The origin of man

God made man as a living soul, a free moral agent, formed in the image of God, created for His glory. Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7; Psalm 8:4-6; Isaiah 43:7. He was not endowed with natural and unconditional immortality. Only by obeying God and by eating of the tree of life could he perpetuate his existence. Genesis 2:9, 16, 17. Due to his disobedience, he forfeited his access to the tree of life, came short of the glory of his Maker, and was separated from the source of life. Sin brought death to Adam and all his descendants. Genesis 3:19, 22-24; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 5:12, 17; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 6:23.

Made in God's Image

"God created man in His own image. Here is no mystery. There is no ground for the supposition that man was evolved by slow degrees of development from the lower forms of animal or vegetable life. Such teaching lowers the great work of the Creator to the level of man's narrow, earthly conceptions

 Men are so intent upon excluding God from the sovereignty of the universe that they degrade man and defraud him of the dignity of his origin. He who set the starry worlds on high and tinted with delicate skill the flowers of the field, who filled the earth and the heavens with the wonders of His power, when He came to crown His glorious work, to place one in the midst to stand as ruler of the fair earth, did not fail to create a being worthy of the hand that gave him life.

The genealogy of our race, as given by inspiration, traces back its origin, not to a line of developing germs, mollusks, and quadrupeds, but to the great Creator. Though formed from the dust, Adam was 'the son of God' (Luke 3:38)."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 45.

Conditional Immortality

"Immortality, promised to man on condition of obedience, had been forfeited by transgression. Adam could not transmit to his posterity that which he did not possess; and there could have been no hope for the fallen race had not God, by the sacrifice of His Son, brought immortality within their reach. . . .

"The only one who promised Adam life in disobedience was the great deceiver. And the declaration of the serpent to Eve in Eden-'Ye shall not surely die'-was the first sermon ever preached upon the immortality of the soul. Yet this declaration, resting solely upon the authority of Satan, is echoed from the pulpits of Christendom and is received by the majority of mankind as readily as it was received by our first parents."-The Great Controversy, p. 533.

"Adam, in his innocence, had enjoyed open communion with his Maker; but sin brought separation between God and man, and the atonement of Christ alone could span the abyss and make possible the communication of blessing or salvation from heaven to earth. Man was still cut off from direct approach to his Creator, but God would communicate with him through Christ and angels."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 67.

"The eyes of Adam and Eve were opened, but to what? To see their own shame and ruin, to realize that the garments of heavenly light that had been their protection were no longer around them as a safeguard. They saw that nakedness was the result of transgression. As they heard the voice of their Creator in the garden, they hid themselves from Him; for they anticipated that which before they had not known-the condemnation of God."-The Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901.

"After his transgression Adam at first imagined himself entering upon a higher state of existence. But soon the thought of his sin filled him with terror. The air, which had hitherto been of a mild and uniform temperature, seemed to chill the guilty pair. The love and peace which had been theirs was gone, and in its place they felt a sense of sin, a dread of the future, a nakedness of soul. The robe of light which had enshrouded them, now disappeared, and to supply its place they endeavored to fashion for themselves a covering; for they could not, while unclothed, meet the eye of God and holy angels."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 57.

Immortality Obtainable Only Through Christ

As a consequence of Adam's fall, men and women became mortal, subject to death; and their posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. Psalm 51:5; Romans 3: 10-18; Mark 7:20-23; Jeremiah 17:9.

 Human beings can be made free from sin, the character of God can be restored in them, and they can regain their original position before God (Matthew 5:48), only through Christ. Romans 3:23-26; Acts 4:12; John 8:36; 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Titus 2:13, 14; 3:3-6.

Those who accept this provision, seeking for life everlasting, will receive immortality at the second coming of Christ, when the sleeping saints will be called back to life by the voice of the Archangel. Romans 2:6, 7; 6:22, 23; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

"In Eden, man fell from his high estate and through transgression became subject to death. It was seen in heaven that human beings were perishing, and the compassion of God was stirred. At infinite cost He devised a means of relief. He 'so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). There was no hope for the transgressor except through Christ."-Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 25.

"The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man's experience. There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist. To withstand this force, to attain that ideal which in his inmost soul he accepts as alone worthy, he can find help in but one power. That power is Christ. Co-operation with that power is man's greatest need."-Education, p. 29.

"Christ's teachings are to be to us as the leaves of the tree of life. As we eat and digest the bread of life, we shall reveal a symmetrical character."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1135.

The Dead Are Unconscious

The first death, to which we all are subject, is a state of total lifelessness and is represented as a deep sleep. Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Psalms 6:5; 115:17; 146:4; Ecclesiastes 3:20; Isaiah 38:18, 19; John 11:11-14.

The Dead Are in the Grave

At death, a good person does not go to heaven; and an evil one does not go to hell (lake of fire). All, whether good or evil, go to the grave. Job 7:9, 10; 14:10-14; 17:13-16; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Psalms 89:48; 104:29; Acts 2:29, 34; Daniel 12:13; Hebrews 11:13; Revelation 11:18.

Life After Death Only Through Resurrection

The righteous dead will be resurrected. Job 14:14, 15; 19:25-27; Hosea 13:14; Hebrews 11:39, 40; John 11:38, 39, 43; 1 Corinthians 15:51; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8; John 11:25.

At the second coming of Christ, they will be taken to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; John 14:1-3.

The wicked dead are not in a place of torment. 2 Peter 2:9; John 5:28, 29.

They will be resurrected at the end of the millennium. Revelation 20:5, 6.

"Christ represents death as a sleep to His believing children. Their life is hid with Christ in God, and until the last trump shall sound those who die will sleep in Him."-The Desire of Ages, p. 527.

"Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave-not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal."-Ibid., p. 388.

"Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave. The wondrous works of God are a mystery to man. The spirit, the character of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved. In the resurrection every man will have his own character.

 God in His own time will call forth the dead, giving again the breath of life, and bidding the dry bones live. The same form will come forth, but it will be free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same identical particles of matter which composed the body before death.

God shall give the righteous dead a body that will please Him. Paul illustrates this subject by the kernel of grain sown in the field. The planted kernel decays, but there comes forth a new kernel. The natural substance in the grain that decays is never raised as before, but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him. A much finer material will compose the human body, for it is a new creation, a new birth."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1093.

The Destiny of the Wicked

After the wicked are judged (Revelation 20:4), they suffer the second death (destruction, extermination, extinction, or annihilation) which will be meted out to them at the end of the millennium-the 1,000 years of Revelation 20. Revelation 20:9, 15, 14; Malachi 4:1, 3; Psalm 37:9, 10, 20, 38; Obadiah 15, 16.


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Biblical stewardship

According to Psalm 24:1, everything belongs to the Lord. 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12. However large or small our possessions, they are ours only in trust. For our life, strength, skill, time, talents, opportunities, and means, we must render an account to God. 1 Corinthians 4:1, 2; Matthew 25:14-30.

"Men . . . seem to think that they have a right to do with their means just as it pleases them, no matter what the Lord has commanded, or what may be the need of their fellowmen. They forget that all they claim as theirs has simply been entrusted to them."-Counsels on Stewardship, p. 112.

"Our money has not been given us that we might honor and glorify ourselves. As faithful stewards we are to use it for the honor and glory of God. . . . All we possess is the Lord's, and we are accountable to Him for the use we make of it. In the use of every penny, it will be seen whether we love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves.

"Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God's children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense for the oppressed, and a means of help to the sick. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ."-Christ's Object Lessons, p. 351.

"Let us surrender ourselves a living sacrifice, and give our all to Jesus. It is His; we are His purchased possession. Those who are recipients of His grace, who contemplate the cross of Calvary, will not question concerning the proportion to be given, but will feel that the richest offering is all too meager, all disproportionate to the great gift of the only-begotten Son of the infinite God. Through self-denial, the poorest will find ways of obtaining something to give back to God."-Counsels on Stewardship, p. 200.

Faithful and Wise Stewards

A wise and faithful steward is careful with that which God has given him or her. Matthew 24:45-47; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13; Proverbs 11:24, 25.

Even though we believe that Jesus is coming soon, we also receive instruction that "if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1 Timothy 5:8). Therefore, as individuals, we should presently make provision for the uncertain future till our Saviour shall appear. Luke 19:13.

Tithe

In recognition of God's ownership of all things, we are required to return to Him one tenth (a tithe) of all our increase. Leviticus 27:30-33; Matthew 23:23; 1 Corinthians 9:14. The Bible teaches that withholding the tithe is a violation of the eighth commandment (Exodus 20:15). Malachi 3:8, 9.

Under the priesthood after the order of Melchisedec, God still claims our tithes. Hebrews 7:1-8 (cf. Revelation 1:18). The Lord's tenth must be returned to Him regularly through the storehouse, the church, of which one is a member or attending. Deuteronomy 12:5, 6; Nehemiah 13:11, 12. Our prosperity depends upon our faithfulness to this principle. Proverbs 3:9, 10; Malachi 3:10, 11.

"Let each regularly examine his income, which is all a blessing from God, and set apart the tithe as a separate fund, to be sacredly the Lord's. This fund should not in any case be devoted to any other use; it is to be devoted solely to support the ministry of the gospel. After the tithe is set apart, let gifts and offerings be divided, 'as God hath blessed' you."-Counsels on Stewardship, p. 81.

"A very plain, definite message has been given to me for our people. I am bidden to tell them that they are making a mistake in applying the tithe to various objects which, though good in themselves, are not the object to which the Lord has said that the tithe should be applied. Those who make this use of the tithe are departing from the Lord's arrangement. God will judge for these things.

"One reasons that the tithe may be applied to school purposes. Still others reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for which it is to be used-the support of the ministers. There should be today in the field one hundred well qualified laborers where now there is but one."-Testimonies, vol. 9, pp. 248, 249.

"Provision is to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be sustained, but not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is still to be used for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields requires more ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means in the treasury."-Ibid., p. 250.

"Our conferences look to the schools for educated and well-trained laborers, and they should give the schools a most hearty and intelligent support. Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the word of God, explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money."-Ibid., vol. 6, p. 215.

"Many confessed that they had not paid tithes for years; and we know that God cannot bless those who are robbing Him, and that the church must suffer in consequence of the sins of its individual members."-Counsels on Stewardship, p. 95.

"If all would take the Scripture just as it reads, and open their hearts to understand the word of the Lord, they would not say, 'I cannot see the tithing question. I cannot see that in my circumstances I should pay tithes.' 'Will a man rob God?' The consequence of doing so is plainly stated, and I would not risk the consequence.

 All who take a wholehearted, decided position to obey God; who will not take the Lord's reserved funds-His own money-to settle their debts; who will render to the Lord the portion that He claims as His own, will receive the blessing of God which is promised to all who obey Him."-Ibid., pp. 92, 93.

"One tenth of all the increase was claimed by the Lord as His own, and to withhold the tithe was regarded by Him as robbery."-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 336.

First Fruits

As God saved the firstborn of His chosen people in the last plague in Egypt, He claims as His the first portion of all our increase. Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 23:10; Proverbs 3:9.

Freewill Offerings

While God claims one tenth of our increase as our duty to Him, He gives us the remaining nine tenths to use as our love for Him will suggest. One measure of our love for God is revealed in the freedom and joy with which we give to His cause on earth in freewill offerings, which should be proportionate to our prosperity. Exodus 25:2; Deuteronomy 16:16, 17; 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 96:8.

"Practical benevolence will give spiritual life to thousands of nominal professors of the truth who now mourn over their darkness. It will transform them from selfish, covetous worshipers of mammon to earnest, faithful coworkers with Christ in the salvation of sinners."-Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 387.

"The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable purposes amounted to fully one fourth of their income. So heavy a tax upon the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty; but, on the contrary, the faithful observance of these regulations was one of the conditions of their prosperity."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 527.

"Some have excused themselves from aiding the cause of God because they were in debt. Had they closely examined their own hearts, they would have discovered that selfishness was the true reason why they brought no freewill offering to God. Some will always remain in debt. Because of their covetousness, the prospering hand of God will not be with them to bless their undertakings. They love this world better than the truth. They are not being fitted up and made ready for the kingdom of God."-Counsels on Stewardship, p. 93.

"In the days of Israel the tithe and freewill offerings were needed to maintain the ordinances of divine service. Should the people of God give less in this age? The principle laid down by Christ is that our offerings should be in proportion to the light and privileges enjoyed."-Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 528.

"Well, says one, the calls keep coming to give to the cause; I am weary of giving. Are you? Then let me ask: Are you weary of receiving from God's beneficent hand? Not until He ceases to bless you will you cease to be under bonds to return to Him the portion He claims. He blesses you that it may be in your power to bless others. When you are weary of receiving, then you may say: I am weary of so many calls to give. God reserves to Himself a portion of all that we receive. When this is returned to Him, the remaining portion is blessed, but when it is withheld, the whole is sooner or later cursed. God's claim is first; every other is secondary."-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 150.

Talents

"All that we have is the Lord's. Our money, our time, talents and ourselves, all belong to Him. He has lent them to us, to test and prove us, and to develop what is in our hearts. If we selfishly claim as our own the favors God has graciously entrusted to us, we shall meet with great loss, for we rob God, and in robbing Him, we rob ourselves of heavenly blessings, and the benediction Christ will give the faithful and obedient: 'Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord' (Matthew 25:23)."-The Signs of the Times, April 1, 1875.


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Story of redemption in the bible

The Holy Scriptures, God's writing of love, explain the origin, fall, and redemption of humanity. They contain the all-sufficient revelation of God's will to men and women as our only infallible rule of faith and practice under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. John 5:39; Psalm 89:34 (cf. Matthew 22:29; John 7:17); Luke 24:44, 45; Psalm 119:104, 105; Isaiah 8:20; 2 Timothy 3:15.

The Bible (the Old and the New Testaments) is the authority to teach us and correct us, showing us the difference between right and wrong (Mark 12:24; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; James 1:22, 23; 1 Peter 1:22, 23). Therefore, our individual stand before God and our relationship with one another must be based on a "Thus saith the Lord" (Matthew 7:12; John 8:32; 16:13; 17:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Christ's presence with men of God, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in both the Old and New Testament times, is the origin of the written Word of God (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Luke 16:29, 31; John 5:46, 47). Proof of its divine inspiration is found in the Bible itself (1 Peter 1:10-12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Through the ministration of the Holy Spirit, the Bible is self-explanatory and does not need any human tradition or catechism for its interpretation (Isaiah 28:10; 34:16; 2 Peter 1:19, 20). If we live in harmony with the Holy Scriptures, the promises and blessings of the Lord are ours (Luke 11:28; Matthew 4:4; 7:21, 24, 25; John 6:63; 8:31).

"The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ, and the Saviour desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word. When His visible presence should be withdrawn, the word must be their source of power."-The Desire of Ages, p. 390.

"The Bible is the most wonderful of all histories, for it is the production of God, not of the finite mind. It carries us back through the centuries to the beginning of all things, presenting the history of times and scenes which would otherwise never have been known. It reveals the glory of God in the working of His providence to save a fallen world. It presents in the simplest language the mighty power of the gospel, which, received, would cut the chains that bind men to Satan's chariot." -Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 377.

"Every part of the Bible is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. The Old Testament no less than the New should receive attention. As we study the Old Testament we shall find living springs bubbling up where the careless reader discerns only a desert." -Education, p. 191.

"It is not the mere reading of the word that will accomplish the result that is designed by Heaven, but the truth revealed in the word of God must find an entrance into the heart, if the good intended is obtained."-Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 131.

"The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character. And it is the only sure means of intellectual culture."-Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 319.

"By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature."-The Desire of Ages, p. 391.

"The Bible, and the Bible alone, [is] the foundation of our faith."-Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 85.

"God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men, the deductions of science, the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and discordant as are the churches which they represent, the voice of the majority, not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain 'Thus saith the Lord in its support."-The Great Controversy, p. 595.

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The trinity explained

"Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isaiah 44:6; 45:22).

The Bible speaks of only one God. Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4. In Hebrew, the term God is often used in the plural form (Elohiym as opposed to the singular Elowahh). According to the Scriptures, the Godhead (Genesis 1:1, 26; Acts 17:29; Colossians 2:9) comprises three Divine Dignitaries-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-working together as one. Isaiah 48:16, 17; Matthew 3:16, 17; 28:19; John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 2:18; Jude 20, 21.

Our faith in the existence of God is based upon the evidence which He Himself has provided. The hand of God is present everywhere-in nature, in the course of history, in our personal experience and, above all, in His Word: the Bible. This can be perceived by all who desire to see the evidence for themselves. Job 11:7; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 5:8; Romans 1:20; 1 Corinthians 2:14, 15.

Some of the attributes of the Godhead:

- eternal: Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 40:28; Romans 1:20.

- immortal: 1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15, 16.

- invisible to sinful man: 1 John 4:12; 1 Timothy 1:17.

- omnipresent (present everywhere): Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24.

- omniscient (all-knowing): 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139:2-4; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20.

- omnipotent (all-powerful): Job 37:23; 38:1-41; 42:2; Psalm 33:6-9; Matthew 19:26.

- immutable (unchangeable): Psalm 33:11; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17.

- holy: Leviticus 19:2; Joshua 24:19; Psalm 99:9; 1 Peter 1:16.

- righteous: Ezra 9:15; Jeremiah 23:6; Daniel 9:7; Psalm 7:9.

- merciful: Exodus 34:6; Psalm 103:8; Lamentations 3:22; Micah 7:18.

- good: Exodus 33:19; Psalm 34:8; Matthew 19:17; Romans 2:4.

- truth: Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16.

- love: John 3:16; 1 John 4:7-11.

"The revelation of Himself that God has given in His word is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this we are not to penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out in conjectures regarding the nature of God, but the effort will be fruitless. This problem has not been given us to solve. No human mind can comprehend God. None are to indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion."-The Ministry of Healing, p. 429.

"The Father cannot be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight. The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be 'the express image of His person' (Hebrews 1:3). 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). Here is shown the personality of the Father.

"The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio: in the name of these three great powers-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit-those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will cooperate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ."-Evangelism, pp. 614, 615.

"God is a spirit; yet He is a personal being, for man was made in His image."-Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 263.

"Christ says, My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me away from the byways of sin. As Christ worked, so you are to work. In tenderness and love seek to lead the erring to the right way. This will call for great patience and forbearance, and for the constant manifestation of the forgiving love of Christ. Daily the Saviour's compassion must be revealed. The example He has left must be followed. He took upon His sinless nature our sinful nature, that He might know how to succor those that are tempted."-Medical Ministry, p. 181.

"Avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track of presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ, you need to guard strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His humanity as combined with divinity. His birth was a miracle of God; for, said the angel, 'Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth 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: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The 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'" (Luke 1:31-35). -The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1128.

A. THE FATHER

The Father is the First Person of the Godhead. Matthew 3:17; 11:25; John 14:28; 15:1, 9; Acts 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:3; Hebrews 1:1-13; James 1:17.

Through Christ and the Holy Spirit, the Father is the Creator and Sustainer of all. Malachi 2:10; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:14-16; John 1:3; Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalm 104:30.

God is the Father of all who accept Christ as their personal Saviour and obey all His commandments. Matthew 5:48; 6:9; John 1:12, 13; 20:17; Romans 8:15-17; 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18; 1 John 3:24.

The most outstanding attribute of the Father-which motivated the plan of salvation-is His love. John 3:16; 1 John 4:8-13, 16. His love is revealed in us if He dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. John 14:16, 23; Romans 8:14; 1 John 4:16.

"Jesus teaches us to call His Father our Father. He is not ashamed to call us brethren. Hebrews 2:11. So ready, so eager, is the Saviour's heart to welcome us as members of the family of God, that in the very first words we are to use in approaching God He places the assurance of our divine relationship, 'Our Father.'"-Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 103.

"The Ancient of Days is God the Father. Says the psalmist: 'Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God' (Psalm 90:2). It is He, the source of all being, and the fountain of all law, that is to preside in the judgment."-The Great Controversy, p. 479.

B. THE SON

Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead (1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8), is the eternal, self-existent Son of God, the "express image" (Hebrews 1:3; John 14:7-10) of the Father. Together with the Father, He is the beginner (Revelation 3:14, Gr. Arche-originator), of all things. John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:2; Romans 9:5 (cf. John 17:3; 1 John 5:20); Isaiah 9:6; John 6:33.

The eternal preexistence of Christ is clearly taught in the Bible. Micah 5:2; Proverbs 8:22-30; John 1:1, 2, 14; 17:5, 24. A comparison between Isaiah 40:3-5 and Matthew 3:3proves that Christ is part of the Godhead. See also Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58.

As Christ is also God, one with the Father and equal with Him, He is also to be worshipped. This would not be the case if He were a created being or one who came into existence after the Father (Revelation 19:10). John 10:30; 20:28; Matthew 14:33; Luke 4:8; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:6; Luke 24:52.

Without giving up His divinity, Christ accepted humanity and became a man at His incarnation, when He was born of the virgin Mary. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35. At His birth in Bethlehem, He did not take the nature of Adam before the fall, but the seed of Abraham and of David. John 1:14; Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2:14, 16, 17; Philippians 2:7, 8; Romans 1:3, 4; 2 Timothy 2:8.

Christ came into the world "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10); to live and die for our justification and sanctification (Romans 5:9, 10; 1 John 1:9; John 17:19); to take away our sins (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 John 3:5); to redeem us from the penalty of the law (Galatians 3:13; 4:4, 5); to condemn sin in the flesh, enabling us, by the Holy Spirit, to fulfill the righteousness of the law (Romans 8:3, 4); to give us an example of obedience (John 15:10; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 1 John 2:5, 6; Hebrews 5:8, 9); and to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

As a man, Christ was tempted in all points like ourselves; yet He knew no sin. Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1, 2, 13; Hebrews 2:18; 4:15; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22.

The vicarious death of Christ on the cross provides the sacrificial part (the blood offering) of the atonement for the sins of the human race. Only those who accept this provision will be saved. Isaiah 53:1-12; John 3:14-17; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 1 John 1:7. The intercessory part of the atonement is provided by Christ's mediation in the sanctuary above (Romans 5:8-11; 8:34; Hebrews 8:12).

Dual Nature

"The Godhead was not made human, and the human was not deified by the blending together of the two natures. Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering."-Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 131.

"[Christ] has a twofold nature, at once human and divine. He is both God and man."-SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1074.

"The two natures were mysteriously blended in one person-the man Christ Jesus."-Ibid., vol. 5, p. 1113.

"By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey."-The Desire of Ages, p. 24.

Divine Nature

"Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed for evermore."-Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 247.

"In speaking of His preexistence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God." -Evangelism, p. 615.

"From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father."-The Desire of Ages, p. 19.

"Silence fell upon the vast assembly [of Pharisees and rulers and people]. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as His own by this Galilean Rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One, He who had been promised to Israel, 'whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity' (Micah 5:2, margin)."-Ibid., pp. 469, 470.

"When the voice of the mighty angel was heard at Christ's tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee, the Saviour came forth from the grave by the life that was in Himself. Now was proved the truth of His words, 'I lay down My life, that I might take it again. . . . I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.' Now was fulfilled the prophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up' (John 10:17, 18; 2:19).

"Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph Christ had proclaimed in triumph, 'I am the resurrection, and the life.' These words could be spoken only by the Deity. All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life. Only He who is one with God could say, I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death."-Ibid., p. 785.

"In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die; that would have been impossible."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1113.

"The spirit of Jesus slept in the tomb with His body, and did not wing its way to heaven, there to maintain a separate existence, and to look down upon the mourning disciples embalming the body from which it had taken flight. All that comprised the life and intelligence of Jesus remained with His body in the sepulcher; and when He came forth it was as a whole being; He did not have to summon His spirit from heaven. He had power to lay down His life and to take it up again."-Ibid., pp. 1150, 1151.

"The divinity of Christ is the believer's assurance of eternal life."-The Desire of Ages, p. 530.

Human 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."-Ibid., p. 49.

"At an infinite cost, and by a process mysterious to angels as well as to men, Christ assumed humanity. Hiding His divinity, laying aside His glory, He was born a babe in Bethlehem."-The Youth's Instructor, July 20, 1899.

"When Jesus took human nature, and became in fashion as a man, He possessed all the human organism. His necessities were the necessities of a man. He had bodily wants to be supplied, bodily weariness to be relieved. By prayer to the Father He was braced for duty and for trial."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1130.

"He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil."-Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 202.

"The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study. Christ was a real man; He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. Yet He was God in the flesh. When we approach this subject, we would do well to heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, 'Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground' (Exodus 3:5)."-Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 244.

Tempted in All Points

"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 guile 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."-The Review and Herald, December 15, 1896.

"Christ's heart was pierced by a far sharper pain than that caused by the nails driven into His hands and feet. He was bearing the sins of the whole world, enduring our punishment-the wrath of God against transgression. His trial involved the fierce temptation of thinking that he was forsaken by God. His soul was tortured by the pressure of great darkness, lest He should swerve from His uprightness during the terrible ordeal. Unless there is a possibility of yielding, temptation is no temptation. Temptation is resisted when man is powerfully influenced to do a wrong action; and, knowing that he can do it, resists, by faith, with a firm hold upon divine power. This was the ordeal through which Christ passed. He could not have been tempted in all points as man is tempted, had there been no possibility of His failing. He was a free agent, placed on probation, as was Adam, and as is every man. In His closing hours, while hanging on the cross, He experienced to the fullest extent what man must experience when striving against sin. He realized how bad a man may become by yielding to sin. He realized the terrible consequence of the transgression of God's law; for the iniquity of the whole world was upon Him."-The Youth's Instructor, July 20, 1899.

"When His ministry commenced, after His baptism, He endured an agonizing fast of nearly six weeks. It was not merely the gnawing pangs of hunger which made His sufferings inexpressibly severe, but it was the guilt of the sins of the world which pressed so heavily upon Him. He who knew no sin was made sin for us. With this terrible weight of guilt upon Him because of our sins He withstood the fearful test upon appetite, and upon love of the world and of honor, and pride of display which leads to presumption."-Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 372.

Yet Without Sin

"Christ was the only one who walked the earth upon whom there rested no taint of sin."-Selected Messages, bk. 3, p. 134.

"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. 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."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 5, p. 1128.

"The prince of darkness found nothing in Him; not a single thought or feeling responded to temptation."-Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 422.

"[Christ] was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 925.

"We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of the human nature of Christ."-Ibid., vol. 5, p. 1131.

"He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet He prayed, and that often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with our needs, our weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity. He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are. Jesus endured agony which required help and support from His Father."-Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 508, 509.

"Every sin, every discord, every defiling lust that transgression had brought, was torture to His spirit."-The Desire of Ages, p. 111.

We Can Overcome in the Same Way

"Many who fall under temptation excuse themselves with the plea that Christ's divinity helped Him overcome, and that man has not this power in his favor. But this is a mistake. Christ has brought divine power within the reach of all. The Son of God came to the earth because He saw that moral power in man is weak. He came to bring finite man in close connection with God. It is by combining divine power with His human strength that man becomes an overcomer."-The Youth's Instructor, December 28, 1899.

"Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was."-The Desire of Ages, p. 664.

"When we are tempted to question whether Christ resisted temptation as a man, we must search the Scriptures for the truth. As the substitute and surety of the human race, Christ was placed in the same position toward the Father as is the sinner. Christ had the privilege of depending on the Father for strength, and so have we."-The Youth's Instructor, December 28, 1899.

"God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. . . . In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound together."-The Desire of Ages, pp. 25, 26.

Christ's Intercession

After He had died on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3), Christ resurrected on the third day (Luke 24:19-24, 46; 1 Corinthians 15:4); and, forty days later, He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:3, 11) to make intercession for us and complete the work of atonement (Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Through the merits of His blood (Hebrews 9:11-14; Revelation 7:14), the cleansing of the sanctuary and the blotting out of sins (Acts 3:19), the final phase of the atonement commenced in 1844 (Daniel 8:14; Hebrews 8:1-4; 9:23), when the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary was opened (Revelation 11:19).

"The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross."-The Great Controversy, p. 489.

"The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to 'the first dominion' (Micah 4:8)."-Ibid., p. 484.

"By His spotless life, His obedience, His death on the cross of Calvary, Christ interceded for the lost race. And now not as a mere petitioner does the Captain of our salvation intercede for us, but as a conqueror claiming His victory."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, pp. 930, 931.

C. THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit, the representative of Christ and the Father, is the Third Person of the Godhead. He is, besides Christ, the greatest of all gifts of God to humanity; and through Him, Christ promise to be with His followers. John 14:16-18, 23; Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 John 3:24; 4:12, 13; Ephesians 3:16, 17; Romans 8:9-11.

A comparison between Isaiah 6:8-10 and Acts 28:25-27 shows that the Holy Spirit is a distinct part of the Godhead. Isaiah 48:16. While Christ is our Mediator before the Father (1 Timothy 2:5), the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us by working upon our heart. Romans 8:26 (cf. verse 34).

The first work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin and to lead us to Christ. John 16:8. By accepting Jesus as our personal Saviour, we yield to the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, who testifies of Christ and brings repentance, conversion (new birth or regeneration), and sanctification. He continues to lead us into all truth (obedience), and we become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), having the mind of Christ. John 15:26; 16:8; 3:5-8; Titus 3:5; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:1, 2, 9, 14, 16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 5:16, 25; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.

Before a person can receive the gifts of the Spirit, he or she must bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his or her life (Galatians 5:22-25; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

The gift of the Holy Spirit is the earnest (pledge) of our resurrection. The presence of God's Spirit with us is the beginning of eternal life. Romans 8:9-11 (cf. John 11:25, 26; 1 John 4:13; Ephesians 1:13, 14).

Personality

The Holy Spirit is often referred to as a power proceeding from the Father and the Son-a power working in and through human beings. Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35; 4:14; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4.

At the same time, however, the Bible also refers to the Holy Spirit as a distinct personality. Examples:

1. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy Spirit is eternal. Isaiah 40:3 (Hebrew, cf. Matthew 3:3); Isaiah 6:8-11 (Hebrew, cf. Acts 28:25-27; Hebrews 9:14; Exodus 17:7.

2. He is a Comforter (John 14:26; 16:7).

3. He hears, speaks, guides us, and reveals future events to us (John 16:13; Luke 2:26).

4. He warns us of future trials and afflictions (Acts 20:23; 21:11).

5. He teaches us all things and brings the words of Christ to our remembrance (John 14:26).

6. He comes to us with prohibitions and commands (Acts 16:6; 13:2).

7. He gives messages to the people of God through the prophets (2 Peter 1:21).

8. He has a mind (Romans 8:27), a will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11), and a capacity for love (Romans 15:30). He is susceptible to being insulted and grieved (Ephesians 4:30), tempted (Acts 5:9), and lied to (Acts 5:3).

9. He searches all things, even "the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11).

10. He glorifies Christ as Christ glorified the Father (John 16:14; 17:1).

11. He makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26).

12. He refers to Himself as an individual, using the personal pronouns "I" and "Me" (Acts 13:2).

"We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.)"-Evangelism, p. 616.

"[The Holy Spirit] personifies Christ, yet is a distinct personality."-Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, p. 324.

"The Holy Spirit is a free, working, independent agency."-The Review and Herald, May 5, 1896.

The Holy Spirit shares the omniscience and omnipotence of the Godhead.

"[Christ] knew that truth, armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit, would conquer in the battle with evil."-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 21.

"The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure."-The Desire of Ages, p. 671.

"Our sanctification is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."-The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 7, p. 908.

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient, receive those who truly enter into covenant relation with God. They are present at every baptism, to receive the candidates who have renounced the world and have received Christ into the soul temple. These candidates have entered into the family of God, and their names are inscribed in the Lamb's book of life."-Ibid., vol. 6, p. 1075.

"The Holy Spirit indites all genuine prayer. I have learned to know that in all my intercessions the Spirit intercedes for me and for all saints; but His intercessions are according to the will of God, never contrary to His will. 'The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities;' and the Spirit, being God, knoweth the mind of God; therefore in every prayer of ours for the sick, or for other needs, the will of God is to be regarded. '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' (1 Corinthians 2:11). If we are taught of God, we shall pray in conformity to His revealed will, and in submission to His will which we know not. We are to make supplication according to the will of God, relying on the precious Word, and believing that Christ not only gave Himself for but to His disciples. The record declares, 'He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost' (John 20:22)."-The Signs of the Times, October 3, 1892.

The Nature of the Holy Spirit

Here we enter upon a subject where we have-like Moses in the wilderness-to take off our shoes. The Lord tells us by His servant: "It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, 'the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father.' It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit that, in His work of guiding men into all truth, 'He shall not speak of Himself' (John 15:26; 16:13).

"The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden."-The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 51, 52.

Often the Holy Spirit is referred to as a power proceeding from the Father and the Son-a power working in and through human beings (Micah 3:8; Luke 1:35; 4:14; 24:49; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4).

The nature of the Holy Spirit remains to us a mystery. We should take heed to the explanation in Deuteronomy 29:29: "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Function

"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, p. 669.

"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 SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1077.

"Whenever one renounces sin, which is the transgression of the law, his life will be brought into conformity to the law, into perfect obedience. This is the work of the Holy Spirit."-Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 92.

"If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul. By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need err therein."-The Acts of the Apostles, p. 53.

Power in Resurrection

"Christ became one flesh with us, in order that we might become one spirit with Him. It is by virtue of this union that we are to come forth from the grave-not merely as a manifestation of the power of Christ, but because, through faith, His life has become ours. Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal."-The Desire of Ages, p. 388. Read Romans 8:11.


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