Compilation by Paul Chung

Ellen White used such expressions like “Person”, “Personality” to describe the Holy Spirit for the Holy Spirit is the very presence and the power of the Father coming to us through the medium of His Son’s Spirit, aka Spirit of Christ or the Comforter.

Spirit is not an inanimate force or an influence for He “Personifies” the Son and is imbued with Christ’s character/presence/power but operates in His own distinct (incorporeal/invisible) personality. Thus, when we are talking about the Holy Spirit, It/He is the very Spirit of the Father and the Son who comes to us, not devoid of their “Personality”; thus, all the personal attributes and the designations such as “He” or “Person” is rightly ascribed.

Ellen White always distinguished the Father and the Son’s “personality” as a personal “Being,” whereas, she never (at least in her own words-with the exception of one statement, transcribed by a stenographer, which cannot be authenticated) referred to the Holy Spirit as a “Being.” For further study on Ellen White’s usage of “Being” referring to the Holy Spirit, Click HERE.

Furthermore, if the Holy Spirit is really the co-equal, co-eternal personal “Being” just like the Father and the Son as Trinitarians would have you believe, then you need to reconcile why the mention of the Holy Spirit is conspicuously omitted in all of these following statements. If you’re honest with yourself, please check out these statements and consider whether you have a balanced view with respect to your theology that can fit these statements:

WHERE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THESE STATEMENTS?

Zec 6:13 “…the counsel of peace shall be between them both. “

“The great plan of redemption was laid before the foundation of the world. And Christ, our Substitute and Surety, did not stand alone in the wondrous undertaking of the ransom of man. In the plan to save a lost world, the counsel was BETWEEN THEM BOTH; the covenant of peace was between the Father and the Son.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, December 23, 1897, par. 2)

Note: Both means 2, not 3.

CHRIST, THE ONLY ONE EQUAL WITH THE FATHER

“The Son of God, heaven’s glorious Commander, was touched with pity for the fallen race. His heart was moved with infinite compassion as the woes of the lost world rose up before Him. But divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed. The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. IN ALL THE UNIVERSE THERE WAS BUT ONE WHO COULD, IN BEHALF OF MAN, SATISFY ITS CLAIMS. Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, ONLY ONE EQUAL WITH GOD could make atonement for its transgression. NONE BUT CHRIST COULD REDEEM FALLEN MAN from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin—sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son. Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race. {PP 63.2}

THE HIGHEST ANGEL IN HEAVEN HAD NOT THE POWER to pay the ransom for one lost soul. Cherubim and seraphim have only the glory with which they are endowed by the Creator as His creatures, and the reconciliation of man to God could be accomplished ONLY THROUGH A MEDIATOR WHO WAS EQUAL WITH GOD, possessed of attributes that would dignify, and declare him worthy to treat with the infinite God in man’s behalf, and also represent God to a fallen world. Man’s substitute and surety must have man’s nature, a connection with the human family whom he was to represent, and, as God’s ambassador, he must partake of the divine nature, have a connection with the Infinite, in order to manifest God to the world, and be a mediator between God and man. {1SM 257.1}

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WERE FOUND ALONE IN CHRIST. Clothing His divinity with humanity, He came to earth to be called the Son of man and the Son of God. He was the surety for man, the ambassador for God—the surety for man to satisfy by His righteousness in man’s behalf the demands of the law, and the representative of God to make manifest His character to a fallen race. {1SM 257.2}

Note: Equality with God was the prerequisite for Christ being qualified for becoming the substitute for humanity in redeeming man. Thus, “The highest angel in heaven HAD NOT THE POWER to pay the ransom for one lost soul.” If, “ONLY ONE EQUAL WITH GOD could make atonement for its transgression.” and “NONE BUT CHRIST COULD redeem fallen man.” then, Christ is the only one equal with God. This precludes the Holy Spirit Being (as taught by Trinity) to be co-equal with God. Above statements further stated that, “ONLY THROUGH A MEDIATOR WHO WAS EQUAL WITH GOD, possessed of attributes that would dignify, and declare him worthy” and that “THIS QUALIFICATIONS WERE FOUND ALONE IN CHRIST.”{1SM 257.1,2}

Question: How is it that the above qualifications were found alone in Christ and not found in the Holy Spirit (if He was also equal with God not unlike Christ)?

For further study on how Christ is equal with the Father, Click HERE.

ONLY BEING IN ALL THE UNIVERSE WHO KNEW THE LOVE OF GOD

“The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work ONLY ONE BEING IN ALL THE UNIVERSE COULD DO. ONLY HE WHO KNEW THE HEIGHT AND DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF GOD COULD MAKE IT KNOWN. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2. {DA 22.1}

“This is a love which passeth knowledge. Shall we not be filled with astonishment at the amazing riches of the grace of Christ? JESUS ALONE COULD DO THE WORK. KNOWING THE HEIGHT AND DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF GOD, He engaged to come into the world to represent it. Nothing less than the infinite sacrifice made by Christ in behalf of fallen man in coming into our world could express the love of God to man. It is impossible for us to conceive of the riches of His grace, abundantly provided for all who should believe on Jesus Christ. Having thus Himself represented the love of the Father, He has enjoined upon every soul that believes to represent Jesus Christ to the world, and thus multiply the character of God in their own lives and character.” {Lt27-1892.24}

Note: According to the above statements Christ is the only being who could “MAKE IT KNOWN” to us the Father’s love because He is the “ONLY ONE BEING IN ALL THE UNIVERSE ….WHO KNEW THE HEIGHT AND DEPTH OF THE LOVE OF GOD.” Why not the Holy Spirit (if He was another entirely separate being as trinity would have you believe)?

“God and Christ ALONE know what the souls of men have cost.” — (E.G. White, ST, Jan 13, 1909)

“Can anyone consider the condescension of God in preparing the gospel feast, and its great cost, and treat the invitation slightingly? No man, nor even the highest angel, can estimate the great cost; IT IS KNOWN ONLY TO THE FATHER AND THE SON.” — (E.G. White, BEcho, Oct 28, 1895)

“All the heavenly host were summoned to appear before the Father, to have each case determined. Satan unblushingly made known his dissatisfaction that Christ should be preferred before him. He stood up proudly and urged that he should be equal with God, and should be taken into conference with the Father and understand his purposes. GOD INFORMED SATAN THAT TO HIS SON ALONE HE WOULD REVEAL HIS SECRET PURPOSES, and he required all the family in Heaven, even Satan, to yield him implicit, unquestioned obedience; but that he (Satan) had proved himself unworthy a place in Heaven. Then Satan exultingly pointed to his sympathizers, comprising nearly one half of all the angels, and exclaimed, These are with me! Will you expel these also, and make such a void in Heaven? He then declared that he was prepared to resist the authority of Christ, and to defend his place in Heaven by force of might, strength against strength. {1SP 22.2}

Note: According to SDA Fundamental Beliefs #2, “God” is described as the combination of the “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, ALL-KNOWING, above all, and ever present.” If the Holy Spirit is one of the Persons of the Godhead, a separate “Being” and is “all knowing” or omniscient, then how is it that “God and Christ ALONE know what the souls of men have cost.”? Again, if the Holy Spirit is omniscient, then how would he know the things which the Father only revealed to His Son if the Son was the only other Being whom the Father revealed His “secret purpose” to?

CHRIST’S LIFE ALONE WAS SUFFICIENT

“ONE ALONE WAS SUFFICIENT AND FULLY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION. Christ, who was one with the Father, laid off His royal robe and His royal crown, clothed His divinity with humanity, and came into the world to bless the world with a living personation of God. He could approach the human family only as He should hide His glory and employ the faculties of a human being. Then humanity could touch humanity, while His veiled divinity, recognized in heaven, could lay hold on the Infinite One. The Father and the Son saw that it was expedient that Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, should make Himself visible and walk and talk with men, not as an angel but as a Teacher sent from God, possessing all the attributes of the Godhead under the garb of humanity, revealing the love, the sympathy, the compassion of God. {Ms51-1890.11}

“NOT ONE of the angels could have become surety for the human race: THEIR LIFE IS GOD’S ; they could not surrender it. . . BUT CHRIST IS EQUAL WITH GOD, infinite and omnipotent. He could pay the ransom for man’s freedom. He is the eternal, SELF-EXISTING SON, ON WHOM NO YOKE HAD COME; and when God asked, “whom shall I send?” He could reply, “Here am I; send me.” He could pledge Himself to become man’s surety; for He could say that which the highest angel could not say,—I HAVE POWER OVER MY OWN LIFE, “POWER to lay it down, and … POWER to take it again.”—The Youth’s Instructor, June 21, 1900. For further study on “SELF-EXISTENCE” Click HERE.

” The angels prostrated themselves before Him. They offered their lives. Jesus said to them that He would by His death save many, that the LIFE OF AN ANGEL could not pay the debt. HIS LIFE ALONE could be ACCEPTED of His Father as a ransom for man. EW 150.1

“When Adam and Eve realized how exalted and sacred was the law of God, the transgression of WHICH MADE SO COSTLY A SACRIFICE NECESSARY to save them from utter ruin, they pleaded that they and their posterity might endure the penalty of their transgression, rather than that the beloved Son of God should make this great sacrifice. The anguish of Adam was increased. He saw that his sins were of so great magnitude as to involve fearful consequences. AND MUST IT BE THAT HEAVEN’S HONORED COMMANDER, who had walked with him and talked with him while in his holy innocence, whom angels worshiped, MUST BE BROUGHT DOWN from his exalted position to die because of man’s transgression. {ST January 30, 1879, par. 11}

“ONLY THROUGH A MEDIATOR WHO WAS EQUAL WITH GOD, POSSESSED OF ATTRIBUTES THAT WOULD DIGNIFY, AND DECLARE HIM WORTHY to treat with the infinite God in man’s behalf, and also represent God to a fallen world. Man’s substitute and surety must have man’s nature, a connection with the human family whom he was to represent, and, as God’s ambassador, he must partake of the divine nature, have a connection with the Infinite, in order to manifest God to the world, and be a mediator between God and man.” {1SM 257.1}{RH December 22, 1891, par. 2}
“THESE QUALIFICATIONS WERE FOUND ALONE IN CHRIST.” {1SM 257.2} {RH December 22, 1891, par. 2}

Note: Angels have only the glory with which they are ENDOWED by the Creator as His creatures, and the reconciliation of man to God could be ACCOMPLISHED ONLY through a mediator who was “EQUAL WITH GOD”, “POSSESSED OF ATTRIBUTES” that would dignify, and declare him worthy to treat with the infinite God in man’s behalf, and also represent God to a fallen world. Man’s substitute and surety must have man’s nature, a CONNECTION WITH HUMAN family whom he was to represent, and, as God’s ambassador, he must partake of the divine nature, have a “CONNECTION WITH THE INFINITE”, in order to manifest God to the world, and be a mediator between God and man (1SM 257.1). Again, these qualifications were found alone in Christ (1SM 257.2).

WHY NOT THE FATHER?

This is why He could not come in Person. It was impossible. God, because He is God, the moral governor, the lawgiver, the Source of all being was not able to save man by coming Himself. He could not vacate the throne without contradicting Himself and His functionality for the universe.

“After the transgression of Adam, THE LORD SPOKE NO LONGER DIRECTLY WITH MAN; the human race WAS GIVEN INTO THE HANDS OF CHRIST, and ALL COMMUNICATION CAME THROUGH HIM TO THE WORLD.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, November 28, 1893, ‘Christ as Teacher’)

“The wrath of God still hung over Adam, but the execution of the sentence of death was delayed, and the indignation of God was restrained, because Christ had entered upon the work of becoming man’s Redeemer. Christ was to take the wrath of God which in justice should fall upon man….THE HOLY AND INFINITE GOD, WHO DWELLETH IN LIGHT UNAPPROACHABLE, COULD NO LONGER TALK WITH MAN. NO COMMUNICATION COULD NOW EXIST DIRECTLY BETWEEN MAN AND HIS MAKER.”{Confrontation p.19.3}

Because of man’s transgression, the sin separated man from God wherein God “COULD NO LONGER TALK WITH MAN. NO COMMUNICATION COULD NOW EXIST DIRECTLY BETWEEN MAN AND HIS MAKER.” This inability does not mean He is not God but it was impossible because He is God and absolutely has to sustain His position as such. So then what did He do? This is where His begotten Son stepped in.

“THROUGH CHRIST ALONE CAN MAN NOW FIND ACCESS TO GOD. AND THROUGH CHRIST ALONE WILL THE LORD HOLD COMMUNICATION WITH MAN.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 24th February, 1874, Redemption No. 1′)

“After the transgression of Adam, THE LORD SPOKE NO LONGER DIRECTLY WITH MAN; the human race WAS GIVEN INTO THE HANDS OF CHRIST, and ALL COMMUNICATION CAME THROUGH HIM TO THE WORLD.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, November 28, 1893, ‘Christ as Teacher’)

“The transgression of that law had caused a fearful separation between God and man. To Adam in his innocence was granted communion, direct, free, and happy, with his Maker. After his transgression, GOD WOULD COMMUNICATE TO MAN THROUGH CHRIST AND ANGELS.” (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, 30th January 1879, ‘The great controversy: The plan of salvation’) {SR 50.3}

Let’s look then at what God is.

“ALL THINGS CHRIST RECEIVED FROM GOD, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to THE GREAT SOURCE OF ALL And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life. {DA 21.2}

Notice here that God the Father is the great Source of all with even Christ Himself having received all things from Him! Even the life that flowed through Him to all created beings was ultimately “the Father’s life.” Yet we also know that this life was given to Him as His very own. Thus He has an equality with God here in terms of being able to perpetuate life in His own Person. Now let’s see what happened:

“The Son of God was NEXT IN AUTHORITY to the great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man. He was of as much more value than man as his noble, spotless character, and exalted office as commander of all the heavenly host, were above the work of man. HE WAS IN THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS FATHER, NOT IN FEATURES ALONE, BUT IN PERFECTION OF CHARACTER. {2SP 9.1}

“The Father did not yield up his dearly beloved Son without a struggle, whether to let guilty man perish or to give his Son to die for the lost race. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO CHANGE HIS LAW, OR GIVE UP THE SMALLEST PART OF ITS CLAIMS, IN ORDER TO SAVE MAN; THEREFORE HE SUFFERED HIS SON TO DIE FOR MAN’S TRANSGRESSIONS {ST January 30, 1879, par. 6}

“Adam was informed that an ANGEL’S LIFE COULD NOT PAY THE DEBT. THE LAW OF JEHOVAH, THE FOUNDATION OF HIS GOVERNMENT IN HEAVEN AND UPON EARTH, WAS AS SACRED AS ITS DIVINE AUTHOR; AND FOR THIS REASON THE LIFE OF AN ANGEL COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED of God as a sacrifice for its transgression. His law was of more importance in his sight than the holy angels around his throne. The Father could not change nor abolish one precept of his law to meet man in his fallen condition. BUT THE SON OF GOD, WHO HAD IN UNISON WITH THE FATHER CREATED MAN, COULD MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR MAN ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, by giving his life a sacrifice, and bearing the wrath of his Father. As Adam’s transgression had brought death and wretchedness upon the race, life and immortality would be brought to light through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a sacrifice of such infinite value as to make a man who should avail himself of it more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. {ST January 30, 1879, par. 12}

Note: Are you seeing the picture? God the Father is the great Source of all, full stop! His Godhood is not dependent upon any other. His Son is rightly God too in His nature (“God essentially, and in the highest sense” -1SM 247.3) but He received all things from the Father via inheritance, being begotten from the Father. For this reason, Christ is the Father’s only ontological equal (“ONE SUBSTANCE, POSSESSING THE SAME ATTRIBUTES“-ST. November 27, 1893 par. 5). And when it came to the broken law Christ was the only one who had a platform of equal footing with the Father “AS ITS DIVINE AUTHOR,” so that He could make atonement for His broken law. So while God the Father could not step down because He was God, the Son of God could because He was the Son of God! The Father would maintain the well-being of the universe by upholding His law and His Son would open the way for the transgressor to be forgiven by paying the debt.

“There are many issues in our world today in regard to the Creator not being a personal God. GOD IS A BEING, and man was made in His image. {Ms117-1898.9}

“…From my girlhood I have been given plain instruction that GOD IS A PERSON, and that Christ is “the express image of His person.” {Ms137-1903.3}

“GOD IS A MORAL GOVERNOR as well as a Father. HE IS THE LAWGIVER. He makes and executes His laws. Law that has no penalty is of no force. {Ms5-1876.13}

“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… {GC 479.2}

“…THE LAW OF JEHOVAH, the foundation of his government in Heaven and upon earth, WAS AS SACRED AS ITS DIVINE AUTHOR; and for this reason the life of an angel could not be accepted of God as a sacrifice for its transgression. His law was of more importance in his sight than the holy angels around his throne. THE FATHER could not change nor abolish one precept of HIS LAW to meet man in his fallen condition… {ST January 30, 1879, par. 12}

“The law of God could not be set aside even to save lost man. THE WELL-BEING OF THE UNIVERSE DEMANDED THAT THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED… {ST November 4, 1908, par. 14}

Note: Here we see the true position of God the Father. He is a Personal Being, He is a moral governor, He is the real Father (of Christ), He is the Lawgiver. He is the Source of all being and the fountain of all law. He could not abolish one precept of His law because it was as sacred as Himself. Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:6 declares, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, OF whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, BY whom are all things, and we by him.” God being the great source of all, “OF whom are all things”, if He were to vacate his position as “the Sovereign of the universe” and divest Himself of His divinity, then “all things” would cease to function or exist in the universe. It was the Father who created all things through the Son (Eph 3:9) and so it is with the Salvation of man; It is OF the Father BY the Son; for this is the law of the universe in all things. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“ONE WITH GOD,” WHY ONLY CHRIST?

Why the other divine “being”, the Holy Spirit, is conspicuously missing from all the following statements?

“Before the entrance of sin among the angels: Christ the Word, the only-begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father, –one in nature, in character, and in purpose,–the ONLY BEING in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ, the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings.” (The Great Controversy, p. 493; Compare Col. 1:12-19)

“The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. The Son of God shared the Father’s throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled BOTH. [WHERE IS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT?] About the throne gathered the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng–“ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11.), the most exalted angels, as ministers and subjects, rejoicing in the light that fell upon them from the presence of the Deity. Before the assembled inhabitants of heaven the King declared that NONE BUT CHRIST [WHERE IS GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT], the Only Begotten of God, could fully enter into His purposes, and to Him it was committed to execute the mighty counsels of His will. The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due….” (Patriarchs and Prophets p. 36)

“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 SON ALONE are to be exalted.” (Ellen White, The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1898)

“The plan of redemption was arranged in the councils BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, May 28, 1908 par. 12)

“Even the angels were not permitted to share the counsels BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON when the plan of salvation was laid. “(Ellen White, Ministry of Healing, page 429)

“The plan of salvation devised by THE FATHER AND THE SON will be a grand success.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, June 17, 1903 par. 2)

“Before the fall of man, the SON OF GOD HAD UNITED WITH HIS FATHER in laying the plan of salvation.” (Ellen White, Review & Herald, September 13, 1906 par. 4)

“By Christ the work upon which the fulfillment of God’s purpose rests, was accomplished. This was the agreement in the councils of the God-head. The FATHER PURPOSE IN THE COUSEL WITH HIS SON that the human family should be tested and proved,…” (Ellen White, The Gospel Herald, June 11, 1902, par. 6)

“In order that the human family might have no excuse because of temptation, Christ became one with them. The ONLY BEING WHO WAS ONE WITH GOD lived the law in humanity, descended to the lowly life of a common laborer, and toiled at the carpenter’s bench with his earthly parent.” (Ellen White, The Signs of the Times, October 14, 1897 par. 3; That I May Know Him, pg 363)

Note: According to the above statement, Christ is “The ONLY BEING WHO WAS ONE WITH GOD.” Wouldn’t that preclude anyone else to be part of that “one?” I thought that the “God the Holy Spirit” was also “one with God.”

“The Sovereign of the universe was NOT ALONE in His work of beneficence. HE HAD AN ASSOCIATE—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.’ John 1:1, 2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose—THE ONLY BEING that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, page 34) {Lt256-1906.8}

“Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,—one in nature, in character, and in purpose,—THE ONLY BEING IN ALL THE UNIVERSE that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, … whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers” (Colossians 1:16); and to Christ, equally with the Father, all heaven gave allegiance.” GC 493.1

Note: She refers to Christ’s father as “the Sovereign of the universe”. She does not say that Christ is the Sovereign with him.

“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 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, page 61)

Note: according to above statement immediately above, “Member of heavenly family” refers to God(Father), Christ and the holy angels. If there was a third being, sister White would have mentioned here.

“Christ had given precious gems of truth, but men had bound them up in the rubbish of superstition and error. He had imparted to them the words of life, but they did not live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He saw that the world could not find the word of God, for it was hidden by the traditions of men. He came to place before the world the relative importance of heaven and earth, and put truth in its own place. JESUS ALONE COULD REVEAL THE TRUTH which it was necessary men should know in order that they might obtain salvation. HE ONLY COULD place it in the framework of truth, and it was His work to free it from error and to set it before men in its heavenly light.” {1SM 407.1}

Godhead was still His own

“Christ had not ceased to be God when He became man. Though He had humbled Himself to humanity, the GODHEAD was still His own. CHRIST ALONE COULD REPRESENT THE FATHER TO HUMANITY, and this representation the disciples had been privileged to behold for over three years.” DA 663.5

Note: Here we read that “Godhead” was something that Christ still possessed, even in His humanity. Some (Trinitarians) think that “Godhead” means nature of existing in three persons. But it just simply means divinity. Christ had not ceased to be God when He became man; His “divinity” was still intact. If Godhead is understood to mean 3 persons, how could Christ alone represent the Father when there’s supposed to be this other third person too?

ON THE OCCASION OF CREATION

“Before the fall of Satan, the FATHER CONSULTED HIS SON IN REGARD TO THE FORMATION OF MAN.” (Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Volume 3, page 36, ‘The temptation and fall’, 1864)

“After the earth was created, and the beasts upon it, the FATHER AND SON CARRIED OUT THEIR PURPOSES, . . . And now GOD SAID TO HIS SON, ‘LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE.’” (The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, pp. 24, 25)

“Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. His countenance, like those of the other angels, was
mild and expressive of happiness. His forehead was high and broad, showing great intelligence. His form was perfect; his bearing noble and majestic. But when GOD SAID TO HIS SON, “Let us make man in our image,” Satan was jealous of Jesus.” {EW 145.1}

Note: It was the Father who said to His Son, “Let us make man in our image.” “Us” do not refer to a triune Gods conversing amongst themselves as trinitarians would have you believe; furthermore, there is not a single Scripture that says we are made in the image of the Holy Spirit, whereas, the Father and the Son share the same image-the Son is the “express image” of the Father-Heb 1:3.

Further questions about the Holy Spirit (If you were to assume the Holy Spirit as a entirely separate “individual” not unlike the Father and the Son):

1. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where God speaks to and/or expresses His love for the Holy Spirit, as He often does to His only begotten Son?

2. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where God’s only begotten Son speaks to and/or expresses His love for the Holy Spirit, as He often does to His God and Father?

3. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where the Holy Spirit speaks to and/or expresses His love for either God or the Son of God, as God and His Son often do towards one another?

4. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where the Holy Spirit expresses His love toward us as does the Father and the Son?

5. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where we are told that we will ever see and/or meet the Holy Spirit?6. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where the Holy Spirit is spoken of as sitting on a throne in heaven or sharing the throne as does the Father and the Son?7. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where “one god” or “one divine being” (which trinity claims) is said to be three persons?8. Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where we find any of these terms mentioned: trinity, triune or “God the Holy Spirit”?

9. Why does the Scripture almost always mention the Holy Spirit as a possessive pronoun/noun, as in ‘His Spirit’, His Holy Spirit’, ‘Spirit OF God’ or ‘Spirit OF Christ’?10. According to Matthew 1:20, we read, “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

Question: If the Holy Spirit is a separate being as trinity claims, then how is it that, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and yet Christ continually prayed to and addressed God the Father, not the Holy Spirit, as His father (Matthew 10:32-33; Matthew 11:25-27; Matthew 12:50; Matthew 15:13; Matthew 16:17; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 18:35). Never did Christ referred Holy Spirit as His father. If the Holy Spirit is indeed a real Person, a being not unlike the Father and the Son then why isn’t He rightfully called the Father of Christ and not God the Father?11. Galatians 4:4-6 says, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, GOD HATH SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS, CRYING, ABBA, FATHER.”Question: If the Holy Spirit is another deity other than Christ’s own spirit, than why would he call God the Father “Abba”? Are there two sons in the Godhead?

12. Speaking of Jesus’ Second Coming, Matthew 24:36 (and Mark 13:32) tells us, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but ONLY THE FATHER.” When asked, “If Jesus was God (being omniscient), why did He not know when He would return? A Trinitarian may answer, “When Christ became a man, He voluntarily restricted the use of certain divine attributes… His omniscience, omnipresence, etc.”Question still remains: Why doesn’t the Holy Spirit know, isn’t the Holy Spirit also a divine being who is omniscient as the Father? Why ONLY the Father knows?13.

In Matthew 11:27 it says, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, BUT THE FATHER; neither knoweth any man the Father, SAVE THE SON, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

Question: How is it that only the Father knows the Son and vise versa but the Holy Spirit is excluded? It also says, “and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Does this mean then that the Holy Spirit is also dependent on the Son to get to know the Father?

14. In John 1:18 it says, “No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

Question: How is it that “no one hath seen God at any time” except the Son? Surely, if the Holy Spirit was a being and was present during the creation week as trinity doctrine claims then He would have certainly seen the Father.

15. It is evident that all personal beings are given a name in Scripture. How is it that the Holy Spirit doesn’t have a name, as does the Father and the Son? The name “Jesus” comes from the Greek name “Iesous”, a transliteration of the Hebrew, Yeshua (ישוע); If you look up Iēsous in the Strong’s Concordance, it has its origin in Hebrew which is, יְהוֹשׁוּעַ Yĕhowshuwa` (yeh·hō·shü’·ah; Strong’s H3091) typically translated in English KJV as Joshua. Messiah’s original name can be thought of as a “nickname” derived from the Hebrew, Yĕhowshuwa (“and thou shalt call his name JESUS” Matthew 1:21). According to Strong’s Bible Concordance, the Father’s name (translated as LORD in KJV) given in Hebrew is Yĕhovah, pronounced, “yeh·hō·vä”. This is a vocalization of the Tetragrammaton, more commonly referred to as Jehovah which is an anglicized representation of Hebrew יְהֹוָה-YHWH). Strong’s Number H3068 matches the Hebrew יְהֹוָה (Yĕhovah), which occurs 6519 times in 5521 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV.

16. If the Holy Spirit is a divine person like the Father and the Son then why does the Scripture refer to the Holy Spirit as an IT? Father and the Son were never referred as IT.

Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself [not himself ] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Similarly, Romans 8:26 also says, “the Spirit itself [again, not himself ] maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

A TESTIMONY FROM A SDA PIONEER

“Back in the ages, which finite mind cannot fathom, ***THE FATHER AND SON WERE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE.*** [where is the third being?] Christ was the first begotten of the Father, and to Him Jehovah made known the divine plan of Creation. The plan of the creation of worlds was unfolded, together with the order of beings which should people them. Angels, as representatives of one order, would be ministers of the God of the universe. The creation of our own little world, was included in the deep – laid plans. The fall of Lucifer was foreseen; likewise the possibility of the introduction of sin, which would mar the perfection of the divine handiwork. IT WAS THEN, IN THOSE EARLY COUNCILS, THAT CHRIST’S HEART OF LOVE WAS TOUCHED; AND THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON PLEDGED HIS LIFE TO REDEEM MAN, should he yield and fall. Father and Son,
surrounded by impenetrable glory, clasped hands. IT WAS IN APPRECIATION OF THIS OFFER, THAT UPON CHRIST WAS BESTOWED CREATIVE POWER, AND THE EVERLASTING COVENANT WAS MADE; and henceforth Father and Son, with one mind, worked together to complete the work of creation” – (Stephen N. Haskell, The Story of the Seer in Patmos 93.2)

Extra

Some Seventh-day Adventists believe that the holy Spirit has a bodily shape or form like God the Father and His Son do.

It seems to me that this belief is based upon the assumption that all 3 persons of the Godhead are alike in all respects. Yet, my supposition aside, this belief evokes several questions.

1) What evidence do you offer for the belief that the holy Spirit is a bodily person?

2) How do you reconcile that with the idea of omnipresence?

3) By what agency do you believe God and Christ to be omnipresent?

4) Why is the holy Spirit not considered the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?

5) Why do you take the statement about the person of the Spirit “walking through these grounds” {7MR 299.2} literally and use it as proof of the Spirit’s bodily presence but not do the same with statements like “Christ walks unseen through our streets” {MH 107.2} and “How few realize that Jesus unseen, is walking by their side! {Lt57-1895.34} or “Remember that Jesus is beside you wherever you go, noting your actions and listening to your words.”{YI February 4, 1897, par. 3}?

6) Do you believe it essential to believe that the Spirit has an inherent bodily form?

7) If so then why?