What did the Son volunteer to lay aside or empty Himself of? Answer: His Holy Spirit life and soul:
"Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter, who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of his life, the efficacy of his church, the light and life of the world. With his Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin.
In the gift of the Spirit [HIS LIFE--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE], Jesus gave to man the highest good that heaven could bestow....
The Spirit was given as a regenerating agency, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail....
It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given his Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress his own character upon the church." E.G. White, Review and Herald Articles, May 19, 1904, vol. 5, p. 42.
"Cumbered with humanity Christ could not be in every place personally, therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them to go to His Father and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit." E.G. White, (Manuscript Releases Volume 14 (No's 1081-1135) MR No.1084.
Emptied Himself --"Literally, 'emptied Himself.' This emptying was voluntary (see on John 10:17, 18). It was not possible for Christ to retain all the tokens of divinity and still accomplish the Incarnation." SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 155, col. 1.
Emptied Himself -- Laid aside:
"It is obvious that prior to being born of the virgin Mary Jesus was not human at all, and only divine. When Jesus became a man, the Bible says, He emptied Himself. 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, though it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation ['emptied himself.' --Green's Literal Translation and RSV], and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name." Philippians 2:5-9. In order for Jesus to become a man He emptied Himself. The Bible is clear that He emptied Himself of at least some of the attributes of divinity. There are certain characteristics that distinguish divinity from humanity. Some of these include: omniscience (all knowing), omnipresence (the ability to be in all places at the same time), omnipotence (all powerful), and immortality (not subject to death). We know for sure from the Bible that Jesus gave up all of these attributes of divinity while He was on earth. To wit:
Omniscience:
If Jesus knew all things, why does the Bible say that He increased in wisdom and stature?
Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Jesus said, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." (Mark 13:32) We know that, at least while Christ was on earth, He did not have knowledge of all things. In fact, the Bible says He learned while He was on earth. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." (Luke 2:52) It is not possible for a man to increase in wisdom if he already has all wisdom.
Omnipresence:
Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; 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." (John 16:7) Jesus said that it was better for the disciples if He went away so that the Comforter could come to them. He said it would be better for them if the Comforter was there rather than Christ being there physically. Why was that? Jesus said, "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; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:16-18) Jesus said that the Comforter was dwelling with the disciples while He was on earth, and would be in them in the future. Then He said, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
The disciples were at a disadvantage to have Christ dwelling with them instead of in them. That is why Christ said that it would be better for the disciples for Christ to go away and regain his omnipresence so that He could dwell in them by His Spirit rather than dwelling with them on the outside of them. "The Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:39) It is evident from this that Christ was limited by His humanity from being in all places at the same time. He did not have omnipresence while He was on earth.
Omnipotence:
Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself." (John 5:19) And again, "I can of mine own self do nothing." (John 5:30) According to Jesus, while He was on earth He was not able to do anything by His own power. It is obvious that He was not all powerful while He was on earth. Immortality: The scripture says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Hebrews 2:9) It is obvious that Christ was subject to death while He was a human, for He died for our sins. It is evident that at least the four primary characteristics of divinity were laid aside by Christ when He came to earth to be a man. Christ was divine while He was on earth, not because of what He was made of or any special powers He had, but because of who He was-the Son of God.
The fulness of the Godhead was dwelling in Christ while He was on earth. "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9) Paul also wrote, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." (Colossians 1:19) The fulness of the Godhead that dwelt in Christ while He was on this earth was the fulness of God, the Father. Of Jesus John the Baptist said, "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34) The Spirit of the Father was given to Christ without measure so that He was filled with all the fulness of God. Paul wrote that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself." (2 Corinthians 5:19)
The Bible tells us that even you and I can be filled will all the fulness of God. "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:19) Being filled with all the fulness of God comes by being a partaker of the divine nature. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4).
While Jesus was on earth He was a human who was divine because of who He was, not because of what He was made of. He was a partaker of the divine nature of His Father and was filled with all the fulness of God. Any divine powers that were manifested in Christ were a result of His Father dwelling in Him. Jesus said, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14:10) Christ was divine because of who He was, but any divine powers manifested in Him were not His own powers, for they were relinquished when He became a man.
The popular Trinitarian idea that Jesus was part divine, retaining all the attributes and powers of divinity, and part human, taking upon Himself the limitations of humanity is incorrect. The Bible says that He emptied Himself of all the powers of divinity when He became a human. Jesus, of Himself, could do nothing. (John 5:19, 30). Lynnford Beachy, Questions and Answers, Present Truth, August, 2000.
Grieving the Holy Spirit
Mat 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the [world] to come.
Mar 3:28 Verily I say unto you All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Why is it not unpardonable sin to speak a word against the Son of man as Jesus, and it shall be forgiven him, but whosoever speaks against the Son of Man as the Holy Ghost (Spirit) is shall not be forgiven him?
Answer: Because the Holy Spirit life and soul of the Son was bequeathed as a regenerating gift to us at the Incarnation of the Son in heaven. That gift, the life and soul of the Son's One Eternal Holy Spirit, is the only regenerating agency we have. It we speak against that, there is left no appeal, no mediator to reach us and woo us to God. This is related to the following principle of Scripture:
"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." Heb. 10:26, 27.
If we wilfully grieve the Holy Spirit of Christ, the way, the truth and the life, to wit:
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
We have no other way to come to the Father, but by the Holy Spirit life and soul of the Son of God--The life of the Son as laid aside for us at His Incarnation in heaven.
We know for sure from the Bible that Jesus gave up all of the above attributes of divinity while He was on earth for two reasons:
1. His humanity cumbered these attributes. 2. Certain of His Incarnation sacrifices were laid aside for us, such as His Divine nature mind, that is to be in us and in our hearts.
Omega Heresy
"I have been instructed by the heavenly messenger that some of the reasoning in the book Living Temple is unsound, and that this reasoning would lead astray the minds of those who are not thoroughly established on the on the foundation principles of present truth. It introduces that which is nought but speculation in regard to the personality of God and where Is presence is [the Godhead]. No one on this earth has a right to speculate on this question. The more fanciful theories are discussed, the less men will know of God and of the truth that sanctifies the soul." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, 201-202.
"The spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of God [the Godhead], followed to their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy. They estimate as nothing the light that Christ came from heaven to give John to give to His people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to be given special attention. The make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science." E.G. White, ibid., p. 204.
Below I am citing the most provocative statements to the issue of the third person of the Godhead and giving my final conclusion to date on my study of this issue:
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
1Cr 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Cr 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Hbr 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Did the Son offer His blood through the ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT that was Himself--His original state of Being prior to the Incarnation?
The following statement is given in an attempt to prove that the Holy Spirit existed as a third person from eternity:
"The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order to fully carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this love? God would make it impossible for man to say that He could have done more. With Christ He gave all the resources of heaven, that nothing might be wanting in the plan for man's uplifting. Here is love--the contemplation of which should fill the soul with inexpressible gratitude! Oh, what love, what matchless love! The contemplation of this love will cleanse the soul from all selfishness. It will lead the disciple to deny self, take up the cross, and follow the Redeemer." E.G. White, Councils on Health, pp. 222, 223.
In view of the following statements, was the Son of God also the Holy Spirit before His Incarnation? Was the Holy Ghost the "laid aside" sacrificed Holy Spirit Life, Breath and Soul of Jesus at the Incarnation and after the Incarnation? Was this the Life, Breath and Soul that was the Original Life, Soul and Breath of the Son of God that was laid aside as a gift to us when Christ laid aside His Royal Robes and Crown? What does Ellen White mean when she says that Christ laid aside His Royal Robes and Crown?
Now consider that Ellen White also said that the Holy Spirit was the Life, Breath and Soul of Christ. If that is so, then the Holy Spirit was surely at the pledging of the terms of the Everlasting Covenant between Christ and the Father because the Holy Spirit was the Life, Soul and Breath of Christ and He was there! In terms of all these statements by Ellen White, the above statement falls far short, even totally short of proving that the Holy Spirit was a third person of the Godhead. It was rather the very Life, Breath, and Soul of Christ.
"The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church." Desire of Ages, 805.
"Christ declared that after His ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning GIFT, the comforter, who is the Holy Spirit,--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE, THE EFFICACY OF HIS CHURCH, THE LIGHT AND LIFE OF THE WORLD. With HIS SPIRIT Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin. In the gift of the Spirit, [HIS LIFE--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE] Jesus gave to man the highest good that heaven could bestow." E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904. Book 5, p. 42.
"As the divine Sufferer hung upon the cross, angels gathered about Him, and as they looked upon Him, and heard His cry, they asked, with intense emotion, 'Will not the Lord Jehovah save Him?' ... Then were the words spoken: 'The Lord hath sworn, and He will not repent. FATHER AND SON ARE PLEDGED TO FULFILL THE TERMS OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT. God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' Christ was not alone in making His great sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of the covenant made between Him and His Father before the foundation of the world was laid. With clasped hands they had entered into the solemn pledge that Christ would become the surety for the human race if they were overcome by Satan's sophistry." E.G. White, The Faith I Live By, p. 76.
Of course their ONE ETERNAL AND HOLY SPIRIT was involved, because that spirit was innate to both the Father and the Son. But why does Ellen White not say that the Father Son and Holy Spirit was pledged? The answer is clear to me. The Covenant was made between the Father and the Son, and something about the Son had to die (be laid aside--sacrificed) forever, and the only Begotten Son laid aside His original Holy Spirit state of being forever that we might partake of His Divine Nature. That privilege was never before possible until the time the New Covenant came into effect after the Incarnation in the Sanctuary of heaven prior to the Cross.
Even if there was a third person, some forget the Everlasting Covenant Agreement. Ellen White places that Covenant Agreement between the Father and Son. Something about Christ's Divinity had to die; not just His humanity, because it was PURE DIVINITY that made the Covenant as the Testator of that Covenant. It was not any form of Divinity combined with humanity as was Jesus after His Incarnation.
Ellen White said that it was Christ's Holy Spirit that He gave to us as a gift--His very Life, Breath and Soul. This connotes personhood. This says that the Holy Spirit was Christ's LIFE, BREATH AND SOUL, and not that of the Father or any other person.
Even if there was a third person comprising a third person before the Incarnation, that would make four persons:
God the Father and His ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT
God the Son and His ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT
God the Holy Spirit as a separate third person and His ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT
God Jesus as another person combining Divinity with Humanity
How could we best describe the Godhead based on the above facts that we are given to know?
1--God the Father who is ALSO ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT
2--God the Son who was ALSO ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT and who gave us HIS ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT as a gift at His Incarnation as a regenerating agency.
3--God Jesus Christ who was born of the ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT which breathed His life into the womb of Mary and who laid aside His ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT as a gift to us at His Incarnation but who is FULLY DIVINE AS WELL AS FULLY HUMAN even though we do not know exactly how He is FULLY DIVINE after laying aside His ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT as a gift to us. This is part of the mystery of the Incarnation no man yet knows; that we must accept by faith now in this life. Jesus now asks the Father to send us His former ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT. In a certain sense, the third person of the Godhead is the Jesus as well as the Holy Spirit. That same duality is expressed in the following verses where Christ says that He will pray the Father that the Holy Spirit be sent and then says I will come to you:
Jhn 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jhn 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Jhn 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jhn 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Jesus comes to us through another Comforter, His original first estate of Being, in which He was both the Son and the embodiment of His innate Holy Spirit, the ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT COMMON TO THE FATHER AND THE SON.
"The Spirit was given as a regenerating agency, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail." E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904, The Promise of the Spirit, pr. 3,
"In times past holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In ancient times the prophets searched what the spirit of God which was in them signified. The Spirit was not then given in power because Jesus was not yet glorified." E.G. White Manuscript Releases Volume One, p. 364.
If the Holy Spirit was a third person other than God the Son, before His Incarnation, why was the Spirit not given in power because Jesus was not yet glorified?
If the Holy Spirit existed from time immemorial as the Third Person of the Godhead, why was it not poured out until Christ's ascension? I will tell you the answer according to what God showed me in vision. The reason that the Holy Spirit was not poured out before the ascension, is because the Holy Spirit was the very LIFE, SOUL AND BREATH AND BLOOD of Christ, which was commended to the Father AT THE TIME OF THE INCARNATION IN THE SANCTUARY OF HEAVEN, as Christ's last will and Testament. That last will and Testament provided that upon Christ's death on the cross, what was ONCE (BEFORE THE INCARNATION) His innate Holy Spirit LIFE, SOUL, BREATH AND BLOOD, would be given as a gift to all who would accept His LIFE, SOUL, BREATH AND BLOOD. The life is in the blood. This was all in accordance to The Everlasting Covenant between the Son and the Father, as the means for making an Atonement for sin. This represented a separation of the Holy Spirit, into a THIRD PERSON, for the express purpose of thereafter representing Christ to the world.
Could their be significance to the fact that we do not find the name Jesus nor Christ until Matthew 1:1? Could this be the name of the third person of the Godhead after He gave up His ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT LIFE, BREATH AND SOUL for us?
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
"The Power of God in the Third Person.--"The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.--E.G. White, Evangelism, p. 617.
How does Jesus save His people FROM their sins and not in their sins? Through the power of the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit?
"The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. Only those who are thus taught of God, those who possess the inward working of the Spirit, and in whose life the Christ-life is manifested, are to stand as representative men, to minister in behalf of the church." Desire of Ages, 805.
"Christ declared that after His ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning GIFT, the comforter, who is the Holy Spirit,--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE, THE EFFICACY OF HIS CHURCH, THE LIGHT AND LIFE OF THE WORLD. With HIS SPIRIT Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin. In the gift of the Spirit, [HIS LIFE--THE SOUL OF HIS LIFE] Jesus gave to man the highest good that heaven could bestow." E.G. White, Review and Herald, May 19, 1904. Book 5, p. 42.
So Christ saves us FROM our sins by having given His Life, Breath and Soul, HIS ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT that He laid aside in trust for us as a gift at His Incarnation. The purpose of this gift was to regenerate us back into the image of God. This will be achieved in the character this side of glorification and in body at glorification.
But what about the statement that it is the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, that holds the power of evil (sin) in check?
"The Power of God in the Third Person.--"The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.--E.G. White, Evangelism, p. 617.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Clearly, Jesus saves His people FROM their sins by His own ONE ETERNAL HOLY SPIRIT that became the third person of the Godhead known as Jesus Christ. The third person is the Holy Ghost, the original life of Jesus Christ, that He gave us as a gift at His Incarnation. Jesus thus saves His people FROM their sins by the blood of His own Life, Breath and Soul, THAT WAS GIVEN TO US as a regenerating agency.
"He (Christ) exercised in His own behalf no power which man cannot exercise. As man he met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him of God. He give us an example of perfect obedience. He has provided that we may become partakers of the divine nature, and assures us that we may overcome AS HE OVERCAME. His life testified that by the aid of the same divine power which Christ received, it is possible for man to obey God's law." E.G. White, Manuscript Releases Volume Seventeen,
"Christ brought men and women power to overcome. He came to this world in human form, to life 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. " E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol 1, p. 226.
Ron Beaulieu Former SDA--Current Historic Seventh-day Adventist who believes the SDA Conference has formed a New Movement--New Organization that we were never to join, Selected Messages, vol. 1, 204-5, and has REMOVED GOD, p. 205.