“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
1 John 5:20
“Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”
Isaiah 44:6
We find a similar verse where Jesus is identified as "the First and the Last is":
“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”
Revelation 1:17-18
The Father shares His Glory and power with His Son.
“I and my Father are one.”
John 10:30
“The words of Christ were full of deep meaning as he put forth the claim that He and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same attributes.”
The Signs of the Times, November 27, 1893, par. 5
The Father and the Son are in perfect unity.
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was... And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one”
John 17:4-5
What is beautiful is that God wishes that we are also in unity with Him.
While one in unity, we must be clear they possess individuality. We learn that the Father occupies a physical space:
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”
Daniel 7:9
The Son sits next to the Father and also occupies a physical space.
“Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
Romans 8:34
They are unified but maintain distinct personages.
“The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.”
The Ministry of Healing (MH 422.1)
The Son is in the image of the Father but a distinct identity.
“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Hebrews 1:3
We can look up this word image in the Strongs and find it is only in this instance and refers to an exact replica but more specifically relating to character.
charaktér
Strongs: 5481
properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character.
“The only way in which the fallen race could be restored was through the gift of his Son, equal with himself, possessing the attributes of God. ”
RH November 8, 1892, par. 3
“He was in the express image of His Father, not in features alone, but in perfection of character.”
Lift Him Up (LHU 24.2)
“From eternity there was a complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character.”
The Youth’s Instructor (YI December 16, 1897, par. 5)
It is beyond our mortal minds to understand the depths of God, but we are given insight into some aspects, however we must be careful not to jump to conclusions.
“He is the eternal, self-existent Son”
12LtMs, Ms 101, 1897, par. 28
The first thing we are given is that Jesus is eternal and self-existent.
“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”
12LtMs, Ms 101, 1897, par. 28
“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father”
Selected Messages (1SM 247.4)
“The Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, is truly God in infinity, but not in personality.”
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 20 (1905), Ms 116, 1905, par. 19
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, 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;...Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”
Proverbs 8:22-25,30-31
“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived.”
Desire of Ages (DA 530.2)
Commentary by EJ Waggoner "Christ and His Righteousness: Is Christ a Created Being?"
"The word rendered “beginning” is arche, meaning, as well, “head” or “chief.” It occurs in the name of the Greek ruler, Archon, in archbishop and the word archangel. Take this last word. Christ is the archangel. See Jude 9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28, 29; Daniel 10:21. This does not mean that He is the first of the angels, for He is not an angel but is above them. Hebrews 1:4. It means that He is the chief or prince of the angels, just as an archbishop is the head of the bishops. Christ is the commander of the angels. See Revelation 19:11-14. He created the angels. Colossians 1:16. And so the statement that He is the beginning or head of the creation of God means that in Him creation had its beginning; that, as He Himself says, He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Revelation 21:6; 22:13. He is the source whence all things have their origin. Neither should we imagine that Christ is a creature, because Paul calls Him (Colossians 1:15) “The First-born of every creature” for the very next verses show Him to be Creator and not a creature. ” (CHR 20.2-21.1)
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Now if He created everything that was ever created and existed before all created things, it is evident that He Himself is not among created things. He is above all creation and not a part of it. (CHR 21.1)
The Scriptures declare that Christ is “the only begotten son of God.” He is begotten, not created. As to when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told. The prophet Micah tells us all that we can know about it in these words, “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 the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. There was a time when Christ proceeded forth and came from God, from the bosom of the Father (John 8:42; 1:18), but that time was so far back in the days of eternity that to finite comprehension it is practically without beginning.(CHR 21.2)
“As to when He was begotten, it is not for us to inquire, nor could our minds grasp it if we were told...”
EJ Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness (CHR 21.2)
“...from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
Psalm 90:2
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
Matthew 1:23
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”
Philippians 2:6
“Before the entrance of evil there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will. Love for God was supreme, love for one another impartial. Christ the Word, the Only Begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father,—one in nature, in character, and in purpose,—the only being in all the universe that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. By Christ the Father wrought in the creation of all heavenly beings. “By Him were all things created, that are in heaven, ... whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers” (Colossians 1:16); and to Christ, equally with the Father, all heaven gave allegiance.”
Great Controversy (GC 493.1)
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
“...a dangerous error is the doctrine that denies the deity of Christ, claiming that He had no existence before His advent to this world. It directly contradicts the plainest statements of our Saviour concerning His relationship with the Father, His divine character, and His pre-existence.”
The Great Controversy (GC 524.2)
“If men reject the testimony of the inspired Scriptures concerning the deity of Christ, it is in vain to argue the point with them; for no argument, however conclusive, could convince them.”
The Great Controversy (GC 524.2)
“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”
Hebrews 1:3
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
“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
“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.”
Testimonies volume 8 (8T 268.3)
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
Hebrews 1:1-4
“Beware of Him, and obey His voice, provoke Him not; for He will not pardon your transgressions: for My name is in Him.”
Exodus 23:21
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”
Philippians 2:6
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”
John 14:9
“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.”
E.G. White, Review & Herald, April 15, 1915
“To save the transgressor of God's law, Christ, the one equal with the Father, came to live heaven before men, that they might learn to know what it is to have heaven in the heart. He illustrated what man must be to be worthy of the precious boon of the life that measures with the life of God”
E.G. White, Review & Herald, November 17, 1891
“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
“The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver.”
Lift Him Up (LHU 24.2)
“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.”
Counsels for the Church (CCh 76.5)
“For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell”
Colossians 1:19
“This Saviour was the brightness of His Father's glory and the express image of His person. He possessed divine majesty, perfection, and excellence. He was equal with God.”
Testimonies for the Church (2T 200.1)
“Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged Sovereign of heaven, one in power and authority with the Father.”
The Great Controversy (GC 495.1)
“The King of the universe summoned the heavenly host before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son”
Patriarchs and Prophets (PP 36.1_
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
John 17:5-6
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Luke 22:42
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Matthew 28:18
“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.”
1 Corinthians 15:28
“In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with Him.”
E.G. White, Signs of the Times, April 15, 1915
“But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
1 Corinthians 11:3
The humility of Jesus is seen throughout His existence.
“They clearly set forth that Jesus was the Son of God, existing with him before the angels were created; and that he had ever stood at the right hand of God, and his mild, loving authority had not heretofore been questioned; and that he had given no commands but what it was joy for the heavenly host to execute. They had urged that Christ's receiving special honor from the Father, in the presence of the angels, did not detract from the honor that he had heretofore received.”
E.G. White, Signs of the Times, January 9, 1879
“My Father is greater than I.”
John 14:28
“Christ was the Lord of heaven and earth… He was made in the likeness of God, yet He humbled Himself, and took upon Him the form of a servant”
Upward Look (UL 134.3)
“...the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve...”
Matthew 20:28 (ESV)
“But in all this He would not seek power or exaltation for Himself contrary to God's plan, but would exalt the Father's glory and execute His purposes of beneficence and love.”
Patriarchs and Prophets (PP 36.2)
“The King of the universe (Father) summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings. The Son of God shared the Father's throne, and the glory of the eternal, self-existent One encircled both.”
Patriarchs and Prophets (PP 36.2)
“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.”
E.G. White, The Story of Redemption (SR 13.2)
“The Son of God had wrought the Father's will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due. Christ was still to exercise divine power, in the creation of the earth and its inhabitants.”
Patriarchs & Prophets (PP 36.2)
“Christ was the Son of God; He had been one with Him before the angels were called into existence. He had ever stood at the right hand of the Father”
Patriarchs & Prophets (PP 38.3)
“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.”
John 5:22–23
“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
Romans 2:16
“And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”
Acts 10:42
“Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”
Acts 17:31
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:10
“the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”
Revelation 13:8
“For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”
Galatians 3:13
“I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Saviour.”
Isaiah 43:11
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
1 Timothy 2:5
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6