Adventist Issues

Human Nature of Christ

Historical/Traditional Position
Postlapsarian position
E.J. Waggoner Alonzo T. Jones William Warren Prescott Uriah Smith Ofcial Publications (1895-1915) - Journals/periodicals - Sabbath school lessons - Books - Bible Readings for the Home Circle (1915)

Questions on Doctrine (1957)

Undoubtedly the most divisive book in Seventh-day Adventist history.
(George K. Knight)

Key Players

Key Proponents:

LeRoy Edwin Froom W.E. Read Roy Allan Anderson

Key Players

Brief Historical Outline

Donald Grey Barnhouse

Key Opponent:

Walter Martin Series of conferences (1955-1956)

Milian Lauritz Andreason Most inuential theologian of 1940s Last Generation Theology

4 central points: Atonement Salvation = grace + law Jesus a created being Nature of Christ

Brief Historical Outline

RE: Nature of Christ
Barnhouse states Adventist leaders position regarding the nature of Christ to be: sinless, holy, and perfect despite the fact that certain of their writers have occasionally gotten into print with contrary views repugnant to the Church at large.
Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians? Another Look at Seventh-day Adventism, in Eternity, Sept. 1956, p. 6)

Brief Historical Outline

RE: Nature of Christ
Statement from Froom & others regarding the majority position within Adventism on the nature of Christ false & misleading:

Overwhelming historical-traditional data Recent poll of Adventist leaders Drama of the Ages (1950 edition)

Lunatic fringe

Brief Historical Outline

George R. Knight on QOD & Nature of Christ:
If the issue of a change of Adventist theology on the atonement can be viewed as semantic, the issue of the change of position on the human nature of Christ was one of substance. Whether Froom and his colleagues were willing to admit it or not, the view of Christs human nature that they set forth was a genuine revision of the position held by the majority of the denomination before the publication of Questions on Doctrine.

Reaction to Questions on Doctrine

M.L. Andreason His Issues:

1. Atonement

Reaction to Questions on Doctrine

M.L. Andreason His Issues:

Reaction to Questions on Doctrine

M.L. Andreason: discontent surfaces with 1956 publication (Eternity) which stated:
Those with postlapsarian viewpoint = lunatic fringe Barnhouse: Adventists no longer believe as some of their earlier teachers taught, that Jesus atoning work was not completed on calvary.

2. Nature of Christ

Reaction to Questions on Doctrine

M.L. Andreason: controversy breaks out in the open with statement from Froom (article in Ministry, Feb. 1957): That is the tremendous scope of the sacricial act of the cross--a complete, perfect, and nal atonement for mans sin.

Reaction to Questions on Doctrine

George Knight on Frooms meaning of atonement:
In conclusion, it can be said that while it is true that Froom believed that Christs death on the cross was complete as a sacrice of atonement, he did not hold that it represented a completed atonement.

Andreasons interpretation: Atonement

completed at cross

Andreason & the Atonement

Andreason & the Last Generation

Knight on Andreasons Last Generation theology:
Satan ultimately defeated not at cross, but by the last generation in their demonstration that an entire generation of people could live a sinlessly perfect life.

3-phased atonement:
1. Perfectly sinless life of Christ 2. Death on cross 3. Demonstration-mans ability to live perfectly as Christ (through Christ)

Andreason: in the remnant Satan will meet his defeat, through them God will stand vindicated.

Andreason & the Last Generation

Andreason & the Betrayal of Adventism

Relationship of nature of Christ and 3rd phase of atonement Christ + sinful nature (tendencies) = last generation theology Jeopardizes

Betrayal of Adventism: 1. Atonement 2. Nature of Christ 3. Investigative judgment 4. Great controversy & vindication of God 5. Victory over sin 6. Perfection

Andreason & the Betrayal of Adventism

The enemy is destroying the foundations on which we have built these many years. The very essence of our message, that there is now in the sanctuary above going on a work of judgment, of atonement, is being discarded. Take that away, and you take Adventism away. . . . To me, Brother Figuhr [GC President], this is the greatest apostacy [sic] this denomination has ever faced, and it will surely divide the people
(M.L. Andreason to R.R. Figuhr, July 4, 1957).

M.L. Andreason: Aftermath

Andreason continues to raise objections to QOD The Atonement Letters to the Churches Ministerial credentials Death GC revokes action

Postlapsarian Position
Post-fall nature of Adam Mental/physical/ moral degeneration Innate tendenciesinclinations to sin Tempted from within & without

Which Nature?

Prelapsarian Position
Pre-fall nature of Adam Qualied mental/physical/ moral degeneration No innate tendenciesinclinations to sin Tempted from without, not within

Alternative (Hybrid) Position

Post-fall + pre-fall nature of Adam Mental, physical, but NOT moral degeneration No innate tendenciesinclinations to sin Tempted from without, not within

Alternative (Hybrid) Position

most widespread promoted in Seventh-day Adventists Believe...

Scriptural Evidence

Romans 1:3
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the esh

Romans 8:3
(see Philippians 2:7)
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the esh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful esh [sarkos hamartias], on account of sin: He condemned sin in the esh.

Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of esh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and nd grace to help in time of need.

Herbert Douglass on Hebrews

One of the principal lines of argument in Hebrews is that the high priests efcacy depends upon how closely he identies with those for whom he mediates. Jesus is a perfect high priest because of His real identication with mans predicaments, whether of the spirit (temptations) or of the body (privations and death) (Ministry, June, 1985)

Biblical Record
See also:
Galatians 4:4,5 2 Corinthians 5:21

George Knight on Ellen White

There is not the slightest doubt that Ellen White believed that Christ took upon Himself fallen, sinful human nature at the Incarnation. Whatever that consisted of, however, it is clear that it did not include any evil propensities to sin--those thistles and briars of selshness, self-love, and so on (From 1888 to Apostasy).

EGW & the Nature of Christ

EGW & Nature of Christ

The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study. Christ was a real man; He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. Yet He was God in the esh. When we approach this subject, we would do well to heed the words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5). We should come to this study with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful eld, which will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth (1SM 244).

Ellen White & the Nature of Christ

Christs overcoming and obedience is that of a true human being. In our conclusions, we make many mistakes because of our erroneous views of the human nature of the Lord. When we give to His human nature a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conicts with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 929).

EGW & Nature of Christ

When Adam was assailed by the tempter, none of the effects of sin were upon him. He stood in the strength of perfect manhood, possessing the full vigor of mind and body. . . It was not thus with Jesus when He entered the wilderness to cope with Satan. For four thousand years the race had been decreasing in physical strength, in mental power, and in moral worth; and Christ took upon Him the inrmities of degenerate humanity. Only thus could He rescue man from the lowest depths of his degradation (DA 117).

EGW & Nature of Christ

If He did not have mans 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 ght the battles as man, in mans behalf. His temptation and victory tell us that humanity must copy the Pattern; man must become a partaker of the divine nature (1SM 408).

EGW & Baker Letter

(5BC 1128, 1129)
Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. . . The rst Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God....He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. . . 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. . .

Baker Letter

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. . .

Joe Crews on Propensity

[I do not] know anyone who believes that Jesus had sinful propensities. But I do know many who believe that He had natural propensities, just as all of us do, as a result of being born like us, with fallen nature. Evil propensities are those leanings toward sin that have been cultivated and strengthened by indulgence in sin. Natural propensities are those leanings that have been inherited. Guilt is involved in one, but not the other. It is not sinful unless one yields to the propensity (Ministry, Dec. 1985).

EGW on Corruption
Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupt, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God (MS 57, 1890).