Understanding the Eternal Nature and Personality of Christ

Yes, this is correct; the divine nature of the Son of God is eternal and unchangeable because He is of the same substance and nature as the Father, yet His distinct personality had a beginning as the only-begotten SonBEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4+1. While both the Father and the Son are of the very same nature, the Father is first in point of time and is greater in the sense that He had no beginning, whereas Christ's personality proceeded from the FatherBEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4.

The Eternal Nature and Personality of Christ

The divinity of Christ is established by the fact that He is the Son of God, and as His Son, He must necessarily partake of the nature of GodBEST October 1, 1889, page 297.1.

• Shared Nature and Essence: The Son is the express character of God’s being and the very image of His substanceGCB/GCDB February 15, 1897, page 23.2+1. Because he is of the same nature, Christ is God in the fullest sense, possessing "life in himself" and the power to perpetuate His own existence John 5:26BEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4+1.

• The Origin of Personality: As the only-begotten Son, Christ has the power and authority of the Father by birthrightPTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.4. He is "the beginning of His way," revealing every perfection of the Father's characterPTUK February 2, 1899, page 69.4.

• Creative Power: This relationship does not mean Christ is a created being; rather, He is the Creator of all things, and everything that was made was made by Him John 1:3BEST September 15, 1889, page 281.4. He is "the first-born of every creature" in that He is pre-eminent above all things, and in Him all things consist Colossians 1:15-18BEST September 15, 1889, page 281.4.

Pre-existence from the Days of Eternity

Though His personality had a beginning in relation to the Father, Christ existed before the world was created and His "goings forth" are from the days of eternity Micah 5:2BEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4.

• Before the World Was: In His prayer on the night of His betrayal, Jesus asked to be glorified with the glory He had with the Father before the world was John 17:5SITI April 8, 1889, page 201.39. To deny this pre-existence is to deny the plainest declarations of the BibleSITI January 6, 1888, page 16.17.

• The Eternal Word: He was the Word that was in the beginning with God and was God John 1:1EVCO 101.1. This life that was in Him was "endless life," and He was the source of life for Abraham just as He was for Lazarus John 11:25EVCO 101.1+1.

• Unity with the Father: Unity with the Father is an essential part of Christ's divinity; they have a union of thought, purpose, and will so close that it is impossible to imagine anything closer John 10:30SITI November 20, 1884, page 697.15.

Equality and Humiliation

The statement that the Father is "greater" than the Son is perfectly consistent with Christ's divinity when considering both His sonship and His voluntary humiliation John 14:28BEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4.

• The Position of the Son: The Father is greater in that He is the source and had no beginning, while the Son's personality was brought forth from HimBEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4.

• The Incarnation: When Christ took upon Himself human nature, He "emptied himself" and was made "a little lower than the angels" for the purpose of redeeming man Philippians 2:7+1BEST October 1, 1889, page 297.4.

• Veiled Divinity: During His earthly life, He did not lay aside His divinity, but He veiled it with humanity, passing among men as a common mortal except when His divine power flashed throughCHR 24.2.

As the Son of God, Christ possesses the very nature of God by right of His birth, making Him the unchangeable channel of God's blessing and holiness to mankindAMS July 1, 1897, page 406.7+1. 🕊️