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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: Tom]
#107145
01/05/09 05:32 PM
01/05/09 05:32 PM
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Arnold, It's difficult to believe that he would say if you looked at things in too much detail you would become confused. Perhaps you understood his intent, which I know you've done with me. Citing the part of the post where he says what you claimed seems like it would be OK. If you think not, you could PM it to me. I hope this isn't against the rules (too much). "I urge you strongly to resist the inclination to indulge in such in-depth specificity, and to reserve such queries for when we sit together with our Lord under the tree of life." There are others, but I'm not good with the search function of gmail.
By God's grace, Arnold
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: asygo]
#107150
01/05/09 06:51 PM
01/05/09 06:51 PM
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Talmudic, eh???... Sounds like KP is taking Sister White's advice not to delve deeper into justification and sanctification than is necessary for our salvation. You and he appear to differ on what is enough depth, but he is standing firm, having studied out Adventism and confronted non-Adventist views as he has, including Des Ford, not so(?). Isn't the reality of sinful humanity - for us and for Jesus, principly the spiritual victory of mind over matter, following the Spirit of Jesus rather than the inclination of the flesh to sin, thus righteous by faith in practice? Christ pioneered that victory of faith over sinful flesh and its assist to every temptation, and that's it. What more should we distinguish on matters of sin, righteousness and faith?
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: Tom]
#107158
01/05/09 08:39 PM
01/05/09 08:39 PM
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She was preaching with Jones and Waggoner. The "same nature as man" is in reference to what Jones and Waggoner preached. Those who heard the message responded, "If Christ had taken our fallen nature, He would have fallen under the same temptations we fall under." Many have this same idea today.
That "Christ could not have the same nature of man" does not mean simply "human nature" is easily seen not to be a viable possibility. No one would make the argument "Christ could not have had human nature (i.e. simply human nature, like unfallen Adam, as opposed to fallen human nature), because if He did, He would have fallen under the same temptations we do."
So to understand "human nature" as anything other than "fallen human nature" not only ignores the historical reality of the statement (Jones and Waggoner's preaching regarding Christ's taking human nature) but would force those to whom Ellen White was responding to make an argument no one would make. the quote you posted that i got this from is from 1890. O, how Christ longed, how his heart burned, to open to the priests the greater treasures of the truth! But their minds had been cast in such a mold that it was next to an impossibility to reveal to them the truths relating to his kingdom. The Scriptures had not been read aright. The Jews had been looking for the advent of the Messiah, but they had thought he must come in all the glory that will attend his second appearing. Because he did not come with all the majesty of a king, they utterly refused him. But it was not simply because he did not come in splendor that they refused him. It was because he was the embodiment of purity, and they were impure. He walked the earth a man of spotless integrity. Such a character in the midst of degradation and evil, was out of harmony with their desires, and he was abused and despised. His spotless life flashed light upon the hearts of men, and discovered iniquity to them in its odious character. {RH, February 18, 1890 par. 5} 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. {RH, February 18, 1890 par. 6} the 1889 sermons i have by jones do not touch on Christs human nature as they do by the 1895 gc, so im not sure how you come to your conclusions.
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: teresaq]
#107169
01/06/09 12:20 AM
01/06/09 12:20 AM
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1.I pointed out the following: That "Christ could not have the same nature of man" does not mean simply "human nature" is easily seen not to be a viable possibility. No one would make the argument "Christ could not have had human nature (i.e. simply human nature, like unfallen Adam, as opposed to fallen human nature), because if He did, He would have fallen under the same temptations we do." So just from the question they were raising, it's easy to see that "Christ could not have the same nature of man" means "Christ could not have taken the fallen nature of man." Else the argument doesn't make sense. They weren't arguing that Christ wasn't human, because if He were human, He would have fallen under the same temptation that humans do, but that Christ did not take our fallen human nature, because had He done so, He would have fallen under similar temptations. This latter is an argument people still make. Nobody makes the other argument. 2.She was preaching with both Jones and Waggoner. Waggoner wrote the following in 1889: A little thought will be sufficient to show anybody that if Christ took upon Himself the likeness of man in order that He might redeem man, it must have been sinful man that He was made like, for it is sinful man that He came to redeem. Death could have no power over a sinless man, as Adam was in Eden, and it could not have had any power over Christ, if the Lord had not laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Moreover, the fact that Christ took upon Himself the flesh, not of a sinless being, but of a sinful man, that is, that the flesh which He assumed had all the weaknesses and sinful tendencies to which fallen human nature is subject, is shown by the statement that He "was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." David had all the passions of human nature. He says of himself, "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Ps. 51:5. (Christ And His Righteousness) http://www.crcbermuda.com/bible/righteou...st-in-the-flesh has more of this if interested. According to Froom, Waggoner's wife took notes of his 1888 talks, and these talks were printed in Signs of the Times articles, which were later compiled in the book "Christ Our Righteousness" (which was later renamed "Christ And His Righteousness"). The 1888 message of righteousness by faith itself included Christ's human nature.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: Tom]
#107177
01/06/09 01:46 AM
01/06/09 01:46 AM
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1.I pointed out the following: That "Christ could not have the same nature of man" does not mean simply "human nature" is easily seen not to be a viable possibility. No one would make the argument "Christ could not have had human nature (i.e. simply human nature, like unfallen Adam, as opposed to fallen human nature), because if He did, He would have fallen under the same temptations we do." So just from the question they were raising, it's easy to see that "Christ could not have the same nature of man" means "Christ could not have taken the fallen nature of man." Else the argument doesn't make sense. They weren't arguing that Christ wasn't human, because if He were human, He would have fallen under the same temptation that humans do, but that Christ did not take our fallen human nature, because had He done so, He would have fallen under similar temptations. This latter is an argument people still make. Nobody makes the other argument. 2.She was preaching with both Jones and Waggoner. Waggoner wrote the following in 1889: A little thought will be sufficient to show anybody that if Christ took upon Himself the likeness of man in order that He might redeem man, it must have been sinful man that He was made like, for it is sinful man that He came to redeem. Death could have no power over a sinless man, as Adam was in Eden, and it could not have had any power over Christ, if the Lord had not laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Moreover, the fact that Christ took upon Himself the flesh, not of a sinless being, but of a sinful man, that is, that the flesh which He assumed had all the weaknesses and sinful tendencies to which fallen human nature is subject, is shown by the statement that He "was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." David had all the passions of human nature. He says of himself, "Behold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Ps. 51:5. (Christ And His Righteousness) http://www.crcbermuda.com/bible/righteou...st-in-the-flesh has more of this if interested. According to Froom, Waggoner's wife took notes of his 1888 talks, and these talks were printed in Signs of the Times articles, which were later compiled in the book "Christ Our Righteousness" (which was later renamed "Christ And His Righteousness"). The 1888 message of righteousness by faith itself included Christ's human nature. thanks. i know the history of waggoners 88 book. i may at some point in time come to some of your conclusions, but at this point in time i read ellen white differently than you do. i understand that it does not make sense to you that she would not mean "fallen" human nature. im not remembering the statement off-hand where there were some who believed Christ only appeared to have human nature, or something to that effect, and that is how i have read her comments. in the context i dont see your point but that she is making another point. since ellen white said the churchs doctrines could be questioned and studied i would assume that would also apply to jones and waggoners beliefs on certain points. but i cant believe something i really dont see. nor can you. you honestly see your points. i honestly read them differently. i think ill save the friendship, at the moment, and let it go. at the moment, meaning i may jump in somewhere down the line for some reason.
Psa 64:5 ...an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16 His mischief (and his violent dealing) shall return upon his own head.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: teresaq]
#107181
01/06/09 03:24 AM
01/06/09 03:24 AM
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I'm not remembering the statement off-hand where there were some who believed Christ only appeared to have human nature, or something to that effect, and that is how i have read her comments. She herself wrote that Christ did not have make believe human nature, but had a nature like ours (that is, fallen). No one doesn't think Christ was a human being (to have a human nature is synonymous with being a human being). In the context, I don't see your point but that she is making another point. It's very easy to see. Letters were coming to her regarding Christ's human nature. Why? Because this is what Jones and Waggoner were preaching; they preached that Christ took our fallen nature. Ellen White said the same thing. For example: By thus taking humanity, he honored humanity. Having taken our fallen nature, he showed what it might become, by accepting the ample provision he has made for it, and by becoming partaker of the divine nature. (1888 Mat. 1561) So she speaks of fallen nature as human nature. In the letters she received, people had questions regarding what Jones and Waggoner taught, which is that Christ our human nature. Not a human nature (no one would have any difficulties with this) but our human nature. Why? Because if He had our human nature (i.e. fallen) He would have fallen under the same temptations we do. Now these questions are easy to understand, and are questions that many today have. I don't understand your idea, that what she meant was that people were questioning whether or not Christ had a human nature, because if He did (i.e. He were human) He would fall under similar temptations as we do. Everyone believes Christ was human, and that He was tempted as a human being. Please take into account that this quote is in the context of what Jones and Waggoner would have been preaching. Anyway, this is just one thing. There's lots of evidence that EGW was post-lapsarian. For example, just to name one thing, she endorsed W. W. Prescott's sermon, "The Word Made Flesh," calling it truth "separated from error," whose subject matter was that Christ had the same sinful flesh that we have.
Those who wait for the Bridegroom's coming are to say to the people, "Behold your God." The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: Colin]
#107182
01/06/09 05:15 AM
01/06/09 05:15 AM
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Talmudic, eh???... Sounds like KP is taking Sister White's advice not to delve deeper into justification and sanctification than is necessary for our salvation. You and he appear to differ on what is enough depth, but he is standing firm, having studied out Adventism and confronted non-Adventist views as he has, including Des Ford, not so(?). He must be right. He is, after all, THE Kevin Paulson. What was I thinking..... Others have said as much to me. They said that Jesus loves us and will not let anyone slip out of His hands, so I shouldn't sweat over all this digging I like to do. Just let go and let God. Maybe they were right also. But, incorrigible me, I like to know, for myself, in Whom I believe. Isn't the reality of sinful humanity - for us and for Jesus, principly the spiritual victory of mind over matter, following the Spirit of Jesus rather than the inclination of the flesh to sin, thus righteous by faith in practice? Christ pioneered that victory of faith over sinful flesh and its assist to every temptation, and that's it. What more should we distinguish on matters of sin, righteousness and faith? Yes, spiritual victory of mind over matter. In which nature does that happen, higher or lower? Where does sin happen, in the higher or lower nature? In what sense, according to KP, was Jesus like us, the higher or lower nature?
By God's grace, Arnold
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
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Re: The Lower and Higher Natures by Kevin D Paulson
[Re: Tom]
#107184
01/06/09 05:26 AM
01/06/09 05:26 AM
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Regarding character/nature, I believe it's similar to the one which goes something like "Just what He was in human nature, you may be by faith in Him." I thought you were saying that, in that quote, she was using "character" and "nature" differently. This time, you seem to be saying that Christ's "human nature" corresponds to His "human character" in the quote. You've lost me. Are they or are they not equivalent in the quote? Regarding character, character is developed, so a newborn would have very little, if any, character. A newborn would have very little, if any, thoughts and feelings. OK. Most postlapsarians I've come across say that.
By God's grace, Arnold
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
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