E. J. Waggoner on the Divine Origins of Christ

E. J. Waggoner taught that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, possessing a divine nature that was begotten and not createdPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1. 🌟

The Nature of His Sonship

The distinction between Christ and all other beings lies in the fact that He is the Son of God by birth, whereas others are sons by creation or adoptionPTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.1+1. Because He is the only begotten Son, He is of the very substance and nature of God the FatherPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1. By right of His birth and inheritance, He possesses all the attributes, power, and authority of the GodheadPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• A Begotten Son: He is not a created subject, but a Son who rightfully takes the name of His FatherPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• The Express Image: He is the "express image" of the Father’s person and the brightness of His glory, representing a perfect reproduction of the Father’s characteristics Hebrews 1:3PTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• Possessor of Deity: As the Son of the self-existent God, He has by nature all the attributes of Deity and "life in Himself" John 5:26CHR 11.4+1.

The Timing of His Origins

Regarding when the Son was begotten, it is understood that this occurred so far back in the past that it is beyond finite comprehensionPTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7. While there was a point in eternity when Christ proceeded forth and came from the bosom of the Father, that time is practically without beginning to our minds John 8:42PTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7.

• Days of Eternity: His "goings forth" have been from of old, from the days of eternity Micah 5:2PTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• Before All Creation: He is "the beginning of the creation of God" in the sense that He is the head and source of all created things, existing before any part of the universe was made Revelation 3:14PTUK October 24, 1895, page 673.3+1.

• Existing Before the Father? While arguing for the perfect equality of the Father and Son, it is recognized that the Father was before the SonSITI April 8, 1889, page 201.40. To claim they existed at the exact same moment would contradict the scriptural language that Jesus is the "only begotten Son"SITI April 8, 1889, page 201.40.

The Power of His Self-Existent Life

The life of the Son is not a borrowed existence; He shares with the Father the unique power to impart life to othersBEST October 1, 1889, page 297.1. This life is inherent in Him and cannot be taken from Him by forcePTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7.

• Voluntary Sacrifice: Because He has life in Himself, He had the power to voluntarily lay down His life and the power to take it up again John 10:17-18PTUK January 9, 1896, page 18.7+1.

• The Agent of Creation: It was by the power of His life that all things—thrones, dominions, and powers—were created and are currently upheld Colossians 1:16-17PTUK November 21, 1895, page 740.4+1.

• The Lawgiver and Mediator: The strength of the atonement lies in the fact that the Lawgiver Himself, the Creator of the universe, is the One who gave His life for the redemption of the creatureCHR 45.1+1.

Ultimately, the pre-existence of Christ is an explicit declaration of Scripture that cannot be disputed by those who reverence the Word of GodSITI January 6, 1888, page 16.17. To deny that He existed before His birth in Bethlehem is to deny the testimony of Christ Himself and the mystery of godliness John 17:5SITI January 6, 1888, page 16.17. 🙏