Allowing Inspiration to Explain Inspiration on the Third Person of the Godhead

Marcos C. Schroeckenthaler·Lunes, 9 de abril de 2018·Grupo público

The following information will help to clarify a number of misunderstandings held by a
number of our Trinitarian brethren. There is much “quoting statements” from the Spirit
of Prophecy without actually trying to grasp what it is that Non-Trinitarians are
teaching. They imagine that we do not believe the statements they quote us, and erect an
untold number of straw-men in their minds and actually go on to charge us with
believing that the Son is not eternal, and that we do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a
person. This could not be further from the truth, and this is precisely why I have chosen
to write this article. For now, we will only deal with the Holy Spirit. In another future
article, we will clarify the Sonship of Christ, His eternality, and the famous supposed
“begotten vs. eternal” paradox.
The following statements were quoted to us in an attempt to discredit our effort to
provide a clearer understanding of the Godhead and who the Holy Spirit is:
Quote:
------------------------------------------------------------
MANUSCRIPT RELEASES, VOL. 11 [NOS. 851-920], PAGE 318 Do Not Discuss
God's Personality—Never allow yourself to be drawn into discussion regarding the
personality of God. On this subject, silence is eloquence.... Here are words given me to
repeat to you: “Many prayers have been offered up for you by those who would rejoice
to see you converted in mind, in thought, in writing.”—Letter 283, 1904, pp. 4-6. (To J.
H. Kellogg, September 10, 1904.)
"There is a strain of spiritualism coming in among our people, and it will undermine the
faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give heed to seducing spirits and
doctrines of devils. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. The
enemy desires to divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing
a people to stand in these last days. I am instructed to warn our brethren and sisters not
to discuss the nature of our God. Many of the curious who attempted to open the ark of
the testament, to see what was inside, were punished for their presumption." -Ellen
White, MANUSCRIPT RELEASES, VOL. 4 [NOS. 210-259], PAGE 57
--------------------------------------------------------------------
End Quote
First of all, just for the record, we believe these statements very much. We are not being
drawn into trying to understand the personality of God. We are not going BEYOND
what inspiration has revealed. Inspiration has revealed only so much. While Ellen White
does not go into any deep understanding of the personality of God, she does to into deep
understanding about WHO God is. And that is where we also draw the line.
Secondly, when Ellen White says, “Never allow yourself to be drawn into discussion
regarding the personality of God”, it must be understood, that in context, Ellen White is
speaking directly to John Harvey Kellogg regarding pantheism. It has nothing to do
with the relationship between the Father and His Son. Inspiration reveals that Jesus IS
the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Christ. That settles the score. There
is no need to try and figure it all out. She is addressing Kellogg’s views on the
personality of God and Christ regarding pantheism. However, Ellen White said that the
PERSONALITY OF GOD and Christ is a PILLAR, LANDMARK DOCTRINE. Are
we to conclude that we are not to even discuss an issue that is so important enough to be
designated by inspiration as being a PILLAR, LANDMARK doctrine?
But is the doctrine of the Godhead (the personality of God and Christ) a pillar doctrine?
Is it considered as one of the old landmarks? Let us allow inspiration to inform us:
“Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not
remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that
would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the
personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in
uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor.” {E. G. White,
Manuscript Release No.760, p. 9} 1905 53
“I entreat every one to be clear and firm regarding the certain truths that we have heard
and received and advocated. The statements of God's Word are plain. Plant your feet
firmly on the platform of eternal truth. Reject every phase of error, even though it be
covered with a semblance of reality, which denies the personality of God and of Christ.”
{E. G. White, Review and Herald, August 31, 1905 par. 11}
Thus we clearly see from the pen of Sister White herself, that the personality of God
and of Christ was a “pillar” and “old landmark” of our faith. Now, concerning the Holy
Spirit, we are counselled to NOT get involved as to WHAT God is, but we can know
WHO God is! The Trinity, however, tries to define just what the Holy Spirit is, by
calling him “God the Holy Spirit”.
Let us quote the most common statement used against us by Trinitarians, to try to
discredit our understanding of the Holy Spirit:
Quote:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is.
Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy
Ghost, "the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name." "I will pray the
Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;
even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not,
neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you"
[John 14:16, 17]. This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the
Comforter. Again Jesus says, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot
bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all
truth" [John 16:12, 13]. {14MR 179.2}
There are many mysteries which I do not seek to understand or to explain; they are too
high for me, and too high for you. On some of these points, silence is golden. Piety,
devotion, sanctification of soul, body, and spirit--this is essential for us all. "This is life
eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou
hast sent" [John 17:3]. "This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth
the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life" [John 6:40].” {14MR 179.3}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
End Quote
Amen, we believe this statement. And we believe that the Trinity that has entered into
the SDA Church in the 1930s is indeed violating this very statement. This is the entire
irony of it. They try and apply the statement toward us, but it is actually talking about
them. This is how deception works, and this is how the enemy works. By employing
accusing you of the very things they are guilty of themselves.
They are trying to figure out just WHO the Holy Spirit is, by essentially saying He is a
“Third-God-Being” in his own right, a separate individual being as God and the Father
is! They call him “God the Holy Spirit”! Ellen White never once identified the Holy
Spirit as being “God the Holy Spirit”, and even though she had every opportunity to use
the word “Trinity” in relation to the Godhead, she avoided the term “Trinity” in
connection with the Godhead like the plague every single time. She knew that the
teachings behind the Doctrine of the Trinity are what attempt to “understand exactly
what God and the Holy Spirit is”. Contrary to its nature being shrouded in mystery, they
want to make the Holy Spirit a third, separate individual God-being.
But just the fact that Ellen White is making this statement above, PROVES that there is
a DIFFERENCE in how the Person of the Holy Spirit is to be VIEWED from the Father
and the Son. Otherwise, she would have made it clear that the Holy Spirit is another
separate individual just like the Father and the Son. But her son Willie White, who she
said would NOT be led astray, never interpreted Ellen White’s statements on the Holy
Spirit to mean a “separate individual being” from the Father and the Son. Never!
But before we quote her son Willie C. White, let us first find out what his mother, Ellen
White, had to say about what the Lord showed her about her son:
“It was also shown me that my son, W. C. White, should be my helper and counselor,
and that the Lord would place on him the spirit of wisdom and of a sound mind. I was
shown that the Lord would guide him, and that he would not be led away, because he
would recognize the leadings and guidance of the Holy Spirit.” {1SM 54.3}
She is clear that her son would NOT be led away, and that God would give him a sound
mind and a spirit of wisdom. And the very Holy Spirit which he would talk about, and
understanding differently than from our modern SDA Trinitarian brethren, was the very
same Spirit that Ellen White said would guide Him. Now compare what she said about
her son to what he himself said when there were ministers in the SDA Church for the
first time contemplating a Trinitarian mindset:
“The statements and the arguments of some of our ministers, in their effort to prove that
the Holy Spirit is an individual as are God the Father and Christ, the eternal Son, have
perplexed me, and sometimes they have made me sad. One popular teacher said ‘We
may regard Him (the Holy Spirit), as the fellow who is down here running things.
"My perplexities were lessened a little when I learned from the dictionary that one of
the meanings of personality, was characteristics. It is stated in such a way that I
concluded that there might be personality without bodily form which is POSSESSED
BY the Father and the Son.
“There are many Scriptures which speak of the Father and the Son and the absence of
Scripture making similar reference to the united work of the Father and the Holy Spirit
or of Christ and the Holy Spirit, has led me to believe that the spirit without
individuality was the representative of the Father and the Son throughout the universe,
and it was through the Holy Spirit that they dwell in our hearts and make us one with
the Father and with the Son.” (Letter from W.C. White to Elder H. W. Carr - April 30th
1935)
Just the fact that William C. White did not see the “Holy Spirit” as “an individual as are
God the Father and Christ, the eternal Son”, shows that he himself new what Ellen
White meant when she said, “It is not essential for you to know and be able to define
just what the Holy Spirit is.”
That’s exactly what the Trinitarian brethren have done! They have tried to figure out
just what the Holy Spirit is by calling him “God the Holy Spirit”, a “third separate
individual being”.
Indeed, the nature of the Holy Spirit and how God can dwell in us is a mystery, but the
identity of God's Spirit is plainly taught in Scripture and confirmed by inspiration.
Thank God there is no need to guess.
The following argument was used to try and prove that the Holy Spirit is an individual:
"At the baptismal ceremony we virtually take a most solemn oath in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, that henceforth our lives will be merged
into the life of these three great individual Agencies; that the life we now live in the
flesh we will live in faithful obedience to God’s sacred and holy law, keeping all His
statutes and His commandments; that we will live in newness of life as men and women
having a new birth unto God." {Ms68-1900.12}
Quoting this statement can be very deceptive, as the one quoting it is obviously
conflating the expression “individual agencies” with “individuals” or “individual
beings”. The dictionary uses this word in different ways. Individual also means
“distinct” or “separate” as an adjective. She’s saying these are three individual or
distinct agencies, which I agree. But not three individual God-beings. It has been proven
that the Holy Spirit is a person IN A DIFFERENT SENSE than the Father and Son. Not
as a third-God-individual-being. Ellen White here, is using the expression “individual
agencies” as an adjective, not a noun.
So how about we allow Ellen White to explain Ellen White on what SHE HERSELF
MEANS by the “third person of the Godhead”?
Allowing Inspiration to Explain Inspiration on the Third Person of the Godhead:
As Seventh day Adventist’s we are known as “people of the book”. But sadly there’s a
growing number of many SDA's who are losing their ability to take into account the
totality of the Bible and the SOP in regards to the Godhead. It is my attempt to bring
clarity on this issue by providing the seemingly contradictory statements by Ellen White
on this topic, and then to harmonize them, allowing inspiration to explain inspiration.
Non-Trinitarian SDA’s are not afraid to accept and deal with statements from
inspiration that say “three highest powers”, “three persons”, “third person of the
Godhead”, etc. We are willing to meet them head on. However, far too many Trinitarian
SDA’s camp on these statements, as if Ellen White never had anything else to write on
the subject. Nothing could be further from the truth. We will begin with the "pro-trinity"
statements first.
So now let us allow inspiration to explain inspiration on just who the Third Person of
the Godhead is:
- "Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the third
person of the Godhead" (EG White, Review & Herald, May 19, 1904 )
- "He [Christ] determined to give his representative, the third person of the Godhead."
6SDABC p. 1052
- "The work is laid out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ
by baptism, and has become a receiver of the pledge from the three persons--the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit" (MS 57, 1900)
- "The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the
third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit."--Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 10,
p. 37. (1897)
- "We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,--the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, --and these powers will work through us, making us workers
together with God." --Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 51. (1905)
- "He determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead." (6BC
1052.5)
- "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" (Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7,
pp. 62, 63. [1905])
- “ When we have accepted Christ, and in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit have pledged ourselves to serve God, the Father, Christ, and the Holy
Spirit—the three dignitaries and powers of heaven—pledge themselves that every
facility shall be given to us if we carry out our baptismal vows to “come out from
among them, and be ... separate, ... and touch not the unclean thing.” When we are true
to our vows, He says, “I will receive you” (Manuscript 85, 1901). {6BC 1075.8}
“When you gave yourself to Christ, you made a pledge in the presence of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit,—the three great personal Dignitaries of heaven. “Hold fast” to
this pledge....”{SD 351.3} “The three great and glorious heavenly characters are present
on the occasion of baptism. All the human capabilities are to be henceforth consecrated
powers to do service for God in representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
upon whom they depend. All heaven is represented by these three in covenant relation
with the new life.--Ms 45, 1904, pp. 9, 10. ("That They All May Be One," May 14,
1904.)
“The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit gave themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to
carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, should give
himself an offering for sin.” {RH May 2, 1912, par. 3}
“ We have been brought together as a school, and we need to realize that the Holy
Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds,
unseen by human eyes; that the Lord God is our Keeper and Helper. He hears every
word we utter and knows every thought of the mind. {2SAT 136.6}
“The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, in Christ’s name. He personifies Christ, yet is a
DISTINCT PERSONALITY. We may have the Holy Spirit if we ask for it and make it
[a] habit to turn to and trust in God rather than in any finite human agent who may make
mistakes.” (Ms93-1893, par. 8 (Ms 93, 1893))
“The Father and the Son each HAVE A PERSONALITY. Christ declared, “I and My
Father are one.” Yet it was the Son of God who came to the world in human form.
Laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown, He clothed His divinity with humanity,
that humanity through His infinite sacrifice might become partakers of the divine nature
and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (Ms23-1908 (May 4, 1908)
par. 14 (Ms 23, 1908))
“The Holy Spirit HAS A PERSONALITY, else He could not bear witness to our spirits
and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a DIVINE
PERSON, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God.
“For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him;
even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”” (Ms20-1906
(February 7, 1906) par. 32 (Ms 20, 1906))
Many more such examples could be cited, but these will suffice for now. It is important
to realize that we are more than well aware of these statements, and have grown up
reading all of them. We want to assure everyone that the Non-Trinitarian brethren
(especially the leading men who have spent sleepless nights studying these topics) are
not green behind the ears concerning these statements. We grew up Trinitarian, and we
grew up quoting these very common statements. We BELIEVE these statements, and
they are 100% inspired. And we sincerely believed these statements proved the
Trinitarian Doctrine, that the Holy Spirit is a third Individual Being just like the Father
and the Son. That is, until we decided it was time to dig a little deeper than the surface.
Not to decode mysteries God has not revealed, but to decode what inspiration has given
us to see very plainly.
[PAUSE]
-----------------------------------------
Now, I am going to raise the question: "What does inspiration mean when it says "three
persons" or "third person of the Godhead? Should I come up with my own human idea?
Or should I continue to search inspiration, and ALLOW INSPIRATION TO EXPLAIN
INSPIRATION? To allow Ellen White to explain Ellen White, just like we Adventists
tell Evangelicals we should allow Paul to explain Paul when he makes mysterious and
obscure statements about the law being "nailed to the cross" and that the law is a
"curse", etc. Right? Let's be consistent and not hypocrites in our method of study!
------------------------------------------
[CONTINUES WITH ALLOWING INSPIRATION TO EXPLAIN JUST "WHO"
THIS "THIRD PERSON" IS:]
- "In giving us HIS Spirit, God gives us Himself, making Himself a fountain of divine
influences, to give health and life to the world." (7T p. 273.1)
- "By His Spirit He is everywhere present." (EG White, Education, p. 132)
- "This refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ, called the Comforter" (14
Manuscript Releases p. 179)
- "The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Christ, which is sent to all men to give them
sufficiency, that through His grace we might be complete in Him." (14 Manuscript
Releases p. 84)
- "He united humanity with divinity: a divine spirit dwelt in a temple of flesh." (Youth's
Instructor, December 20, 1900 - See also 4BC, p. 1147.)
- "The words that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE' (John 6:57, 63).
Christ is not here referring to His doctrine, but to HIS PERSON, the DIVINITY of His
CHARACTER." EGW, (1Selected Messages p. 249)
[Note: If the Holy Spirit, as a Third Person, was a "third God-being" or “separate
individual”, as our Trinitarian brethren propose, separate from the Father and the Son,
then this statement could not be true. He would not be proceeding FROM the Son of
God]
- "The HOLY SPIRIT, which PROCEEDS FROM THE ONLY BEGOTTEN-SON,
binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of
Christ." (EGW Selected Messages book 1, p250 - 251)
- “Then Jesus would BREATHE UPON THEM THE HOLY GHOST. In that breath
was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.” (EW 55)
[This is similar to how Satan breathes his unholy influence on people. “Satan would
then breathe upon them an unholy influence.” (EW 56) Let us raise the question, does a
“Third Individual God-Being” proceed out of Jesus and jump out of him? Does Jesus
“breathe” a “Third God”? Or is this Third Person the very breath and spirit of Christ
that He himself breathes upon the faithful?]
- "They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit-the Spirit of Christ-is to bring
unity into their ranks." (EG White, Testimonies Volume 9, p. 189)
- “The Lord is soon to come. We want that complete and perfect understanding which
the Lord alone can give. It is not safe to catch the spirit from another. WE WANT THE
HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. If we commune with God, we shall have
strength and grace and efficiency. {Lt66-1894 (April 10, 1894) par. 18}
- “When God's people take the position that they are the temple of the Holy Ghost,
CHRIST HIMSELF ABIDING WITHIN, they will so clearly reveal Him in spirit,
words, and actions, that there will be an unmistakable distinction between them and
Satan's followers. . . . {3SM 211.2}
- "In giving us His Spirit, God gives us HIMSELF, making Himself a fountain of divine
influences, to give health and life to the world." (EGW, 7T 273)
- "The record declares, "He BREATHED on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the
Holy Ghost" (John 20:22). {YRP 26.2} Jesus is waiting to BREATHE upon all His
disciples, and give them the inspiration of HIS SANCTIFYING SPIRIT, and transfuse
the vital influence from Himself to His people." (Signs of the Times, Oct. 3, 1892.)
- "After His ascension He was to be absent in person, but through the Comforter He
would still be with them..." Desire of Ages p. 277.
- "The Saviour is our Comforter. This I have proved Him to be." (EGW, 8 Manuscript
Releases 49)
- "The divine Spirit that the world's Redeemer promised to send, is the PRESENCE and
POWER OF GOD." (EG White, Signs of the Times, November 23, 1891)
- "One mightier than angels would be in their ranks--the General of the armies of
heaven….assured that MY PRESENCE will be with you even there …I will be with
you always…guiding, comforting, sanctifying, sustaining you, giving you success in
speaking words that shall draw the attention of others to heaven." (Acts of the Apostles
p. 29)
- "The influence of the Holy Spirit is the LIFE of Christ IN THE SOUL. We do not see
Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another.
It works in and through every one who receives Christ." 12MR p. 260 (Manuscript 41,
1897).
[Notice that it is not the Life of the Holy Spirit that is in our souls. It is the life of Christ.
That's what it says.]
- "Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it
was altogether for their advantage that He [Christ] should leave them, go to His
[Christ's] Father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His [Christ's] successor on earth. THE
HOLY SPIRIT IS HIMSELF [Christ] DIVESTED [stripped, split, undressed] of the
personality of humanity and INDEPENDENT thereof. He [Christ] would represent
Himself [Christ] as present in all places by His [Christ's] Holy Spirit, as the
Omnipresent." (Manuscript Releases, v14, p. 23.)
[Either one confesses that the Holy Spirit is the very personal presence and spirit of the
Son, or we confess that the Holy Spirit has more Divine power than the Father and the
Son, because only He can be everywhere present. The fact of the matter is, the Father
and the Son CAN be everywhere present, BY THEIR OWN SPIRIT. They do not
DEPEND on another God-Being to do it for them! No! That's illogical, and
UNDERMINES the power of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit was never
cumbered with humanity. Christ was. Therefore, “himself” is referring to Christ.]
- “The morning cometh, and also the night.” CHRIST HAS LEFT HIS HOLY SPIRIT
TO BE HIS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE WORLD, to give celestial aid to every
hungering, thirsting soul.” {Lt84-1895 (October 22, 1895) par.19
- "The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit
is the impartation of the life of Christ." (The Faith I Live By p. 57)
Notice how simple that is? We should allow inspiration to explain inspiration, and take
it JUST for what it says. Not pick and choose which inspired statements we like better.
- "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 Faith I Live By p. 57)
- "...the Holy Spirit is the comforter, as the PERSONAL PRESENCE of CHRIST TO
THE SOUL." (Review & Herald, Nov 39, 1892, Vol. 2 p. 617, col. 3.)
- "But no distance, no circumstances can separate us from 'the Comforter.' Wherever we
are, wherever we may go, HE is there, ALWAYS A PRESENCE, A PERSON
CONNECTED WITH HEAVEN, One given us in Christ's place, to act in His stead."
Manuscript Releases Vol. 2 p. 32 (Letter 89b, 3-22-1987).
- "The Holy Spirit is the VITAL PRESENCE OF GOD, and if appreciated will call
forth praise and thanksgiving, and will ever be springing up unto everlasting life." (YRP
284)
- "Christ gives them the LIFE of HIS LIFE. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest
energies to work in mind and heart." (EG White, Review and Herald, January 5, 1911
par. 6.)
- "Receive into the heart the truths of God's Word. Only thus can you have the MIND
OF GOD." (Manuscript 105, 1902.)
- "Christ gives them the BREATH of His OWN SPIRIT, the LIFE of HIS OWN LIFE.
The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in heart and mind." (EG White,
The Desire of Ages, p. 827.)
- "This Comforter is the Holy Spirit-the SOUL OF HIS LIFE, the efficacy of his church,
the light and life of the world. With HIS SPIRIT Christ sends a reconciling influence
and a power that takes away sin." (EG White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904)
- "The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the LIFE OF CHRIST." (EG
White, The Desire of Ages, p. 805)
- "No middle-man comes between the sinner and Christ." (Signs of the Times, June 28,
1899)

- “May the Lord BREATHE upon us HIS HOLY SPIRIT, and may we grow up into
Christ, our living Head.” (Ms35-1891.63)
- “Not the leaven of malice; not the leaven of jealousy; not the leaven of evil
surmisings, but it is the LEAVEN OF THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, which is sent
down from heaven, CALLED THE HOLY GHOST, and that Spirit affects the heart and
the character.” {1SAT 209.2}
- “That CHRIST should manifest HIMSELF to them, and YET BE INVISIBLE to the
world, was a MYSTERY to the disciples. They COULD NOT UNDERSTAND the
words of Christ in their SPIRITUAL SENSE. They were thinking of the OUTWARD,
VISIBLE MANIFESTATION. They could not take in the fact that they could have the
PRESENCE OF CHRIST with them, and yet HE BE UNSEEN by the world. They did
NOT UNDERSTAND the meaning of a SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATION.” {SW,
September 13, 1898 par. 2}
- “CHRIST is WITHDRAWN ONLY FROM THE EYE OF SENSE, but HE IS AS
TRULY PRESENT BY HIS SPIRIT AS WHEN HE WAS VISIBLY PRESENT ON
EARTH.” {ST April 7, 1890, par. 6}
[PAUSE]
CONCLUSION:
--------------------------------------------
There are many more statements, but these should suffice.
Question: Just WHO is this "third person" that Ellen White's pen of inspiration wrote
about above?
Let us summarize the above, and allow inspiration to explain inspiration, and tell us
WHO the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, is:
1. The Breath of His OWN Spirit
2. The Life of His OWN Life
3. The Life of Christ
4. The Soul of His Life
5. The Vital Presence of God
6. The Personal Presence of Christ
7. The Breath of Spiritual Life in the Soul
8. Christ Himself -- Divested [stripped, split, UNDRESSED] from the personality of
humanity, and independent thereof.
[Note the Holy Spirit as a third individual God-being, was never "cumbered with
Humanity". Christ was.]
9. The Life of Christ in the Soul
10. The Spirit of Christ
11. His Spirit

12. His Holy Spirit

13. His Person [Unless you want to believe that somehow Christ OWNS the Holy
Spirit, and makes this separate God do his bidding and submit to Him?]
14. The Divinity of His Character
15. Jesus Christ
16. The Presence and Power of God
17. The Mind of God
18. The Spiritual Manifestation of Christ
19. Christ Invisible

20. Christ Unseen

And I'm sure we could find more inspired expressions.
Thus we can see that the Holy Spirit, which is the Third Person of the Godhead, is not a
person in the same sense as the Father and the Son. He is not a separate individual
flying around, independent of the Father and the Son. But the person of the Holy Spirit
is the combined Spirit of the Father and the Son--their internal being, that flows out of
them and functions independently as the third person of the Godhead. It is Christ
Himself coming to you, in third person. Not another God-creature. It is their personal
abiding spiritual presence to our souls. And if it is true that the Holy Spirit is the very
Spirit of the Father and the Son, then this Spirit cannot be any less of a person than God
is a person. Because we do not worship an impersonal God. It’s as though Christ was
right there with us, but in Spirit form. While His form resides in heaven, His Spirit
flows out of Him directly to us, making His personal presence a living reality.
It's up to us whether we want to accept just what inspiration tells us, and go no further
than that. Inspiration explains inspiration.
May God bless you brothers and sisters, and I pray that you will consider and
prayerfully evaluate everything that's been shared here.
Let us not be afraid to accept light. We must be very afraid to reject light God may be
trying to reveal to us. This is not "new light". It's simply restoring simple truths Ellen
White and our Pioneers had a deep grasp on.
Concerning this "third person" of the Godhead, we know that the Holy Spirit cannot be
as an individual as the Father and the Son, for the very clear reasons that Ellen White
expresses this third person in a very different way, that would defy all logic if we were
to perceive this third person as some individual being.
Notice:
“It is His (Christ) purpose that the highest influence in the universe, EMANATING
FROM the source of all power, shall be theirs. They are to have power to resist evil,
power that neither earth, nor death, nor hell can master, power that will enable them to
overcome as Christ overcame.” (DA 679)
“We must reach a higher standard; the highest influences in all the universe should be
embodied in all our works. This is THE INFLUENCE OF THE COMFORTER
EMANATING FROM GOD... {Ms4-1891.6}
Note: The source of all power is the Father. The holy Spirit emanates from Him. Jesus
makes it clear that the Spirit “proceedeth from the Father” (John 15:26). Thus He says
that “I will pray [or ask] the Father and He [the Father] shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you forever” (John 14:26). Yet this very same Spirit
proceeds from the Son Himself. In fact sister White informs us that “ANOTHER
COMFORTER” actually “refers to THE OMNIPRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF
CHRIST, CALLED THE COMFORTER.” {Lt7-1891.14}
“THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH PROCEEDS FROM THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
OF GOD, binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human
nature of Christ.” (RH, April 5, 1906)
“The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining
growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit,
PROCEEDING FROM THE SAVIOUR, pervades the soul, renews the motives and
affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the
receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds.” (AA 284)
"To all who desire to be recipients of HIS SPIRIT, THE VIRTUE FLOWS OUT FROM
CHRIST. Christ. And it is IN THIS WAY that the character of God, the perfection of
Christ and the Father, is brought before the world." (RH, October 14, 1902 par. 11)
“Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all His disciples, and give them the inspiration of HIS
SANCTIFYING SPIRIT, and TRANSFUSE THE VITAL INFLUENCE FROM
HIMSELF to His people." (Signs of the Times, Oct. 3, 1892.)
“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father
the promise of the HOLY GHOST, HE HATH SHED FORTH THIS, which ye now see
and hear.” (Acts 2:33)
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is SHED ABROAD in our
hearts by the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5)
"With his long human arm the Son of God encircled the whole human family, while
with his divine arm he grasped the throne of the Infinite. His own individual presence
was necessary, that in seeing him we might see the Father. He placed his throne, his
spiritual kingdom, upon the earth. He revealed his special grace, and opened to our view
the wonders of heavenly things. HE IMPARTED HIS OWN DIVINE SPIRIT TO
HUMANITY, thus exalting humanity in the scale of moral worth with God.” {YI July
29, 1897, par. 9}
“Some, at least, have no evidence that they have an abiding Christ, and that He has
inspired them with wisdom in counsel through THE TRANSFUSION OF HIS OWN
SELF IN THE HEART” (Ms32-1897 (April 13, 1897) par. 11)
"Jesus is waiting TO BREATHE upon all his disciples, and give them the inspiration of
HIS SANCTIFYING SPIRIT, and TRANSFUSE THE VITAL INFLUENCE FROM
HIMSELF to his people... Jesus is seeking to impress upon them the thought that IN
GIVING HIS HOLY SPIRIT HE IS GIVING TO THEM THE GLORY WHICH THE
FATHER HAS GIVEN HIM, THAT HE AND HIS PEOPLE MAY BE ONE IN
GOD.” {ST October 3, 1892, par. 4}
‘Here we have plainly revealed to us that if we preserve the meekness and lowliness of
Christ, if we walk humbly by the side of the Burden-bearer, if we come in close contact
with our Redeemer, in being thus yoked up with Him, HE WILL IMPART TO US HIS
OWN INDIVIDUALITY.” {Ms70-1896.33}
Note: When we understand that this very same Spirit in Its fullness was given unto
God’s Son then we can see how It proceeds to us from Him. The Son is the conduit
through which the one Spirit flows. When we make the Spirit into something other from
the actual Spirit of God and Spirit of Christ we are actually denying the Source of
oneness which Jesus wants for us to have!
We can therefore conclude, that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, IS
TO BE PERCEIVED AS A PERSON IN A DIFFERENT SENSE, FROM THE
FATHER AND SON, AS ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT EMANATES FROM GOD.
THE THIRD PERSON IS SPOKEN OF AS FLOWING OUT OF THE FATHER AND
THE SON IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: The Holy Spirit... 1) Is breathed out by God
2) Shed forth from God
3) Emanates out from God
4) Flows out of God, as a divine fountain
5) Proceeds out from God
6) Issues out of God
7) Is poured out by God
8) Is transfused from God
9) Is imparted from God and the life of Christ
To imagine that the Holy Spirit is a person in the same sense as the Father and Son, as
though He were some “third-God-being” in His own right, makes such expressions to
become nonsensical, as though a third-individual jumps out of the Father and the Son.
The Holy Spirit has a distinct personality, but it is the very LIFE of God, flowing out of
them and operating independently as the third person of the Godhead. It is not some
“third-individual-God-being” walking or flying around.
It's up to us whether we want to accept just what inspiration tells us, and go no further
than that. Inspiration explains inspiration.
May God bless you brothers and sisters, and I pray that you will consider and
prayerfully evaluate everything that's been shared here.
Let us not be afraid to accept light. We must be very afraid to reject light God may be
trying to reveal to us. This is not "new light". It's simply restoring simple truths Ellen
White and our Pioneers had a deep grasp on.
Final thoughts, borrowed from Paul Williams:
Bible Quiz:
(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 we are told that we will ever see
and/or meet the Holy Spirit?
(5) Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where the Holy Spirit is spoken of as
sitting on a throne in heaven?
(6) Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where one divine being is said to be three
persons?
(7) Is there one verse, anywhere in Scripture, where we find any of these terms
mentioned: trinity, triune, god the son, or god the holy spirit?
There have been some who have tried to show that the Holy Spirit is an “individual” as
are the Father and the Son, by quoting the following statements: “Verse 4. “Divine
nature.” It was promised to us at our baptism. We were buried with Christ by baptism,
and raised to live in newness of life—not the same old life, and to go right on patching
up an experience that is defective every day. No, we want the holiness of the three great
Powers that are pledged to keep us if we will comply with the conditions. But they
cannot keep us unless we do. The holy beings want you to pray. They want you to be
instant in prayer. They want you to work to the point, to perfect a Christian character
day by day.” {Ms183-1907.11,12} It is argued that she is stating the “Holy Beings” here
are all three. But that is an assumption, as obviously the Father and Son are Holy
Beings. The next paragraph states, “Study the Word of God, and here it says, verse 5.
“All diligence”—not a quarter nor a half nor two-thirds, but all diligence. If you are
careless in this matter of what kind of a character you manifest, you may depend that
God and Jesus Christ will not come to you while you have the precious Word and you
feel independent and go on your own judgment and do just as you please. No, you
cannot, you cannot overcome.” {Ms183-1907.13}
Thus we see that her focus is on God and Jesus Christ coming to us, not a third
individual being. The third person of the Godhead, is the very life and personal presence
of the Father and the Son, coming to us, operating independently.

It should not be too difficult to allow inspiration to explain inspiration