Teologia notas

Textos (self)

Hebrew 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Luke17:7 to 10. Parábola

7
“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to
the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to
eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while
I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because
he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were
told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Revelation 14:12

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus.”

Luke 18:10 to 13

 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee,
and the other a publican.

 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank
thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican.

 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much
as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God
be merciful to me a sinner.

 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than
the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased;
and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Isaiah 1:11 to 15

 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me?

saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the
fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of
lambs, or of he goats.
 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at
your hand, to tread my courts?
 13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto
me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I
cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

 14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth:
they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
  15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes
from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your
hands are full of blood.
The difference between the pharisee and the publican is the difference of motive. The
Pharisee thinks he’s saved bc of the things he's done; the publican thinks he’s only
nothing and praises God and asks for mercy.
This is the condition that God’s people must reach—to know we are only nothing and
can do nothing to be worthy of salvation.

Galatians 2:20

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me.”

Romans 6:6

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
Gal 5:24
“And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

1 Pet 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

We’re so weak we cannot even give our heart to the Lord.

In Prov 23:26-27, the “give me thine heart” is the hebrew expression for “listen to me”
You don’t actually give your own heart to God. That's how weak you are.

COL 159 “No outward observances can take the place of simple faith and entire
renunciation of self. But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent
for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord,
take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property.”
Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property.
Lord, take it! Because I can't give it to you. It already belongs to You. You made it; it’s
already Yours.
COL 159 cont “Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in spite of
myself, my weak, unchristlike self. Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and
holy atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through my soul.”
Desire of Ages 175 “The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His
love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to
the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour.”
Heb 3:4 “For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”

2 timothy 1:12
Textos (Reason)
Racas
“The Races of Man--At the present time there exist upon the earth five races or
varieties of man, each very different from the other in instincts, social customs, and, to
an extent, in structure. These are the Ethiopian or negro type, originating in Africa; the
Malay or brown race, from the islands of the Pacific; the American Indian; the
Mongolian or yellow race, including the natives of China, Japan, and the Eskimos; and
finally, the highest type of all, the Caucasians, represented by the civilized white
inhabitants of Europe and America.”

“The Darwinian revolution and the works of its chief German spokesman and most
eminent scientist, Professor Hackel, gave the racists something that they were
confident was powerful verification of their race beliefs. The support of the science
establishment resulted in racist thought having a much wider circulation than otherwise
possible, and enormous satisfaction "that one's prejudices were actually expressions of
scientific truth.

Rom 1:20
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that
they are without excuse:”

How you look at something is based on your preconceived ASSUMPTIONS.

GOD ISNOWHERE
GOD_IS_NOWHERE —ATHEIST ASSUMPTIONS
GOD_IS_NOW_HERE — CHRISTIAN ASSUMPTIONS

Law vs theory
LAW: a generalized statement about an aspect of nature and is universally
confirmed
THEORY: a set of related hypotheses that are bound together to describe a
phenomenon — cannot be proven — are refuted by new observations and
modified to accommodate new data
EXAMPLE:
Law of Gravity (not theory of gravity)
Law of Gravity: “"two bodies exert an attractive force in proportion to the
product of the masses and inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between them"
Laymen’s def “what goes up, must come down”
Therefore, evolution and creation are THEORIES; not a LAW

Theistic Evolution
The belief that evolution was carefully guided to produce knees, sinuses, blind
spots, and birth canals, on purpose, by a God who loves us
“Everything they say abt evolution is true, but God did it!”
Theory: creation by a continuous process initiated by God; He used evolution
to create
• belief that God used evolution to "create" (Deist, Unitarian)
• compromise blend of faith and evolution
• but has inconsistencies in the order of creation
 • inconsistent with God's character of love
• biggest problem: death before sin
Framework Hypothesis
• THEORY: Genesis 1-3 is a theology of creation designed to reinforce the
purposefulness of God in creation and the importance of the Sabbath
commandment, not a literal account
• CONTRADICTIONS: Jesus, Peter, and Paul all refer to the event as historical,
with Adam and Eve being real people (Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6).
• removes the need for the plan of salvation
“All the Bible is real, except Gen 1-3. That’s just an idea, not what actually
happened in creation.”
But Bible characters refer to Gen as factual and historical evidence.
If you remove Gen 1-3, there’s no sin bc Adam doesn’t sin.

Progressive Creation
• THEORY: (like theistic evolution, but) God intervenes only at certain points to "help"
evolution along
• CONTRADICTIONS: same as theistic evolution
• PROPONENTS: include Pat Robertson (Christian, big televangelist guy who wanted
to sound scientific, so he founded progressive creation)
God starts it, and then there’s life, but then He leaves. Millions of years later, He
sees things are messed up and changes things before He leaves again.
• From Bring It On by Pat Robertson (2003)
• "The current theory which I accept points to a big bang theory as the
beginning of creation, when about 15 billion years ago..." (p. 135)
• "Whether or not there was a big bang, I don't know. But I am
astounded at the wisdom of God to project over 15 billion years the
exact mass..." (p. 157)
• "They [Adam and Eve] were still alive, according to my calculation,
when Noah came on the scene." (p. 70) [NOT TRUE IF YOU DO THE
MATH]
• THIS IS THE PROBLEM WHEN CHURCH AND STATE MIX, necessity of
compromise

The days of Creation were real!

The "days" of Creation were ordinary days in length. We must understand
that these days were actual days (veros dies), contrary to the opinion of the
holy fathers. Whenever we observe that the opinions of the fathers disagree
with Scripture, we reverently bear with them and acknowledge them to be our
elders. Nevertheless, we do not depart from authority of Scripture for their sake.
Martin Luther
The days in Scripture are actual, real days. At least referring to Genesis.

Gap Theory
Involves a little sci-fi
Gap Theory
• A.K.A. Ruin-Reconstruction Theory
• THEORY: primeval creation existed for billions of years but was laid waste in a
pre-Adamic cataclysm
• some put the fall of Satan here
• primarily advanced with the publication of the Scofield Study Bible, in a
effort to bridge apparent scientific contradictions
• proponents included Thomas Chalmers and G. H. Pember
• the "gap" is placed between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2
 In gap theory, they say that Gen 1:1, God created and then there was a
massive civilization of life on this earth (plants, animals, life, etc). Then Satan,
on this earth, fell. The wars in heaven of Revelation were actually in earth.
Finally, God destroyed the enemies, and then God starts again, restarts
creation.
People believe there’s a gap between Gen 1 and 2, and the gap is
millions of years old. This is how they explain the fossils being millions
of years old, from the mysterious society before Adam and Eve were
created. This is how you get the lost city of Atlantis story.
• CONTRADICTIONS:
• plain reading gives no indication of a gap
• based on an improper translation (intentional to accommodate new
theory)
• inconsistent with 6-day creation and still doesn't solve apparent
scientific contradiction
• puts death, disease and suffering before the fall
• Biblical pattern is for a remnant

Day-Age Theory
• THEORY: each day of creation corresponds to a geologic age
• "a day is a thousand years"
CONTRADICTIONS
• "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the
Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter
3:8).
• Hebrew "yom" (=day) is further clarified as "the morning and the
evening were..."
This is talking abt an actual day
They think that each day of creation is a thousand years
PROBLEMS
Day 3 is trees. Day 4 is sunlight. Which means that you’d have to have
plants for a thousand years before you had sunlight. Photosynthesis
would then be nonexistent. The plants would die before the sun gets
created!
How long did the work of creation take? When Moses writes that God created
heaven and earth and whatever is in them in six days, then let this period
continue to have been six days, and do not venture to devise any comment
according to which six days were one day. But if you cannot understand how
this could have been done in six days, then grant the Holy Spirit the honor of
being more learned then you are. Martin luther
If you can't understand how God made the earth in 6 days, then relax
and let the Holy Spirit speak for HImself.

Old-Earth Creation
• THEORY: many other hard to classify compromises
• CONTRADICTIONS
• Genesis 5 & 11 give specific ages for PERSONS, not time periods
• "Enoch, the seventh from Adam..." (Jude 14)
God created the earth in 6 days, but only a million years ago. HOWEVER,
there’s a lineage of years listed in the Bible.
• Where can millions of years go?
• Before Genesis 1:1?
• NO - does not help resolve anything
• Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
• NO - everything is made in 6 days
 • During the creation week?
• NO - Days are normal, solar days
• Why does the enemy of souls prefer compromised creationism to
evolutionism?
• If one thing is wrong, what about the rest of it..........?????..??????
• Your view of origins impacts every aspect of your life.

Genetics
Microevolution vs macroevolution
• MICROEVOLUTION:
• changes in the gene frequency of a population over time
• modification of pre-existing genetic information in population
• i.e. MICROEVOLUTION is variation within kinds (like donkeys and zebras;
they can breed and have offspring; over time you can create new breeds of
animals, but they can never give birth to a fish; they can only have variation
within a kind, a species. There cannot be new genetic information)
MACROEVOLUTION:
• addition of NEW genetic information in a population
• large-scale changes that bridge supposed gaps between phyla,
classes, orders
• Dinosaur >> Bird
• Reptile >> Mammal
• Terrestrial Mammal >> Whale
• homologous chromosomes
• contain genes that code for the same trait
• but the alleles for the trait may be different
• e.g. eye color (not eye function)
Your eye can never start smelling. It will always see.
• genetic drift
• random loss of genes or traits in a population over time
• big impact on small populations while large populations are more
resistant
• mutations
• unrepaired damage to DNA or RNA genomes
• most occur when DNA is replicated
• occur without reference to future adaptation
occur in organisms already adapted to their environment
Gene flow
flow of genes between populations
occurs through migration / immigration
allopatric speciation
new species arise out of reproductive isolation (new species, but not new
kind)
natural selection
genetic variation + mutations
environmental conditions "select" traits in a population most suitable for
survival
Darwin's Observations on Natural Selection
variation exists in all natural populations
reproduce beyond capacity of resources
resources are limited
most advantageous variations survive
natural selection is a passive process
BUT THIS WOULD NOT ADD NEW GENETIC INFORMATION!
variation with selection, not new genes
 ADAPTATION
evolutionists rely on adaptation to an environment as an argument for
evolution of an organism
BUT specialized tend to LOSE genetic variability
specialization REDUCES future adaptability
reduced genetic variability is a LOSS OF INFORMATION
If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not
possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my
theory would absolutely break down.

Mathematics
 An excellent way to show reason in the theory of evolution
 • Big Bang happened 14.5 billion years ago
 • Cambrian explosion 543-510 million years ago
 Darwin On the Origin of Species
 The number of intermediate varieties, which have formerly existed on
the earth, must be truly enormous. Why then is not every geological
formation and every stratum full of such intermediate links? Geology
assuredly does not reveal any such finely graded organic chain; and
this, perhaps, is the most obvious and gravest objection which can
be urged against my theory.
 Can you spontaneously create an organism?
 “Complicated molecules such as proteins do not, in our scientific
experience, arise spontaneously, even by stages. And all forms of life
known today are dependent on proteins.”
 DR. N. W. PIRIE OF THE ROTHAMSTEAD EXPERIMENTAL
STATION AT HARPENDEN, ENGLAND
 All levels of classification orders are from protein. The doctor
above says you can't spontaneously create protein.
 Furthermore, hereditary material in the genes of chromosomes shows
great variation, frogs having more genetic material than do humans,
which contradicts the theory of evolution. Darwinism is more illogical
than biological.
 DR. JOHN MOORE
 Frogs have more genetic material than humans!
 Hamlet
 I don't know who it was first pointed out that, given enough time,
a monkey bashing away at random on a typewriter could
produce all the works of Shakespeare. The operative phrase is,
of course, given enough time. Let us limit the task facing our
monkey somewhat. Suppose that he has to produce, not the
complete works of Shakespeare but just the short sentence
'Methinks it is like a weasel', and we shall make it relatively easy
by giving him a typewriter with a restricted keyboard, one with
just the 26 (capital) letters, and a space bar. How long will he
take to write this one little sentence?
 Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker
 Mathematics
 • "Methinks it is like a weasel" Hamlet, act III, scene 2
 • MWR SWTNUZMLDCLEUBXTQHNZVJQF
 • MDLDMNLS ITJISWHRQEZ MECS P
 • METHINGS IT ISWLIKE B WECSEL
 The closest the computer ever came; according to
evolution, the world is 14B years old. However,
the computer can’t even make one protein.
  Problem here. So Dawkins adjusts the
experiment.
 • Second attempt was restricted (computer
knows what it is looking for)
 • (1) WDLTMNLT
DTJBKWIRZREZLMQCO P
 • (2) WDLTMNLT
DTJBSWIRZREZLMQCO P
 • (10) MDLDMNLS ITJISWHRZREZ
MECS P
 • (20) MELDINLS IT ISWPRKE Z
WECSEL
 • (30) METHINGS IT ISWLIKE B WECSEL
 • (40) METHINKS IT IS LIKE I WEASEL
 • (43) METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
 • In any case, the experiment relies on three important
things
 • the computer knows what it is looking for (prior
knowledge would not be possible without an intelligent
designer)
 • the computer knows what is beneficial (keeps beneficial
changes while discarding harmful mutations)
 • there is a mutation EVERY generation
 He thinks this proves evolution, but there’s a
problem again. The computer knows what it is
looking for. This is a sign of an intelligent
designer!
 “And all these experiments assume that there would be a
mutation in every generation, when we know that for
higher organisms (such as mammals) there is actually
only one mutation every 100,000 generations.”
 FRANCISCO J. AYALA. "TELEOLOGICAL
EXPLANATIONS IN EVOLUTIONARY
BIOLOGY." PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE.
MARCH 1970. P. 3.
 Take over 6B years to create one mutation!
 • So, assuming a generation of only ten years for
one trillion apes turning over completely every
generation, how long would it take to get even
10% of the proteins to "evolve" (mutate)?
 According to the model formula it would take
over one thousand trillion trillion trillion years
(to make ONE mutation)!
 [estimate age of universe is 13.7 billion years]
 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000
 Use REASON! Evolution doesn't work for physics, biology, genetics,
math.
Hebrews 3:4
4
For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.

Proverbs 18:17
17
In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

Hebrew 11:1 to 3

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do
not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we
understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is
seen was not made out of what was visible.

Materialismo

“There is little to be gained, I think, by conceiving of the biblical God... as a human

character-petulant, head-strong, arbitrary, impulsive, or whatever. The repeated point
of the biblical writers is that we cannot make sense of God in human terms.” ROBERT
ALTER. THE WORLD OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE. NEW YORK: HARPER COLLINS,
1992. PP. 22-23.
 1 Cor 2:10-16
God is a Spirit. Can we know God? No. All that we know of God is that which He
reveals Himself.
 Gen 1:27 made in the image of od
We tend to envision God looking like us. But He doesn’t have a gender. He has no
form.
We are made in the image of God, is a reflection not of our shape/form, but the fact
that we were created by God with the capacity to reason.
 “All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the
world and of man. Human beings were a new and distinct order.
They were made "in the image of God," and it was the Creator's
design that they should populate the earth.” ELLEN G. WHITE.
"PURPOSE OF MAN'S CREATION." THE REVIEW AND
HERALD. FEBRUARY 11, 1902. [ALSO IN: S.D.A. BIBLE
COMMENTARY. VOL. 1. 1953. P. 1081.1
“Man came from the hand of his Creator perfect in organization and beautiful in form.
The fact that he has for six thousand years withstood the ever-increasing weight of
disease and crime is conclusive proof of the power of endurance with which he was
first endowed. And although the antediluvians generally gave themselves up to sin
without restraint, it was more than two thousand years before the violation of natural
law was sensibly felt. Had Adam originally possessed no greater physical power than
men now have, the race would ere this have become extinct.” ELLEN G. WHITE.
COUNSELS ON HEALTH. 1923. P. 19.
“Oxen, lions and horses, if they had hands with which to carve images, would fashion
gods according to their own shapes and give them bodies like their own.”
XENOPHANES (6TH/5TH CENTURIES BCE), GREEK PHILOSOPHER,
COMMENTING ON THE GREEK PANTHEON. FROM FRAGMENT 15.
“God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them,
which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who
believe His word to awake out of sleep. Precious light has come, appropriate for this
time. It is Bible truth, showing the perils that are right upon us. This light should lead us
to [708] a diligent study of the Scriptures and a most critical examination of the
positions which we hold.
“God would have all the bearings and positions of truth thoroughly and perseveringly
searched, with prayer and fasting. 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.
ELLEN G. WHITE. TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH. VOL. 5. PP. 707, 708.
These are manifestations.
Daniel 7:9 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of
days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his
head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his
wheels as burning fire.”
Ex 13:21 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud,
to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light;
to go by day and night:”

John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him

must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Acts 7:48 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made
with hands; as saith the prophet,”
God doesn't dwell in a place because God is out of the universe. He doesn't exist in a
place.
Acts 17:25 “Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though
he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and
all things;”
God doesn't need anything, he doesn't need us t give Him things.

Gen 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth.”
God has no form but He has a will.
“God is a spirit; yet He is a personal being, for man was
made in His image.” ELLEN G. WHITE. EDUCATION.
1903. P. 132. [ALSO IN: TESTIMONIES FOR THE
CHURCH. VOL. 8. 1904. P. 263.

Heb 1:13-14 “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of
salvation?”
He is Incorporeal (God is not limited); means to exist
outside of space and outside of time.
Hard for us to understand bc we have a beginning and an
end.
Ex 3:13 “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come
unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The
God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall
say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto
them?”

1 Tim 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be
honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Deut 4:16-23
 “Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and
make you a graven image, the
similitude of any figure, the
likeness of male or female,
17 The likeness of any beast that is
on the earth, the likeness of any
winged fowl that flieth in the air,
18 The likeness of any thing that
creepeth on the ground, the
likeness of any fish that is in the
waters beneath the earth:
19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes
unto heaven, and when thou seest
the sun, and the moon, and the
stars, even all the host of heaven,
shouldest be driven to worship
them, and serve them, which the
Lord thy God hath divided unto all
nations under the whole heaven.
20 But the Lord hath taken you,
and brought you forth out of the
iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to
be unto him a people of
inheritance, as ye are this day.

21 Furthermore the Lord was angry

with me for your sakes, and sware
that I should not go over Jordan,
and that I should not go in unto that
good land, which the Lord thy God
giveth thee for an inheritance:

22 But I must die in this land, I

must not go over Jordan: but ye
 shall go over, and possess that
good land.

23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest

ye forget the covenant of the Lord
your God, which he made with you,
and make you a graven image, or
the likeness of any thing, which the
Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.

 Isa 40:25 “To whom then will ye

liken me, or shall I be equal? saith
the Holy One.”
 You can’t make an image of
God; He has no form for
you to do that. Do this and
you will be bringing God
into His creation, which is
violating His law. Don't
make any graven images;
don’t create any image of
Him.

Divinity
 Atheism
“Hume, known as a famous skeptic, is reported to have said to
Ferguson, as they together looked up into the starry sky: 'Adam, there is
God.' Voltaire, the atheist, prayed to God in a thunderstorm. Ingersoll,
when charged with being an atheist, indignantly refuted the charge,
saying: 'I am not an atheist; I do not say that there is no God; I am an
agnostic; I do not know that there is a God.'' I thank God that I am an
atheist, were the opening words of an argument to disprove the
existence of God. A new convert to atheism was once heard to say to a
coterie of unbelievers: I have gotten rid of the idea of a supreme Being,
and I thanked God for it. Belief in God is not the result of logical
arguments, else the Bible would have given us proofs. Instead of
doubting everything that can be doubted, let us rather doubt nothing
until we are compelled to doubt. WILLIAM EVANS. THE GREAT
DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE. REVISED EDITION. CHICAGO: MOODY
PRESS, 1949. P. 15.
“Many in the West no longer believe in God, but lost belief, like a lost
fortune, has effects that linger. A young man raised in wealth may, when
he comes of age, give his fortune away and live in poverty. His
character, however, will remain that of a man raised in wealth, for he
cannot give his history away. In a similar way, centuries of rigorous,
 godly character-building have created an ideal of human character that
stands fast even though, for many, its foundation has been removed.”
JACK MILES. GOD: A BIOGRAPHY. NEW YORK: ALFRED A. KNOPF,
1995.

Personality
“Man has an intellectual and moral nature, hence his Creator
must be an intellectual and moral Being, a Judge, and Lawgiver.
Man has an emotional nature; only a Being of goodness, power,
love, wisdom and holiness could satisfy such a nature, and these
things denote the existence of a personal God.’ WILLIAM
EVANS. THE GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE. REVISED
EDITION. CHICAGO: MOODY PRESS, 1949. P. 17.

Proof of Divinity

 ONE everything is in movement and transition to that which sets

everything in motion but is itself unmoved.
 God moved first.
 TWO we observe that everything is caused to the conclusion that
if you move back through the chain of cause and effect, you
reach the origin of all cause, which is itself uncaused.
 God created something from nothing.
 THREE of the fact that we live in a world of contingent
possibilities (whatever is, might not have been) to the conclusion
that for anything to be at all, there must be a necessary
guarantee of contingent being, which means that God is the
reason why there is something rather than nothing.
 The fact that there is anything at all in this world proves
there’s a Maker
 FOUR of the fact that we make comparisons (taller, wiser,
smaller, etc.) to the conclusion that there must be some absolute
standard against which comparisons are made, and that the
"standard" must exist since to be perfect is to exist in the fullest
possible way.
 The comparisons show that there had to be an absolute
standard. the perfect personality—there has to be the
perfect ideal.
 FIVE we observe that all things exist in such a way that they are
directed towards their own end, in the way that seeds turn into
plants, or an arrow, when properly aimed, hits its target, to the
conclusion that where there is organized design it is rational to
infer a designer.
 As you look at the observable world and see how it works
together, in one systematic whole you realize this didn’t
happen by accident and you see that there is an
intelligent Designer.
Jesus Christ
Jer 23:6 “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his
name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.”
 The Lord our Righteousness
Isa 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
He’s everlasting (incorporeal) father—never begotten.

God had called Abraham to be the father of the faithful, and his life was to stand as an
example of faith to succeeding generations. But his faith had not been perfect. He had
shown distrust of God in concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, and again in his
marriage with Hagar. That he might reach the highest standard, God subjected him to
another test, the closest which man was ever called to endure. In a vision of the night
he was directed to repair to the land of Moriah, and there offer up his son as a burnt
offering upon a mountain that should be shown him.” ELLEN G. WHITE. PATRIARCHS
AND PROPHETS. 1890. P. 147.

“If Christ made all things, he existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to
this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and
in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed
forevermore.” ELLEN G. WHITE. "THE WORD MADE FLESH." THE REVIEW AND
HERALD. APRIL 5, 1906. LALSO IN: S.D.A. BIBLE COMMENTARY. VOL. 5.
WASHINGTON: REVIEW AND HERALD, 1956. P. 1126. / SELECTED MESSAGES.
BOOK 1. 1958. PP. 247, 248. / LIFT HIM UP. 1988. P. 16.1
He is fully God, God the creator. He was before all things were created.

The Alpha and Omega

Rev 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith
the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:11 “Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and,
What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches
which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos,
and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea.”
Rev 22:12-13 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me,
to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first
and the last.

“"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the
world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." "The people which sat in
darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light
is sprung up." Here the pre-existence of Christ and the purpose of his manifestation
to our world are presented as living beams of light from the eternal throne.”
ELLEN G. WHITE. "THE WORD MADE FLESH." THE REVIEW AND HERALD. APRIL
5, 1906. LALSO IN: SELECTED MESSAGES. BOOK 1. 1958. PP. 247, 248. / LIFT
HIM UP. 1988. P. 16.1
“Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God. ... In speaking of His pre-
existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that
there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to
whose voice the Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with
Him.”
ELLEN G. WHITE. "RESISTANCE TO LIGHT NO. 3 CONCLUSION)." THE SIGNS OF
THE TIMES. AUGUST 29, 1900. [ALSO IN: EVANGELISM. 1946. P. 615. / S.D.A.
BIBLE COMMENTARY. VOL.7A. 1970. P. 440. / LIFT HIM UP. 1988. P. 17.1
Nature
 Heb 2:14-18
 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage.
 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham.
 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he
himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are
tempted.
 Discusion of Jesus’ nature is only found in Hebrews
(antilegomena)
 He comes as a real man; has the possibility of suffering like we
do; He must suffer being attempted in order to be a support for
those of us who are tempted; He’s tempted so He knows what
being tempted is.
 HEBREWS 4:14-16
 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we
have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
 Christ was tempted just as we were tempted, but the difference
is that he had no sin.
 What happens when we’re tempted? We’re tempted and when it
comes to you, you respond—there’s an answering chord. No
temptation comes from within. Temptation comes outside; only
when you choose to act on it do you commit it.
 HEBREWS 7:26-28
 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who
needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his
own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he
offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have
infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the
Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
 He didn't come to teach people to live as a sinner; He came to
teach us about humanity and divinity combined.
 "To redeem man, Christ became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross. The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden
linked chain which binds our souls to Christ and through Christ to God. This is
to be our study. Christ was a real man, and He gave proof of His humility in
becoming a man. And He was God in the flesh." SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7,
p. 904:10.
 The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. HOW?
  Bc Christ shows through His humanity can be connected to
divinity.
 "Still seeking to give a true direction to her faith, Jesus declared, 'I am the
resurrection, and the life.' In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived. 'He
that hath the Son hath life.' 1 John 5:12. The divinity of Christ is the
believer's assurance of eternal life." Desire of Ages, p.530:3.

"Think of Christ's humiliation. He took upon Himself fallen, suffering human nature,
degraded and defiled by sin. He took our sorrows, bearing our grief and shame. He
endured all the temptations wherewith man is beset. He united humanity with
divinity: a divine spirit dwelt in a temple of flesh. He united Himself with the temple.
'The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,' because by so doing He could
associate with the sinful, sorrowing sons and daughters of Adam (YI Dec. 20, 1900)."
SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1147:4.
 Christ could’ve still fallen with the nature of Adam bc even Adam fell with
that same nature in Genesis. Why didn’t He fall? Bc His humanity
appealed to the divine power. How did He overcome? He didn’t
voercome as a man; He overcame by placing a firm hold on divine
power.
HOW DID CHRIST OVERCOME? (HOW DO WE OVERCOME?)
 "The Son of God was assaulted at every step by the powers of darkness. After
His baptism He was driven of the Spirit into the wilderness, and suffered
temptation for forty days. Letters have been coming in to me, affirming that
Christ could not have had the same nature as man, for if He had, He would
have fallen under similar temptations. If He did not have man's nature, He could
not be our example. If He was not a partaker of our nature, He could not have
been tempted as man has been. If it were not possible for Him to yield to
temptation, He could not be our helper. It was a solemn reality that Christ came
to fight the battles as man, in man's behalf. His temptation and victory tell us
that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the
divine nature." SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1082:1.
 "Had he not been fully human, Christ could not have been our substitute. He
could not have worked out in humanity that perfection of character which it is
the privilege of all to reach. He was the light and the life of the world. He came
to this earth to work in behalf of men, that they might no longer be under the
control of Satanic agencies. But while bearing human nature, he was
dependent upon the Omnipotent for his life. In his humanity, he laid hold of the
divinity of God; and this every member of the human family has the
privilege of doing. Christ did nothing that human nature may not do if it
partakes of the divine nature." Signs of the Times, June 17, 1897:8.

THE "NATURE" OF WHO?

 "Daily the Saviour's compassion must be revealed. The example He has left
must be followed. He took upon His sinless nature our sinful nature, that He
might know how to succor those that are tempted." Medical Ministry, p. 181:3.
 "Adam and Eve were given a probation in which to return to their allegiance;
and in this plan of benevolence all their posterity were embraced. After the Fall,
Christ became Adam's instructo He acted in God's stead toward humanity,
saving the race from immediate death. He took upon Him the work of mediator
between God and man. In the fullness of time He was to be revealed in human
form. He was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking nature but
not the sinfulness of man (ST May 29, 1901)." SDA Bible Commentary, vo
 Christ cannot possess Adam’s sins or else He’d be a sinner.
 

 **whose sins did Christ bear? ours or His own? if His own, then it is the
condition of Adam AFTER the fall (and He would need a Savior), if our
sins, then it is the condition of Adam BEFORE the fall (possibility to fall,
but not due to sin of His own)
 **remember that Adam, in the "nature of Adam" before the fell, FELL!!
Christ can come in the nature of Adam and still fall, just as Adam did

NO INCLINATION TO SIN

 "The Majesty of heaven, while engaged in His mission, was often in earnest
prayer. He did not always visit Olivet, for His disciples had learned His favorite
retreat, and often followed Him. He chose the stillness of night, when there
would be no interruption. Jesus could heal the sick and raise the dead. He was
Himself a source of blessing and strength. He commanded even the tempests,
and they obeyed Him. He was unsullied with corruption, a stranger to sin; yet
He prayed, and that often with strong crying and tears. He prayed for His
disciples and for Himself, thus identifying Himself with our needs, our
weaknesses, and our failings, which are so common with humanity. He was a
mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen
natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as
we are. Jesus endured agony which required help and support from His
Father." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp. 508-509.
 "As the human was upon Him, He felt His need of strength from His Father. He
had select places of prayer. He loved to hold communion with His Father in the
solitude of the mountain. In this exercise His holy, human soul was
strengthened for the duties and trials of the day. Our Saviour identifies Himself
with our needs and weaknesses, in that He became a suppliant, a nightly
petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, to come forth
invigorated and refreshed, braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all
things. He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like
passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil. He endured
struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a
necessity and privilege. He required all the stronger divine support and comfort
which His Father was ready to impart to Him, to Him who had, for the benefit of
man, left the joys of heaven and chosen His home in a cold and thankless
world. Christ found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. Here He
could unburden His heart of the sorrows that were crushing Him. He was a man
of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, pp.
201-202.

What about His body?

 "The offerings presented to the Lord were to be without blemish. These
offerings represented Christ, and from this it is evident that Jesus Himself was
free from physical deformity. He was the 'lamb without blemish and without
spot.' 1 Peter 1:19. His physical structure was not marred by any defect;
His body was strong and healthy. And throughout His lifetime He lived in
conformity to nature's laws. Physically as well as spiritually, He was an example
 of what God designed all humanity to be through obedience to His laws."
Desire of Ages, pp. 50-51.

CAUTION
 To David, Christ came in the nature of Christ. He didn’t come in the nature of
Adam after the fall because then He’d need a Saviour. And not even in the
nature of Adam before the fall.
 To talk abt Christ coming in the nature of Adam after the fall is dangerous.
 “Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a
taint of, or inclination to corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way
yielded to corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet
He is called that holy thing. It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals
that Christ could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet be
without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a
mystery. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every
human being be warned from the ground of making Christ altogether human,
such an one as ourselves: for it cannot be. The exact time when humanity
blended with divinity, it is not necessary for us to know. We are to keep our feet
on the rock, Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity. - {13MR 19.1} [previous
paragraphs also support this point]”

 "By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold
upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of
obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey. It was Christ
who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, I AM THAT I AM
1. ... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto
you.' Ex. 3:14. This was the pledge of Israel's deliverance. So when He came 'in
the likeness of men,' He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the
meek and lowly Saviour, is God 'manifest in the flesh.' 1 Tim. 3:16. And to us
He says: 'I AM the Good Shepherd.' 'I AM the living Bread.' 'I AM the Way, the
Truth, and the Life. 'All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. John
10:11; 6:51; 14:6; Matt. 28:18. I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be
not afraid. 'God with us' is the surety of our deliverance from sin, the assurance
of our power to obey the law of heaven." Desire of Ages, pp. 24-25.

Spirit
Jn 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth.”
Acts 7:48 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith
the prophet,”

Acts 17:25 “Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing,
seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”
“The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit
in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who
receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour.
“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-those who receive Christ by living faith
are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in
their efforts to live the new life in Christ.”
ELLEN G. WHITE. TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH CONTAINING MESSAGES
OF WARNING AND INSTRUCTION TO SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS. 1906. P. 63.
LALSO KNOWN AS SPECIAL TESTIMONIES. SERIES B. NUMBER 7. ALSO IN:
"THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST." BIBLE TRAINING SCHOOL. MARCH 1,
1906. / EVANGELISM. 1946. P. 615.1

 Attributes of the Holy Spirit

 The Holy Spirit speaks
 Acts 28:25-26 “And when they agreed not among themselves,
they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake
the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall
hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see,
and not perceive:”
 Who spoke? The Holy Spirit. When did He speak? To
Isaiah in the Old testament!

 Jn 16:13-14 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will

guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and
shall shew it unto you.”

 Heb 3:7 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will
hear his voice,”

 The Holy Spirit gives orders

 Acts 8:29 “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join
thyself to this chariot.”
 Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy
Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them.”
 The Spirit has an opinion
 Acts 15:28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to
lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;”
 A Witness
 Rom 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we
are the children of God:”
 Can be grieved
 Eph 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.”
 What does grieving the Spirit mean? Acts 5:1-2-3-4-5
 Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit.
  V4 Peter tells Ananias, that he wanted to make a big
show and give all his money to the church
 And even after it was sold, the money was still his and he
could've just changed his mind and kept back a part of
the money
 V5
 Luke 12:10 “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son
of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth
against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.”
 If you blaspheme Jesus and even blaspheme the Father,
you’ll be forgiven
 But the sin against the Holy Spirit—cannot be forgiven.
 Why? Why is it unforgivable?
 Does God want to forgive a person who sins against the
Spirit?
 Yes. Forgiveness is God’s nature. He wants to
forgive. So then why is the sin against the hly
Spirit unforgivable?
 What’s the only thing that will draw me to Christ?
The Spirit.
 And if you don't plead for forgiveness with Christ’s
name, I stand in front of God with my sins with no
covering of Christ, and I'll have my due wages of
death for my sins.
 But do this sin and you can't be forgiven because
then you'll be outside the method of how you’ll be
drawn to God.
 If you’re convicted of sin, then you haven't
committed the sin against the Holy Spirit. Even if
it's the 7 millionth time and you still feel convicted,
you haven't done the unforgivable sin.
 Personality of the Holy Spirit
 “The Holy Spirit always leads to the written word. The Holy Spirit is a
person; for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of
God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At
such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God.
What strong evidence of the power of truth we can give to believers and
unbelievers when we can voice the words of John, "We have known and
believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."
 ELLEN G. WHITE. PREACH THE WORD. 1906. [ALSO
IN:EVANGELISM. 1946. PP. 616, 6171
 “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."
 ELLEN G. WHITE. PREACH THE WORD. 1906. LALSO
IN:EVANGELISM. 1946. PP. 616, 6171
 “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, that the Lord God is our keeper, and
helper. He hears every word we utter and knows every thought of the
mind.”
  ELLEN G. WHITE. MANUSCRIPT RELEASES. VOL. 7.
WASHINGTON:REVIEW AND HERALD, 1990. P. 299.

 Arguments for God:

 Universality
 Ps 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They
are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none
that doeth good.”
 Argues no culture without a concept of divinity; have not found
any culture on earth, even the most remote tribe, always had
some concept of God
 God is a universal concept of humanity
 “God doesn’t believe in atheists”
 Argues the existence of God
 Cosmology
 • COSMOLOGY = "the scientific study of the universe and its
origin and development"
 • eternal series theory
 Heb 3:4 “For every house is builded by some man; but he that
built all things is God.”
 Also argues for God
 Teleology
 • TELEOLOGY = "the theory that events and developments are
meant to fulfill a purpose and happen because of that"
 • The existence of your car proves not only a manufacturer, but
also a designer. Your car was made for a purpose. Without a
designer there would be no car.
 • The same argument holds for the existence of God. The
existence of the universe proves that there is a designer.
 The universe was made for a purpose. Without a designer (that
is, without God) there would be no universe.
 The thing exists—implies the existence of a designer
 Ontology
 • ONTOLOGY = "the branch of thought concerned with the
nature of existence"
 • since man has an idea of infinite and perfect Being, such a
Being must exist
 You can’t learn something without having an initial foundation.
Therefore, ontology exists because man cannot learn what he
doesn’t already have an association of.
 These aren’t exactly good arguments, but they’re the only ones
available to us.
 Biology
 • genetic variation vs. evolution of purpose
 • Gregor Mendel (not religious)
 • pea plant experiments
 • proves evolution is only done on micro-scale
 • change of form, never of function
 Generation of pea plant is 16 days
 The peas always reproduced peas; never apples. It’s only
micro-evolution, never maco-evolution—change of form,
not of function