Biblical Harmony of Christ's Original Life and Divine Gift

John 5:26

26 For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself;

John 8:28

28 Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.

John 6:57

57 As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me.

John 8:50

50 And I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.

John 7:18

18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

The biblical harmony between Christ possessing original life and receiving life from the Father is found in the "circuit of beneficence," where the Father’s life flows through the Son to all creation and returns in a tide of loveDA 21.2. This relationship demonstrates that while Christ is the source of life, He operates under the great law of the universe, which is the glory of givingDA 21.2.

The Law of Life and the Divine Source

The harmony of these truths is found in the perfect unselfishness of the Godhead, where giving is the supreme gloryDA 21.2.

• The Father as the Source: The Father has life in Himself, and it is His divine nature to share this life through His Son John 5:26DA 21.2.

• The Son’s Original Life: Christ possesses life that is original and underived, yet He lives by the Father, showing that His existence is in perfect union with the Source of all John 6:57DA 21.2.

• The Purpose of Receiving: All things that Christ received from God were taken specifically to be given away to othersDA 21.2.

Explanation of Key Bible Verses

These scriptures define the great principle of life that governs the entire universeDA 21.2.

• ** John 5:26:** This verse confirms that the Father has granted the Son to have the same self-existent life that He Himself possesses John 5:26.

• ** John 8:28:** Christ emphasizes His total dependence and alignment with the Father, stating that He does nothing of Himself but speaks only what the Father taught Him John 8:28DA 21.2.

• ** John 6:57:** Just as the living Father sent the Son and the Son lives because of the Father, so those who partake of Christ will live because of Him John 6:57DA 21.2.

• ** John 8:50 & John 7:18:** These verses reveal Christ’s character; He does not seek His own glory but the glory of the One who sent Him, proving He is true and without unrighteousness John 8:50+1DA 21.2.

The Circuit of Beneficence

This divine arrangement represents the character of the great Giver and establishes the law of life for all created beingsDA 21.2.

• Outward Flow: Through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to every part of creationDA 21.2.

• Inward Return: This life then returns through the Son to the great Source of all in the form of praise, joyous service, and loveDA 21.2.

• The Contrast of Sin: Sin originated when this law was broken by Lucifer, who replaced the joy of giving with self-seeking and the desire for controlDA 21.3.

• Angelic Ministry: In contrast to the self-seeking of the fallen, the angels of glory find their greatest joy in giving love and tireless watchcare to the fallen and unholyDA 21.1.

By looking unto Jesus, we see that the heart of God is defined by this beautiful cycle of selfless givingDA 21.2.

The life of Christ is truly original, unborrowed, and underived because He is one with the eternal Father in nature, character, and purpose21LtMs, Lt 256, 1906, par. 8. While Christ is the self-existent "I AM" who possesses life inherently, He also functions as the designated channel through whom the Father’s life flows to all created beingsAA 38.3+2.

The Nature of Christ's Life

Jesus Christ possesses a divinity that is absolute and a life that is not dependent upon any other created thing5BC 1130.3+1.

• Self-Existent Divinity: In Christ is life that is original and underived, an eternal life which is exclusively the property of God5BC 1130.3+1.

• The Eternal Word: As the Word who was with God and was God, He had this life from the beginning of all things John 1:1-45BC 1130.3.

• Authority Over Life: Because His life was unborrowed, no one could take it from Him; He possessed the divine power to lay it down and take it up again of Himself John 10:181SM 296.2+1.

The Relationship Between Father and Son

The Godhead was stirred with pity for the fallen race, and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit united in the plan of redemptionPH148 5.3.

• The Express Image: Christ is the express image of the Father's person and the only being in the universe who could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God John 1:18Ev 614.3+1.

• The Divine Inheritance: As the only begotten Son, Christ was the "Anointed One," receiving all authority in heaven and on earth to act as Priest and King Matthew 28:18TT 22.5+1.

• The Source and the Channel: While the Father is the eternal, self-existent Source of all life, He manifested all the fullness of the Godhead through His Son Colossians 2:321MR 272.3+1.

The Flow of Life and Beneficence

The Father and Son are perfectly united, and the love of the Father is the fountain of salvation for the lost raceCIHS 139.1.

• Derived Life in Humanity: In contrast to Christ, our life is derived and received from the Giver, who takes it back again to HimselfMM 7.3.

• Union of Divinity and Humanity: Christ clothed His divinity with humanity so that the life of God could be lived out in human flesh, uniting humanity to the divine Source9MR 126.1+1.

• The Great I AM: Jehovah is the name given to Christ, the eternal, self-existent One who is the strength and song of His people Exodus 3:147ABC 439.2+1.

The Holy Spirit's Work

The Holy Spirit is the agency through which the life and power of the Godhead are imparted to the believer1SM 394.3+1.

• The Representative of Christ: The Spirit is sent from heaven as a token of Christ's inauguration and authority, working to recreate the image of God in manAA 38.3+1.

• Indwelling Presence: When the heart is emptied of self, the Holy Spirit supplies the vacuum, making the believer a partaker of the divine nature 1 John 3:17LtMs, Ms 83, 1891, par. 3+1.

• Unity of the Godhead: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption, ensuring that nothing was wanting for man's upliftingPH148 5.3.

The Holy Spirit is the representative of Jesus Christ, acting as His spiritual presence and the very soul of His life within the believer11MR 35.3+2. This manifestation is not a mere influence but is the life of Christ in the soul, providing a vital connection to the divine Source even though He is physically in the heavenly courts6BC 1112.1+1.

The Holy Spirit as the Life of Christ

The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul temple, serving a function as vital to spiritual existence as blood is to the physical body6BC 1112.1+1.

• The Representative of Jesus: The Holy Spirit is the representative of Christ, through whom He fulfills the promise to never leave nor forsake His people11MR 35.3+1.

• Spiritual Infusion: The Lord Jesus acts through the Holy Spirit to infuse spiritual life into the soul, quickening its energies for good and cleansing it from moral defilementMYP 55.3+1.

• A Personal Presence: While Christ is not seen or spoken to directly, His Holy Spirit is just as near to the believer in one place as in another, manifesting His presence and character6BC 1112.1+1.

The Comforter and Omnipresence

Jesus promised to manifest Himself to His followers through the agency of the Comforter, which is the Holy SpiritDA 670.1+1.

• The Spiritual Manifestation: The disciples were taught that by the Spirit, Christ would manifest Himself to them in a way that would bring all His teachings to their remembranceDA 670.1+1.

• Ubiquity of the Spirit: Christ is represented by His Holy Spirit today in every part of His great moral vineyard, reaching to all parts of the world to dispel the darkness of errorPr 93.3+1.

• A Living Connection: It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in the heart, and this received Spirit is the actual beginning of eternal lifeDA 388.1+1.

The Role of the Godhead in Redemption

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit work in perfect unity to carry out the plan of redemption, with the Spirit acting as the third person of the GodheadPH148 5.3+1.

• The Three Worthies: Believers are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—the three holiest beings in heaven—who provide the power to keep the soul from falling7MR 267.2.

• The Spirit's Agency: The Spirit is a free, working, independent agency that recreates, refines, and sanctifies human beings to become children of the heavenly KingGW 286.3+1.

• Christ Formed Within: The ultimate goal of the Spirit’s work is for Christ to be formed within the believer as the hope of glory, transforming the character into the divine similitude7LtMs, Ms 36, 1891, par. 26+1.

Relevant Bible Verses

• ** John 14:16-18:** "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth... I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" John 14:16-18.

• ** John 14:26:** "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" John 14:26.

• ** John 6:63:** "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life" John 6:63.

• ** 1 Corinthians 2:10-12:** "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God... Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" 1 Corinthians 2:10-12.

• ** Psalm 139:7:** "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence" Psalms 139:7?

The Holy Spirit is the omnipresent manifestation of the Spirit of Christ, referred to as the Comforter, who brings the personal presence of the Saviour to every soul14MR 179.2+1. While Christ is physically enthroned in the heavenly sanctuary, He is represented on earth by the Holy Spirit, who acts as His spiritual presence to guide, teach, and abide with His followers forever John 14:16-1718MR 97.1+1.

The Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Christ

The Holy Spirit is not merely an influence but the very life-giving power of the Saviour that pervades the human soulRH August 31, 1911, par. 10.

• Omnipresent Representation: The Comforter is described as the omnipresence of the Spirit of Christ14MR 179.2.

• A Personal Presence: Through the Spirit, Christ manifests Himself to the believer, fulfilling His promise to be with His children always, even unto the end of the world Matthew 28:20Ev 15.2+1.

• The Divine Channel: Christ is represented by the Holy Spirit, and when this Spirit is appreciated and received, a divine connection electrifies the soul with heavenly energyST December 1, 1898, par. 4.

The Work of the Comforter (Parakletos)

The term Comforter identifies the Holy Spirit as the one sent by the Father in Christ’s name to continue the work the Saviour began while on earth John 14:26MYP 259.2.

• Teaching and Remembrance: The Holy Spirit’s office is to teach all things and bring the words of Christ to remembranceMYP 259.2+1.

• The Source of Peace: Christ left His peace as a legacy to the church, and this comfort is realized specifically under the guidance of the Holy Spirit John 14:2718MR 97.1.

• Divine Authority: The Holy Spirit gives divine authority to the word of truth and prepares the hearts of listeners to receive the message of the gospel6BC 1053.2+1.

Unity of the Godhead in the Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, yet His work is inseparable from the Father and the Son in the plan of redemptionPH148 5.3+1.

• The Three Heavenly Powers: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have pledged themselves to work in man's behalf, and believers are baptized into this threefold nameCCh 295.3+2.

• Communication with Man: It is through the Holy Spirit that God communicates with humanity; rejecting this agency cuts off the very channel of light and salvationEP 284.2+1.

• Christ Formed Within: The ultimate work of the Spirit is the restoration of the divine image in man, so that Christ is formed within as the hope of glory7LtMs, Ms 36, 1891, par. 26+1.

Relevant Bible Verses

• ** John 14:16-18:** "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth... I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" John 14:16-18.

• ** John 14:26:** "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you" John 14:26.

• ** Acts 1:8:** "But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me... unto the uttermost part of the earth" Acts 1:8.

• ** 2 Corinthians 3:17-18:** "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty... changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.

Yes, these two phrases are equated as they both identify the Holy Spirit as the essential, personal representative of Jesus Christ who possesses the full power of the Godhead6BC 1052.5+2. The Holy Spirit is designated as the third person of the Godhead, and it is this same Spirit that Christ bestows as His supreme gift to empower His followers to overcome all evil and reflect His own character4MR 329.5+2.

The Holy Spirit as the Third Person

The term "third person of the Godhead" defines the Holy Spirit as a distinct, personal dignity within the heavenly trio who possesses divine authorityEv 615.1+1.

• Restraining Evil: The accumulation of centuries of evil can only be restrained by the mighty power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit12LtMs, Ms 22, 1897, par. 19+2.

• The Fullness of Power: This divine person does not come with a modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power to make the sacrifice of Christ effectual in the human heart10MR 63.3+2.

• A Living Person: There are three living persons in the heavenly trio, and the Holy Spirit is one of these three great powers pledged to cooperate with the believer7ABC 441.9+1.

The Spirit as Christ’s Divine Power

Christ specifically identified His Spirit as the divine agency through which His followers would receive strength and transformationDA 671.2+1.

• The Highest Gift: Jesus rejoiced because the Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His peopleHLv 450.3+1.

• Overcoming Evil: Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evilDA 671.2+1.

• Signalizing His Ascension: To grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne, Christ determined to give His representative—the divine Spirit—as a donation that could not be excelled6BC 1052.5+1.

The Functional Unity of the Two Phrases

In the work of redemption, the "third person of the Godhead" and the "divine power" of Christ's Spirit are one and the same agencyHLv 450.3+1.

• The Representative of Christ: Christ determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead, as the converting, enlightening, and sanctifying power for His church6BC 1052.5+2.

• Imparting the Divine Nature: Through the agency of the third person of the Godhead, the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature and is fashioned in the likeness of the divineDA 671.2+1.

• Indwelling Presence: While Christ is the source of life, He dwells in the heart by faith through the work of the Holy Spirit, which is the atmosphere of heaven filling the soul1SM 394.3+2.

Relevant Bible Verses

• ** Matthew 28:19:** Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy GhostEv 615.1.

• ** John 14:16-18:** And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth... I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to youSpTA10 25.1.

• ** John 16:7-8:** It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sinSpTA10 25.1+1.

• ** Acts 1:8:** But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto meRH March 29, 1892, par. 3.

• ** 2 Peter 1:3-4:** According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness... that by these ye might be partakers of the divine naturePCP 23.2+2.

The Holy Spirit is the divine agency through which the water of life is communicated to the soul, making every believer a partaker of the divine natureGW 286.3+2. While the river of water of life proceeds physically from the throne of God and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem, it represents the spiritual life, grace, and teaching of Christ that are imparted to us by the Holy Spirit Revelation 22:1PP 413.2+2.

The Holy Spirit as the Channel of Living Water 💧

The water of life is not merely a physical substance but a symbol of the eternal life and righteousness that flow from the Godhead to humanity5BC 1130.3+1.

• Communication of Grace: The water that Christ gives becomes a well of water in the believer, and this internal spring is the revelation of His grace and Spirit in the soulTM 390.1+2.

• The Witnessing Trio: There are three that bear witness—the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three agree in one as the manifestation of the life Christ poured out for mankind 1 John 5:8EVCO 267.1+1.

• A Satisfying Fountain: To drink of the water of life is to receive the Holy Spirit’s influence, which satisfies the thirst of the soul and provides a living connection with the fountain of life1888 695.6+2.

Becoming Partakers of the Divine Nature 🕊️

The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to transform the human character by connecting the believer to the divine Source of strengthGW 286.3+1.

• Spiritual Regeneration: Through the agency of the Spirit, we are delivered from the pollution of sin and fitted for the atmosphere of heaven1SM 394.3+1.

• Escaping Corruption: By becoming partakers of the divine nature through the promises, we escape the moral corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Peter 1:4CH 424.1+1.

• The Divine Likeness: Christ gave His Spirit as a divine power to overcome evil tendencies and impress His own character upon His church 2 Corinthians 3:18RH November 19, 1908, par. 5.

The Source and the Throne 👑

The life we receive is derived from the only Source who possesses life that is original, unborrowed, and underivedEv 616.2+1.

• From the Throne: The pure river of water of life proceeds directly from the throne of God and of the Lamb, signifying that all spiritual life originates in the Godhead Revelation 22:1Ed 302.2+1.

• Infinite Provision: The invitation to take the water of life freely is extended to everyone, for the fountain is inexhaustible and provides enough for all who will to seek it Revelation 22:17RH May 9, 1912, par. 6+1.

• Future Fulfillment: In the future life, Christ will lead His people to the tree of life and the fountains of living waters, where they will continue to learn the truths of eternity Revelation 7:17Hvn 156.1+1.

Relevant Bible Verses 📖

• ** Revelation 22:1:** And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

• ** 2 Peter 1:4:** Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

• ** John 7:37-39:** In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive...)

• ** Revelation 21:6:** And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

• ** 1 John 5:8:** And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.