Contradictory Statements on the Nature of Christ

By Brother Anderson

The human nature of Christ is a very important consideration. Mrs. White, in her writings, took two contradictory positions on the nature of Christ.

Christ took man's UNFALLEN nature

Below are quotes from Ellen White indicating Jesus assumed an unfallen human nature:

We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of the human nature of Christ.¹

He was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man.² (Note: As Adam before the fall)

Not possessing the passions of our human, fallen nature, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are.³

He felt the disgrace of sin as much more keenly than it is possible for man to feel it, as his divine and sinless nature was exalted above the nature of man.⁴

In some of her writings, Mrs. White took the position that for Jesus to defeat Satan as the second Adam, it was necessary for him to come to earth having the same nature as the first Adam, which was an unfallen nature.

He was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man.⁵

When Christ bowed His head and died, He bore the pillars of Satan's kingdom with Him to the earth. He vanquished Satan in the same nature over which in Eden Satan obtained the victory.⁶ (Note: Adam had an unfallen nature in Eden when Satan defeated him)

When Adam was assailed by the tempter in Eden he was without the taint of sin.... Christ, in the wilderness of temptation, stood in Adam's place to bear the test he failed to endure.⁷

Do not set him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God.⁸

...his [Christ's] nature was more exalted, and pure, and holy than that of the sinful race for whom he suffered.⁹

He was a mighty petitioner, not possessing the passions of our human, fallen natures, but compassed with like infirmities, tempted in all points even as we are.¹⁰

He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the human family.¹¹

He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions.¹²

Man could not atone for man. His sinful, fallen condition would constitute him an imperfect offering, an atoning sacrifice of less value than Adam before his fall...¹³

It should be noted From these quotes it appears Ellen White believed Jesus had the same nature as Adam before the fall, a perfectly sinless human nature without "propensities" (inclination or natural tendency) to sin. That would make Jesus fundamentally unlike us, who are born with the propensity to sin.

Christ took man's FALLEN nature

Oddly enough, Mrs. White also wrote a similar number of statements where she takes the exact opposite position, that Jesus had taken human nature in its fallen condition:

Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal.¹⁴

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.¹⁵

It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon himself the form and nature of fallen man.¹⁶

Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level of those He wished to save. In Him was no guile or sinfulness. He was ever pure and undefiled; yet He took upon Him our sinful nature. Clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might associate with fallen humanity.¹⁷

The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeemer taking the place of fallen Adam. With the sins of the world laid upon him, he would go over the ground where Adam stumbled. ... The King of glory proposed to humble himself to fallen humanity! He would take man's fallen nature and engage to cope with the strong foe who (had) triumphed over Adam.¹⁸

He took upon Himself fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin.¹⁹

In taking upon Himself man's nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin.²⁰

Jesus also told them that...he should take man's fallen nature...²¹

The Son of God humbled himself and took man's nature after the race had wandered four thousand years from Eden, and from their original state of purity and uprightness. ... When Adam was assailed by the tempter in Eden he was without the taint of sin. ... Christ, in the wilderness of temptation, stood in Adam's place to bear the test he failed to endure. ... Christ bore the sins and infirmities of the race as they existed when he came to the earth to help man. In behalf of the race, with the weaknesses of fallen man upon him, he was to stand the temptations of Satan upon all points wherewith man would be assailed.²²

It was in the order of God that Christ should take upon himself the form and nature of fallen man...²³

Though he had all the strength of the passion of humanity, never did he yield to temptation to do that which was not pure and elevating and ennobling.²⁴

The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan’s temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen...²⁵

It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity.²⁶

He took upon His sinless nature our sinful nature, that He might know how to succor those that are tempted.²⁷

Analysis

Because of these contradictory statements, Seventh-day Adventists have been arguing with each other about the nature of Christ for decades. It is impossible for both sets of statements to be inspired because they are diametrically opposed to each other. How could Christ take the nature of Adam both before and after the fall? How could he not possess human passions while at the same time having "all the strength of the passions of humanity?" Even more unsettling, both viewpoints appear nearly simultaneously in time in Mrs. White's writings over a 30-year time frame, so it does not appear her understanding evolved over time.

Biblical View

Scripture says:

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 (Heb 2:17).

This means Jesus experienced the full range of human temptations and struggles:

• Physical fatigue (John 4:6)
• Hunger and thirst (Matt 4:2; John 19:28)
• Emotional grief (John 11:35)
• Rejection and loneliness (Isa 53:3; Mark 14:50)
• Temptation by the devil (Matt 4:1–11)

It does not mean that He experienced every individual circumstance, but rather that He faced the same categories of trials as humans do.

Jesus was not pretending to be human. He took on:

• A real human body (John 1:14)
• A rational human soul and will (Matt 26:39)
• Normal human development (Luke 2:52)

To be the second Adam he had to be fully man, and yet he was also fully God. Jesus took on a truly human nature, but not a fallen or sinful one. He was born without original sin, had no corruption in His nature, and never sinned in thought, word, or deed.

The critical difference between Christ and all other children of Adam is his sinlessness:

• He never sinned (1 Pet 2:22, Heb 4:15)
• He never gave in to temptation (Matt 4:1–11)
• He never knew sin (2 Cor 5:21)
• He remained morally flawless, even in the midst of real pressure and pain

So although He was tempted "in all points," His inner nature was sinless. He had no inborn or cultivated inclination toward evil (Hebrews 4:15). Unlike humans, who are "shapen in iniquity," Jesus was born of incorruptible seed by a virgin (Psalm 51:5, 1 Peter 1:23, Matt 1:23). In Luke 1:35, Jesus is called "That Holy Thing." A holy nature is incompatible with a sinful nature. Jesus was born holy, not with the inherited sin of Adam.

Historically, Protestants reject the idea that Jesus inherited a fallen or sin-corrupted nature like Adam after the fall, because such a nature would imply a predisposition to sin, which is theologically and biblically incompatible with His role as the sinless Savior.

Paul explains that Jesus came in the "likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom 8:3). He did not come in "actual" sinful flesh but the "likeness" of it. Jesus had real human flesh, but only in form like ours, not morally corrupted. He did not inherit the guilt or pollution of Adam's fall. Hebrews 7:26 says Christ was "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners."

Citations

1. Ellen White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 256. Also, Signs of the Times, June 9, 1898, par. 15.

2. White, Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901, par. 11.

3. White, Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 509.

4. White, Signs of the Times, Jan. 6, 1881.

5. White, Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901.

6. White, Youth's Instructor, April 25, 1901.

7. White, Review and Herald, July 28, 1874.

8. White, Letter 8, 1895, p. 14. Found in Manuscript Releases, vol. 13, p. 18.

9. White, Review and Herald, Sep. 11, 1888.

10. White, Testimonies vol. 2, p. 509. Same quote is also found in Review and Herald, August 17, 1886.

11. White, Letter 97, 1898, (published in 7BC 926).

12. White, Testimonies vol. 2, p. 201.

13. White, Review and Herald, December 17, 1872.

14. White, Desire of Ages, p. 112.

15. White, Special Instruction Relating to the Review and Herald Office, p. 13.

16. White, Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 39.

17. White, Review and Herald, December 15, 1896.

18. White, Review and Herald, Feb. 24, 1874.

19. White, Youth's Instructor, December 20, 1900.

20. White, Signs of the Times, June 9, 1898 (also in 1SM 256). See also Manuscript 93, 1893: Christ took "the nature of man in his fallen condition."

21. White, Spiritual Gifts vol. 1, (1858), p. 25.

22. White, Review and Herald, July 28, 1874, par. 3.

23. White, Spiritual Gifts vol. 4a, (1864), p. 115. This quote was reprinted in Spirit of Prophecy vol. 2 (1877), p. 39. Also in Review and Herald, Dec. 31, 1872.

24. White, Signs of the Times, Nov. 21, 1892, par. 8.

25. White, Manuscript 57, 1890. Released in 1990 (16MR 182).

26. White, Desire of Ages, p. 49.

27. White, Letter 67, 1902. Released in 1932 in Medical Ministry, 181.