Shared conversation

Defending the Godhead: Rebutting Antitrinitarian Sentiment in Adventism

Is the Holy Spirit a mere influence or a distinct divine person?

AdventAI

I've received this from an antitrinitarian. I want to rebut the erroneous sentiments. Identify them and give a one paragraph rebuttal that squarely destroys the ideas Hello Elder Kenani. Thanks for sharing your contact through YouTube. I am Felix Onchagwa Monari and I am a Bible student just like you and I greatly like the teachings of Ellen White(SOP). I am also a comrade like you and went to Kenyatta University(KUSDA). Graduated in 2019. Just like many universities also in KUSDA, a church there of about 3k members, there were constant debates on the topics you address. Of course I wasn't so much into the discussions as much since 2014, I was studying all possible materials I could ray my hands on and I didn't want to give my views for or against. So I understand where you are coming from on the issue in the university church. Of course I finally made my decision kabisaa kabisaa in 2020 during the COVID 19 lockdown. I thought it will be interesting to let you know that the GC SDA church is generally viewed as ANTI TRINITARIAN by the larger Christian world. Also almost all my friends( in my little circle) who are serious and committed Adventists in good and regular standing tell me that the seventh day Adventist church is not and has never believed in the Trinity. It has always believed in the GODHEAD. So still it remains to be clearly understood and answered to help us KNOW what exactly is TRINITARIANISM so that we first know whether the Evangelicals are right in calling the GC SDA church ANTI TRINITARIAN. Thanks for your time and will be happy to hear from you and reply dear brother and elder.

AdventAI

The Godhead is composed of three distinct, co-eternal, and co-equal persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—who are perfectly united in Spirit, counsel, and purpose. While the pioneers historically rejected the specific Catholic definition of the "Trinity" found in various creeds, the light given through the Spirit of Prophecy has clearly established that there are "three living persons of the heavenly trio" who constitute the one true God. Jesus Christ possesses life that is "original, unborrowed, and underived," having existed with the Father from all eternity, and the Holy Spirit is the distinct "third person of the Godhead," a personal agency that regenerates the human heart. Any sentiment suggesting that the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not believe in the co-equality of these three divine persons is a sophistry of the enemy designed to undermine the plan of redemption.

The Three Persons of the Godhead

The Godhead consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who gave themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. Jesus Christ is the "only begotten Son of God," the "equal of the Father," and the one who has been in the presence of the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit is the "third person of the Godhead," a distinct personality who works through human agencies to transform character and recreate the soul in the image of God.

  • ** Matthew 28:19:** Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

  • ** Genesis 1:26:** And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

The Divinity and Pre-existence of Christ

Jesus Christ possesses "original, unborrowed, underived" life, which is exclusively the property of God. He is the self-existent "I AM," whose divinity is the believer's absolute assurance of eternal life and the power of the resurrection. To deny His deity or claim He had no existence before His advent to this world is a "dangerous error" that contradicts the plainest statements of our Saviour and lowers our conception of the work of redemption.

  • ** John 1:1-3:** In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

  • ** John 17:5:** And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not a mere influence or an "everywhere-present force," but a distinct personality who moves, chooses, and can be grieved. It is the Spirit that recreates, refines, and sanctifies human beings, fitting them to become members of the royal family. Persistently rejecting the Spirit's invitation to repent or attributing His holy power to satanic agencies constitutes the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost.

  • ** Ephesians 4:30:** And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

  • ** John 14:26:** But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Unity and the Platform of Truth

The church is called to "press together" in the unity that exists within the Trinity. While some may use the pioneers' early struggles to understand these mysteries as an excuse to depart from the faith, the Spirit of Prophecy was given to correct errors and confirm the truth of the Godhead. We are warned to be careful of "new notions" and theories that seek to tear down the established platform of truth regarding the three heavenly powers.

  • ** Revelation 14:12:** Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

  • ** John 17:21:** That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Sources · 22
  1. PH148 5.3The Second TitheEllen Gould White
  2. BDOC 66.21The Godhead for Seventh-day AdventistsEugene Prewitt
  3. BDOC 66.37The Godhead for Seventh-day AdventistsEugene Prewitt
  4. Ev 616.2EvangelismEllen Gould White
  5. 5BC 1130.3EGW SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5Ellen Gould White
  6. AA 38.3The Acts of the ApostlesEllen Gould White
  7. DD 10.1Darkness Before DawnEllen Gould White
  8. 9MR 126.1Manuscript Releases, vol. 9 [Nos. 664-770]Ellen Gould White
  9. 1SM 394.3Selected Messages Book 1Ellen Gould White
  10. 1SM 296.2Selected Messages Book 1Ellen Gould White
  11. DA 530.3The Desire of AgesEllen Gould White
  12. HLv 354.6From Heaven With LoveEllen Gould White
  13. RH May 8, 1900, par. 5The Review and HeraldEllen Gould White
  14. GW 286.3Gospel Workers (1915 ed.)Ellen Gould White
  15. 5BC 1092.4EGW SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5Ellen Gould White
  16. RH January 18, 1898, par. 7The Review and HeraldEllen Gould White
  17. EP 284.2From Eternity PastEllen Gould White
  18. TM 56.1Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel WorkersEllen Gould White
  19. 1NL 51.1Notebook Leaflets from the Elmshaven Library, vol. 1Ellen Gould White
  20. EW xxiii.2Early WritingsEllen Gould White
  21. 1MR 303.3Manuscript Releases, vol. 1 [Nos. 19-96]Ellen Gould White
  22. ST September 15, 1898, par. 12The Signs of the TimesEllen Gould White