- seventhdaypioneerm
The Third Person of the Godhead
Updated: Nov 27, 2021
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ก๐๐๐ ?
The majority of Seventh-day Adventists and other Christians believe that the 'third person' of the Godhead is the third being of the trinity god. Adventists believe this because Ellen White talks about this 'third person' in her writings. They take a handful of Sister White's quotes and apply the trinity god to them, saying that Sister White became a trinitarian in her later life. So on this page, we are going to look deeper into this and find out exactly who this 'third person' is. First, let us look at some examples of Sister White's 'third person' quotes.
"Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ก๐๐๐."(E.White, Desire of Ages, p.671)
"He determined to give his representative, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ก๐๐๐."(E.White, The Watchman, Nov.28, 1905)
Now just looking at these quotes, you would think Sister White believed in the trinity right? I mean, she clearly says in the above quotes that the Holy Spirit is the 'Third Person' of the Godhead. But as good Adventists we don't just take little quotes like this on their own do we? We know very well, that context is king, and that we need to compare scripture with scripture, Spirit of Prophecy with Spirit of Prophecy, and Spirit of Prophecy with scripture. So let us first look at the context of the quote from Desire of Ages above:
"๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐. Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father, and send the Spirit to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ. ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ would be accessible to all. In this sense ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก. 'He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ to him ... The Lord knows all about His faithful servants who for His sake are lying in prison or who are banished to lonely islands. ๐๐ comforts them with ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐. When for the truth's sake the believer stands at the bar of unrighteous tribunals, ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐... The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people ... Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ก๐๐๐, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power ... ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐. ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church."(E.White, Desire of Ages, p.669-672)
Isn't it interesting when you read the whole context, rather than just focus on one single line? So according to Sister White above, the 'third person' of the Godhead is actually Christ's Spirit. The Holy Spirit is 'Christ's representative, independent of Christ's humanity'. Through the Spirit, 'Christ would be near us', as ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ '๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐' to us, with โ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐'. So how can this be? Let us look at another quote from Sister White which ties in with the first part of the above text.
"Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐, ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ."(E.G.White, Manuscript Releases, vol.14, p.23)
So what is Sister White saying here? She is saying that the Holy Spirit is Christ's own divine Spirit. But His Spirit works independently from His physical human being. And this is the 'Third Person' that Sister White speaks of. She is not saying that the 'Third Person' is the third being of the so called trinity. No. She is confirming that the 'Third Person of the Godhead' is Christ's own divine Spirit, which works independently of His physical human nature. Remember, Christ has TWO natures now. The divine nature and the human nature. So He has both a divine Spirit 'person' and a human nature 'person', with ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ 'third person.โ Sister White talks of, not a third separate being from the Father and Son.
"They did not think that the subject of their conversation was walking by their side; ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐."(E.White, Desire of Ages, p.800)
Speaking of Pentecost, Sister White confirmed that it was "๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ" which "animated the whole congregation."(Signs of the Times, Dec.1, 1898). And what was the reason that Christ took human nature? ... "Christ took human nature that men might be ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก the Father, that God may love man as He loves His only-begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the divine nature, and be complete in Him. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ-๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐, ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ, ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ญ, ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐-๐ก๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ.". (E.G.White, Selected Messages 1, p.250) And how are we able to become 'one with Christ'? Through Christ's own divine Spirit, which is that 'third person'. And Ellen White regarded it as a 'Third Person', because Christ's Spirit works independently from His human nature. Let's look at some other Ellen White quotes to further support this.
"When trials overshadow the soul, remember the words of Christ, remember that ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ the Holy Spirit."(E.G. White, DG 185.2, 1897)
โWhen the twelve were elected to the apostleship, they expected that Christ would give them preferments, but instead, He gave them commandments. ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐, ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ, to abide with them and teach them. โPeace be unto you,โ He said; โas my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.โ [John 20:21, 22.] 17LtMs, Lt65, 1902.13
"๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin."(Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904)
"The words that I speak unto you, they are ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, and they are life (John 6:57, 63). Christ is not here referring to His doctrine, but to ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง, the divinity of His character."(E.G.White, 1 Selected Messages, p.249)
"It is not safe to catch the spirit from another. ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ." (E.White, Letter 66, April 10, 1894, par.17-18)
"๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, which is sent to all men to give them sufficiency, that through His grace we might be complete in Him."(E.G. White, 14 Manuscript Releases, p. 84)
How did Sister White describe the Heavenly Trio?
โChrist gave his followers a positive promise that after his ascension he would send them his Spirit. โGo ye therefore,โ he said, โand teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐], and of the Son [๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ], and of the Holy Ghost [๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ]: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.โโ RH October 26, 1897, par. 9 (brackets in original)
"They have one God and one Saviour; and ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ--๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ --is to bring unity into their ranks."(E.G.White, Testimonies, Vol.9 p.189.3)
As stated at the top of this page, Ellen White stated that โ๐๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ the Third Person of the Godhead."(E.White, Desire of Ages, p.671). And who was the only one, according to Sister White's other writings who could overcome sin in us? She said ... โ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, but it is your privilege to have Christ abiding in your heart by faith, and ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ, when you cooperate with His efforts."(Ellen G. White, Our High Calling, 76.5). She also stated that "With ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ sends a reconciling influence and ๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง." (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904). So what is that 'only power' through which sin can be resisted and overcome? It is the 'Spirit of Christ', not some other 'third being'.
This is why in John 14:18, Jesus told the disciples that ๐๐ would come to us as the Comforter, and in Matthew 28:20 that ๐๐ would be with us always, even unto the end of the age. It is because Christ 'imbues us with ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ' (E.White, Bible Echo, Sept.18, 1899). And who are we 'grieving' with our constant sins? We are "grieving the pure, ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ with our defiling sins."(E.White, The Review and Herald, July 5, 1898 par. 7)
Does the Bible support this fact that the Holy Spirit is in fact the Spirit of Christ Himself? Yes! Take a look at the following Bible verses concerning this.
Revelation 5:6 ...'And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฌ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก.'
John 14:18-20 ... โ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ: ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ.'
Matthew 18:20 ...'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ.'
Acts 2:32-33 ... '๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ญ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ, which ye now see and hear.'
Galatians 4:6 ...'And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ, crying, Abba, Father.'
2 Corinthians 3:17 ...'Now ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.'
Philippians 1:19 ...'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ.'
So as you can see, the Bible also clearly supports the fact that ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐, through His own divine Spirit, which Ellen White confirms works 'independently' from His human nature, as the 'Third Person'. And anyone with eyes to see and a heart to receive the truth will see this.
"๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐."(๐.๐๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐)
"๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, so tender and so true. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ speaks to the heart."(E.White, Review and Herald, Oct.26, 1897)
"Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of Christ. ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full."(Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, January 27, 1903)
"While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก. He is withdrawn from the eye of sense, but His parting promise is fulfilled, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world'."(E.White, Desire of Ages, p.166)
"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]. ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ."(E.White, Manuscript Releases 14, p.179)
So when Sister White says "the Holy Spirit is a personโ and "The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits."(MR, vol.20, par.68). She is clearly talking about the divine Spirit person of Christ, as we have clearly shown above. She also said ... "we need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ."(MR, vol.7, par.299). Well, who is the one 'walking this earth with us'?
"๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ.
With messages of mercy He comes to our homes."(Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 107)
"How few realize that ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐! How ashamed many would be to hear His voice speaking to them, and to know that He heard all their foolish, common talk!"(Ellen G. White, 14 MR 125.3)
Who is the 'Holy Spirit PERSON' who is 'walking by our side'? It is the Spirit of Jesus Christ! Who is it that gives us light and teaches us God's truth? It is Jesus, look:
"Those who were bowed before the throne would offer up their prayers and look to Jesus; then He would look to His Father, and appear to be pleading with Him. A light would come from the Father ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง to the praying company. Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from the Father ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ before the throne."(E.White, Early Writings, p.55)
There is no 'third being' involved. This light and power of the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father to His Son Jesus, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ. This is the truth friends!
๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ
Paul & the apostles are clear in their introductions to their Letters & epistles. They state โfrom God the Father and from Jesus Christโ (or words that are very similar). Never do they say โfrom the Holy Spiritโ. For this, there must be a very good reason.
(1 John 1:3-That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.)
Each Letter/Epistle addressed to the saints only mentions Father and Son:
{Rom 1:7 KJV} To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{1Co 1:3 KJV} Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
{2Co 1:2 KJV} Grace [be] to you and peace from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
{2Co 1:3 KJV} Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
{Gal 1:1 KJV} Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
{Gal 1:3 KJV} Grace [be] to you and peace from God the Father, and [from] our Lord Jesus Christ,
{Eph 1:1 KJV} Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
{Eph 1:2 KJV} Grace [be] to you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
{Eph 1:3 KJV} Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:
{Phl 1:2 KJV} Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and [from] the Lord Jesus Christ.
{Col 1:2 KJV} To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{Col 1:3 KJV} We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
{1Th 1:1 KJV} Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians [which is] in God the Father and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{1Th 1:3 KJV} Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
{2Th 1:1 KJV} Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
{2Th 1:2 KJV} Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{1Ti 1:1 KJV} Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, [which is] our hope;
{1Ti 1:2 KJV} Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
{2Ti 1:2 KJV} To Timothy, [my] dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
{2Ti 4:1 KJV} I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
{Tit 1:4 KJV} To Titus, [mine] own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
{Phm 1:3 KJV} Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
{Heb 1:2 KJV} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
{Heb 1:3 KJV} Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
{Heb 1:6 KJV} And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
{Jas 1:1 KJV} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
{1Pe 1:3 KJV} Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
{2Pe 1:1 KJV} Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
{2Pe 1:2 KJV} Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
{1Jo 1:3 KJV} That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
{2Jo 1:3 KJV} Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
{Jde 1:1 KJV} Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:
{Rev 1:6 KJV} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Not three thrones but only one throne is stated in Revelation: See 3:21; 5:13; 21:22; 22:1-5
Revelation tells us that only ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌโGod and the Lamb sit on the throne for all eternity!
DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
So the next thing that Adventist trinitarians say when they are backed into a corner and their trinity teaching is exposed, is 'Well, does it really matter whether I believe the Holy Spirit is Christ or another being'? And the short answer to that is a resounding YES! It does matter! You see, Satan is trying to remove Christ from the minds and lives of God's people, so that they never gain the victory over sin. Look at what Sister White said.
Speaking of Satan, Ellen White says ... "He has sought to ๐ฌ๐ก๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, 'This is the way, walk ye in it."(E.White, RH, August 26, 1890)
You see, Christ is the only one who lived perfectly as a human and knows what it takes to gain victory over every temptation and sin. So if Satan can remove Christ from our view as being our Comforter, then he can remove ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ that can overcome sin in us. If we keep Christ in heaven in our minds and replace Him with 'another' who has never lived as a human, then this will weaken our walk. And this is exactly why the majority of professed Christians are still living in sin. Because they have allowed Satan to remove Christ from their view as the Comforter. The Spirit of Christ is waiting to empower us and help us live victorious lives. But if we turn from Christ's Spirit and look to 'another', then we will never receive the full power of God's Spirit and never be able to replicate the character of Christ in our lives.
This is so important friend. It is Christ who 'dwells in our hearts' (Ephesians 3:17). It is Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). It is Christ in us, that 'Spirit' which gives us life (Romans 8:10-11). And as Paul confirmed in Galatians 4:6, God was to send the Spirit of HIS SON to us, not some other third being. Which is why Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 3:17, that the LORD [Christ] is that Spirit.
Romans 8:9 ...'But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ.'
๐๐ญ'๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ '๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ'.
It's no wonder that the churches today have no power, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ that can give us help to 'do all things' (Philippians 4:13), and ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ the Spirit of Christ with '๐๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ'. Satan has always sought to take Christ's place, and he is doing just that in the hearts and minds of many of God's people today!