p. 182 | THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 25, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 12.

THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

By Editor

THE Methodists have recently issued another book on the Sabbath question, written by the Rev. Dr. M. C. Briggs, now of Santa Clara, Cal. The book is in many respects different from any that have preceded it, notably in that it attempts simply to prove "a commanding probability" that the venerable day of the sun—"the wild solar holiday of all pagan times"—was the original Sabbath of Jehovah. We have promised the author a review of his book in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and with this we begin the fulfillment of that promise. Before we pay any attention to the Sabbath argument, however, we wish to present a line of thought suggested by a sentence in the preface. Speaking of those who observe the seventh day as the Sabbath, whom he commends for their liberality in denominational outlays, their diligence in propagating the doctrines held by them, and their fidelity to their convictions, the Doctor says:—

"One only regrets that their influence is not brought to bear in support of the true Sabbath. Their genius of interpretation—especially that of the Saturday-Sabbath Adventists—illustrates itself in specific results which must counter-work each other, such as formal feet washing (now well-nigh abandoned, I believe), the denial of Christ's divinity, the utter and contemptuous rejection of a supersensuous nature, a soul or spirit in man, and the annihilation of the wicked."

As to the denial that man possesses a soul or spirit, we can say that we know of no Adventists, Sabbatarian or otherwise, who do this. If the Doctor thinks so, he has been misinformed. Certainly he never read any such denial. That subject is not under discussion at the present time, so we will simply say that Seventh-day Adventists believe the Bible as a whole, and every part of the whole, and when they read Paul's prayer that the "whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23), they accept it as evidence that man has both soul and spirit. What they reject is the unwarranted additions made to the Bible by Protestant and Papal doctors of divinity, by which they try to make it uphold the pagan dogma that the soul or spirit is immortal.

But when the Doctor states that Seventh-day Adventists deny the divinity of Christ, we know that he writes recklessly. We are fully persuaded in our own mind that he knows better; but be that as it may, the statement has been made so often by men who professed to know whereof they were speaking, that many have come to believe it; and for their sakes, as well as for the benefit of those who may not have given the subject any thought, we propose to set forth the truth. We have no theory to bolster up, and so, instead of stating propositions, we shall simply quote the word of God, and accept what it says.

The first text that we quote is that one so familiar to everyone who knows anything of the Bible, John 1:1: "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." That this refers to Christ is evident from verse 4: "In him was life; and the life was the light of men;" and from verse 14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." Indeed, we never heard of anyone who doubted that the evangelist has reference to Christ in this passage. From it we learn that Christ is God. That text alone, if we had no other, is sufficient to establish the divinity of Christ, for the word "divinity" means, "the nature or essence of God." We believe in the divinity of Christ, because the Bible says that Christ is God.

In the book of Isaiah, which is full of prophecies of the Messiah, we find the following words spoken in anticipation of Christ:—

"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, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6.

It would be impossible to find titles which would more completely show the exalted nature of Christ than these: "The mighty God, The everlasting Father." But we read again from the beloved disciple:—

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18.

This text shows the closeness of the relationship between Christ and the Father. He is "the only begotten Son," and he is "in the bosom of the Father." No matter where Christ may be in person, he is "in the bosom of the Father;" that is a statement that is universally true, showing the unity of the Father and the Son. "He hath declared him." That is, no man has seen God, but they know his character and attributes, because they have seen him set forth in Christ. This truth is well indicated by the words of Christ to Philip:—

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 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 14:8, 9.

So perfectly did Christ represent the Father, that for one to say that he had not seen the Father was equivalent to saying that he had not seen Christ. For this we have the words of Christ himself; therefore those who refuse to accept him as divine, do so simply because they cannot believe his word. Those who do not believe that Christ, as he was here on earth, was divine, do not give him credit for being even an honest man. The very name that was given to Jesus—Emmanuel—signifies, "God with us." See Matt. 1:23.

The writer to the Hebrews, speaking of Christ's superiority to the angels, says that it is because "he hath by inheritance a more excellent name than they." Heb. 1:4. What name is it that he has by inheritance? It is, "The mighty God." As the only begotten Son of God, he has that name by right. It is most natural that the Son should inherit the name of the Father. That he has this name, is shown still further by the words of the Father himself, who addresses the Son by it. Speaking of God the Father, the apostle says: "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." Heb. 1:8.

(To be continued.)