Seems to me this thought is borne out in the following Scriptures:

Romans
8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 Corinthians
5:21 For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews
2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
2:17 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.
2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews
4:15 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.

1 John
3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

PS - Ellen agrees with the passages posted above:

Christ lived the law of God in humanity, and so may man do if he will by faith take hold on the strong and mighty One for strength. {TM 282.3}

Christ came to live the law in His human character in just that way in which all may live the law in human nature if they will do as Christ was doing. {3SM 129.4}

"The prince of this world cometh," said Jesus, "and hath nothing in me." There was in Him nothing that responded to Satan's sophistry. He did not consent to sin. Not even by a thought did He yield to temptation. So may it be with us. Christ's humanity was united with divinity; He was fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. {RC 308.6}

God was manifested in Him that He might be manifested in them. Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was. {DA 664.4}

sorry mm. i was reading it in one light when you meant it in another.

this is the light you meant it in i believe.

She mostly refers to their message mostly as "justification by faith." I think the 1895 sermons are very good in their discussions of Christ's human nature.

I think the most pressing matter to study is God's character. I've found a number of people to be helpful on this subject. I'll mention a few.

First of all, I like what Ellen White wrote, especially in "The Desire of Ages." The first chapter is a wonder, truly a thing of beauty. I know of no better explanation of the Plan of Salvation than that chapter. I've also learned a lot from the chapter "It Is Finished." But it's a great book in general.

The Great Controversy is another book which has had a big influence on me.

Probably third would be "Christ's Object Lessons."

George Fifield has been a big help to me. He wrote a book called "God Is Love," which has been republished. If you're interested in how you can get it, I can tell you how. Here's a taste: http://www.heavenlysanctuary.com/forum/v...ow=5&page=1

Among modern day writers, Ty Gibson has really helped me a lot. Also Greg Boyd has some nice ideas, in particular his book, "Is God to Blame?" The exciting thing about Boyd is that he is not an SDA. Here's something Boyd wrote:



From the SOP:

I agree with you, Teresa.....it is confusing...and much safer to stick with the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy! I believe Paulson with many others brings Jesus down to the unconverted man's level....

What Paulson is presenting was the Spirit of Prophecy. He was explaining some misunderstandings that people have in regards to certain phrases used there.

But, Tammy and Teresa: is it not precisely the aim of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach man at his naturally unconverted level??? Are we not each the unconverted people he needs, yea wants, to lift up with his righteousness - formed using our very own sinful flesh and the power of God?

Is Jesus' humanity not precisely that of Christians, who are saved from death and are yet being saved by Christ's character being imparted piece by piece as we daily exercise justification by faith?

That said, intellectual confusion began before Paulson and his "ilk" had to start defending the recognised church teaching of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. As proved by "Touched With Our Feelings" (available from the ABC), our church publications were unanimous that Christ took our sinful, fallen humanity and made it righteous by his life of faith, until...

The first confusing publication was the 1949 edition of Bible Readings for the Home Circle, which deleted the comment that Jesus took himself sinful human nature - allowing confusion to start as to what kind of human nature our Saviour did in fact take.

The book by Thomas Davis, Associate Editor of the Review alongside Herbert Douglass, under Kenneth Woods, from 1966-1983, on this subject said that Jesus' humanity was exactly like a Christian's humanity - spiritually connected to God by the Holy Spirit: something pioneered by Jesus. This means that Jesus is precisely unlike the unconverted man, since Christians are ideally not unconverted, but experientially, i.e. inwardly from mind to character, righteous by faith...BUT only because Jesus sorted out the higher and lower natures of sinful humanity (SOP points, hence this thread), producing his own perfect righteousness, and, having saved mankind from the eternal death due sin itself - let alone our actions, thus consecrating the path to Christian perfection (A T Jones' title of his commentary on Hebrews) for us to walk.

The idea that Jesus assumed the "form and nature" of Adam before the Fall is in direct contradiction to what Ellen wrote about Jesus' human form and nature. Listen:

He sent His Son into the world, that through His taking the human form and nature, humanity and divinity combined in Him would elevate man in the scale of moral value with God. {1SM 340.3}

It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon himself the form and nature of fallen man, that he might be made perfect through suffering, and endure himself the strength of Satan's temptations, that he might the better know how to succor those who should be tempted. {4aSG 115.3}

Colin, I find it interesting that Ellen makes it clear that the righteous traits of character Jesus developed throughout His life on earth was developed with same form and nature all of us inherited at birth and in the same way born again believers develop righteous traits of character. Of course, like sunlight outshines candlelight, Jesus achieved a level of maturation that none of us will be able to equal throughout eternity.

so Jesus became as bad as us, but we cant be as good as He "became"?