Bible Adventism
or, Sermons on the
Coming and Kingdom
of
Our Lord Jesus Christ
or, Sermons on the
Coming and Kingdom
of
Our Lord Jesus Christ
by Elder James White
On page 40 of "Bible Adventism" (1887 edition) James White writes:
Our Lord was tenderly introducing to his disciples the subject of his ascent to Heaven. "Little children yet a little while I am with you." John 13:33. "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." Verse 36. This statement caused distress and consternation in the minds of the disciples, and led Peter to say to his Lord, "Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake." Verse 37. Then follow the comforting words of the text, assuring the sorrowing disciples that their Lord would come again, and receive them to himself.
Jesus also assured them that the Father would give them "another comforter, " even the Spirit of truth, which should dwell with them, and be in them. Chap.14:16, 17. The words, "another comforter, " suppose two, at least. The one was the person of our divine Lord. The other is the Spirit of truth. Both were comforters of the church. Christ was such in a special sense while with his disciples. The other was to abide with the church, to administer the blessings and gifts of the Holy Spirit to the church, until her absent Lord should return in glory to take her to himself. Then the days of her mourning, and fasting, and griefs, will be over forever...
And on page 48 and 49 of "Bible Adventism"
But more than this, those who talk of a spiritual coming and reign of Christ have things badly confused. May the Lord help them to see the difference between the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, and the personal presence of Christ at his second appearing, while we appeal to the Scriptures. "I will pray the Father, " says Jesus, "and he shall give you another Comforter." John 14:16 This language implies more than one comforter. When Christ was with his people, he was their comforter.
In his absence, the Father was to send another comforter, even the Spirit of truth. During the absence of the Son, the Holy Spirit was to be his representative, and the comforter of his dear, sorrowing people. The facts in the case are distinctly stated in the following impressive words: "But now I go my way to Him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:5-8.
James believes:
- There are two distinct Comforters
- Christ was "in a special sense" Comforter while on earth with his disciples.
- The Holy Spirit is another Comforter, it is not Christ because Christ is absent.
- While Christ is absent the Holy Spirit is His representative and Comforter.
5 comments:
If cognitive dissonance was the whole truth on the matter, we might despair of anyone accepting new truth. I will just quote a little of James White again.
"If we take the liberty to say there is not a literal Ark, containing the ten commandments in heaven, we may go only a step further and deny the literal City, and the literal Son of God. We the therefore believe that both are literal." How we can infer from that, that he does not believe in a literal Son of God, but only in a literal person who is called a Son is beyond me.
Why do you continue to accuse us of basing our beliefs on inferences, when we simply belive what the Bible says repeatedly, that Jesus is the Son of God. When the real fact is that the trinity doctrine itself is the one based on inferences.
"The term Trinity is applied to the Christian doctrine of God... It may be inferred from the Scriptures that when the Godhead laid out the plan of salvation at some point in eternity past, They also took certain positions or roles to carry out the provision of the plan." Signs of T July 1985.
"To me this signifies the interchangeableness of the members of the Godhead since they are one in action and purpose." R&H Oct 21,
1971. J. R. Spangler.
"While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several times."
"Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity."
Adventist Review, Vol 158, No. 31.
Can we accept the Sabbath "only by faith" or is there sound Scriptural evidence for it? What other doctrine do we accept, "only by faith" without direct Scriptural evidence?
When James calls the Holy Spirit another comforter, what was the understanding of his readers and the church at that time? "Though Christ's visible presence is not discerned, yet the workers may claim the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." CH 248. We agree with James, it is not Christ in His visible bodily form, but another comforter, in the form of the Holy Spirit, bringing Christ's invisible presence. As spelt out by the prophet and his own son, and other contemporaries.
Further evidence for the concept,
"But Jesus had assured them that he would send the Comforter, as an equivalent for his visible presence."
3 SP 256.
"Our sanitariums are to show forth to the world the benevolence of heaven; and though Christ's visible presence is not discerned in the building, yet the workers may claim the promise: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." 6T 227.
"During His humiliation upon this earth, the Spirit had not descended with all its efficacy; and Christ declared that if He went not away, it would not come, but that if He went away, He would send it. It was a representation of Himself, and after He was glorified it was manifest." {ST, May 17, 1899 par. 3}
I made a post about the last two comments here
Now to the first two comments, I'm sorry I didn't get to these earlier.
Cognitive dissonance is indeed a huge problem mate. And you demonstrate it well, it is "beyond you" literally, the cognitive dissonance you have on this subject blinds you to any other possibility than that James was speaking here about anything other than Christ being literally born of the Father.
The next comment is getting closer to the truth, from my reading, and these excellent quotes, the Trinity doctrine is indeed built on inference. That is why we fight so much, it depends on the what inferences we make as to where we end up.
We do not accept the Sabbath on faith because there are indeed "positive testimonies" in Scripture for it.
Examples of other doctrines built on inference but confirmed by Mrs White are things like
- there are "other worlds" in the universe with unfallen inhabitants
- Eve wandered away from Adam and went to the tree alone
- children at least will be able to fly in heaven
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