Christ Distinct Equal Eternal with God
The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. {1SM 247.4}. Jesus existed from eternity.
Philippians 2:6-8 KJV
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: [7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent…. He is the eternal, self-existent Son (Manuscript 101, 1897).
If Christ depends on the Father for His godhood, then that would make Him a lesser being. The Bible says that they are equal. Equal means exactly that. Equal.
What opposites meet and are revealed in the person of Christ! The mighty God, yet a helpless child! The Creator of all the world, yet, in a world of His creating, often hungry and weary, and without a place to lay His head! The Son of man, yet infinitely higher than the angels! Equal with the Father, yet His divinity clothed with humanity, standing at the head of the fallen race, that human beings might be placed on vantage-ground! –The Signs of the Times, April 26, 1905.
Jesus claimed equal rights with God in doing a work equally sacred, and of the same character with that which engaged the Father in heaven. But the Pharisees were still more incensed. He had not only broken the law, according to their understanding, but in calling God “His own Father” had declared Himself equal with God. John 5:18, R. V. DA 207-208
Because Christ’s life is of eternal duration, there never could have been a time when He did not exist and there never could have been a birthing or beginning of any kind.
Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. {RH April 5, 1906, par. 6}
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
*Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
“The terms of this oneness between God and man in the great covenant of redemption were arranged with Christ from all eternity.” { ST August 24, 1891, par. 10}
“The world was made by him, “and without him was not anything made that was made.” If Christ made all things, he existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt. Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore.” {RH April 5, 1906, par. 6}
The eternal Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—is involved in the action required to make assurance to the human agent.”—Upward Look, 148.
The eternal heavenly dignitaries-God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit-arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, … would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.—Manuscript 130, 1901. Ev
616.4
The angels all wear the yoke of obedience. They are the appointed messengers of Him who is the Commander of all heaven. But Christ is equal with God, infinite and omnipotent. He could pay the ransom for jjman’s freedom. He is the eternal self-existing Son, on whom no yoke had come; SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1136
********************
Ellen White used phrases like “from all eternity,” “from eternity,” “existed from eternity,” “from eternal ages,” “from the beginning,” “never was a time,” “everliving,” “Eternal Presence,” “Eternal Word,” “Everlasting Father,” “Eternal Son of God,” “Eternal Godhead,” “Eternal Wisdom,” “eternal throne,” “everlasting throne,” “from everlasting,” “from everlasting to everlasting,” “set up from everlasting,” “A life unreckoned by human computation or measured by figures,” “never a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God,” “in the presence of the Father from the beginning,” “who from the beginning was equal with the Father,” “Never-ending life that existed before the worlds were made,” “familiarity and ease of eternal habitude,” “One of the eternal dignitaries” and “uncreated Lord” to establish the “everlasting to everlasting” limitless nature of His existence.
Sent using the mail.com mail app