Source Book - 4
“We have nothing to fear for the future,
except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us,
and His teaching in our past history.”
Life Sketches 196 (1902). LDE 72.
The Doctrine of Christ
“He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds." AA 554. 2 John
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12.13.’
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself…” 1 John 5:10.
The Holy Spirit is a Person
“Present your bodies a living sacrifice… (Romans 12:1.2. quoted in full) … The Lord says this because He knows it is for our good. He would build a wall around us, to keep us from transgression, so that His blessing and love may be bestowed on us in rich measure. This is the reason we have established a school here. The Lord instructed us that this was the place in which we should locate, and we have had every reason to think that we are in the right place. We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds, that the Lord God is our keeper, and helper. He hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the mind.” Manuscript 66. 1899. Talk at Avondale School. April 15. 1899. (Emphasis added) Compare 2 Corinthians 6:16. (The portion underlined is the only part of the quote in the book Evangelism)
In analysing this passage, we must see what instruction the prophet wanted the students to receive when the talk was given. Was it a lesson on the nature of the Holy Spirit? No. There are a number of points, that when grouped together, give the true message. (a) It is for their own good the students give themselves to Christ. (b) God wanted to build a wall around them to keep them from sin, so He could bless them. (c) That is why a school was established. (d) The Lord had revealed that this was where the school should be located. (e) The teachers and students needed to realise that the Holy Spirit was walking the grounds of the school. (f) And they needed to realise that the Holy Spirit is a person like God is a person. What lesson would the children receive about the Holy Spirit from this part of the talk? Obviously it was message to be very careful how they think and speak because God is listening.
There is no question, the Evangelism statement alone sounds convincing, however, when the true message of the talk is seen, the other does not have the same impact. Please read the following quotation carefully. “He (Christ) walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks… He is represented as walking up and down among the golden candlesticks. He is in communion with his people. He knows their true state. He observes their order, their vigilance, their piety, and their devotion; and he takes pleasure in them if he sees these fruits manifest. Although Christ is mediator in the heavenly Sanctuary, yet he walks up and down in the midst of the churches on earth. He goes about from church to church, from congregation to congregation, from soul to soul. He observes their true condition -- that which is neglected, that which is in disorder, and that which needs to be done. He is represented as walking, which signifies unrest, wakefulness, and unremitting vigilance. He is observing whether the light of any of his sentinels, or candlesticks, is burning dim or going out. These under-shepherds may sleep, but He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. 05-31-87.
To use the Trinitarian reasoning – Christ has legs. He can walk up and down the churches. But how does He do that if He is in heaven ministering in the heavenly sanctuary? “Unto the church of Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks….. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches”. Revelation 2:1. 2:7. “Unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God…. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 2:18. 2:29. (Compare all the churches) Who is speaking?
Read also the following, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people’.” 2 Corinthians 6:16. God wants to walk in His people. He does this by His Spirit, not literally with legs, but in a mysterious way we do not understand. As to the nature of the Spirit of God and Christ, “silence is golden”. Acts of the Apostles p52.
“The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits, and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. "For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him, even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God’.” Manuscript 20. 1906.
The Spirit of Truth
“Jesus comes to you as the Spirit of truth; study the mind of the Spirit, consult your Lord follow His way. If you yield to the dictates of the mind and flesh, your spirit will lose its proper character and balance, and you fail to discern and cannot appreciate moral power.” 2 MR 337.
“Christ was the spirit of truth. The world will not listen to His pleadings. They would not accept Him as their guide. They could not discern unseen things; spiritual things were unknown to them. But His disciples see in Him the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And they shall have His abiding presence. They shall have an experimental knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.” Southern Watchman Oct 25. 1898.
“There is danger that the false sentiments expressed in the books that they have been reading will sometimes be interwoven by our ministers, teachers, and editors with their arguments, discourses, and publications, under the belief that they are the same in principle as the teachings of the Spirit of truth. The book, Living Temple, is an illustration of this work, the writer of which declared in its support that its teachings were the same as those found in the writings of Mrs. White. Again and again we shall be called to meet the influence of men who are studying sciences of satanic origin, through which Satan is working to make a nonentity of God and of Christ.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 67-68. (1909.) CW 92.
Holy Spirit is Father in Spirit
“It is His purpose that the highest influence in the universe, emanating from the source of all power, shall be theirs. They are to have power to resist evil, power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master, power that will enable them to overcome as Christ overcame.” DA 679.
“And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no though how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Matthew 10:18-20.
“And when they bring you into the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” Luke 11.12.
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. “ Romans 8:8-11.
Spirit is God’s Son in Spirit
“We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.” Lt 66 1894. (Apr 10.1894)
“The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.” The Review and Herald. Oct. 26. 1897.
“The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ.” The Desire of Ages. 805.
“O precious possibilities and encouragement! In the human heart cleansed from all moral impurity, dwells the precious Saviour, ennobling, sanctifying the whole nature and making the man a temple for the Holy Spirit. Christ therefore is a personal Saviour… Wherever we go, we bear the abiding presence of One so dear to us; for we abide in Christ by a living faith. We have the companionship of the divine Jesus, and as we realize His presence our thoughts are brought into captivity to Him. Our experience in divine things will be in proportion to the vividness of our sense of His companionship… Here again there is a realization of a personal, living influence dwelling in our hearts by faith.” Signs of the Time., Sept. 3. 1896.
God’s people “have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit -- the Spirit of Christ -- to bring unity into their ranks.” 9 Testimonies 1909. 189.
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25. Though the ministration was to be removed from the earthly to the heavenly temple; though the sanctuary and our great high priest would be invisible to human sight, yet the disciples were to suffer no loss thereby. They would realize no break in their communion, and no diminution of power because of the Saviour's absence. While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church.” DA 166.
“The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds.” AA 284.
“I am the Vine; ye are the branches,” Christ said to His disciples. Though He was about to be removed from them, their spiritual union with Him was to be unchanged. The connection of the branch with the vine, He said, represents the relation you are to sustain to Me. The scion is engrafted into the living vine, and fiber by fiber, vein by vein, it grows into the vine-stock. The life of the vine becomes the life of the branch. So the soul dead in trespasses and sins receives life through connection with Christ. By faith in Him as a personal Saviour the union is formed. The sinner unites his weakness to Christ’s strength, his emptiness to Christ’s fulness, his frailty to Christ’s enduring might. Then he has the mind of Christ. The humanity of Christ has touched our humanity, and our humanity has touched divinity. Thus through the agency of the Holy Spirit man becomes a partaker of the divine nature. He is accepted in the Beloved.” DA 675.
“Cumbered with humanity Christ could not be in every place personally, therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them to go to His Father and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself, divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit.” (Manuscript Release #1084)
“The work of the holy Spirit is immeasurably great. It is from this source that power and efficiency come to the worker for God; and the holy Spirit is the comforter, as the personal presence of Christ to the soul. He who looks to Christ in simple, childlike faith, is made a partaker of the divine nature through the agency of the holy Spirit. When led by the Spirit of God, the Christian may know that he is made complete in him who is the head of all things. As Christ was glorified on the day of Pentecost, so will he again be glorified in the closing work of the gospel, when he shall prepare a people to stand the final test, in the closing conflict of the great controversy.” R&H November 29, 1892.
“We have only one channel of approach to God. Our prayers can come to him through one name only, that of the Lord Jesus our advocate. His Spirit must inspire our petitions. No strange fire was to be used in the censers that were waved before God in the sanctuary. So the Lord himself must kindle in our hearts the burning desire, if our prayers are acceptable to him. The Holy Spirit within must make intercessions for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered.” R&H February 9. 1897.
The following quotation appears to be speaking of two separate Beings – Christ and the Holy Spirit, but we must take this verse in conjunction with all the others. Christ operates on two levels, together with the Spirit of His Father, and this verse shows the different type of work done in both spheres.
“Christ our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man’s behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ, who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit’s striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart.” 1 SM 34.
“We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.” Lt 66 1894. (Apr 10.1894) pare 18. EGW.
“The Spirit is freely given us of God if we will appreciate and accept it. And what is it? The representative of Jesus Christ. It is to be our constant helper. It is through the Spirit that Christ fulfills the promise, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’” (The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1987, p. 1538).
"During His humiliation upon this earth, the Spirit had not descended with all its efficacy; and Christ declared that if He went not away, it would not come, but that if He went away, He would send it. It was a representation of Himself, and after he was glorified, it was manifest." Signs of the Times. May 17. 1899.
"Henceforth through the Spirit, Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of the children. Their union with Him was closer than when He was personally with them. The light, and love, and power of the indwelling Christ shone out through them, so that men, beholding, marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)
We may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Receiving Christ, we are clothed with power. An indwelling Saviour makes His power our property... Christ's presence in the heart is a vitalizing power, strengthening the entire being. Never feel that Christ is far away. He is always near. His loving presence surrounds you." The Faith I Live By 62.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father." Galatians 4:6.
"O precious possibilities and encouragement! In the human hearts cleansed from all moral impurity, dwells the precious Saviour, ennobling, sanctifying the whole nature and making the man a temple for the Holy Spirit. Christ therefore is a personal Saviour... Wherever we go, we bear the abiding presence of One so dear to us; for we abide in Christ by a living faith. We have the companionship of the divine Jesus, and as we realize His presence, our thoughts are brought into captivity to Him." Signs. Sep 3. 1896.
"Christ ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing. For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthrone amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity.
The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished. According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people." Acts of the Apostles 38.
Extra Scriptures: Galatians 2:20.
Christ in the Believer
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26.27.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory." A knowledge of this mystery furnishes a key to every other. It opens to the soul the treasures of the universe, the possibilities of infinite development.” My Life Today 301.
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that he, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19.
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:9.10.11.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12. Compare verse 11 with 2 Peter 1:20.21.
“The incarnation of Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’, is the great theme of the gospel’….. The acceptance or rejection of this vital truth is one of the divinely appointed tests of one who claims to have the gift of prophecy.” Christian Experience & Teachings of Ellen G White. 246. 1922.
“In our life here, earthly, sin-restricted, though it is, the greatest joy and the highest education are in service. And in the future state, untrammeled by the limitations of sinful humanity, it is in service that our greatest joy and our highest education will be found -- witnessing, and ever as we witness learning anew ‘the riches of the glory of this mystery’, ‘which is Christ in you, the hope of glory’.” Education. 309. Christian Service 272.
“The life of Christ in you produces the same fruits as in Him. Living in Christ, adhering to Christ, supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, you bear fruit after the similitude of Christ.” DA 677.
“Impatience brings the enemy of God and man into your family and drives out the angels of God. If you are abiding in Christ, and Christ in you, you cannot speak angry words.” HP 99.
“Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have been transformed into the image of God. The change is itself the miracle of miracles. A change wrought by the Word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the Word. We cannot understand it; we can only believe, that, as declared by the Scriptures, it is ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ A knowledge of this mystery furnishes a key to every other. It opens to the soul the treasures of the universe, the possibilities of infinite development.” My Life Today 26.
“The piety and conscientiousness of others are called fanaticism, and those who practise truth and holiness are watched and criticized. They deride those who teach and believe the mystery of godliness, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." 4 BC 1138.
“You are going forth to carry the torch of truth. Kindle your taper from the divine altar, and bear the truth to those who are in darkness. You may be sure that angels of God will be round about you. As you impart to others, you will realize that the life of Christ in you is as a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life.” GCB. April 2., 1901.
“It is not merely the words that roll off your tongue, it is not merely to be eloquent in speaking and praying, but it is to make known Christ, to have Christ in you, and make Him known to those that hear.” R&H. May 30. 1871.
“If you are abiding in Christ, and Christ in you, you cannot speak angry words.” R&H. Aug 5. 1890.
“I want to ask our ministers, What kind of character do you think the Lord will accept in his kingdom? Do you know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent? Is the love of God abiding in your souls? Are you dwelling in Christ, and Christ in you? If you are, you are safe; but if you are not, there is no safety for you.” R&H. Apr 5. 1892.
“Christ in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The souls you win to Christ will be heirs of immortal life, thus the life of Christ in you will be manifested to others, charming, winning, and gathering them to Christ.” 4 MR 213.
“It is Christ and Him crucified, and the Christ in me will respond to the Christ in you. Here is the Bible and the truth, and we must come to the platform of eternal truth and seek to be partakers of the Divine nature, and then the true light will come into this nation.” Ms 83, 1886, pp. 8, 9. (Sermon, September, 1886.) 8MR 104.
The Breath of Christ
“Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” And when he had said this he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost….” John 20:22.23.
"’And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.’ The Holy Spirit was not yet fully manifested; for Christ had not yet been glorified. The more abundant impartation of the Spirit did not take place till after Christ's ascension. Not until this was received could the disciples fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to the world. But the Spirit was now given for a special purpose. Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, Christ breathed His Spirit upon them. He was committing to them a most sacred trust, and He desired to impress them with the fact that without the Holy Spirit this work could not be accomplished.” DA 805.
“Christ breathed on his disciples, and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." This is the great gift of heaven. Christ imparted to them through the Spirit of His own sanctification. He imbued them with His power, that they might win souls to the gospel. Henceforth Christ would live through their faculties, and speak through their words. They were privileged to know that hereafter He and they were to be one. They must cherish His principles and be controlled by His Spirit…. No longer were they to live their own selfish life; Christ was to live in them and speak through them.” General Conference Bulletin. October 1. 1899. p12.
“The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church.” DA 805.
“All who consecrate soul, body, and spirit to God, will be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical and mental power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the breath of His own Spirit, the life of His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind.” The Review and Herald, Nov. 19,1908.
“Those who are called and chosen will be co-laborers with Christ. They have a part to act under the greatest Educator the world has ever known. He who is consecrated to God, sanctified by the breath of Christ, is one with Christ. He can communicate to others the instruction he has received. He can tell them that the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are our hope and crown of rejoicing.” R&H. July 19. 1898.
“In the twelve disciples the leaven of truth was hidden by the Great Teacher. These disciples were to be the instruments in God's hands for revealing truth to the world. Divine power was given them; for a risen Saviour breathed on them, saying, ‘Receive ye the Holy Ghost.’ Imbued with this Spirit, they went forth to witness for the truth.” R&H. Jun 10.1902.
Christ’s Twofold Work
“Christ’s work below is His work above, and our reward for working with Him in this world will be the greater power and wider privilege of working with Him in this world to come.” Education 308.
“While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth. He is with-drawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise fulfilled, ‘Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’. Matt 28:20. While He delegates His power to inferior ministers, His energizing presence is still with His church.” DA 166.
The Omnipresence of Christ
“In giving His commission to His followers, Christ did not tell them they would be left alone. He assured them that He would be near them. He spoke of His Omnipresence in a special way. Go to all nations, He said. Go, to the farthest portion of the habitable globe, but know that My presence will be there. Labor in faith and confidence, for the time will never come when I shall forsake you.” Ms 138. 1897 (December 2, 1897)
It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, "the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name." "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" [John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter.” 14 MR 179.
“The greatness of God is to us incomprehensible. ‘The Lord’s throne is in heaven’ (Psalm 11:4); yet by His Spirit He is everywhere present. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in, all the works of His hand.” Education. 132.
“By His Spirit He is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels, He ministers to the children of men.” The Ministry of Healing. 417.
“O precious possibilities and encouragement! In the human heart cleansed form all moral impurity, dwells the precious Saviour, ennobling, sanctifying the whole nature and making the man a temple for the Holy Spirit. Christ therefore is a personal Saviour… Wherever we go, we bear the abiding presence of One so dear to us; for we abide in Christ by a living faith. We have the companionship of the divine Jesus, and as we realize His presence our thoughts are brought into captivity to Him. Our experience in divine things will be in proportion to the vividness of our sense of His companionship…. Here again there is a realization of a personal, living influence dwelling in our hearts by faith.” Signs of the Times. Sep 3. 1896.
Christ’s Representative - Spirit
“The Holy Spirit is Christ’s representative, but divested of the personality of humanity, and independent thereof. Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. By the Spirit, the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense He would be nearer to them than if He had not ascended on high.” The Desire of Ages 669.
According to the dictionary, ‘divest’ means ‘to unclothe, to strip, to uncover, denude, bare, undress, disrobe, dismantle, shed, doff, peel, skin, expose, lay open’. The only person who can do this to ‘humanity’ is Jesus Christ. Sister White uses the same word when referring to Christ, saying He “divested Himself of the form of God.” 5BGC 1127 Note that the Holy Spirit – if another God-Being of the Trinity – did not have humanity to divest.
“Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally, therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His Father and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the omnipresent.” Manuscript Release 1084. 1899.
Exaltation of the Spirit
“Let the brightest example the world has yet seen be your example, rather than the greatest and most learned men of the age, who know not God, nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent. The Father and the Son alone are to be exalted.” The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898.
“Jehovah, our Father, and His Son Jesus Christ are alone to be exalted.” Ms 11. 1898. (Jun 29.1898) par 11.
The Heavenly Family
“By the power of His love, through obedience, fallen man, a worm of the dust, is to be transformed, fitted to be a member of the heavenly family, a companion through eternal ages of God and Christ and the holy angels.…” Manuscript 21, Feb. 16, 1900. Ellen White. The Upward Look. 61.
The Atonement
“Christ made a full atonement, giving His life as a ransom for us. He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the human family. He did not have a mere semblance of a body, but He took human nature, participating in the life of humanity. According to the law Christ Himself gave, the forfeited inheritance was ransomed by the nearest of kin. Jesus Christ laid off His royal robe, His kingly crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity, in order to become a substitute and surety for humanity, that dying in humanity He might by His death destroy him who had the power of death.” 7BC 462. Letter 97. 1898.
This is the sacrificial part of the work of redemption. Christ made a full and complete sacrifice. We can join with other Christians in this wonderful truth as this is our salvation.
However, there is more work to the atonement than the sacrifice, and this is why Seventh-day Adventist speak of a final atonement. This confuses those who only know of the sacrificial part, and they accuse us of not having a finished work by Christ.
There are two other parts to atonement. One is the daily work of accepting and cleaning sinners who surrender to Jesus. In the type, the sinner slew the animal, but it was the priest taking the blood before God that made personal atonement for the sinner, and provided forgiveness. Leviticus 4:20.26.31.35. 5:13.18.
So it is with Christ, His sacrifice was for all men, but only those who claim Jesus as their Saviour, believing that Christ’s sacrifice and blood will cleanse them of all sin, will receive cleansing and forgiveness. 1 John 1:7.9. This work of atonement is ongoing until Christ has finished His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary and probation closes. This part of His work of atonement will then be complete.
The final work of atonement is taking place in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary -- the work of judgment (the Day of Atonement) where Christ is standing for those whose sins have been forgiven by the blood. Each name for which Christ can stand saying, ‘My blood Father’, will be eternally saved. Their record of sin will be blotted out, making them forever at-one-with-God and Christ.
It is the work of the Father and the Son. Everything relating to salvation is the work of the Father and Son. If they were not omnipresent, we could not be saved as their Spirit must make effective salvation. DA 671.
By their Spirit they can go to every part of the universe, as well as indwell all beings who are surrendered to the will of God and obedient to His commandments.
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