well reflect Ellen White’s own convictions (70).

This method of explaining inspired materials can only be described as speculative and dangerous. While it is true that Ellen White, like many Bible writers, made occasional use of uninspired sources, to allow such sources to interpret the inspired writings themselves is perilous in the extreme. For example, it has been demonstrated that the apostle Paul used language from the apocryphal book The Wisdom of Solomon in writing some of his epistles (71). Should we therefore go to this uninspired book to find what Paul really meant?

Other evidence indicates that Christ may have borrowed the words of the Golden Rule from the famed Rabbi Hillel (72). Should we then go to Rabbi Hillel’s writings to learn the true meaning of what Christ taught, on this or any subject?

Whenever an inspired writer uses the words of an uninspired writer, the words used cannot be understood except in the setting where the inspired writer places them. Such language then assumes whatever meaning the inspired consensus imposes upon it. No hint can be found, either in Scripture or Ellen White, that uninspired sources ever provide the key to understanding inspired passages. Again, from her own words: The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture (73).

As we trace the course pursued by the scribes and Pharisees, and see the light and privileges granted them, we are led to inquire, HOW COULD THOSE TEACHERS READ THE WORD OF GOD WITHOUT PERCEIVING THE TRUTHS WHICH IT TEACHES?

{RH, August 29, 1899 par. 5}

Upon these men was placed the responsibility of explaining the law in the synagogue; but Christ declared, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of

God." Ye teach for doctrine THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN. THE SAYINGS OF MEN, COMING DOWN THROUGH THE RABBIS FROM AGE TO AGE, had

molded their religious worship.

{RH, August 29, 1899 par. 5}

Traditions were constantly increasing, which kept the mind in a state of questioning and controversy over the most trivial matters. NEW LAWS WERE CONSTANTLY BEING ENACTED, and the people were taught to regard them as the requirements of God, until a mechanical service became the sum of their religion and their worship.

{RH, August 29, 1899 par. 5}

Many of these laws were not committed to writing, and exaction after exaction was added UNTIL A MOST UNREASONABLE MASS OF MAXIMS AND FABLES WAS BROUGHT TOGETHER. HE WHO ATTEMPTED TO BRING FORWARD SCRIPTURES that conflicted with these laws and traditions, WAS CONDEMNED as if he had refused to accept a "Thus saith the Lord." THIS EDUCATION OF THE RABBIS WAS WELL-PLEASING TO SATAN; for through them he was preparing the way so that when Christ should come to the world, he would be rejected by his own nation.

{RH, August 29, 1899 par. 5}

“Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam.

But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.

NO propensities of sin

NO inherent propensities of disobedience

NO evil propensity.

NO taint of, or inclination to corruption

PASSIONS AND PROPENSITIES EXPLAINEDPassions--Control

In some passages, Ellen White uses the word passions to describe something that must be controlled:

His [Adam's] appetites and passions were under the control of reason. Patriarchs and Prophets p. 45 (Note that the unfallen Adam was not without passions.)

[Paul's] words, his practices, his passions, all were brought under the control of the Spirit of God. Acts of the Apostles 315

A man of like passion as ourselves, the pen of inspiration describes him [Daniel] as without fault. Prophets and Kings 546

All circumstances, all appetites and passions should be restricted and under the controlof an enlightened conscience. Testimonies Vol. 3 p. 491

Every true Christian will have control of his appetite and passions. Testimonies Vol. 3 p 569-570

Our youth want mothers who will teach them from their very cradles to control passion. . . . Testimonies Vol. 3 p 564-565

Propensities--Control

Likewise, in some passages Ellen White uses the word propensities to describe something that must be controlled. In the first of these passages, notice the

equation of passions with propensities, and the indication that Christ overcame by controlling both:

That your passions and appetites may be subject to the control of reason. . . . Our natural propensities must be controlled, or we can never overcome as Christ overcame. 4T 235... Enabling men to bring all their propensities under the control of the higher powers . . . 3T 491

He brought his own family to his rigid rules, but he failed to control his animal propensities. 2T 378 (Note: Ellen White uses animal in the sense of biological.)

All animal propensities are to be subjected to the higher powers of the soul. Adventist Home 128

If enlightened intellect holds the reins, controlling the animal propensities, keeping them in subjection to the moral powers, Satan well knows that his power to overcome with his temptations is very small. MYP 237

We will now notice a very different use of the words passions and propensities.

It would therefore be this type of passions and/or propensities that Ellen White had in mind when she

wrote of Christ,

Though He had all the strength of passion of humanity, never did He yield to do one single act which was not pure and elevating and enobling. IHP 155

Our natural propensities must be controlled, or we can never overcome as Christ overcame. 4T 235

So He had these passions and propensities but He controlled them, and so lived without sinning. This is the experience that is recommended to us:

Passions--EliminateIn some passages, Ellen White uses the word passions

to describe something that must be eliminated:

When [the grace of Christ] is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension. Desire of Ages 305

Unholy passions must be crucified. Gospel Worker Chapter 23 Propriety of Deportment pg 128

The unsanctified will and passions must be crucified. Testimonies Vol. 3 pg 84

Our . . . evil passions . . . must all be overcome. Testimonies vol. 3 pg 115

Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion, which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. Desire of Ages 203

Fretfulness, self exaltation, pride, passion . . . must be overcome. Testimonies vol. 4 527

And just as in the previous list we found an equation of passionwith propensity, we find the same equation here:

[The wife] is made an instrument to minister to the gratification of low, lustful propensities and very many women submit to become slaves of lustful passion . . . . Testimonies Vol. 2 474

Although the following usages are only descriptive, it is apparent that simply controlling them would not be an adequate solution to the problem.

Depraved passions; base passions, base, low passion; hellish passions. 2T 474Corrupt passions. 2T 410

Bitter or baleful passions. 2BC 1017

Gross passions. 3T 475

Murderous passion. PP658

Perverted passions. CD 238

Vicious passions. 2T 468

The Christian would accomplish little by simply limiting the indulgence of this type of passion, as would be indicated by the word control in the previous listing. This type of passion must be eliminated

Propensities--EliminateLikewise, in some passages Ellen White uses the word propensities

to describe something that must be eliminated:

But although their evil propensities may seem to them as precious as the right hand or the right eye, they must be separated from the worker, or he cannot be acceptable to God. TM 171-172

Nonsense and amusement-loving propensities should be discarded. MYP 42

Although the following usages are only decriptive, it is apparent that simply controllingthem would not be an adequate solution to the problem:

Money-loving propensities. 3T 545

Scandal-loving propensities. 5T 57

Selfish propensities. 7T 204

Scheming propensity. 4T 351Lustful propensity. CD 389

Of these, it is encouraging to read:We need not retain one sinful propensity. RH 4-24-1900)

It would therefore be this kind of passions and/or propensities that Ellen White had in mind when she wrote of

Christ:

He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen nature, but compassed with infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. 2T 509

He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. 2T 202

Not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. 5 SDABC 1128

PassionsThough He had all the strength of passion of humanity, never did He yield to do one act which was not pure and elevating and noble. IHP 155

He was a mighty petitoner, not possessing the passions of our humanfallen nature, but compassed with infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. 2T 509*

Propensities

Our natural propensities must be controlled, or we can never overcome as Christ overcame. 4T 235

Not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. 5 SDABC 1128

Note the distinction between natural propensities and evil propensities. These to her are separate categories.

We should not force Ellen White to contradict herself by ignoring the fact that she clearly used both words in two different ways.

Neither should we concentrate our attention on one usage and ignore the other.

We should recognize the undeniable evidence that she saw Christ as having certain natural passions and propensities, and that He avoided sin by controlling them.

The other type of evil passions and propensities, which are already sinning or the result of sinning, and which Christians must eliminate from their experience, Christ did not have at all.

“Those who overcome will follow the example of Christ by bringing bodily appetites and passion under the control of enlightened conscience and reason.” -Review and Herald, March 4, 1875

So to take her statement, "Not for one moment was there in Him an evilpropensity," (As in The Baker Letter) and read it as if she had written natural propensity, and draw from that the conclusion that she believed Christ took to unfallen nature of Adam, (or an exempted human nature) is unwarranted.

It should rather be seen as an emphatic affirmation that He did not sin,which is also indicated by the construction of her sentence in its use of the conjunction but. This word is used, following a statement, to indicate that the opposite of that statement is true.

Therefore the Baker Letter which is often used, to prove that Ellen White held the unfallen view or that she spoke contradictory on the matter must be understood in its proper context.

(Exerts Found in SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 5 pg 1128-1129 and Full letter found in Manuscript Releases Volume Thirteen 1002 [The Baker Letter] 19.3 letter 8, 1895)

For example:

I could have gone but I didn't.

She could have won, but she didn't

This thought of contradistinction is not lost when other words are used in the second clause.

I could have gone, but I was busy

No one, reading this, would conclude that I went.

She could have won, but she was tired.

No one, reading this, would conclude that she won. The contradisinction indicated by the conjunction but precludes such a conclusion.

So when Ellen White wrote:

He could have sinned, He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. Manuscripts releases Volume Thirteen “The Baker Letter” pg 18

We should understand this to mean emphatically that:

He could have sinned, but He didn't.

Then we are not using her statement about propensities in contradiction of her many statements that Christ took the fallen nature of man.

“Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing that I know not a

man? And the angel answered and said unto her, Thy Holy Ghost shall

come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee;

therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” These words are

not addressed to any human being, except to the Son of the

Infinite God.

“He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the

human family” Signs of the Times, Aug. 11, 1887.

Many have alleged that this means He was born without the inherited sinful nature common to all humans. But at least two other statements make it clear that His being “born without a taint of sin” refers to His divine nature, not to the absence of fleshly desires in His lower, human nature .

-THE LOWER AND HIGHER NATURES, The Key to Resolving the Adventist Christology Debate Kevin D. Paulson

Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that Christ

could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under

similar temptations. If He did not have man's nature, He

could not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our

nature, He could not have been tempted as man has

been.

(The Review and Herald, February 18, 1890).

If it were not possible for Him to yield to temptation, He

could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that Christ came to fight the battles as man, in man's behalf. His

temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the divine nature.


“It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.”710

What do parents pass on to their chidthrough the laws of Heredity ?

Both parents transmit their own characteristics, mental and physical, their dispositions and appetites, to their child.

{Christian Education 233.1}

Parents may have transmitted to their children tendencies to appetite and passion, which will make more difficult the work of educating and training these children to be strictly temperate and to have pure and virtuous habits. (Temperance pg 174 par 4)

“The Son of God in His humanity wrestled with the very same fierce, apparently overwhelming, temptations that assail us—temptations to indulgence of appetite, to presumptuous venturing where God has not led them, and to the worship of the god of this world, to sacrifice an eternity of bliss for the fascinating pleasures of this life.” {CTr 195.4}

Is indulgence of appetite a propensity to sin?

Is presumptuous venturing a propensity to sin?

Is the worship of the god of this world a propensity to sin?


Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin.


Sister White is using the term “propensities to sin” to mean cultivated sins in the baker letter, Jesus did not have these “propensities”. This is what we believe she is stating. For example, in the same statement where Sister White writes; “do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin” just a few lines later she writes; “not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity” from the context it seems clear Sister White is using the word “propensities” in reference to committed sins. So to take her statement, "Not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity," (As in The Baker Letter) and read it as if she had written natural propensity, and draw from that the conclusion that she believed Christ took to unfallen nature of Adam, (or an exempted human nature) is unwarranted.

Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin.

What is the difference between a propensity of sin and a propensity to sin ?

There are two types of propensities/passions in the writings of Ellen G white.

are a natural tendency to sin from the cultivated sins we have committed, these Jesus did not have.

are the natural tendencies to sin which we inherit from birth, (from our sinful fallen nature), these Jesus had like us.

Propensity = tendency, inclination, predisposition, susceptibility, bent, leaning, preference,

vulnerability.


Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity.

{Desire of ages ,pg 49}


Is SETH a child of Adam ?

Seth was a worthy character, and was to take the place of Abel in right doing. Yet he was a son of Adam like sinful Cain, and inherited from the nature of Adam no more natural goodness than did Cain. He was born in sin; but by the grace of God, in receiving the faithful instructions of his father Adam, he honored God in doing his will. He separated himself from the corrupt descendants of Cain, and labored, as Abel would have done had he lived, to turn the minds of sinful men to revere and obey God. {1SP 60.2}


Seth was of more noble stature than Cain or Abel, and resembled Adam more closely than did his other sons. He was a worthy character, following in the steps of Abel. Yet he inherited no more natural goodness than did Cain. Concerning the creation of Adam it is said, "In the likeness of God made He him;" but man, after the Fall, "begat a son in his own likeness, after his image." While Adam was created sinless, in the likeness of God, Seth, like Cain, inherited the fallen nature of his parents. But he received also the knowledge of the Redeemer and instruction in righteousness. By divine grace he served and honored God; and he labored, as Abel would have done, had he lived, to turn the minds of sinful men to revere and obey their Creator. {PP 80.1}

What a sight was this for Heaven to look upon?

took our nature in its deteriorated

condition. SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 925.

, yet He condescended to connect our fallen human nature with His divinity. Selected Messages,

vol. 1, p. 253.

“Christ has redeemed us; our very flesh He has saved at an infinite cost, giving His own flesh for the life of the world. The lower passions have their seat in the body, and work through it. The words flesh or fleshly or carnal lusts embrace the lower, corrupt nature.”

Spalding and Magan’s Unpublished Manuscript Testimonies of Ellen G. White, 209.

Ellen G. White comments on the word “FLESH”

STRONGS CONCORDANCEStrongs Number: G4561

Flesh=Sarx (sarx) in the Greek New TestamentWord: sarx

Pronounce: sarxOrigin: human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human

being

“Coming, as He did, as a man, to meet and be subjected with all the evil tendencies to which

man is heir, working in every conceivable manner to destroy His faith, He made it

possible for Himself to be buffeted by human agencies inspired by Satan, the rebel who had

been expelled from heaven.”

Letter K-303, 1903.

“The words of Christ encourage parents to bring their little ones to Jesus. They may be wayward, and possess passions like those of humanity, but this

should not deter us from bringing them to Christ. He blessed children that were possessed of passions like

his own.” {ST 9 April 1896}.

Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human

minds, that a taint of, or inclination to corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption. He

was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called

that holy thing.

“The human nature of Christ was like unto ours. And suffering was really more keenly felt by Him; for His spiritual nature was free from every taint of sin.”Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 345.

“Though He had no taint of sin upon His character, yet He condescended to

connect our fallen human nature with His divinity. By thus taking humanity, He honored humanity. Having taken our

fallen nature, he showed what it might become, by accepting the ample provision

He has made for it, and by becoming partaker of the divine nature.” Selected

Messages, bk. 3, 134.

“One unsanctified act on the part of our Saviour, would

have marred the pattern, and he could not have been a

perfect example for us; but although he was tempted in all

points like as we are, he was yet without one taint of sin.”

The Youth’s Instructor, October 13, 1892.

“Christ, the second Adam, came in the likeness of sinful flesh. In man’s behalf, He became subject to sorrow, to weariness, to hunger, and to thirst. He

was subject to temptation. But he yielded not to sin. No taint of sin was upon Him. He declared, ‘I have kept my Father’s commandments [in My earthly

life]’ (John 15:10). He had infinite power only because He was perfectly obedient to His Father’s will. The second Adam stood the test of trial and

temptation that He might become the Owner of all humanity.” Selected Messages, bk. 3, 141, 142.

“Satan exulted when Christ became a human being, and he compassed His path with every conceivable temptation. Human weakness and tears were His portion; but He sought unto God, praying with His whole soul, with strong crying and tears; and He was heard in that He feared. The subtlety of the enemy could not ensnare Him while He made God His trust, and was obedient to His words. ‘The prince of this world cometh,’ He said, ‘and hath nothing in Me.’ He can find nothing in Me which responds to his sophistry. Amid impurity, Christ maintained His purity. Satan could not stain or corrupt it.” Signs of the Times, May 10, 1899.

The General Conference Bulletin, October 1, 1899.

“The Lord Jesus Christ, when in human flesh, successfully resisted every temptation of the enemy. His efforts of superhuman love, made to save the race, were successful. From Him men and women may receive power to overcome, if they will consent to cease from sin. Christ gave every son and daughter of Adam unmistakable evidence that through the provisions God has made they may overcome. Each one must rely on the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. He takes every repenting soul into covenant relation with Himself.”

was created a pure, sinless being

took upon Himself human nature

was...without a taint of sin upon him

[no] taint of...corruption rested upon Him

was assailed with temptations

was assailed with temptations

??? [notice what’s missing here] ????

was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted

he could fall He could have fallen

he did fall through transgression

He held fast to God and His word

ADAM CHRIST

HOW ARE WE TEMPTED?

The devil now has free access to tempt fallen mankind where ever and when ever he pleases through our mind. (Our senses)

HOW WERE ADAM AND EVE TEMPTED?

The devil only had access to tempt Adam and Eve at the treeknowledge of good and evil.

ADAM AND EVE WERE NOT TEMPTED AS WE ARE

Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human

minds, that a taint of, or inclination to corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any

way yielded to corruption.He was tempted in all points like

as man is tempted, yet He is called that holy thing.

What does Ellen White understand CORRUPTIONto be? Is it the fallen or Sinful nature or is itparticipation in sin?

“The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan's temptations But here we must not become in our ideas common and earthly, and in our perverted ideas we must not think that the liability of Christ to yield to Satan’s temptations degraded His humanity and He possessed the same sinful, corrupt propensities as man. …”

Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 182.

“… Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God. To suppose He was not capable of yielding to temptation places Him where He cannot be a perfect example for man, and the force and the power of this part of Christ’s humiliation, which is the most eventful, is no instruction or help to human beings.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 182.

The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned from the ground of making

Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be. The exact time when

humanity blended with divinity, it is not necessary for us to know. We are to keep our feet on the rock,

Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity. I perceive that there is danger in approaching

subjects which dwell on the humanity of the Son of the infinite God. He did humble Himself when

He saw He was fashioned as a man, that He might understand the force of all temptations

wherewith man is beset”.


“let every human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves; for it cannot be”Letter 8, 1895 To W. L. H. Baker and wife

“Had he not been fully human, Christ could not have been our substitute”{Signs of the Time, June 17, 1897 par. 8}

There must be a difference between altogether human and fully human or else these statements would contradict each other.


“The Saviour came to the world in lowliness, and lived as a man among men. On all points except sin, divinity was to touch humanity. Living on this earth as a man among men, Christ answered in the affirmative the question, ‘Can man keep the law of God?’ He was tempted in all points as man is tempted, ‘yet without sin.’ ” Review and Herald, January 7, 1904.


“He . . became like one of us except in sin, that His life and character should be a pattern for all to copy, that they might have the precious gift of eternal Iife.”—Youth’s Instructor, October 20, 1886.


"Jesus was sinless and had no dread of the consequences of sin. With this exception His condition was as yours. You have not a difficulty that did not press with equal weight upon Him, not a sorrow that His heart has not experienced" (Our High Calling, p. 59).


The first Adam fell: the second Adam held fast to God and His word under the most trying circumstances, and His faith in His Father's goodness, mercy, and love did not waver for one moment. "It is written" was His weapon of resistance, and it is the sword of the Spirit which every human being is to use. "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me"--nothing to respond to temptation. Not one occasion has been given in response to His manifold temptations. Not once did Christ step on Satan's ground, to give him any advantage. Satan found nothing in Him to encourage his advances.


"Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level of those He wished to save. In Him was no guilt or sinfulness; He was ever pure and undefiled; yet He took upon Him our sinful nature. Clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might associate with fallen humanity, He sought to regain for man that which, by disobedience, Adam had lost for himself and for the world" (Review and Herald, December 15. 1896).

Jesus had Natural passions

and propensities

but not

Evil Passions and

Propensities (A sinner)

Jesus was fully human

but not

Altogether human (A sinner)

1) “Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin.” -Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 13-30

[Why? Because Jesus chose not to yield to the propensities of sin that arose out of His lower human nature, common to all men and women.]

2) “The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him.” -Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 13-30[Adam had not yet sinned. “Taint”—the defilement of sinning, the result

of sinning].

3) “Because of sin, his [Adam’s] posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience.” -Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 13-30

[Since Adam, all have inherited a weakened body and mind and without the right action of the will, prompted by the Holy Spirit’s power, those “inherent propensities” become propensities of disobedience—see The Desire of Ages, 49.]

1) 4) “He [Jesus] could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity.”

---Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 13-30

1) [He inherited the lower. fallen nature of His forebears but He chose not to yield, not for a moment, to Satan’s temptations (as Adam and all Christ’s forebears had done). Jesus did not let a propensity of man’s lower nature become an “evil propensity.”]

-Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, 13-30

5) “We must realize that through belief in him it is our privilege tobepartakers of the divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin, all defects of character. We need not retain one sinful propensity.” -Review and Herald, April 24, 1900.

THE DIFFERENCE MUST GO—“Self-indulgence, self-pleasing, pride, and extravagance must be renounced. We cannot be Christians and gratify these propensities.”—Review, May 16, 1893.

“We need not retain one sinful propensity.”—7 Bible Commentary, 943.

“Moral perfection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrongdoing. We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin.”— Christ’s Object Lessons, 330.

“As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character and we are made a living power for good.”—Review, April 24, 1900 (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Cor. 9:8; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:6-9).

"Jesus came down to our world that He might give man a living example, required of all—from Adam, the first man, down to the last man who shall live on the earth. ... He declared that

His mission was not to destroy the law but to fill it in perfect

and entire obedience. He came to demonstrate the fact that

humanity, allied by living faith to divinity, can keep all the commandments of God.”

Review and Herald, Nov 15, 1898.

"The great teacher came into our world, not only to atone for sin but to be a teacher both by precept and example.

We see Christ’s obedience. His life was without sin. His life-long obedience is a reproach to disobedient humanity.

He served as a son with the Father. Just so we must every one serve with God, not in our own improvised

plans”—Selected Message, bk. 3: 135, 136.

“He was to qualify Himself for the office of

Redeemer by successfully resisting every assault of the enemy. His power of resistance was to be an

example for all who would hereafter be placed

in trying positions.”232

“The greatest triumph given us by the religion of Christ is control over ourselves. Our natural propensities must be controlled, or we can

never overcome as Christ overcame.”231

The science of overcoming as Christ

overcame is the science of Salvation. If we will unite with Christ in the

work of developing Christian character, if we will maintain unwavering

faith in God and in the truths of His Word, we

shall be given strength to overcome every evil thing

in the life. 5RH 545

Those who would overcome must put to the tax every power of their being. They must agonize on

their knees before God for divine power. Christ came to be our example, and to make known to us

that we may be partakers of the divine nature. How?—By having escaped the corruptions that

are in the world through lust.


Satan did not gain the victory over Christ. He did not put his foot upon the soul of the Redeemer. He did not touch the head though he bruised the heel. Christ, by His own example, made it evident that man may stand in integrity. Men may have a power to resist evil—a power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master; a power that will place them where they may overcome as Christ overcame. Divinity and humanity may be combined in them.
