The
Cross of Christ by George Knight: Short Notes
Introduction It amazes me that so many Seventh-day
Adventists accepts the books of George Knight without analyzing what they are
reading and compare it with either the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy. George Knight is fond of Gerhard
Berkhouwer the Ecumenical Calvinist of Amsterdam University who wrote his works
with the Calvinism of post-Dortrecht 1618 in mind. Always remember that the Calvinists of
Theodore Bezae’s time and especially after the Synod of Dort in 1618, is no longer
identical to John Calvin who died in 1564 and was followed by Theodore Bezae. I will not spend much time on problems
with Knight, but just highlight three remarks or opinions of his in his book The Cross of Christ.
Citation
from Knight’s book “"The
simple fact is," according to Knight, "that the plan of salvation is
God's work, not humanity's. It was Christ who lived the perfect life as a human
being and proved that God's law could be kept; it was Christ who died for every
person by absorbing the death penalty that resulted from the broken law; and it
is Christ who currently ministers in heaven on behalf of those who believe in
Him and accept the merits of His death and resurrection. Atonement is all of
God.... Christ's work will stand whether or not any human beings accept it. The Bible never gives humanity too prominent a place in the
plan of salvation. The great controversy is between God and Satan, not Satan
and humanity. Whether or not any human being ever demonstrates
God's power in living a 'spotless' life, the atonement will have been completed
through the demonstration of Christ's sinless life, death, resurrection, and
heavenly ministry."
Let
us analyze 1: ---
Knight: The sentence “The Bible never
gives humanity too prominent a place in the plan of salvation.” This is
wrong. The whole Bible describes obedience. God needs saved humans to
demonstrate to the unfallen worlds that Satan is not their choice. This is only
accomplished by obedience or responsible faith, as Wesley termed it. Even
Calvin was a literal reader of the Bible or Fundamentalist to make it also a
requirement that good works should define proper faith. See Calvin in Galatians
3 and James 2:22.
Contra
Ellen White: “It is the purpose of God
that the plan of salvation shall not be wrought
out independent of human instrumentalities. He has not chosen
angels, but men of like passions as ourselves, to proclaim the gospel
to the human race.” Review
and Herald August 24, 1886, paragraph 1. ---------------------- Let
us analyze 2: ---
Knight: “The great controversy is between God and
Satan, not Satan and humanity.” This is wrong because Satan focused his
attack on the church as the book of Revelation explains.
Contra
Ellen White: “Thus in the early days of earth’s
history, we behold in outline The Great Controversy between Christ
and Satan. Here is enmity between the great archenemy and the church of God;
here is foretold the conflict between the powers of light and the powers of
darkness. Here is the prophecy that Satan will bruise the heel of the
Savior; but, thank God, here is also the forecast that the Christ “shall bruise
Satan under your feet shortly.” The Great Controversy will end in triumph for
the kingdom of righteousness, for Satan and all his hosts will ultimately be
eliminated, and the powers of evil go down forever in the darkness of the
shadow of death. “ The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church page
30.9. ----------------------- Let
us analyze 3: --Knight:
“Whether or not” any human being ever
demonstrates God's power in living a 'spotless' life,” is also wrong.
Spotless perfect lives are called for by Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John.
Secondly, the Bible lists people who were “perfect”. One can only be perfect if
one is spotless. Asaph in Psalm 73 said that he was keeping his heart clean.
But doubt can enter and with him did. But again, Scriptures help him to
overcome.
Contra
Ellen White: “You, my dear young friends, need to
humble your hearts before God and be obtaining a rich and valuable experience
in the Christian life by following on to know the Lord
and blessing others by daily lives of
spotless purity,” Testimonies
volume 3, 226 (1).