And Arrive at “The Truth”
Garrick Augustus
July 30, 2005
“All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3: 16-17.
The sacred Scriptures were given for, amongst other things, “doctrine”—a basis of belief, a code of truth, morals and ethics, divine teaching. In this regard, we have the words of the Eternal Creator as our code of “doctrine,” and all true doctrines must fall in conformance with this divine code. Thus the pre-incarnate Christ declared: “For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.” Prov. 4:2. Good doctrine, therefore, must fall in conformance with Yahweh’s divine laws. Since bible doctrines bear the very signet of truth, it follows that all “sound doctrine” must conform to the Law of Yahweh, for saith poet, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” And again, “Thou art near, O YAHWEH; and all thy commandments are truth.” Ps 119:142, Ps 119:151.
Let’s Reflect On TRUTH:
“Truth is not what I believe. Truth is not even what I know. Truth is fact. I may not believe it. I may not know it. That does not change it. It is there nevertheless, waiting to be discovered and believed. Truth does not depend on the unsettled and changing opinions of men. It was truth before it was believed. It will remain truth, whether it is believed or not. Reason does not originate or create it. It merely discovers it. Consequently, reason is not a source. Truth goes back beyond reason. Others would have us believe that the Church is the source or authority, particularly in matters of theology. They are WRONG! The Church is the product of truth. It does not originate it. It came into being by accepting divine revelations. It is not the source of that revelation. Truth goes beyond the Church, it is antecedent to it.” Carlyle B. Haynes, When A Man Dies, pg. 9, on the Web at: http://www.adventist4truth.com/
From time to time different individuals have come to the front agitating a point which they contend is “truth,” “new light,” or even “present truth.” Believers have given up doctrines once held, and advanced (or digressed) with that purported “truth,” while others might condemn it as error. These manifestations have presented the people of Yahweh in a state of confusion as both parties, having the same Bible arrive at diametrically opposing views, even slandering, condemning, and consigning each other to the lake of fire! It is most uncommon for many Bible-believing Christians to agreeably disagree, because they see in the beliefs of others something to be afraid of—something which is wholly unbiblical and unsubstantiated by their theological overlords. The object of this study is to present some method of systematically investigating all claimants of truth, and yet remain faithful to the integrity of Scripture, and the fidelity of truth. It will be discovered that “All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Yahweh may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16,17.
For too long many Christians in general, and present truth believers in particular, have evaded those with claims of “new light,” simply because of their “gut feeling” about the proponent of such doctrines. From what we will discover in the Scriptures, it is a biblical fact that truth comes through the channel of Yahweh’s own choosing, be it a boy or a girl, a man or a woman, a stranger (such as the Magi’s), or through animals (Noah’s and Balaam’s). It is imperative, therefore, that believers in the Bible be not “puffed up” with knowledge, thinking that they have all the truth, and are in need of nothing. It is from following this course that led the Laodiceans to receive the divine displeasure of our Saviour, that he will “spue” them out of His mouth because they are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”(Rev. 3:17)—destitute of divine favor, and in need of everything. That we do not become the victims of Laodiceanism, is the object of this research to better help Christians in general, and present truth believers in particular, on how to candidly assess a point of doctrine, and walk away knowing if it is from Heaven or the Devil—the pit of hell.
There are nine pillar points to be noted in any doctrine (new or old), which will either validate or invalidate its truthfulness. Knowing this first, that no doctrine will diminish under the scrutiny of investigation, truth does not become cagey when investigated, because the more refined the investigation, the more beautiful the truth shines, because errors will be uncovered, and only pure unadulterated truth will remain. In a similar vein, age will never turn a falsehood into truth, no matter how long this error is held as truth, and by how many people this error is accepted, yea, believed, error will ever remain what it is—darkness at the end of the tunnel! As we develop this study, we will look at the outline of truth identifiers, or truth signatures that every true doctrine must bear, and if any one of these signatures is violated, the entire theme is null and void—error. All true doctrines must therefore hold to be true and self evident:
- The plan of Salvation (The Cross) as revealed in the Lamb of Yahweh.
- The Law of Yahweh (Commandments, Statutes and Judgments)
- The divinity of Yahshua (Christ the God)
- The humanity of Yahshua (Christ the man)
- The operation and ministry of the Holy Spirit
- The nature of man—the non immortality of the soul—on the nature of death—Spiritualism
- The plan of Redemption (The inheritance of the saved)—the Kingdom of glory
- Righteousness by Faith—yielding the Righteousness of Messiah.
- Worship is only attributed to the Godhead—the Divine Trio
It is from following this course of investigation that makes it not “possible” (Matt. 24: 24) for the elect to be deceived! The remainder of this presentation will be devoted to amplifying the above-mentioned nine pillar truths, to give confidence to the believer that s/he need not be afraid of being deceived by coming in contact with error. For too long we have seen friends and loved ones drawn off with what we consider as “winds of doctrines,” and we have found ourselves helpless to assist them, because they are presenting a view, however contrary to what we have known to be truth, to which we seem to have no standard of measuring the degree of truth or error being communicated expect as we shall ask of a theologian, such as a pastor. This is a very dangerous point, however, because if our detection of truth or error is dependent on receiving it through the eyes of someone else, then when that someone no longer sees truth as it is in the Scriptures, we will be inclined to see things in the same light as they, because we are reading the scriptures with their spectacles on, and this has made, and continues to make infidels of once believed “grounded in the faith” believers.
One of the major causes for the schisms and divisive views in Christendom is not due to erroneous teachers, as much as it is due to the fact that Christians have not been trained on how to detect truth. Thus, when a deceiver packages an error in a nice coating of truth, many fall victim to this truth-coated error, and move on to following the proponent of the doctrine, rather than following Christ. At the outset it must be unequivocally stated that all true doctrines will lead their hearers to “follow the Lamb, whithosever he goeth” (Rev. 14: 4), regardless of who the messenger might be. This is what breeds cultism, when people leave the truth of the Bible to follow the preacher of such truth, for since there is but one that is infallible, the mind who depends upon the leading of another will sooner or later be led in error. “It is a fact widely ignored, though never without danger, that error rarely appears for what it really is. It is by mingling with or attaching itself to truth that it gains acceptance. The eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil caused the ruin of our first parents, and the acceptance of a mingling of good and evil is the ruin of men and women today. The mind that depends upon the judgment of others is certain, sooner or later, to be misled. The power to discriminate between right and wrong we can possess only through individual dependence upon Yahweh. Each for himself is to learn from Him through His word.” Education, pp. 230-231.
“The Jews were led into error and ruin, and to the rejection of the Lord of glory, because they knew not the Scriptures, nor the power of God. A great work is before us,–to lead men to take God’s word as the rule of their lives, to make no compromise with tradition and custom, but to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.–Review and Herald, July 17, 1888.
- The plan of Salvation (The Cross) as revealed in the Lamb of Yahweh.
When architects build a building, especially a high-rise building, there is set in the very design of such a structure, a plan of escape—the fire escape, or the evacuation route. Many of us have flown on airplanes, and have been briefed on the exit routes which will be used “in the event of an emergency.” The Great Designer, is no less meticulous in his design intents, when “they” agreed to create our world and its inhabitants. An “evacuation plan” known as The Plan of Salvation was at the very founding of the creative intent of the Omnipotent Creator. When they decided that beings will be created in their “own image” and after their own “likeness,” Elohim made provision for a path of escape, should an “emergency” occur in the human experience. This plan of Salvation acknowledges:
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- That the one(s) in need of this “plan” have transgressed the eternal code of conduct—the Law of Yahweh.
- That the result of such transgression is certain death—enforcing the divine “death penalty” facet of the law.
- The only way for sinners to receive “pardon” from the death penalty, required the payment of life—the life of a human. But since no human being is worthy to become such a “perfect” sacrifice, Yahweh needed to create such a person, in the person of His Son, to suffer the penalty of death in the sinner’s stead.
- In the eternal counsel in ages past, while the creation of this earth was being conceived, the divine Elohim agreed that a member of the family would become the sin-pardoning redeemer, should humans succumb to the power of temptation and sin.
When sin finally entered our experience, it was not an afterthought on the part of the Creator which made a way of escape from the sure penalty of death which follows from such transgression, but the pre-ordained Plan was now activated to be fulfilled in “the fullness of the time,” when Yahweh would send forth His own Son to redeem us who are under the curse (penalty) of the law, “that we might receive the adoption of sons [children].” Gal 4: 4, 5.
Let’s take, for example, the teaching that believers in the Creator should sacrifice animals today to atone for our sins. How can we ascertain that this doctrine is error? We use the Plan of Salvation test: Will this animal sacrifice grant pardon to the guilty? If yes, then Messiah has indeed died in vain, because His blood was not efficacious enough to grant pardon throughout the remainder of probationary time, and as such, a substitute had to be sought—blasphemy! “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Heb. 10:4. If on the other hand, the answer is no, then the “sacrifice” is an act of murder—willfully shedding innocent blood. Any doctrine therefore, which militates against the purpose and significance of The Plan of Salvation as revealed in the Cross, is antichrist. “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 1:7.
Again, borrowing from the example above, should one confront the teaching stating that during the Old Testament, believers were pardoned through the shedding of blood of the animal sacrifices they made (be it daily, or annually), we are forced to scrutinize this doctrine under the microscope of The Plan of Salvation. This view would seem to be closer to the path truth, but only on the surface, however, lets see: “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect [righteous], as pertaining to the conscience.” Heb. 9: 8-9. Thus we see that those believers under the Old Testament did not receive perfection of character through the blood of animals, but these sacrifices were “figures” pointing to the more perfect sacrifice, which would atone for their sins, once and for all time. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Heb. 9:15.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” Heb. 10: 1. This will sound like blasphemy to some, but it is fundamental to the Plan of Salvation, that there is salvation only in the blood of Yahshua the Messiah, for the sacrifices of the Old Testament were merely “shadows” pointing forward to the sacrifice of Messiah. Thus the believers then who practiced the ordinances of the law, obtained righteousness through faith in the promise of the coming Messiah—Yahshua—Yahweh’s salvation. This concept, therefore, beautifies the truth that salvation is obtained only through faith, and nothing of works can ever merit pardon.
2. The Law of Yahweh (Commandments, Statutes and Judgments)
All true doctrines must fall in conformity with the Law of Yahweh, and the testimony of His prophets, thus: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8: 20. When one advances an idea purporting to be truth, it must be validated by its integrity to the very law (Torah) of Yahweh. Truth cannot countermand, in the slightest scintilla, any of the divine precepts, and yet retain its integrity as truth; that is a divine impossibility! From one who is considered in Heaven as a “man after Yahweh’s own heart,” we read his testimony: “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” Ps 119:142. Thus simply stated, “there is no saving truth (truth leading to righteousness) outside the boundaries of the law of Yahweh, thus David again propounds, “Thou art near, O YAHWEH; and all thy commandments are truth.” Ps 119:151.
In investigating a point of doctrine, the reader should bear in mind the following verses:
- “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” Ps 119:142
- “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.” Ps 119:144
- “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments arerighteousness.” Ps 119:172
- “Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isa. 51:7
In summary, therefore, the above-cited verses unequivocally declare that those who know righteousness, are the people in whose heart the torah is engraved, thus: “it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before YAHWEH our Elohim, as he hath commanded us” Deut. 6: 25.
From these understandings, should a teaching come to the believer declaring the continuance of the festivals with the animal sacrifices, in New Testament times as declared in the torah, it is false, for while the continuance of the festivals in New Testament times, is truth, coupled with the continuance of the animal sacrifices which have been fulfilled in Yahshua’s sacrifice, we see that when linked, both ideas would not be truth, thus the theory is false.
3. The divinity of Yahshua (Christ as God)
The divinity of our Saviour—His incarnation, is the center and theme of our salvation. No true doctrine can side step this truth, and still bear the signature of “pure, unadulterated truth.”
[What, then, is the “Incarnation”? It must be first noted that the Incarnation is a mystery and we can only understand it as it was demonstrated in the Saviour Himself “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John. 1:14). In other words, God (the Word) took the form of a human being in the person of His Son, who had the physical characteristics of Adam after the Fall. This mysterious blend of “the Divine” with the human is what is referred to as the “Incarnation”– God (the Word) becoming flesh. How God was able to accomplish this and still remain God, no one knows. It has been and will ever remain a mystery throughout the Eternal Ages. Indeed, it is the “mystery of God” (Rev. 10:7).
Explains Other Truths
But as we approach any subject of the Bible we are admonished that a working knowledge of this “mystery” is essential: (1) “This Truth, infinitely mysterious in itself; explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths…” (5 SDA Bible Commentary, Page 1126). (2) “…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, Page 26).
Key to the Kingdom Truth
If there is any statement that should not be forgotten, it is the last statement above. Experience has taught me that a whole realm of understanding opens up in approaching the study of the Kingdom in the context of the Incarnation — “possibilities” that are so deep and profound, that the depth of the Rod becomes awesome and a marvel to those who can grasp the scope of the Message.
It matters not, therefore, what aspect of the Message that one studies in the Rod – whether it be the mystery of the “Seven Seals”, the mystery of the “Seven Trumpets”, the mystery of the “144,000”, or the mystery of the “Kingdom “. What one will find is that a proper understanding of the Incarnation is the key to fully understand the depth of the Truths of these important Bible subjects. This is a point that should never be lost sight of because it is not just a fundamental to understanding the Message of the Rod, but a fundamental to understanding all themes of Bible Study.
Christ the God-Man
E.G. White further confirms this when she says: “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 humanity by becoming 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’. We should come to this study with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, which will repay the searcher who digs for hidden truth”. Youth Instructor, October 13, 1898.
Paul, in the book of Hebrews, Chapters One and Two, incisively describes the nature of Christ. In Chapter One, he introduces Christ as “God” (Heb. 1:4,8) and in Chapter Two he introduces Christ as “Man”. As God, Christ was immortal (Heb.1:1O,11; 5BC 1127). As Man, Christ was mortal (Heb.2:9; 5BC 1127). Paul expounds on the dual nature of the Messiah; and this duality, in His nature, is profoundly mysterious. What is so mysterious about this dual nature of Christ is that although He was “fully God”, He was at the same time “fully man” (3 S.M.127-142). Inspiration thus declares: “The two expressions ‘human’ and ‘divine’ were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality. Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His own” (5BC 1129).
God Did Not Die
There is an important truth that one must learn from the above and it is this: God did not die when Christ was crucified. The fleshly human body perished, but the One Who was from Eternity, (and Who was the fullness of the Godhead bodily), lived on, and is alive forevermore. Inspiration makes this very plain: “When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Divinity did not sink and die; that would be impossible” (5BC 1113).
This is a most important statement because it clearly distinguishes the humanity ofChrist from His divinity. Therefore, while the Saviour as a man died, and was resting in the tomb, Christ as the “Mighty God” and the “Everlasting Father” (Isa.9:6) was alive! So in a sense (a real sense) there are two entities: Christ as Man and the Christ Who is God. Thus, in announcing the birth of the Messiah, the Angel Gabriel told Joseph (in the Hebrew Language): “And thou shall call His Name Y’shua” (Matt.1 :2 1). Mary gave birth to a man-child — a human being. She did not give birth to God! She, being a descendant of David, gave birth to a biological son who “was made of the seed of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3); hence, as a fleshly man, who was subject to death, being of the “seed of David”, He was indeed the “son of David”– a literal and fleshly descendant of David.
A More Excellent Name
As the “son” of a fallen human being (David), His human or earthly Hebrew Name was ‘Y’shua” – “YHVH is salvation “. But as the “Everlasting Father”, and the “Prince of Peace”, He “obtained a more excellent Name… God {Yahweh}” (Heb. 1:4,8) and is thus called “the mighty God” (Isa.9:6). What a mystery! No wonder why this will be the science of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless Ages of eternity!] Behold Your King, Roland J. Roberts, 2000, pp. 22-25.
4. The humanity of Yahshua (Christ as man)
[The Incarnation has established a link between God and man that is far broader in scope and closer in relationship than many realize. When the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John. 1:14), God, through Christ, identified Himself with humanity by a literal blood relationship; for it is written: “For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren… forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood. He also Himself likewise took part of the same.. .For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels, but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (Heb.2:11, 14, 16, 17).
Human Forever
But how long is that close “brother” relationship to last? Inspiration, declares:
“…In Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son’ (John.3:16). He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race.
“To assure us of the immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family forever to retain His human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word. ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder’. God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven.
“It is the Son of Man who shares the throne of the universe. It is the son of man whose name shall be called, “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah.9:6). The I AM is the Daysman between God and humanity, laying His hand on both. He who is ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners’ is not ashamed to call us brethren (Hebrews.7:26; 2:11). In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are bound together. Christ glorified is our Brother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love”. (Desire of Ages, 24-25).
Gift To the Human Race
This “tie” or “link” — the humanity of Christ — which was accomplished through the Incarnation is a gift to the human race which has never been forfeited and will remain the exact Gift throughout Eternity. So we are further told:
“Christ ascended to heaven, bearing a sanctified, holy humanity. He took hishumanity with Him into the Heavenly Courts, and through the eternal ages He will bear It” (5 SDA Bible Commentary, Page 1125).
Again: “He is our Sacrifice, our Advocate, our Brother, bearing our human form before the Father’s throne, and through the eternal ages one with the race He has redeemed — the Son of Man” (Steps to Christ, Page.14).
And again: “When Christ ascended to Heaven, His presence was still with His followers.. .He ascended to heaven in the form of humanity” (Steps to Christ, Page 74).
Perhaps the impact of the foregoing statements has not been fully grasped, so the reader is admonished to back-up, re-read, and contemplate the profundity of what was just quoted. The statements reveal that the “God-Man” nature of Christ (the Incarnation) was not restricted to His earthly sojourn but this “God-Man” nature has been maintained from the moment of His Resurrection and will be so throughout the Eternal Ages! Such a thought demands deep contemplation, because it has profound and relevant bearing on our conception of Christ as He is, and will ever be wherever He appears, and whenever he appears! And please bear in mind, that this definition of the Incarnation is a “fundamental belief’ of the SDA Church.
Spirit of Anti-Christ
This is not something of “private interpretation” or that is being presently dreamed up. In fact, no one can disbelieve this “fundamental” and still be regarded as a true Seventh-day Adventist (and indeed, a Christian). For to deny the Incarnation and what it entails is to deny Christ! Indeed, it is even the very spirit of anti-Christ:
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every Spirit that confesseth that… Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that… Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of anti-Christ” (1 John.4:2,3).
The Nail Prints Remain
Inspiration further tells us that not only will Christ retain His human nature, but even the nail prints in His hands will also remain throughout eternity: “Christ ascended to heaven, bearing a sanctified, holy humanity with Him into the heavenly courts and through the eternal ages He will bear it, as.. .the One who has pleaded before the Father, ‘I have graven them upon the palms of my hands’. The palms of His Hands bear the marks of the wounds that He received” (5BC 1125).
Such is the nature of the Saviour as He is, and so will He be wherever He appears since His Resurrection 2000 years ago. Failure to grasp the importance of this and its relevance to the Kingdom will result in disastrous doctrinal consequences.
What Does All of This Mean?
To briefly summarize the definition of the Incarnation and the extent of its meaning to all Christians, it must be observed that the Incarnation reveals Christ as a real, personal and living Saviour. It reveals further, that Christ has not been transformed into an invisible force, or a foamy or gaseous substance, but is just as much a human being in physical form at this very moment, as when He was on Earth. The importance of this cannot be over-emphasized. Inspiration spells this out in clear language:
“After His Resurrection He tarried on Earth for a season, that His disciples might become familiar with Him in His risen and glorified body… He had authenticated the fact that He was a living Saviour” (Desire of Ages, Page 829).
Christ, then, is, a Saviour Who will always be “God manifested in the (human) flesh” and thus forever be “God with us” (2 Tim.3:16; Isa.7:14). Indeed, he became “us”, and will remain “us” forever. He became human and will retain a human form forever and wherever He will be.] Behold Your King, Roland J. Roberts, 2000, pp. 25-29.
5. The operation and ministry of the Holy Spirit
The function of the Holy Spirit is a central theme in the life of the true believer, and thus in the unfolding of Truth. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Truth, and as such is the agency through which truth is communicated throughout the ages—the Spirit of Prophecy. It is this ever-active agency which chronicled the Scriptures, and which will continue to inspire faith in the Creator till the close of time.
Thus, “holy men of Yahweh spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:21. The Holy Spirit therefore is the teacher of righteousness, who “at sundry times and in diverse manners” (Heb. 1:1), has moved upon the prophets to speak to the Fathers.
No true doctrine therefore, will deny or reject the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the plan of salvation, and in the unfolding of truth. In this connection it must be understood that the Holy Spirit is:
- A person, and not a mere “force,” or “active force,” as it commonly taught by some. “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?” Isa 40:13. It takes a person to be a counselor, or to receive counsel, or to be taught. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” Joh 16:13. It takes a person to have the capability of speech, as the Holy Spirit is here presented with ability to “speak.” “And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.” 2Ch 24:20 The Spirit of Yahweh is again seen with the capability of speech, thus he “said unto them, thus saith Elohim…” It takes a person to demonstrate the gift of speech. “Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.” Neh. 9:20. It takes a person to “instruct” as we see the Spirit of Yahweh here doing. In summary then, no true doctrine will de-personify the Holy Spirit—the Holy Ghost, but give full recognition that this Spirit is very much a member of the Divine Deity as are the Father and the Son. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph 4:30. Only a person can be “grieved” as is here presented of the Holy Spirit. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Ro 8:26. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” 1Tim 4:1 “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1Pe 1:11 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.” Re 22:17.
- The Holy Spirit has Personality: “He strives (Gen. 6:3), teaches (Luke 12:12), convicts (John 16:8), directs church affairs (Acts 13:2), helps and intercedes (Rom. 8:26), inspires (2 Peter 1:21). These activities cannot be performed by a mere power, influence, or attribute of God. Only a person can do them.” Seventh-day Adventists Believe…27, p. 60.
- The Holy Spirit is NOT a female: Although the feminine terms “her” and “she” (Prov. 8: 1-3) are used in referring to the Son and the Holy Spirit, the masculine pronoun “him,” and “he” (John 14:17; 16: 7, 13) are used in reference to the same Spirit, and yet He is given the neuter pronoun “it” (Rom. 8:26). The student of the Holy Scriptures will quickly realize that in Messiah Yahshua, “there is neither male nor female,” thus “as many of you as have been baptized into Yahshua have put on Yahshua…There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Messiah Yahahua.” Gal 3: 27, 28. The truth to be recognized here is that in the family of Yahweh, there is nothing called “male or female,” thus in the resurrection we shall neither marry nor be given into marriage, but shall be “as the angels” are (Matt. 22:30; 12:25)—neither male nor female, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” The Holy Spirit, like angels, can take on the appearance of animals (as a dove—Mark 1: 10), or of humans as in the “men” (Gen. 18:2) who came to Abraham and many other patriarchs and prophets, saints and sinners of bible times.
- On the mere strength of the feminine gender “she” in referring to the Holy Spirit, one can, by extension of the same erroneous reasoning conclude that the Creator is a gigantic eagle, by reading “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Ps 91:4. Neither is the Creator a “rock” though the bible states that he is (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 28:1). These anthropomorphic (representing Deity in humanly understandable terms) expressions—“feathers,” “wings,” “rock”— can only be understood in the sense that “feathers” show comfort, and protection, even as a “hen gathers her chickens under her wings” (Matt. 23:37). Wings also show protection and security, thus David prayed, “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.” Ps 57:1 A Rock, represents security, unmovable protection, a defense, thus “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.” Ps 62:6.
Coequal with the divine Yahweh, and not a mere effulgence of force and power. “How much more shall the blood of Yahshua, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Heb 9:14 The Holy Spirit is here seen as “eternal” as possessing the very lifespan of Yahweh, thus from the beginning of the ages, the Spirit coexisted with the Father. Hence, of the Spirit of Wisdom it is said, “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his way, before His works of old…I was set up from everlasting…then I was by Him, as one brought up with him, and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” Prov. 8:22-30. Only one who is preexistent with the father could be there from the beginning of His ways, and as one “brought up with Him,” is he the Father’s co-equal. We are again assured that: “there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7. “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” 1Jo 3:24. Here again, we see the Father and the Son indwelling the believers through the habitation of the Holy Spirit—the comforter. (John 14:23). To this end, the “divine nature” (2Pe 1:4), is implanted in believers. This Holy Spirit can be “sinned against,” Prov. 8:22. And we know that the sin of “blasphemy” is the unpardonable sin, for it is the very sin against the Holy Ghost—the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12: 31-32)—rejecting truth from the only source heaven communicates truth to human beings—the Spirit of Truth.
6. The nature of man—the non- immortality of the soul—on the nature of death—Spiritualism
All true doctrines will embrace the fact that humans are made “in the image of Elohim,” and were created sinless from the very beginning. They will uphold the fact that with a wrong and disobedient choice on their part, both Adam and Eve sinned against their Creator, which leads us to the other fact that “sin is the transgression of the Law” of Yahweh (1 John 3:4).
Humans were “created in the image of Elohim,” (Gen. 1:27), and was not as accident of evolution, or of some other progressive development through the process of natural selection. The bible flatly teaches that, “Yahweh hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” Eccl. 7:29. Before the creation of humans, there were no pre-existent soul, thus the Saviour’s teaching that “before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8: 58), proves that Abraham did not always exist, as compared with Himself, who had always existed as a real being in the spirit, and thus “David in the Spirit,” bore witness of Him (Matt. 22:43). When Adam were created, our Heavenly Father “breathed into his nostrils the breath of live; and man became a living soul” Gen. 2:7, prior to man’s becoming a “living soul,” he was a dead soul—a formed lump of clay divested of the breath of life. It is the breath of life, therefore which makes man a consciously existing person. In this connection then, we see that there is no such thing as a living human without a physical body! The Creator did not prepare a body for an already consciously existing person, but for a freshly created soul. In contrast we see the Messiah, as on pre-existing from eternity past, needed “a body” (Heb. 10:5) in which to dwell, to carry out His earthly ministry of reconciling sinners back to the Father’s embrace.
Sin “separates” (Isa. 59: 2) us from our Heavenly Father, and results in “death” (Ezek. 18:4, 20) of both body and soul in hell (Matt. 10: 28), if not repented of during the course of probationary time. The statement “body and soul” shows that they are two separate components, but intimately related, co-existing features of a living creature. The “body” representing that part of a person which is physical, whereas the soul is that part of the person which is spiritual—our conscious self-awareness. In the lake of fire, both the physical and emotional (conscious, self-awareness) part of a person will be disintegrated forever. Thus all souls who have died will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting death. (Note: everlasting death is not similar to everlasting punishment. Our loving heavenly Father does not perpetuate the anguish of sinners in the flames of fire for ever, but exterminates sin and sinners, once and for all time.)
7. The plan of Redemption (The inheritance of the saved)—the Kingdom of glory
All true doctrines will uphold the truth that that which was lost—Paradise—will be restored in its complete and original beauty.
8. Righteousness by Faith—yielding the Righteousness of Messiah.
All true doctrines will embrace the truth of “righteousness by faith,” that we are saved by grace
9. Worship is only attributed to the Godhead
Worship is attributable only to Deity, not even an angel can be worshipped (Rev. 19:10), nor can he receive the worship of any other creature and remain a true and obedient angel. When our Saviour came into the world and was tempted of the Devil, He propounded the age-old truth that “worship” belongs to Yahweh only (Matt. 4:10), and Him only shall we serve.