Controversial SOP Quotes

A Deeper Look at Some Controversial SOP Quotes   

A statement from Desire of Ages was shared that we should look at. “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. "He that believeth in Me," said Jesus, "though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" Christ here looks forward to the time of His second coming.“ DA 530 This is one of those statements made that is used by both sides of this issue. To those who believe that Jesus is not the true Son of God, they take that the original, unborrowed, underived life, as proof that Jesus is co-eternal with the Father. But it all depends upon how you read it. This quote was given as an assurance that Christ has the power of life in Himself to give us eternal life at the second coming.  To those of us who believe that Jesus is the true Son of God, we see this statement of original, unborrowed and underived as proof He is born of God and thus fully God, not a created being.  I personally believe that this is showing that Christ with His inheritance also inherited true life - original, unborrowed and underived. Without this there would be no hope in the gospel of Jesus.  

A quote from Evangelism needs to be looked at as well.  This book is a compilation of E.G.White’s writings.   The Pre-existent, Self-existent Son of God.--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. EV, 615. Taken out of its original context it sounds pretty convincing that Christ is co-eternal with the Father. Now let’s look at the original text as printed in Signs of the Times. “"Before Abraham was, I am." Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God. The message He gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel was, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." The prophet Micah writes of Him, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, tho thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of Thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."  {ST, August 29, 1900 par. 13}   

     Through Solomon Christ declared: "The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth. . . . When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment; when He appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him."  {ST, August 29, 1900 par. 14}      “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.”  {ST, August 29, 1900 }   Here we see it in its full light. Here we see Him being brought forth from the Father and then the statement made. We see that this is in reference to man’s existence and that it is assuring us that we have never existed in a time when He was not one with the Father.   

    There is one final quote we will look at here. Again it comes from a compilation of Ellen White’s writings. I have come to believe that most compilations are written from the agenda of the compiler’s mind. It is almost impossible for them to compile it exegesisly.  Thus I find that if you really want to know the truth in context, read the original document.  In the book Evangelism it speaks of the three heavenly dignitaries. Let’s look at the full text found in Manuscript Releases vol 16.   

      “The Lord Jesus described the difficulties they should meet. Having called their minds to rise to an eminence, He bids them behold the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against God, against Christ, against all who unite with these holy powers. Christ tells them they were to fight in fellowship with all the children of light; that satanic agencies would combine their forces to extinguish the light of the life of Christ out of their ranks. But they were not left to fight the battles in their own human strength. The angelic host coming as ministers of God would be in that battle. Also there would be the eternal heavenly dignitaries--God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit--arming them with more than mortal energy, and would advance with them to the work, and convince the world of sin.   

     This is your work. "I left heaven, My riches, My command, My honor, My glory, to save a world from death. If they will take hold of My strength, and make peace with Me, I will make peace with them."  {16MR 204-5}  Here we see that evil would unite against God (see John 17:3) and Christ. It would also be against their followers. Note that in the text Ellen White calls God and Christ the Holy Powers. Then she promises that in our battle we will have the aid of the angels, God (Father), Son, and Holy Spirit. It is the word dignitaries that are believed by some to prove the trinity doctrine. But what does the word dignitary mean? It can be used as personage and thus the argument. It is also equally used as meaning notable visitor or public figure.  If the Holy Powers as seen above work together here in the form of the Holy Spirit in us, as well as independently in heaven,  then this makes the lower half of this statement consistent with the upper half as well as the bulk of her other writings. Each one of us must decide. I can only give facts; Jesus is the light of the world. He will have to shed light on these quotes in each of our hearts.