DOCSLIB.ORG

The Seventh-Day Adventist Doctrine of God – Compiled by Sami LW

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Seventh-Day Adventist Doctrine of God – Compiled by Sami LW Research by Gary Hullquist - The Seventh-day Adventist Doctrine of God – Compiled by Sami LW Belief in the Begotten Part I: The Pioneers [http://www.hullquist.com/Bible/bib-onegod-12.htm] What do we Adventists believe? "Most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to subscribe to the denomination's Fundamental Beliefs. More specifically, most would not be able to agree to belief number 2, which deals with the doctrine of the Trinity." George Knight, Ministry, October 1993, p. 10. "Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of 'present truth'. Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord…the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventsists." William G. Johnsson, Adventist Review, Jan 6, 1994, p. 10. This is evidenced by the 1874 statement of faith published in the June 4 issue of the Signs of the Times: 1. That there is one God, a personal, spiritual Being, the Creator of all things, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal; infinite in wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, truth and mercy; unchangeable, and everywhere present by His representative, the Holy Spirit. Psalm 139:7. [Where can I go from Thy spirit? or where can I flee from Thy presence?] 2. That there is one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, the One by whom God created all things, and by whom they do consist…" All 25 points are listed in Appendix A. Compare this with today's 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church number 2 "There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons." Most Adventists credit this dramatic change to the influence of progressive revelation from the pen of Ellen White in the last years of her life. Yet she denied any change, insisting that truth does not change nor contradict past truths. "That which was truth in the beginning is truth now. Although new and important truths appropriate for succeeding generations have been opened to the understanding, the present revealings do not contradict those of the past. Every new truth understood only makes more significant the old." EGW, Review and Herald, March 2, 1886 There has also been no change in the tendency of Adventists to quote her as the ultimate authority in what is truth. But she placed the Bible first in being the standard of truth. "But don't you quote Sister White. I don't want you ever to quote Sister White until you get your vantage ground where you know where you are. Quote the Bible. Talk the Bible. It is full of meat, full of fatness. Carry it right out in your life, and you will know more Bible than you know now." EGW, April 1, 1901 Battle Creek College Library meeting in Spalding and Magan Collection, p. 174 1 Research by Gary Hullquist - The Seventh-day Adventist Doctrine of God – Compiled by Sami LW "The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God's Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take the place of the Word...Let all prove thier positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God." Letter 12, 1890 (Ev 256). "You must bring your creed to the Bible and let the light of the Bible define your creed and show where it comes short and where the difficulty is. The Bible is to be your standard, the living oracles of Jehovah are to be your guide." Faith and Works (1979) p. 77 We must not speculate on the nature of God--what God is, but we may certainly study God Himself--who He is, and what is revealed about Him in Scripture. "The revelation of Himself that God has given in His Word is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this we are not to penetrate. None are to indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion." The Faith I Live By p. 40 The study of God and His Son is not a trivial, side-issue. It is central to our three most distinctive doctrines: The Sabbath, established by Jesus, our Creator. The State of the Dead, demonstrated by the death of Jesus, our Saviour. The Sanctuary in heaven where the pre-Advent investigative judgment, is even now being conducted by Jesus, our High Priest These are embodied in the proclamation of the three angel's messages of Revelation 14: to "fear God for the hour of His judgment is come" to the heavenly sanctuary, and "give glory to Him" who raised Jesus Christ His Son from the dead, and "worship Him who made heaven and earth", the Creator of the first Sabbath.. Not only are the patient saints who deliver the three angel's messages to "keep the commandments of God" (Rev 14:12), but they will also keep "the faith of Jesus" as preserved in His Word. "We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history." Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 196, 1892. "When a doctrine is presented that does not meet our minds, we should go to the word of God, seek the Lord in prayer." Gospel Workers, p. 301; Review and Herald Aug 27, 1889 "The only right way would be to sit down as Christians, and investigate the position presented, in the light of God's word, which will reveal truth and unmask error." Review and Herald, June 18, 1889. "...all should decide from the weight of evidence." 3T, p. 255. 2 Research by Gary Hullquist - The Seventh-day Adventist Doctrine of God – Compiled by Sami LW "There are many in the church who take it for granted that they understand what they believe; but, until controversy arises, they do not know their own weakness. When separated from those of like faith and compelled to stand singly and alone to explain their belief, they will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth. This light should lead us to a diligent study of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the positions which we hold. Believers are not to rest in suppositions and ill-defined ideas of what constitutes truth. Their faith must be firmly founded upon the word of God so that when the testing time shall come and they are brought before councils to answer for their faith they may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear. " God's Amazing Grace, p. 30. The transformation of Seventh-day Adventist doctrine from a widely held belief in the Son of God begotten of his Father (that remained uncontested for more than 50 years prior to the death of Ellen White) to our current officially proscribed unbegotten second Person of a Triune Godhead was a concerted effort waged against staunch opposition well into the 1940s. Here is the story of that battle. Early Adventist Doctrine The formulation of the "foundation of our faith", the "principal points of our faith" was through much prayer and earnest Bible study by the early pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: "Many of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder {Hiram} Edson, and others who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power. When they came to the point in their study where they said, "We can do nothing more, " the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively. Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the instruction that the Lord had given me. During this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were made clear to our minds, in harmony with the Word of God." EGW 1 Selected Messages pp. 206, 207, 1904 It was an understanding of "the scriptures in regard to Christ" that was first made clear. Then, upon this foundational truth, an understanding of "His mission and His priesthood" and "all the principal points of our faith" was made plain to them.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Seventh-Day Adventist Church – What Happened?
    1844, 1863, 1888, 1919, 1950, 2000, 2010 And the Seventh-day Adventist Church – What Happened? By George M. Petrjcik 8/31/10 3/2/15 Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3 How To Understand the Seventh-day Adventist Church Today ........................................ 3 Content and Focus of this Document .................................................................................. 4 How this document came to be ........................................................................................... 4 Foundational Information ................................................................................................... 6 Early Adventism and Ellen G. White ............................................................................. 8 Discussion of Appendix Illustrations ................................................................................ 11 Church Structure – Biblical or Not? ............................................................................. 11 Neal C. Wilson .................................................................................................................. 29 Adventists Respond to U.N. Appeal for World Peace ...................................................... 29 Christian Witness vs. Scriptural Witness .......................................................................... 31 Two Interpretations of Galatians 4 ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Person of Christ in the Seventh–Day Adventism: Doctrine–Building and E
    Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Butoiu, Nicolae (2018) The person of Christ in the Seventh–day Adventism: doctrine–building and E. J. Wagonner’s potential in developing christological dialogue with eastern Christianity. PhD thesis, Middlesex University / Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. [Thesis] Final accepted version (with author’s formatting) This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/24350/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. Works, including theses and research projects, may not be reproduced in any format or medium, or extensive quotations taken from them, or their content changed in any way, without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). They may not be sold or exploited commercially in any format or medium without the prior written permission of the copyright holder(s). Full bibliographic details must be given when referring to, or quoting from full items including the author’s name, the title of the work, publication details where relevant (place, publisher, date), pag- ination, and for theses or dissertations the awarding institution, the degree type awarded, and the date of the award. If you believe that any material held in the repository infringes copyright law, please contact the Repository Team at Middlesex University via the following email address: [email protected] The item will be removed from the repository while any claim is being investigated.
    [Show full text]
  • Adventists and Ecumenical Conversation
    Adventists and Ecumenical Conversation Ángel Manuel Rodríguez The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not exist in isolation from other Christian communities. Social and religious trends in the Christian world impact us; they force us to decide how we should relate to those trends and changes. The Christian concern about the unity of the church, voiced particularly through the World Council of Churches, forces us to define where we stand on this important subject. Certainly, “no Adventist can be opposed to the unity Christ Himself prayed for.”1 This article looks at the nature of Seventh-day Adventist involvement in the search for unity among Christians, as well as the doctrinal and theological parameters within which we operate in that search. It also briefly discusses the risks and benefits present in the conversations with other Christian bodies. Our hope is that the ideas expressed here will be useful to Adventist ministers who interact with non-Adventist clergy at a more personal level, as well as a help to our pastors as they answer some of the concerns that church members might have regarding these conversations. Adventist identity and ecumenical dialogues The Adventist Church has occasionally had conversations with other Christian communities and even participated with them in special activities (such as the matter of the promotion of religious liberty throughout the world). We have entered into those conversations with some apprehension, while at the same time acknowledging their need, usefulness, and importance. What are our concerns as we deal with interfaith relations and dialogues? The church has not been quiet about that question.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents a Word to the Reader
    Table of Contents A Word To the Reader ............................................................................................................... 30 PREFACE .................................................................................................................................... 30 PART I THE APOSTASY ...................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 34 HOLY FLESH AND CELEBRATION MUSIC ...................................................................... 34 The Doctrine Of the Holy Flesh Movement .......................................................................... 35 The Holy Flesh Movement and Celebration Music .............................................................. 35 Ellen White‟s Response To Haskell‟s Description ............................................................... 36 Loud Music the Prerequisite For Speaking In Tongues ...................................................... 37 History Of the Past To Be Repeated ...................................................................................... 38 History Repeated Just Before the Close Of Probation ........................................................ 39 False Manifestations Of the Holy Spirit ................................................................................ 40 Haskell‟s Eye Witness Report ...............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • An Approach to a Holistic Ministry in a Seventh-Day Adventist Urban Church in Uganda
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1988 An Approach to a Holistic Ministry in a Seventh-day Adventist Urban Church in Uganda Nathaniel Mumbere Walemba Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Part of the Missions and World Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Walemba, Nathaniel Mumbere, "An Approach to a Holistic Ministry in a Seventh-day Adventist Urban Church in Uganda" (1988). Dissertation Projects DMin. 241. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/241 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted.
    [Show full text]
  • ADVENTIST TIMELINE-V6 17
    ADVENTIST TIMELINE A step-by-step illustrated Timeline of what has happened over time within the Seventh-day Adventist church. In this document, you will notice some names of people that are highlighted in bold text. These folks were the first generation Pioneers that were involved in being a part of this denomination. Many of them were the core that set the foundation of our faith thru Jesus Christ. A few to note were sons of the first generation. And as you will see, they have died along the way and that brings some significance to the history of this denomination. As our Pioneers or “old-timers” were dying off, those Sunday keeping converts that had come in became the majority over time. And as they came in, they brought in their beliefs and concepts, just like an emigrant would today. They came from a smaller or foreign country into the United States of America. They weren’t as steadfast as George Butler, Uriah Smith or James White in the past, guarding our truths. Our church would eventually be taken over and ruled by educated scholars from the Jesuit system of Academia. They chose a career path of theology rather than a true calling from God. 1860 – The remnant was given the name, Seventh-day Adventist. 1863 – Organization of the General Conference of the Seventh- day Adventists. 1872 – The Declaration of Fundamental Principles taught and practiced by the Seventh-day Adventists is published at Battle Creek, MI. Primarily written by James White, these fundamentals serve as a synopsis of faith published in a pamphlet.
    [Show full text]
  • Lutheranslutherans Part One of Two
    LinkingLinking withwith thethe LutheransLutherans Part One of Two I received a telephone call from sented at the conference of secretar- “children of Luther” theme, the be- a friend in a distant city. “Read the ies of Christian World Communions. ginning step has been successfully latest issue of the Review. It’s by More recently, the SDAC has been taken to draw the two denominations Johnsson. He has carefully dis- represented at the annual conference into a close fellowship. In the eyes of closed, for the first time, that our of U.S. church leaders. Christian some, a great achievement is in the church leaders are entering into a se- World Communions and various making. ries of dialogues with the Lutherans. churches have responded to the SDA Only one name of those in atten- Read it, the latest issue.” invitation and sent observers to the dance at the reapproachment meet- The article itself is very carefully quinquennial General Conference ings was disclosed in the article. That written. According to Johnsson, it is Sessions.”—Bert B. Beach, article in man was the chairman of the Adven- merely a friendly get-together. Dictionary of the Ecumenical Move- tist delegation. Yes, you guessed it; it Yet, as we revealed three years ment, 1991 edition, Geneva. was Bert Beverly Beach, head of the ago in our in-depth study, A Hundred As clearly stated above by B.B. General Conference Religious Liberty Years of Ecumenism—Part 1-6 Beach, Adventist participation in Department—the same Adventist [WM—358-364],our church is under- WWC activities has continued un- leader who, on May 18, 1977, gave a taking, with the Lutherans, the ex- abated for nearly thirty years.
    [Show full text]
  • From the End of the World to the Ends of the Earth
    edition afem? mission specials 1 Stefan Höschele This book offers a readable access to Adventist missiology, not only describing it but showing how it developed, thereby turning its eyes away from the end of the world to the ends of the earth. Those who want to know how 3500Adventists grew to 12 million, will find some answers here. FromFrom the the End End Prof. Dr. Klaus Fiedler University of Malawi ofof the the World World STEFAN HÖSCHELE, born 1972. Studied at Friedensau University, 1991-1996. Served the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a missionary in Algeria, 1993-1994, and as a toto the the Ends Ends lecturer of theology at Tanzania Adventist College, 1997- 2003. Since 2003, he is a lecturer of Systematic Theology at Friedensau University. Currently writes a doctoral disser- tation at the University of Malawi about the history of ofof the the Earth Earth Adventism in Tanzania. He is married and has 3 children. The Development of ISBN 3-937965-14-9 Seventh-Day-Adventist Missiology Foreword by Klaus Fiedler VTR edition afem • mission specials 1 Höschele • Adventist Missiology edition afem? mission specials 1 Note on the Web Version This web version of the book From the End of the World to the Ends of the Earth: The Development of Seventh-Day Adventist Missiology is made available to the public in electronic format for research and private use only. Therefore, it is not public domain, and the publisher (Verlag für Theologie und Religionswissenschaft, Nürnberg, Germany) owns the full copyright. It may not be posted on any web site or stored on servers.
    [Show full text]
  • British Advent Messenger for 1968
    British Advent MESSENGER ORGAN OF THE BRITISH UNION CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS VOLUME 73 • NUMBER 8 APRIL 12, 1968 AN ALL - OUT EFFORT NEWBOLD SHOWS THE WAY by KENNETH H. GAMMON, Secretary, British Union Lay Activities Department ES, Ingathering is an all-out effort this ship Card, which provides a project to stir the year. Despite devaluation and the hard interest and challenge the activity of this y budget, Ingathering seems to be as easy group. To send a "flying doctor" plane on a as ever. We believe that more members are fifty-mile mercy flight, or a mission launch on participating than ever before and from a thirty-mile journey of healing, to treat a leper reports coming in, enthusiasm is high. for three months, to feed an orphan for six Newbold College students and faculty weeks—these all become a reality for our have thoroughly enjoyed their Ingathering and earliteens. seldom, if ever, has there been greater zeal For the first time ever, from tiny tots to shown for this missionary endeavour. Under oldest members, we are able to make a the able leadership of Pastor V. H. Hall, the united all-out effort in the Ingathering target of £3,500 was set. Last year's total was campaign. "If Christians were to act in con- £2,800. In one week the magnificent total of cert, moving forward as one, under the direc- £4,640 17s. 9d. has been brought in. What an tion of one Power, for the accomplishment achievement and what an inspiration to the of one purpose, they would move the world." rest of the field! "Testimonies", Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Be a Mighty Leader for God
    February 15, 1968 Vol. 145 No. 7 REVIEW AND HERALD • GENERAL CHURCH PAPER Of THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS UR DENOMINATION has thousands of leaders, ranging from those at the General Conference head- quarters to the. officers of subsidiary organizations of a local church. All have been chosen for a special work and all are expected to make an important contribution to the success of God's program. Leadership is an immense respon- Be a sibility. If you are in charge of any part of the church pro- gram your followers look to you as an example and as a guide. They expect you to have a progressive program and to set the pace. Probably you did not seek your position. Perhaps, how- ever, one should have the attitude of Benjamin Franklin who Mighty said: "I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an office." When a church, a local or union conference, or the Gen- eral Conference assigns a man to leadership he should regard it as a call from God and give the task his energy, talent, and Leader time. The wise man said: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might" (Eccl. 9:10). If you have been called to oversee a part of God's vineyard, give it everything you have. Be a mighty leader for God. Such a commitment requires hard work. Someone said: "There is plenty of room at the top, but there is no room to for GOD sit down." If the work connected with administration does not require all of a man's time and make him wish that he had still more time for it, he is not giving the right type of leader- ship.
    [Show full text]
  • Revival and Reformation-1
    May 2, 1968 Vol. 145 No. 18 - REVIEW AND HERALD • GENERAL CHURCH PAPER OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS The MATCHLE HRIST •A HYING -aside His, royal 4 robe tid . kingly, ,crow , lx Christ 'aothed His, di vinity with humanity, that. human' beings might be 4 raked from their degrada-'. tion,,-4-14 placed on vanta e. ound,'Christ could no , / have come to this 'ear kith the glory:that He ha in the heavenly courts. Sinful human beingi could . not have borne the 81 t ti • , 4 4. He veiled His:divinity with . theg4rb of, lintrignity,but t. t He dill. not part with His 1 divinity. A divine-bum. Saviour, He came to ,staid • i at the head of the fallen ,... 4 44 race, to share in their ex- perience from childhood to , manhood. That human beings might be partakers of the divine nature, came to 'this earth, and lived a life of perfect o e- dience."--ELLEN G. 1'. WHITE, Review and H • .. aid, June ipo 05 1959 BY THE REVIEW AND HERALD NARRY A DERSON, ARTIST - Revival and Reformation-1 ANY years ago, back in 1902 in fact, the servant of the M Lord wrote: "A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit." —Selected Messages, book 1, p. 128. The need for such an experience among us today is most evident. We ee41/• are living on the borders of the eter- nal world. Everything about us tells that the coming of the Lord is very near. But are we ready for that event? This prospect of the Lord's return should grip our souls in such a way that we will not be satisfied until in REVIVAL practical daily experience we know revival and we know reformation.
    [Show full text]
  • Wo, No Hear of Jesus"
    rip July 4, 1968 P. Vol. 145 No. 27 REVIEW AND HERALD • GENERAL CHURCH PAPER OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS When I asked him if he had ever heard of Jesus Christ, he replied, Wo, No Hear of Jesus" By D. A. ROTH NESTLED IN THE HEART of Southeast Asia sBattambang, which has only about 40,000 residents. between Thailand and South Vietnam is the king- Not the least of Cambodia's charms is the strik- dom of Cambodia, a round-shaped country of more ing contrast of an age-old culture side by side with than 6 million people. As part of the territory of the twentieth-century modernity. I was struck by the Far Eastern Division this unique nation presents a cleanliness of the cities. I found no garbage stacked challenge to Adventists possibly unparalleled in any in the streets as we see in some Oriental cities. There other part of the world. is a modern sewer system. The streets are wide and Cambodia today is a modern, forward-looking tree-shaded. The people are well-dressed and are state, with fast-developing industries, excellent com- shyly friendly to strangers. munications, and a progressive people. Yet it has The Cambodians are generally a friendly, tradi- never lost touch with its great past. The famous tionalist, and hard-working people. Most of them ruins of a lost civilization, Angkor Wat, remind are employed in agriculture (rice, rubber, palm the twentieth-century population of their religious trees) and fishing. Another of Cambodia's assets, heritage. which provides work for many, is its forest lands, On a recent visit to Cambodia while on a lengthy covering more than 30,000 square miles and provid- itinerary of our division, I learned some interesting ing rare species of wood as well as building timber.
    [Show full text]