JESUS, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD
“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” — Matthew 17:5
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ” — John 20:31
“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. ” — John 5:23
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” — Phil 2:11
“Christ is declared in the Scriptures TO BE THE SON OF GOD. FROM ALL ETERNITY HE HAS SUSTAINED THIS RELATION TO JEHOVAH. Before the foundations of the world were laid, He, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, pledged Himself to become the Redeemer of the human race should men sin….” {Ms 22, 1905, par. 4}
“Who is Christ?—He is the only begotten Son of the living God. He is to the Father as a word that expresses the thought,—as a thought made audible. Christ is the word of God. Christ said to Philip, “He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father.” His words were the echo of God’s words…” — Ellen White, Youth Instructor, June 28, 1894, par. 9
“All that is attributed to the Father Himself is attributed to Christ.” — Ellen White, Daughters of God pg. 61 {DG 61.3}
“And that doctrine that denies the absolute Godhead of Jesus Christ, denies also the Godhead of the Father; for no man knoweth the Son but the Father.” — Ellen White {ST June 27, 1895, par. 3}
“Who is Christ? — He is the only begotten Son of the living God.” — (Ellen G. White, The Youth’s Instructor, June 28, 1894)
“A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”– not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father’s person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection.” {ST May 30, 1895 par. 3}
“God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” (E.G. White, 8T 268.3)
“Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRITUALIST TEACHERS. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD. Concerning such teachers the beloved John declares: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1 John 2:22, 23. Spiritualism, by denying Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist.” {PP 686.1}
The Father-Son relationship is the key to understanding the full measure of God's love.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1John 4:7-11
Please note that the passage identifies the Father as the God Who is love. God the Father sending His very own Son whom He loves to be a sacrifice for the fallen human race is the greatest demonstration of love.
The key controversy concerning Jesus’ Sonship is whether or not Jesus is really the literal pre-incarnate “begotten” Son, who came forth from His Father in an offspring sense, from all eternity prior to His incarnation or He is an “unique” but unbegotten, self-originated Being who is playing a role of a Son in a metaphorical, covenantal or salvific sense.
Only Begotten Son
The Bible refers to Christ as God’s Son at least 120 times. 48 times using the phrase “Son of God”, “the firstborn” 4 times, “the firstbegotten” once and God’s “holy child” twice.
Jesus was called the “only begotten Son” (Strongs G 3439 monogenēs) 4 times and “only begotten” once.
Here’s how Strongs defines the word: μονογενής monogenḗs, mon-og-en-ace’; from G3441 and G1096; only-born, i.e. sole:—only (begotten, child).
MONO GENES = only begotten. From monos = only and ge«os = race, generation, kind; the latter from gennao = l beget (spoken properly of either father or mother), from the root gen = come into being. Represented in such words as genesis, gen-erate, oxy-gen, gen-ius, gen-us.
John 1:14 “only begotten OF the Father” (Please note that Jesus is only begotten OF the Father. If “only begotten son” is referring to his earthly virgin birth”, how is it that God the Father is the Father and not the Holy Spirit when it was the Holy Spirit who conceived Mary (“for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” Matthew 1:20)?
John 1:18 “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,”
John 3:16 “that he GAVE His only begotten Son” ( vs. 17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”)
John 3:18 “…because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
1John 4:9 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God SENT his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
“Only begotten Son” was also mentioned once referring to Issac.
Hebrews 11:17 referring to Issac, “offered up his only begotten son”
Compare
John 3:17 “For God SENT not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Romans 8:3 “God SENDING His own Son”,
Galatian 4:4 “God SENT forth His Son”
1John 4:14 “Father hath SENT the Son”
Matthew 21:37 ” But last of all he SENT them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.”
The natural reading of the passages above indicate that Jesus was already the “only begotten Son” prior to the Father sending Him or giving Him up to save humanity. Christ is the monogenes Son (both unique and begotten and only one of its kind), viewed from the divine side, is essentially God in His nature, the only one begotten of the Father in distinction from creation, having all the attributes of God, and in unity with the Father.
Other passages using the same word (Strongs G 3439 monogenēs):
Luke 7:12 “only son of his mother”,
Luke 8:42 “For he had one only daughter”,
Luke 9:38 “for he is mine only child”,
The word monogenes is applied to an only child in any family, human or divine. Thus, the widow’s son at Nain is called her monogenes son. Jairus had a monogenes daughter. Abraham offered up his monogenes son (Heb. 11:28). Five times in the New Testament Jesus is called the monogenes Son of God. In common use, this word might be rendered only, as in the cases cited above, yet the idea of begotten is in the word in all nine places where it is used.
Note: It is worth noting that not a single SDAs struggle with all the other “monogenes” passages in the Bible to mean “only begotten” in a literal filial/offspring sense. Yet, when it comes to the pre-incarnate Christ being the “only begotten”, all of a sudden, the word is interpreted as “unique” and the preincarnate Sonship of Christ is viewed as metaphorically and not literal. Learn more about monogenēs HERE
Not once does the Bible even so much as hint that Jesus is only a Son in a metaphorical sense. The Bible means what it says and says what it means. Here’s what the inspired testimony has to say about how we ought to read the Scriptures and we would do well to heed the counsel:
“The language of the Bible should be explained ACCORDING TO ITS OBVIOUS MEANING, UNLESS A SYMBOL OR FIGURE IS EMPLOYED. Christ has given the promise, “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” [John 7:17.] IF MEN WOULD BUT TAKE THE BIBLE AS IT READS, IF THERE WERE NO FALSE TEACHERS TO MISLEAD AND CONFUSE THEIR MINDS, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad, and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error.” Great Controversy 1888, p. 598.3 {GC 598.3} {DD 38.4}
Hebrews 11:17, describes Issac as Abraham’s “only begotten son” and therefore some say that this is a proof that the word monogenēs should be understood as symbolic and in a covenantal sense for Abraham had more than one son. The Bible actually mentions Abraham having 8 sons-1 with Sarah, 1 with Hagar and 6 more with Keturah (a wife he had after Sarah’s death)Genesis 25:1,2.
Issac was the “only begotten” in the sense that he was the only divinely appointed promised son between Abraham and Sarah which fulfilled God’s covenant with Abraham and thus the proper heir according to the promise but this covenantal sonship should not negate the fact that he was also truly begotten of Abraham/Sarah in the real/offpring sense. Issac was not a metaphorical son. Like wise, Jesus’ covenantal sonship should not negate his literal begotten sonship.
"I Came Out from God"
The passages below with the help of the Thayer dictionary also reveal that Jesus “proceeded forth from”, “came out from” or “camest forth from” the Father then later, He came into the world.
Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon:
G1831 (ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai) – To come forth from physically, arise from, to be born of.
G2064 (ἔρχομαι-erchomai) – To come from one place to another.
John 8:42 “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth [G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai] AND came from God; neither came [G2064 ἔρχομαι-erchomai] I of myself, but he sent me.”
John 16:27-28 “For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out [G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai] from God. 28 I came forth [G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai] from the Father, and am come [G2064 ἔρχομαι-erchomai] into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”
John 17:7-8 “Now they have known that all things whatsoever you have given me are of you. 8 For I have given unto them the words which you gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out [G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai] from you, and they have believed that you did send me.”
Compare:
Matt 12:43-44 “When the unclean spirit is gone out (G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai ) of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out (G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai) ; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.”
Acts 16:18 “And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out (G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai ) of her. And he came out (G1831 ἐξέρχομαι-exerchomai ) the same hour.”
Confessing and Believing Jesus as the Son of God
“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.” — 2 John 1:3
1John 2:22, 23 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”
1 John 4:15 “Whosoever shall CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”
1 John 5:5 “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?”
1 John 5:10-12 “He that believeth on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believeth not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.”
John 20:31 “But these are written, that you might believe THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; and that believing YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH HIS NAME.”
Confessing “that Jesus is the Son of God,” is the prerequisite for God dwelling in the believer and it is through believing that “Jesus is the Son of God” also allows the believer to overcome the world. How important is it then to correctly understand Who Jesus really is? We would say, very important! Who is He? Apostle John clearly affirms that Christ is indeed the Son of God and “He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life.
Begotten vs. Creation-comparing 2 inspired statements
There are many within the church who erroneously equate “begotten” with “creation”, and in most cases, they say this to intentionally malign those who believe Jesus to be an only begotten Son prior to His incarnation. Thus they conclude that if Jesus was literally begotten-came forth from the Father in an offspring sense, even from all eternity, then that would make Jesus a created being. Is this true? Let’s compare these 2 inspired statements below to shed some light on this:
1) “As God He could not be tempted: but as a man He could be tempted, and that strongly, and could yield to the temptations… ; IT DID NOT EVEN POSSESS THE ANGELIC POWERS. It was human, IDENTICAL WITH OUR OWN.” {6MR 111.1}
2) “A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,”– NOT A SON BY CREATION, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but A SON BEGOTTEN IN THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF THE FATHER’S PERSON, and in ALL THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS MAJESTY AND GLORY, ONE EQUAL WITH GOD IN AUTHORITY, DIGNITY, AND DIVINE PERFECTION.” {ST May 30, 1895 par. 3}
A few questions to for our trinitarian brothers to consider who say that begotten is synonymous with creation.
1. In the statement #2, Why would Ellen White insist that Christ was “not a son by creation” but “a son begotten” if “creation” and ”begotten” carry essentially the same meaning as some (trinitarian brothers) claim?
2. Why would Ellen White say Christ’s “human nature was created”(#1) referring to His incarnation and yet she insists Christ was “not a son by creation” but begotten (#2), if she is referring to Christ’s incarnation in both statements?
Note: At the time of His incarnation, the Son of God actually became a Son of Man-a creature of dust just like us! (“HIS HUMAN NATURE WAS CREATED”) He took on real human substance! And He did this in order to actually become a new Adam! Now, the first Adam was also a created son of God but he fell. The pre-incarnate, only begotten Son of God became a “created” Son Himself; He took part of the same nature as the Bible teaches and statement #1 clearly affirms it. This why Sister White says that, “The only begotten son of God BECAME a helpless babe in Bethlehem.” In other words, the Jesus was already the only begotten Son but He “BECAME a helpless babe.” {Ms117-1903.16}
In light of these facts, when Ellen White said (in statement #2) that Christ was “NOT a son by creation” (as was Adam) BUT a “Son begotten”, she cannot be referring to Christ’s incarnation. Thus the most logical deduction would be that it is referring to Christ’s pre-incarnate begetting.
3. If begotten Son is only in light of Christ incarnation, and if the nature of Christ’s incarnation was such that “IT DID NOT EVEN POSSESS THE ANGELIC POWERS” then how is it that Christ was “MADE” (G1096 γεννάω gennaō) SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE ANGELS and obtained a more excellent name [Heb 1:4]?”
“Being made (γεννάω gennaō) SO MUCH BETTER than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” — Hebrews 1:4
Here’s what one of the church pioneers had to say about Hebrews 1:4,
“He is better than the angels, because HE IS UNCREATED, BEGOTTEN SON, THE CREATOR. To Him, and not to the angels, has it been said, “Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies – Thy footstool.” Nevertheless the angels are not insignificant beings, since they have the speed and strength of the winds, and the brightness and swiftness of the lightning. These glorious beings are content to be servants to mortals who are heirs of salvation, since it is the will of the Master.” E. J. Waggoner {PTUK August 26, 1897, p. 531.1}
Son of God vs Son of Man
Consider the following quote:
“In Christ were united THE DIVINE and THE HUMAN—THE CREATOR and THE CREATURE. THE NATURE OF GOD, whose law had been transgressed, and THE NATURE OF ADAM, the transgressor, meet in Jesus—THE SON OF GOD, and THE SON OF MAN…” {EGW, Manuscript 141, 1901}
Compare and contrast between the pre-incarnate Christ vs the incarnate based on the above statement:
PRE-INCARNATE CHRIST
- DIVINE
- CREATOR
- NATURE OF GOD
- SON OF GOD
VS.
INCARNATE CHRIST
- HUMAN
- CREATURE
- NATURE OF ADAM
- SON OF MAN
Are you catching it? Read closely! How was “the nature of Adam” met in Jesus? Through Him being “the Son of man.” (by a miracle birth through the virgin Mary). So, how then was “the nature of God” met in Him? Though Him being what? Read the quote! The Son of Whom? The Son of God! The pre-incarnate Christ, the divine creator, possessing the nature of God because He is the real Son of God, became the Son of Man—a human, a creature, partaking the nature of Adam.
Furthermore, please note that the incarnation of Christ is characterized above as Christ becoming a “creature” from being the “creator.” Why is this significant? If you recall, Ellen White specifically referred to Christ being “NOT A SON BY CREATION, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but A SON BEGOTTEN IN THE EXPRESS IMAGE of the Father’s person..” {ST May 30, 1895 par. 3} Thus, the “Son begotten in the express image” statement cannot be referring to incarnation.
“IT WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD WHO STEPPED DOWN. He gave himself for us. Leaving his splendor, his majesty, his high command, and clothing his divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and divinity lay hold upon divinity, he came to this earth, and in our behalf suffered the
death of the cross.” {EGW, GCB April 23, 1901, Art. B, par. 3}
“THE SON OF GOD BECAME THE SON OF MAN. He was born of a woman. To Mary the angel said, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” [Matthew 1:21.] For thirty years Jesus lived a quiet, busy life at His home in Nazareth. His hands were hardened with toil, and His brow was wet with sweat. He lived among the sorrowing and the poor and was one with them. He knows how to pity the poorest and the most sorrowful. THOUGH HE WAS THE SON OF GOD, the maker of the worlds and all things, YET HE TOOK THE PART OF THE SERVANT, so that we might believe that He loved us and gave Himself to us and for us.” {EGW, Ms45-1892.2}*
[*unpublished, but it completely matches up with all inspiration without any issues or questions. Also in historical context when looking at what her early SD Adventists were saying. The Son of God became the Son of man]
Note: It is not too difficult for us to see from the statements above that Jesus existed as the only begotten Son of God before He “stepped down” and “became the Son of Man” by being “born of a woman;” Jesus did not become the Son of God through incarnation, He was already the Son of God; the condescension made Him become the Son of Man.
Father and Son are two distinct and separate individuals.
“The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as CLEARLY THE PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUALITY OF EACH.” {CCh 76.4}
“I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. I gazed on Jesus’ countenance and admired his lovely person. . . . I asked Jesus if his Father had a form like himself; He said he had, but I could not behold it.” -Letter From Sister Harmon,” Day-Star, March 14, 1846, 7.
“Christ and God are one, and yet they are distinct personalities. Christ spoke with conscious authority, as one possessing in Himself power that would enable Him to perform His work.” {Ms140-1903.44}
“God had placed upon His Son authority to lay hold of the eternal throne with His divine nature. While Christ stood forth distinct in His own personality, He reflected the luster of the greatness that was His because of His position of honor within the encircling light of the eternal throne, in unity with God.”{Ms156-1903.4}
“These words show that God and Christ are two personalities, distinct and separate. The unity for which Christ prays, which is to make believers one with Him, as He is one with the Father, does not destroy the personality of God or the personality of Christ. The believers become sons of God, and the personality of all is preserved.” {Lt52-1906.23}
“Here the position of Jesus Christ in reference to his Father is brought to view. While they are one in purpose, and one in mind, yet in personality they are two. {RH, August 15, 1907 par. 4}
“The seventeenth chapter of John speaks plainly regarding the personality of God and of Christ, and of their relation to each other. “Father, the hour is come,” Christ said: “glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.” [John 17:23, 3, 5-11 quoted.] Here is personality, and individuality (MS 124, 1903). {5BC 1145.10}
“In this Scripture God and Christ are spoken of as two distinct personalities, each acting in their own individuality.” {MR760 18.2}
“These words present God and Christ as two distinct personalities.” {1NL 124.6}
Christ was recognized as the Son of God before incarnation
ABRAHAM RECOGNIZED CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD
“And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, THREE MEN stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,” (Genesis 18:2)
~EGW~
“Abraham had seen in his guests only three tired wayfarers, little thinking that among them was ONE WHOM HE MIGHT WORSHIP WITHOUT SIN.” (Ellen White – PP, p. 138)
“Two of the heavenly messengers departed, leaving Abraham alone with HIM WHOM HE NOW KNEW TO BE THE SON OF GOD.” (Ellen White – PP, p. 139)
SON OF GOD WAS IN THE FIERY FURNACE WITH THE FAITHFUL THREE OVER 500 YEARS BEFORE HIS INCARNATION
“Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
“Jesus stood by their side in the fiery furnace, and the glory of his presence convinced the proud king of Babylon that it could be no other than the Son of God.” — (Ellen G. White, The Youth’s Instructor, 1904)
SON OF GOD RECOGNIZED AS GOD’S ASSOCIATE IN CREATING THE WORLD
“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and WHAT IS HIS SON’S NAME, if thou canst tell?” Proverbs 30:4
“The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate—a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.’ [John 1:1, 2.] Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father—one in nature, in character, in purpose, the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. ‘His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.’ [Isaiah 9:6.] His ‘goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.’ [Micah 5:2.] And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before the works of old. I was set up from everlasting. … When He appointed the foundations of the earth, then was I with Him, as one brought up with Him; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.’ [Proverbs 8:22, 23, 29, 30.] {Lt256-1906.8}{PP 34.1}
Various Inspired Testimonies Concerning Jesus being the Pre-incarnate Begotten Son of God
“CHRIST IS DECLARED IN THE SCRIPTURES TO BE THE SON OF GOD. FROM ALL ETERNITY HE HAS SUSTAINED THIS RELATION TO JEHOVAH. Before the foundations of the world were laid, He, the only begotten Son of God, pledged Himself to become the Redeemer of the human race should men sin. {Ms22-1905.4}
“Those who are self-willed, puffed up with pride and self-importance, while they will not give up their wills to be in harmony with God’s will, yet will accept the delusions of false prophets, and be led to refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God” {ST September 3, 1894, par. 3}
“Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualist teachers. They refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. Concerning such teachers the beloved John declares: “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” 1 John 2:22, 23. Spiritualism, by denying Christ, denies both the Father and the Son, and the Bible pronounces it the manifestation of antichrist.” {PP 686.1}
“When in the fulness of time THE ETERNAL SON OF THE INFINITE GOD came forth from the bosom of His Father to this world, He came in the garb of humanity, clothing His divinity with humanity. The Father and the Son in consultation decided that Christ must come to the world as a babe and live the life that human beings must live from childhood to manhood, bearing the trials that they must bear and at the same time living a sinless life, that men might see in Him an example of what they can become, and that he might know by experience how to help them in their struggles with sin. He was tried as man is tried, tempted as man is tempted. The life that He lived in this world men can live through His power and under His instruction. {Lt232-1903.19}
“But while God’s Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding his pre-existence. THE WORD EXISTED AS A DIVINE BEING, EVEN AS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD, IN UNION AND ONENESS WITH HIS FATHER. From everlasting he was the Mediator of the covenant, the one in whom all nations of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, if they accepted him, were to be blessed. “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God. {RH April 5, 1906, par. 5}
The seventeenth chapter of John SPEAKS PLAINLY REGARDING THE PERSONALITY OF GOD AND OF CHRIST AND OF THEIR RELATION TO EACH OTHER. “FATHER, the hour is come,” Christ said; “glorify THY SON, that THY SON also may glorify Thee; as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” [Verses 1-3.] {Ms124-1903.15}
“Lucifer, who was determined to have Christ’s place in the heavenly courts, lost his glorious position and was exiled to this world. In contrast to this, Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and came to this world to stand at the head of humanity as man’s Saviour. He transferred His home to the world occupied by fallen human beings, BUT HIS CHARACTER AND HIS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD WERE UNCHANGED.” {Lt128-1910.16}
“GOD IS THE FATHER OF CHRIST; CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD. To Christ has been GIVEN an exalted position. He has been MADE equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” {CCh 76.5}
“Christ is the star that should arise out of Jacob, and the one in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed, AS THE FIRST BORN OF HEAVEN, AND ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, filled with all the treasures of eternity. He assumed humanity, and impressed upon it the glorious image of the everlasting God.” — (Ellen G. White, Lt101, February 17, 1896)
“In giving His Son, God gave Himself that man might have another trial. If God could have changed this law to meet man in his fallen condition, would He not have done this, and RETAINED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON IN HEAVEN?—HE CERTAINLY WOULD. But because His law was as changeless as His character, He gave His beloved Son, who was above law, and one with Himself, to meet the penalty which His justice demanded.” {BEcho February 8, 1897, par. 3}
“Our redemption was wrought out, NOT BY THE SON OF GOD’S REMAINING IN HEAVEN, BUT BY THE SON OF GOD’S BECOMING INCARNATE—taking humanity upon Him and coming to this world. Thus eternal life was brought to us. That which authority, commands, and promises could not do, God did by coming to this world in the likeness of sinful flesh.” {Lt253-1903.29}
“O what a gift God has made to our world! The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, liable to physical infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. HE WAS THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. HIS PERSONALITY DID NOT BEGIN WITH HIS INCARNATION IN THE FLESH.” — (Ellen G. White, Lt77, August 3, 1894)
“Angels that were loyal and true sought to reconcile this mighty, rebellious angel to the will of his Creator. They justified the act of God in conferring honor upon Christ, and with forcible reasoning sought to convince Lucifer that no less honor was his now than before the Father had proclaimed the honor which He had conferred upon His Son. They CLEARLY SET FORTH THAT CHRIST WAS THE SON OF GOD, EXISTING WITH HIM BEFORE THE ANGELS WERE CREATED;” — (Ellen G. White, Story of Redemption, 15.2)
“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, TORE FROM HIS BOSOM Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind.” {RH July 9, 1895, par. 13}
“The teachers of spiritualism come in a pleasing, bewitching manner to deceive you, and if you listen to their fables you are beguiled by the enemy of righteousness and will surely lose your reward. When once the fascinating influence of the archdeceiver overcomes you, you are poisoned, and its deadly influence adulterates and destroys your faith in CHRIST BEING THE SON OF GOD, and you cease to rely on the merits of His blood.” {1T 297.2}
“There are many of us who have a nominal faith, but we do not bring that faith into our character. THE STATEMENT IS MADE THAT THE DEVIL BELIEVED AND TREMBLED. HE BELIEVED THAT CHRIST WAS THE SON OF GOD WHILE HE WAS IN HEAVEN; and when upon this earth he was in conflict with Him here on the field of battle, he believed on Christ; but could this save him? No, because he did not weave Christ into his life and character.” {Ms5-1886.10}
“The ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD BECAME A HELPLESS BABE in Bethlehem. It was He who was now speaking to the Jewish people, but they knew Him not. From the mount He had spoken, saying, “I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” [Exodus 20:2.] He was now standing before them in His assumed humanity, giving them a lesson that they would never forget, whether they heeded it or disregarded it.” {Ms117-1903.16}
“It was to save us that the SON OF GOD BECAME A MAN OF SORROWS and acquainted with grief…. Let a sense of the infinite sacrifice made for our redemption be ever with you, and the ballroom will lose its attractions.” {TMK 311.3}
“When Christ first announced to the heavenly host His mission and work in the world, He declared that He was to leave His position of dignity and disguise His holy mission by assuming the likeness of a man, WHEN IN REALITY HE WAS THE SON OF THE INFINITE GOD. And when the fullness of time was come, He stepped down from His throne of highest command, laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to this earth to exemplify what humanity must do and be in order to overcome the enemy and to sit with the Father upon His throne.” {Lt303-1903.14}
“In order that man might be placed on vantage ground with God, Christ, The only begotten Son of God, MADE IN HIS EXPRESS IMAGE, came to this world AND IN THE LIKENESS OF HUMANITY lived a perfect life. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”…{Ms127-1905.14}
“Christ was the Lord of heaven and earth, yet for our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. HE WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD, yet He humbled Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant, that He might save us. {20LtMs, Lt 133, 1905, par. 6}
“Lucifer was the most beautiful angel in the heavenly courts next to Jesus Christ, but Christ was one with God, ASSIMILATED TO THE IMAGE OF GOD to do the will of God. Satan, knowing that Christ had the first place next to God, began to insinuate to the angels that he should be next to God….{Ms90-1910.4}
“A complete offering has been made; for “God so loved the world, that he gave HIS ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON,”—not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but A SON BEGOTTEN IN THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF THE FATHER’S PERSON, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily {ST May 30, 1895, par. 3}
And if that wasn’t clear enough she uses the synonym “made” too:
“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, tore from his bosom HIM WHO WAS MADE IN THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind. {RH July 9, 1895, par. 13}
“In order that man might be placed on vantage ground with God, Christ, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, MADE IN HIS EXPRESS IMAGE, came to this world and in the likeness of humanity lived a perfect life. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”…{Ms127-1905.14}
“Jesus WAS MADE ONE WITH GOD. His exaltation created envy and jealousy in Satan’s heart. Satan insisted that God had not dealt with him justly. He criticized God’s plan of government. He declared the divine law to be arbitrary, detrimental to the interests of the heavenly universe, and in need of change {17LtMs, Ms 1, 1902, par. 2}
“Christ was the Lord of heaven and earth, yet for our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. HE WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD, yet He humbled Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant, that He might save us. {20LtMs, Lt 133, 1905, par. 6}
And if that still isn’t clear she also used the verb assimilated:
“Lucifer was the most beautiful angel in the heavenly courts next to Jesus Christ, but Christ was one with God, ASSIMILATED TO THE IMAGE OF GOD to do the will of God. Satan, knowing that Christ had the first place next to God, began to insinuate to the angels that he should be next to God {25LtMs, Ms 90, 1910, par. 4}
“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right. This was no robbery of God. “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,” He declares, “before his works of old. I WAS SET UP from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I WAS BROUGHT FORTH; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills WAS I BROUGHT FORTH: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth” (Proverbs 8:22-27). {1SM 247.4}
[Note: The 1828 dictionary gives the second definition of make as:
“2. To form of materials; to fashion, to mold into shape; to cause to exist in a different form; or as a distinct thing.”
“God not only made, but created; not only made the work, but the materials”
This explains how Egw could say the pre-incarnate Christ was “made” yet still maintained He was not a created being. In her day “to make” could mean to form of pre-existent material. This is different from the third definition which is the only definition that modern SDA readers comprehend when they see the word “made.” “3. To create, to cause to exist; to form from nothing.” “God made the materials of the earth and of all worlds.]
“He was not only MADE flesh, but He was MADE in the likeness of sinful flesh. His divine attributes were withheld from relieving His soul anguish or His bodily pains (Letter 106, 1896). {5BC 1124.2}
So there can be no doubt that Jesus was God’s Son long before God considered sending Him to Earth to pay the debt for our sin. So, is this a real Father and Son? Not hard to see if you desire truth.]
Satan’s envy toward Christ’s Sonship led to his rebellion
“IT WAS IN SEEKING TO EXALT HIMSELF ABOVE THE SON OF GOD that Satan had sinned in heaven.” (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 129)
“CHRIST WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, AND LUCIFER, THAT GLORIOUS ANGEL, GOT UP A WARFARE OVER THE MATTER, until he had to be thrust down to the earth.” (Ellen G. White, Manuscript 86, Aug. 21, 1910)
“All the angels were astir. Satan was warring against the government of God, because [he was] ambitious to exalt himself and UNWILLING TO SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S SON, Heaven’s great commander.” (E.G. White, Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 37.1)
Note: It was always the Son’s authority which Satan questioned, not the Father’s. “While some of the angels joined Satan in his rebellion, others reasoned with him to dissuade him from his purposes, CONTENDING FOR THE HONOR AND WISDOM OF GOD IN GIVING AUTHORITY TO HIS SON. SATAN URGED, FOR WHAT REASON WAS CHRIST ENDOWED WITH UNLIMITED POWER AND SUCH HIGH COMMAND ABOVE HIMSELF! He stood up proudly, and urged that he should be equal with God. He makes his boasts to his sympathizers that he will not submit to the authority of Christ.” (E.G. White, Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 37.2) More on Lucifer’s Fall, click HERE.
Christ became the Son of God in a new sense when He came to earth as a man
Luke 1:32, 35 Gabriel told Mary that her child of the Holy Spirit is “the Son of the Highest” and “shall be called the Son of God”
“How can it be that the helpless babe in Bethlehem’s manger is STILL THE DIVINE SON OF GOD? Though we cannot understand it, we can believe that he who made the worlds, for our sakes became a helpless babe.” {The Youth’s Instructor, Nov. 21, 1895}
Note: To be STILL the divine Son of God means He was already the Son of God before taking on humanity.
“Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this world in human form, to live a man amongst men. He assumed the liabilities of human nature, to be proved and tried. In His humanity He was a partaker of the divine nature. In His incarnation HE GAINED IN A NEW SENSE THE TITLE OF THE SON OF GOD. Said the angel to Mary, “The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35) While the Son of a human being, HE BECAME THE SON OF GOD IN A NEW SENSE. Thus He stood in our world—the Son of God, yet allied by birth to the human race….” {1SM 226.2} {5BC 1114.10}{ST August 2, 1905, par. 2}
Note: Unless Christ was already a Son before He came to our world, He could not be a Son ‘in a new sense’.
“In giving His Son, God gave Himself that man might have another trial. If God could have changed this law to meet man in his fallen condition, WOULD HE NOT HAVE DONE THIS, AND RETAINED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON IN HEAVEN?—HE CERTAINLY WOULD. But because His law was as changeless as His character, He gave His beloved Son, who was above law, and one with Himself, to meet the penalty which His justice demanded.” {BEcho February 8, 1897, par. 3}
“Our redemption was wrought out, NOT BY THE SON OF GOD’S REMAINING IN HEAVEN, BUT BY THE SON OF GOD’S BECOMING INCARNATE—taking humanity upon Him and coming to this world. Thus eternal life was brought to us. That which authority, commands, and promises could not do, God did by coming to this world in the likeness of sinful flesh.” {Lt253-1903.29}
Note: It is taught by some that Christ became the Son of God by becoming incarnate but it is shown that Father would have kept His only begotten Son in Heaven if it was possible. Meaning, Christ would have remained as the only begotten Son of God in heaven whether or not he came to earth as a Man. Christ’s Sonship is not contingent upon His incarnation nor His resurrection; The Father really had a Son to give!
The Father called Jesus His Son:
Matt 3:17 “a voice from heaven, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son'”
(Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22)Matt 17:5 “a voice out of the cloud, which said, ‘This is my beloved Son'”
(Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35)Heb 1:5 [God said] “I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to me a Son”
Who Did Christ Say He Was?
When Peter declared Him to be the Son of God, He was not corrected.
Matthew 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
When Jesus was asked whether He was the Son of God at His trial, he answered in the affirmative:
Matthew 26:63-64 “…But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
Luke 22:70. When asked Jesus didn’t deny it: “Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.”
Jesus told Nicodemus that
John 3:16 “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son”
Jesus also said
John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”
Jesus was referring to His Own power of new creation and resurrection when He said that
John 5:25 “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
John 5:26 because the Father “has given to the Son to have life in Himself”
John 8:42 Jesus said, He “proceeded forth” from His Father
Jesus was referring to Himself when He said
John 9:35 “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
The Jews attempted to stone Jesus for saying,
John 10:32 “I and my Father are one…makest thyself God”
Jesus equated this with saying,
John 10:36 “I am the Son of God”
Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus was to die
John 11:4 “that the Son of God might be glorified”
Jesus also said
John 16:27 He “came out from God”
Ellen White testified that
“Because He was, and avowed Himself to be, the Son of God, they were bent on destroying Him.” {DA 470.1}
“Possessing such power, why did not Christ save John’s life? This question had often been asked by the Pharisees, who presented it as an unanswerable argument against Christ’s claim to be the Son of God.” {DA 526.3}
“Not long before this, Christ’s enemies had accused Him of blasphemy, and had taken up stones to cast at Him because He claimed to be the Son of God. They accused Him of performing miracles by the power of Satan. But here Christ claims God as His Father, and with perfect confidence declares that He is the Son of God.” {DA 535.5}
Every eye is fastened on the entrance to the cave. Every ear is bent to catch the slightest sound. With intense and painful interest all wait for the test of Christ’s divinity, the evidence that is to substantiate His claim to be the Son of God, or to extinguish the hope forever. {DA 536.2}
“Through this court, Jesus was taken to the guardroom, on every side meeting with mockery of His claim to be the Son of God.” {DA 710.1}
“As soon as it was day, the Sanhedrin again assembled, and again Jesus was brought into the council room. He had declared Himself the Son of God, and they had construed His words into a charge against Him.” {DA 714.1}
“His claim to be the Son of God is ridiculed, and the vulgar jest and insulting sneer are passed from lip to lip.” {DA 734.2}
The Son Speaks to His Father
John 11 Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me…Thou hast sent me.
John 12:28Father, glorify thy name. Then there came a voice from heaven
Mark 14:36Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee…nevertheless not what I will
Matt 27:46My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
John 14:16Jesus said, I will pray the Father
Who did the disciples say Christ was?
Matthew 14:33 The disciples confessed “of a truth thou art the Son of God”
Matthew 16:15-17 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Mark 1:1 Mark begins his gospel affirming Christ’s Sonship, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;”
John 1:34 “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 11:27 Martha confessed, “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
Heb 1:1 “God…has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son”
2 John 1:3″ Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
Matt 27:54 At His death the centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39)
John 1:18 “The only begotten Son” “is in the bosom of the Father”
John 1:34 John the Baptist “bare record that [Jesus] is the Son of God”
John 3:18 We must believe in the name of “the only begotten Son of God”
1John 1:3″Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ”
1John 1:7 “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin”
1John 3:8 “The Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil”
1John 3:23 “We should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ”
1John 4:10 “God…loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”
1John 4:15 “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him”
1John 5:5 “He that overcomes the world” is “he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God”
1John 5:9 “This is the witness of God which he has testified of his Son”
1John 5:10 “He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself”
1John 5:10 “God gave the record of his Son”
1John 5:11 “that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son”
1John 5:13 “These things [were] written…that you might believe on the name of the Son of God”
1John 5:20 “The Son of God is come and has given us understanding that we might know…the true God”
2John 1:3 “Peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father”
Acts 3:19 Peter said “the God of Abraham…the God of our fathers has glorified his Son Jesus”
Acts 3:26 “God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you”
Acts 9:20 Saul (Paul) began preaching “Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God”
Rom 1:3 Paul became the strongest proponent of the divine Son of God.
Rom 1:4 Jesus Christ our Lord is God’s Son
Rom 1:9 Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power”
Rom 5:10 “God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son”
Rom 8:29 “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son”
2Cor 1:19 God has predestined us “to be conformed to the image of his Son”
Gal 1:15,16″the Son of God, Jesus Christ” was preached by Paul among the Corinthians
Gal 2:20 “It pleased God…to reveal his Son in me”
Gal 4:4 “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman”
Gal 4:6 “God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts”
Eph 4:13 Paul’s goal was that “we all come in the unity…of the knowledge of the Son of God”
1Thes 1:9,10 “You turned…to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from the heavens”
Heb 1:5 [God said] I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to me a Son (quoted Psalm 2)
Heb 4:14 Our “great high priest that is passed into the heavens” is “Jesus the Son of God”
Heb 7:3 Melchizadek was made “like unto the Son of God”
Who Did the demons and unclean spirits say Christ was?
Matthew 8: 29 “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?”
Mark 3:11 Again, the unclean spirits fell down before Jesus saying, “Thou art the Son of God”
Mark 5:7 “And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.”
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19
“The statement is made that the devil believed and trembled. “WHILE HE WAS IN HEAVEN, HE BELIEVED THAT CHRIST WAS THE SON OF GOD”, and when upon this earth he was in conflict with Him here on the field of battle.” {CTr 220.3}
Satan and his followers questioned Christ’s Sonship
Matt 4:5 Satan challenges Christ’s claim “if thou be the Son of God” (Luke 4:3,9)
Matt 8:29 Satan’s devils testified that Jesus was “thou Son of God” (Luke 4:41)
Matt 27:40 The taunting crowd about the cross mocked, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross”
John 5:18 The Jews sought to kill Him…because He said that God was his Father,
John 19:7 Jesus was condemned to die “because he made himself the Son of God”
Father is the head of Christ. The Son does only what is pleasing to Him
1Cor 11:3 the head of Christ is God
1Chr 29:11O LORD [YHWH, Jehovah], thou art exalted as head above all
1Cor 3:23 You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s
1Cor 15:28 the Son himself shall be subject unto him
[God the Father] that put all things (except Himself) under him (the Son)
that God may be all in all
John 5:19 what [the human Son] sees the Father do…these also do the Son likewise
John 5:20 [the Father] shows [the Son] all things that Himself does
John 12:49 the Father…gave [the Son] a commandment: what to say and speak
John 14:28 my Father is greater than I [the Son]
John 13:16 No servant is greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
John 10:29 [Christ’s] Father…is greater than all
John 5:19 The Son can do nothing of himself
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing, He said.
John 6:57 [Christ] lives by the Father
The Father, thus, appears to exercise primacy over the Son.
“The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that He might in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon His Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them. The Father then made known that IT WAS ORDAINED BY HIMSELF THAT CHRIST, HIS SON, SHOULD BE EQUAL WITH HIMSELF; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father. His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out His will and His purposes but would do nothing of Himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in Him.” (Ellen G. White, Lift Him Up, p. 18 )
“God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ HAS BEEN GIVEN AN EXALTED POSITION. HE HAS BEEN MADE EQUAL WITH THE FATHER. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.” (Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 268)
Note: It was the Father who ordained the Son to be equal with Himself and has given the Son an exalted position. If the Father was the One who ordained the Son to be equal with Himself and the Son was “given” an exalted position, then the Son did not always shared this equality alongside the Father.
“There had been no change in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer’s envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made necessary a statement of the TRUE POSITION OF THE SON OF GOD; but THIS HAD BEEN THE SAME FROM THE BEGINNING. MANY OF THE ANGELS WERE, HOWEVER, BLINDED BY LUCIFER’S DECEPTIONS.” (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 36, ‘Why was sin permitted?’)
Note: Christ’s position “had been the same from the beginning”, meaning, Christ has always been the Son of God from the beginning and assumed a position that was next in command to the Father–see the statements below. WHO WA
S THE 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD HIGHEST BEINGS IN HEAVEN BEFORE THE FALL? “THE SON OF GOD WAS NEXT IN AUTHORITY TO THE GREAT LAWGIVER. He knew that His life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man.” (Ellen White, Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 9; Also in Lift Him Up, p. 24)
Note: Although Christ “has been made equal with the Father,” the Father’s position precedes that of Christ. Christ WAS NEXT IN AUTHORITY TO THE GREAT LAWGIVER [Father].
“When SATAN learned the purpose of God, he WAS ENVIOUS AT CHRIST, AND JEALOUS because the Father had not consulted him in regard to the creation of man. Satan was of the highest order of angels; but Christ was above all. He was the Commander of all Heaven. HE IMPARTED TO THE ANGELIC FAMILY THE HIGH COMMANDS OF HIS FATHER.” (Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 36, ‘The Temptation and Fall’, 1864)
Note: The “high commands” spoken of here came from the Father. Christ was executing His Father’s will. The pre-eminence of the Father is indicated here before the incarnation of Christ.
The God the Father is the God of Jesus:
1Pet 1:3 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Eph 1:3 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Eph 1:17 the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory
Rom 15:6 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
2Cor 1:3 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
2Cor 11:31 the God and Father of the Lord Jesus
Col 1:3 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Rev 1:6 to serve His God and Father
Jesus Himself refers to the Father as “my God” Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Revelation 3:12
“The creation of our world was brought into the councils of heaven. There the covering cherub prepared his request that he should be made prince to govern the world then in prospect. This was not accorded him. Jesus Christ was to rule the earthly kingdom; UNDER GOD He engaged to take the world with all its probabilities. The law of heaven should be the standard law for this new world, for human intelligences. Lucifer was jealous of Christ and this jealousy worked into rebellion and he carried with him a large number of the holy angels. Jesus, the Son of God, was not deceived by Lucifer’s sophistry. He stood true to principle and resisted every line of reasoning of Lucifer and all the angels who had taken sides with him, thus evidencing that as He stood, every angel might have stood. {Ms43b-1891.3}
Thus, God the Father is the God of Jesus. God the Father is not only distinct from the Son but in some way superior.
Son receives all things from the Father
Matt 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
John 3:35 “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”
John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”
John 13:3 “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;”
John 17:1-2 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him[Jesus] power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him[Jesus].”
John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
Note: The glory which Jesus is referring to is His preincarnate glory, “the glory which He had before the world was”: “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” (John 17:5)
Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
Acts 2:33 “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”
1 Cor. 8:6 “ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (Compare Col 1:16, “all things were created by him, and for him”)
1 Corinthians 11:12(KJV) “For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.”
Apostle Paul says, speaking of the Father, “of whom are all things”. All things come from the Father but through “Jesus Christ, by whom are all things,”
Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Hebrews 2:10 “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
“God has sent His Son to communicate His own life to humanity. Christ declares, ‘I live by the Father,’ My life and His being one. [Verse 57.] ‘No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.’ [John 1:18.] ‘For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.’ [John 5:26, 27.] The head of every man is Christ, as the head of Christ is God. ‘And ye are Christ’s, and CHRIST IS GOD’S.’” [1 Corinthians 3:23.] {Ms25-1897.14}
Again and again we see that it is the Father who gives and Jesus is the recipient; never the other way around.
“His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every
living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out His will and His purposes but would do nothing of Himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in Him.”—Lift Him up, p. 18“God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ HAS BEEN GIVEN AN EXALTED POSITION. HE HAS BEEN MADE EQUAL WITH THE FATHER. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son.”— Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, p. 268
“Jehovah is the name GIVEN TO CHRIST. ‘Behold, God is my salvation,’ writes the prophet Isaiah; ‘I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day ye shall say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.’ ‘In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.'” —The Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899, p. 2
How many things did Christ receive from His Father? “ALL THINGS CHRIST RECEIVED FROM GOD, BUT HE TOOK TO GIVE. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all.” — (Desire Of Ages, p. 21)
And of course “all things” means everything! And John 5:26 further confirms this includes His life as you would expect. Ellen White said we can possess this same life through Christ. And all things also means that God gave not only His life but even His own Spirit to His Son.
Son’s True Position
God the Father Established the Order of Heaven
“THE SON OF GOD presented before him [Lucifer] the greatness, the goodness, and the justice of the Creator, and the sacred, unchanging nature of HIS LAW. GOD HIMSELF HAD ESTABLISHED THE ORDER OF HEAVEN; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker and bring ruin upon himself. But the warning, given in infinite love and mercy, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed his jealousy of Christ to prevail, and became the more determined. {PP 35.3}
You see it was God who set Christ in His place and Satan knew this!
“BEFORE the fall of Lucifer, he aspired for THE SUPREMACY THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO CHRIST, who was one with the Father in the government of heaven. There was war in heaven, and Satan and all the rebellious angels he had deceived were overcome. Those who had opposed THE WILL OF GOD IN APPOINTING CHRIST AS THE CHIEF RULER were cast out of the heavenly courts, and since that time they have been warring against the Most High. {Lt24-1910.4}
“… Satan, knowing that CHRIST HAD THE FIRST PLACE NEXT TO GOD, began to insinuate to the angels that he should be next to God. His great beauty and exalted position made him feel that he was not receiving due honor in being second to Christ. Therefore he would suggest this to the angels, and this suggestion [began] to be communicated to the heavenly angels, and finally [it was] brought before God that Lucifer was the one who should be next to God. Thus the seed was sown and the result was that angels sympathized with Lucifer; next, there was war in heaven. Lucifer’s beautiful appearance was constantly exalted and THE LORD GOD OF HEAVEN [saw] that Lucifer and his party were very strong against Christ. {Ms90-1910.4}
“There had been NO CHANGE IN THE POSITION or authority of Christ. LUCIFER’S ENVY AND MISTREPRESENTATION AND HIS CLAIMS TO EQUALITY WITH CHRIST HAD MADE NECESSARY A STATEMENT OF THE TRUE POSITION of the Son of God; BUT THIS HAD BEEN THE SAME FROM THE BEGINNING. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer’s deceptions”. {PP 38.1}
“The world’s Redeemer was equal with God. His authority was as the authority of God. He declared that He had no existence separate from the Father. The authority by which He spoke, and wrought miracles, was expressly His own, yet He assures us that He and the Father are one.” {R&H, January 7, 1890, p.1}
It was “Lucifer’s envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made NECESSARY A STATEMENT OF THE TRUE POSITION of the Son of God; but
this HAD BEEN THE SAME FROM THE BEGINNING. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer’s deceptions. {PP 38.1}
If “FROM THE BEGINNING” is to be understood as Christ’s point of origin, then, we can say Christ was “given” the position of equality by the virtue of His inheritance from the day that He was begotten…but it appears that this fact may have not been fully disclosed to all the heavenly host until Lucifer’s insurgence which made it necessary for the Father to set the record straight…as shown below:
“The great Creator assembled the heavenly host, that He might in the presence of all the angels confer special honor upon His Son. The Son was seated on the throne with the Father, and the heavenly throng of holy angels was gathered around them. The Father then made known that it was ordained by Himself that Christ, His Son, should be equal with Himself; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father….” Lift Him Up, p. 18
Note: If Christ’s position “had been the same from the beginning”, Christ always assumed a position that was next in command to the Father…“THE SON OF GOD WAS NEXT IN AUTHORITY TO THE GREAT LAWGIVER. He knew that His life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man.” (Ellen White, Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 9; Also in Lift Him Up, p. 24)
Note: Although Christ “has been made equal with the Father,” the Father’s position always precedes that of Christ. If Christ was equal with the Father in the absolute sense “from the beginning”, then how is it that Christ is also “next in authority to the Great Lawgiver”? Did Christ position change? Inspiration tells us otherwise; Christ’s position “HAD BEEN THE SAME FROM THE BEGINNING”
“When SATAN learned the purpose of God, he WAS ENVIOUS AT CHRIST, AND JEALOUS because the Father had not consulted him in regard to the creation of man. Satan was of the highest order of angels; but Christ was above all. He was the Commander of all Heaven. HE [Christ] IMPARTED TO THE ANGELIC FAMILY THE HIGH COMMANDS OF HIS FATHER.” (Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 36, ‘The Temptation and Fall’, 1864)
Note: The “high commands” spoken of here came from the Father. Christ was executing His Father’s will. The pre-eminence of the Father is indicated here before the incarnation of Christ.
Following is further evidence of how the Father’s pre-eminence will always be maintained even in the future days to come…
If Christ is equal with the Father in the absolute sense and possessed this position inherently from the “beginning” and this was the positions he always maintained, then How is it that it was God the Father who ordained all things to be under Christ but at the exclusion of Himself and will continue to maintains His preeminence over Christ even after “when all thing shall be subdued unto” Christ.
1Cor 15: 24-28: “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, THEN SHALL THE SON ALSO HIMSELF BE SUBJECT UNTO HIM THAT PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIM, that God may be all in all.
This you catch that? “then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him…”
Summary
“The Father, the omniscient One, created the world through Christ Jesus. Christ is the light of the world, the way to eternal life. He, the anointed One, God gave to make an atonement for the sins of the world. You need to understand that unless you believe in THAT atonement, and KNOW that you are bought with the price of the blood of the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, you will assuredly be bound up with the wicked one. If you continue to cherish the theories that you have been cherishing, you will be left to become the sport of Satan’s temptations. He is playing the game of life for your soul. Remain for a little longer linked up with him, and be assured that you will lose your soul.”— Ellen G. White 4MR 59.1
The doctrine of a pre-incarnate begotten Son, who was brought forth from God’s realm of eternal existence before all the creation of the universe, is an amazing truth that is also the most sensible explanation for all of the inspired evidence, both the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy. While it is actually impossible to fully comprehend or explain when or how Christ became the begotten Son, this truth explains other truths that would otherwise be incomprehensible. It explains both His Divinity and pre-incarnate Sonship by holding in tension both the Divine (eternal, pre-existent, self-existent) and the Begotten (“possessed” and “brought forth”) aspects of Christ’s nature and makes them both an unalterable reality. Thus the law of God, which allows for no other Being to be worshipped or to be equal with the Father, has a rational, ontological basis for Christ’s true position-God’s only begotten Son.
Questions and Answers
Has Christ forever forfeited His omnipresence?
Is Jesus God? A Response to Hebrews 1:1-9