Forgotten Father

“As the special work of Satan has been to separate the Father and the Son, he has so blinded the eyes of the Christian world that they now turn from the Father and from His law and dwell wholly upon Christ”.{10MR 156.4}

“My husband then spoke a few words to those who were seeking the Lord. He said that many had been very much discouraged by the wrong views taken of God. They seek him with doubt and fear. Their hearts murmur, ‘I am not sure that he will forgive me.’ They look upon God the Father as a being of stern majesty and justice, devoid of sympathy and love. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, freely give us all things?’ ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Is not the gift of Christ a pledge of the Father’s love for sinners? I would say unto you who have come forward here, The Father loves you.

“In the popular churches, we hear but little except, ‘Do you love Jesus?’ The love of the Father is scarcely mentioned; it is only Christ, Christ. God the Father has given unto man the greatest gift that Heaven held. ‘Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.’ I believe that the heart of the great God is touched and moved by the condition of sinners today, as when he gave his Son to die for the sins of the world. Christ says, ‘I and my Father are one.’ (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 4th May 1876, ‘Camp-meeting at Eagle Lake)

One God

God told the Israelites that He is ONE, as opposed to the heathen nations around them which worshiped multiple gods:

Deuteronomy 4:35 “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; THERE IS NONE ELSE beside him.”

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD (יְהֹוָה Yĕhovah) our God (אֱלֹהִים ‘elohiym), the LORD (יְהֹוָה Yĕhovah) is one (אֶחָד ‘echad) “

Ps 83:18 “That men may know that thou, whose name ALONE is JEHOVAH [Strong’s-H3068], art the MOST HIGH over all the earth.”

Isa 42:8 “I am the LORD [Yĕhovah, yeh·hō·vä’ Strong’s-H3068]: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Isa 45:5-6 “I am the LORD [Strong’s-H3068], and THERE IS NONE ELSE, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.”

Jeremiah 10:10 “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”

Mal. 2:10 “Have we not all ONE FATHER?  Hath not ONE GOD [אֱלֹהִים ‘elohiym, el·ō·hēm’; Strongs H430]  created us?  Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?”

If people were to read the Old Testament of the Bible from cover to cover without any preconceived idea of a Trinity, would they arrive at such a concept on their own? I would have to say, no.  What comes through very clearly to an impartial reader is that there is One God and He alone is Almighty, separate and distinct from anyone else.  The Bible teaching that God is one is called monotheism and that monotheism in its purest form does not allow for Trinity.  The plain texts in the Old Testament is strictly monotheistic. God is a single, personal, spiritual being. It is on this basis that God gave the first commandment which prohibits multiple gods.

Was there any change from this monotheism after Jesus came to the earth?

Jesus was a Jew, trained by Jewish parents in the Old Testament scriptures. Which concept of God do you suppose Jesus learned from Mary and Joseph who were both Jewish? One would have to assume that both Mary and Joseph were monotheists and they must have accepted as their own belief the great text of Jewish monotheism:  “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one God”

Who is the most qualified person to tell us about the true God?

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

Jesus, the Son of God is the highest authority on this topic.

John 3:11 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.”

In speaking of God, Jesus, being the “only begotten Son, says He is the one who knows and has seen God and therefore qualify to declare Who He is. That was His mission in coming down from heaven; to tell us of heavenly things but namely of His Father.

According to Jesus, who is “the only true God”?

John 17:1, 3 Father… And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the ONLY TRUE GOD, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

According to Jesus, “The only true God,” is the Father and He did not include Himself as being part of that distinction. In other words, only true God and the one whom He has sent is clearly distinguished as two separate individuals. This is emphasized by the use of the word “and” in “the only true God AND Jesus Christ…” Moreover, knowing this “only true God” and His Son is the key to eternal life. Thus eternal life is at stake in having a correct understanding of God.

Apostle John, in a few chapters later records how Jesus refers to His Father as His own God as well our God:

John 20:17 “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; AND TO MY GOD, AND YOUR GOD.

The First Commandment-Mark 12:28-34

28 “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, WHICH IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT OF ALL?

29 And Jesus answered him, THE FIRST OF ALL THE COMMANDMENTS IS, Hear, O Israel; The Lord (κύριος kyrios) our God (θεός theos) is one (εἷς heis) Lord (κύριος kyrios):

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32 AND THE SCRIBE SAID UNTO HIM, WELL, MASTER, THOU HAST SAID THE TRUTH: FOR THERE IS ONE GOD; AND THERE IS NONE OTHER BUT HE:

33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, HE SAID UNTO HIM, THOU ART NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”

Note: Jesus said, the first of all the Commandment is “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord..” The scribe also agreed with Jesus and responded with an affirmation, “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he [a singular pronoun]:”

Question: Who do you suppose the Jewish scribe was referring to when he replied, “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:”? Is he referring to a triune God made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost?

Jesus clearly understood the Jewish scribe’s reply to be His own Father. This is evident in John 8:54, when He spoke to the Jews on another occasion, “. . . it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:”

The Jews believed God the Father to be the one God of the Bible and Jesus affirms this without reproof by declaring, “it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:”

Just to digress a little

In Mark 12 verse 34, Jesus has said, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” And most non-trinitarians have argued and tried to wrest this phrase to infer that Jesus was affirming how the scribe responded to Jesus saying “WELL, MASTER, THOU HAST SAID THE TRUTH: FOR THERE IS ONE GOD; AND THERE IS NONE OTHER BUT HE:” But the inspired commentary seems to suggest something else as to why Jesus has said, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.”:

“The scribe was near to the kingdom of God, IN THAT HE RECOGNIZED DEEDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AS MORE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THAN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES. But he needed to recognize the divine character of Christ, and through faith in Him receive power to do the works of righteousness. The ritual service was of no value, unless connected with Christ by living faith. Even the moral law fails of its purpose, unless it is understood in its relation to the Saviour.” (DA 608)

Moving on, Jesus yet again affirmed His Father as being the one God we ought to worship when He told the Samaritan woman:

“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. YE WORSHIP YE KNOW NOT WHAT: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP: FOR SALVATION IS OF THE JEWS. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS SHALL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM. (John 4:21-23)

There is not a single passage both in Scripture and in Spirit of Prophecy where Jesus disagreed with His parents or any of the Jews regarding their belief in one God of the Bible. Jesus Himself never taught that one God of the Bible consisted of 3 persons nor did he ever designate Himself as being part of that one God. Jesus’ relationship to this one God was that He was the only begotten Son of Him.

Note: God is one person, and Christ is another. Christ could not be equal with God if He were the same person as “God.” He could only be equal with God if He were someone other than God. What makes Him equal with God is the fact that He is God’s Son; Christ by nature is God; He has inherited all the attributes of the Father by virtue of Him being the Son. God is the Father of Christ. Christ is the Son of God. But the Father holds the title of being the one true God of the Bible; Jesus is the “EXPRESS IMAGE” of the one true (original) God. More on how Jesus is the express image of His Father HERE.

Matthew 16:16 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Note: According to this verse, the “living God” is the Father of Christ, a numerically singular Being. If the “living God” is “a unity of three co-eternal persons, then it wouldn’t make any sense here to say that Christ is the Son of a unity of three co-eternal persons.

John 14:28 “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: FOR MY FATHER IS GREATER THAN I.”

Note: Jesus Himself declared that His Father is greater than He.

“The world is not improving. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. By rejecting the SON OF GOD, THE PERSONIFICATION OF THE ONLY TRUE GOD, who possessed goodness, mercy, and untiring love, whose heart was ever touched with human woe, and choosing a murderer[Barabbas] in his stead, the Jews showed what human nature can and will do when the restraining power of the Spirit of God is removed, and men are under the control of the apostate. Those who choose Satan as their ruler will reveal the spirit of their chosen master.” {RH January 30, 1900, Art. A, par. 6}

“Thousands have a false conception of God and His attributes…. GOD IS A GOD OF TRUTH. Justice and mercy are the attributes of His throne. He is a God of love, of pity and tender compassion. THUS HE IS REPRESENTED IN HIS SON, OUR SAVIOUR. He is a God of patience and long-suffering. IF SUCH IS THE BEING WHOM WE ADORE AND TO WHOSE CHARACTER WE ARE SEEKING TO ASSIMILATE, WE ARE WORSHIPING THE TRUE GOD.” {OFC 204}

“There is no place for gods in the heaven above. GOD IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD. He fills all heaven. Those who now submit to His will shall see His face; HIS NAME WILL BE IN THE FOREHEADS OF ALL WHO ARE PURE AND HOLY.”{Lt5-1896.14}

Note: Ellen White stated, “God [the Father] is a God of truth” and this God of truth is “represented in His Son, our Saviour”. Christ personified the One True God, the Father; Christ stood as Father’s equal and spoke and made appearances as the Father Himself (Thus, “I AM” rightfully can refer to both Christ and the Father together) and yet Christ is not the God Almighty in the absolute sense; Father is the God Almighty; Full stop.

Did the apostles of Christ teach the Gentiles the same truth about God?

Acts 3:13, 26 “The GOD OF ABRAHAM, and of ISSAC, and of JACOB, THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS, HATH GLORIFIED HIS SON JESUS; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

Note: Peter declared this after he healed the lame man at the temple gate. Does this passage make any sense if “God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, and the God of our fathers” is a God of Trinity, made up of Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost? Then according to this passage, that would make the Son [Jesus] and the Holy Spirit to have a son who is also Jesus. It seems pretty obvious that God mentioned here refers to the Father only. Note: there is no mention of the Holy Spirit being the father of Jesus nor having a son any where in Scripture.  Same can be applied to John 3:16.

Romans 15:6 “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul identifies here that “God” is the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Who does Christ belong to?

1 Corinthians 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God‘s.

But to us there is but one God, the Father:

1 Corinthians 8:4-7 “ . . . For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) BUT TO US THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: . . .”

Note: Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, explicitly stated that there is one God, and he qualified who this one God is, “THE FATHER.” Thus, according to Paul “one God” is not a unity of three separate individuals nor is “one God” a single being composed of three undivided, consubstantial persons. Paul, in an unambiguous manner distinguishes “one God” as the Father.

1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the HEAD OF CHRIST IS GOD.”

Note: Head of Christ is God the Father

1 Corinthians 15: 24-28 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, THEN SHALL THE SON ALSO HIMSELF BE SUBJECT UNTO HIM that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Note: Here we see that it is God (the Father) who put all things under Christ, but that He (Father) Himself is not subject to Christ. Rather, even though Christ rules over all, He is still subject to the Father.

2 Corinthians 1:3 “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”

2 Corinthians 11:31 “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Note: God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; if “God” in these noted verses refer to a unity of 3 co-eternal persons, then that would make Jesus a father of Himself.

Gal 3:20 “Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, BUT GOD IS ONE.”

Ephesians 1:3 “… the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Ephesians 4:6 “One God and Father of all…who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

1 Thessalonians 1:9, 10 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, whom he [Father] raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

Note: The Thessalonians turned from their idol worship to worship God, also named here “the living and true God.” And they were waiting for His Son. The living and true God has a Son. This means the living and true God is the Father of His Son. God is one person, not three. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Christ is not the true and living God but the Son of the true and living God.

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Note: Paul taught that there is only one God and Jesus is the only link (mediator) between us and God. If Jesus is included in the “one God,” then that would make Jesus a mediator of Himself and men? This is not so.

James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

“The statement is made that the devil believed and trembled. “WHILE HE WAS IN HEAVEN, HE BELIEVED THAT CHRIST WAS THE SON OF GOD”, and when upon this earth he was in conflict with Him here on the field of battle.” {CTr 220.3}

Note: James taught that there is only one God and says even the devils believe this and tremble! Furthermore, the devils also believe that Christ is the Son of that one God.

1 Peter 1:3 “… the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

“Christ is the One THROUGH WHOM God has AT ALL TIMES revealed Himself to man. “BUT TO US THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6. “This is he [Moses], that was in the church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” Acts 7:38. This Angel was the Angel of God’s presence (Isaiah 63:9), the Angel in whom was the name of the great Jehovah (Exodus 23:20-23). THE EXPRESSION CAN REFER TO NO OTHER THAN THE SON OF GOD.” {PP 761.4}

When we get to heaven, who are we going to serve?

Revelation 22:3 “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.”

Note: the “God” and Jesus is clearly distinguished here as the Father who is on the throne and the Lamb.

God is love

In 1John 4:16-19, we find,

vs. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. GOD IS LOVE; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

vs. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE in this world.

vs. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

vs. 19 We love HIM, because HE first loved us.

John tells us that GOD IS LOVE…and that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because “AS HE IS, SO ARE WE in this world.” for our love is made perfect in Him…

John also tells us that we love HIM, because HE first loved us…

QUESTION: WHO IS “HIM” that first love us? Is HE a God of trinity? And how did HE demonstrate HIS love for us?

Well, John tells us who HE is in few verses prior:

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. HEREIN IS LOVE, NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US, AND SENT HIS SON TO BE THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SIN. BELOVED, IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” (1JOHN 4:9-11)

It is the Father who first loved us… And He demonstrated His love for us by sending His son to die on our behalf… Accordingly, context of John’s words testifies that the “GOD” who “IS LOVE” is not a unity of 3 persons but the Father of Christ.

The belief in the Trinity cannot meet these words, therefore it is vital to know God and His Son aright.

Scripture tells us that it was the Father who created all things THROUGH the Son and that the Son shares the SAME image as the Father.

Ephesian 3:9 “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in GOD, who [Father] created all things BY Jesus Christ:”

Colossians 1:16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [Christ], and for him:”

Hebrews 1:1-3 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, BY WHOM [Christ] ALSO HE [Father] MADE THE WORLDS; Who [Christ] being the brightness of his glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of his person…” Hebrews 1:3″

Isaiah 44:24 “Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;”

Jeremiah 10:10-13 “But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Jeremiah 32:17 “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

John 1:1-3 “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. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANY THING MADE THAT WAS MADE.”

Ephesian 3:9 “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in GOD, who [Father] created all things BY Jesus Christ:”

Colossians 1:16 “For BY him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Hebrews 11:3 “Through faith we understand that the WORLDS were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou [referring to the Father] hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Revelation 14:7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”

God is eternal

The Bible teaches that God is eternal, everlasting. He is unbounded and unlimited by time. He is outside the boundaries of time–past, present and future.

Gen 21:33 Abraham called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God

Ps 90:2 From everlasting to everlasting Thou art God, Ps 93:2; 145:13

Isa 57:15 The high and lofty One inhabits eternity

Deut 33:27 The eternal God has everlasting arms

1 Tim 1:17 The King eternal, immortal

1 Tim 6:16 Who only has immortality

Rev 1:8 Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end,
who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty

Rev 4:8 Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come
sits on the throne of heaven

“The Ancient of Days is God the Father. Says the psalmist: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Psalm 90:2” Great Controversy p. 479 (1911)

“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one” Ellen White, Review & Herald July 9, 1895

“The Sovereign of the universe…the eternal Father.” Patriarchs and Prophets p. 34 “The Son of God was the acknowledged Sovereign of heaven.” Great Controversy p. 495

“the eternal, self-existent One…the King.” Ellen White Patriarchs and Prophets p. 36

“…it would be impossible to find but one being in the universe, and that is God the Father, who is without father, or mother, or descent, or beginning of days, or end of life.” J. N. Andrews, Review and Herald, 7th September 1869, ‘Melchisedec’

Personhood of God

“There are many issues in our world today in regard to the Creator not being a personal God. GOD IS A BEING, and man was made in His image. {Ms117-1898.9}

“…From my girlhood I have been given plain instruction that GOD IS A PERSON, and that Christ is “the express image of His person.” {Ms137-1903.3}

“The mighty power that works through all nature and sustains all things is not, as some men of science claim, merely an all-pervading principle, an actuating energy. GOD IS A SPIRIT; YET HE IS A PERSONAL BEING, for man was made in His image. AS A PERSONAL BEING, God has revealed Himself in His Son. Jesus, the outshining of the Father’s glory, ‘and the express image of His person’ (Hebrews 1:3), was on earth found in fashion as a man. AS A PERSONAL SAVIOUR He came to the world. AS A PERSONAL SAVIOUR He ascended on high. AS A PERSONAL SAVIOUR He intercedes in the heavenly courts. Before the throne of God in our behalf ministers “One like the Son of man.” Daniel 7:13. {Ed 131.5}

“The word and works of Christ testified to a divine power which accomplishes miraculous results, of a future, eternal life exalted above the finite life, of God as a Father to the children of men, watchful of their true interests, and guarding them. He taught that God was a rewarder of the righteous, and a punisher of the transgressor. HE WAS NOT AN INTANGIBLE SPIRIT, but a living ruler of the universe…” {3SP 47.1}

“THROUGH Jesus Christ, God—NOT A PERFUME, NOT SOMETHING INTANGIBLE, BUT A PERSONAL GOD—created man and endowed him with intelligence and power. It is God that thundereth in the heavens. His voice reacheth to the ends of the earth. He holdeth the winds in His hands. He sendeth lightnings with rain. He looketh on the earth and it trembleth; He toucheth the hills, and they smoke. He melteth the mountains like wax at His presence. He maketh the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good.”  

“HE [Christ] REPRESENTED GOD NOT AS AN ESSENCE THAT PERVADED NATURE, BUT AS A GOD WHO HAS A PERSONALITY. Christ was the express image of His Father’s person; and He came to our world to restore in man God’s moral image, in order that man, although fallen, might through obedience to God’s commandments become enstamped with the divine image and character—adorned with the beauty of divine loveliness.” (Manuscript 24, 1891). {7BC 921.9}

“The theory that God is an ESSENCE PERVADING ALL NATURE is one of Satan’s most subtle devices. It misrepresents God and is a dishonor to His greatness and majesty.” – {CCh 322.6}

“THE THEORY THAT GOD IS AN ESSENCE PERVADING ALL NATURE is received by many who profess to believe the Scriptures; but, however beautifully clothed, THIS THEORY IS A MOST DANGEROUS DECEPTION…. IF GOD IS AN ESSENCE PERVADING ALL NATURE, THEN HE DWELLS IN ALL MEN; AND IN ORDER TO ATTAIN HOLINESS, MAN HAS ONLY TO DEVELOP THE POWER WITHIN HIM. These theories [pantheism], followed to their logical conclusion, … DO AWAY WITH THE NECESSITY FOR THE ATONEMENT AND MAKE MAN HIS OWN SAVIOR…. Those who accept them are in great danger of being led finally to look upon the whole Bible as a fiction….” {FLB 40.5}

“The new theories in regard to God and Christ, as brought out in “The Living Temple”, are not in harmony with the teaching of Christ. The Lord Jesus came to this world to represent the Father. He did not represent God as an essence pervading nature, BUT AS A PERSONAL BEING. Christians should bear in mind that GOD HAS A PERSONALITY AS VERILY AS HAS CHRIST.” {SpM 324.2}

“Had God desired to be represented as dwelling personally in the things of nature,—in the flower, the tree, the spire of grass,—would not Christ have spoken of this to His disciples when He was on the earth? BUT NEVER IN THE TEACHING OF CHRIST IS GOD THUS SPOKEN OF. CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES TAUGHT CLEARLY THE TRUTH OF THE EXISTENCE OF A PERSONAL GOD.” {8T 265.6}

“Nature is not God, nor ever was God. God is in nature, the voice of nature testifies of God, but nature is not God. IT ONLY BEARS TESTIMONY TO GOD’S POWER as His created works. THERE IS A PERSONAL GOD, THE FATHER; THERE IS A PERSONAL CHRIST, THE SON.” — U. T., July 3, 1898. {HL 287.1}

“But Christ came as a PERSONAL SAVIOUR to the world. He represented a PERSONAL GOD. AS A PERSONAL SAVIOUR, He ascended on high; and He will come again as He ascended to heaven—A PERSONAL SAVIOUR. He is the express image of the Father’s person. “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily’” (Colossians 2:9). {1SM 295.2}

“I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. I gazed on Jesus’ countenance and admired his lovely person. . . . I ASKED JESUS IF HIS FATHER HAD A FORM LIKE HIMSELF; HE SAID HE HAD, BUT I COULD NOT BEHOLD IT. for said He, ‘If you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist.’” {EW 54.2} (Letter From Sister Harmon, Day-Star, March 14, 1846, par. 7)

“The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man. He was of as much more value than man as his noble, spotless character, and exalted office as commander of all the heavenly host, were above the work of man. He was in the express image of his Father, NOT IN FEATURE ALONE, BUT IN PERFECTION OF CHARACTER.” (Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 91)

“Oh, the wonderful sophistry that is coming in, THE MASTERLY SOPHISTRY—THAT GOD IS AN ESSENCE. WE GOT A GOD, A PERSONAL GOD AND A PERSONAL SAVIOUR, and Satan is seeking with all his wiles to seduce men and women to become as gods themselves and flattering them to have a higher and higher class of education. But we want the lower class. That is the highest for us to obtain, because self lives.” (E.G. White, Manuscript 153, 1904)

Though the Bible describes God as a Spirit (John 4:24), He is also a personal Being with a distinct, tangible bodily features, i.e face, mouth, hands, feet, etc. who occupies a local location:

Matthew 6:9 “… Our Father WHICH ART IN HEAVEN, Hallowed be thy name.”

Matthew 16:17 “…Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”

Matt 18:10 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the FACE OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN”

Again, God is not a formless entity and that being the case, it would stand to reason that Jesus (being the express image of His Father) also exists as a spiritual Being and yet has tangible form.

Bible verses that speak of God as having bodily form: Exodus 24:10, Exodus 33:20, 23; Number 11:23, 1 Samuel 8:21, 1 Samuel 13:14, Psalm 11:4, Isaiah 40:2, Isaiah 66:1, Daniel 7:9, Matthew 4:4, Luke 11:20, John 5:37). Thus, in the creation of man, these attributes of God (His image/likeness) are also reproduced in man.

The Source of all Life

Because He ever lives, He is the source of every life

1 Cor 8:6 “of whom are all things, and we in him”

John 6:57 “As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father”

Acts 17:25 [God] gives to all life and breath and all things

Acts 17:28 In [God] we live, and move, and have our being

John 5:26 The Father has life in himself

John 5:21 The Father raises up the dead and quickens (gives life to) them

Eph 2:4-6 God has quickened us together with Christ and has raised us up together
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

“The Ancient of Days is GOD THE FATHER. Says the psalmist: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Psalm 90:2. IT IS HE, THE SOURCE OF ALL BEING, AND THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL LAW, that is to preside in the judgment… {GC 479.2}

“In these words is set forth the great principle which is the LAW OF LIFE FOR THE UNIVERSE. ALL THINGS CHRIST RECEIVED FROM GOD, BUT HE TOOK TO GIVE. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the FATHER’S LIFE FLOWS OUT TO ALL; THROUGH THE SON IT RETURNS, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, TO THE GREAT SOURCE OF ALL. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life.” — The Desire of Ages pg. 21

“In plain language the Saviour taught the world that the tenderness, the compassion, and love that he manifested toward man, WERE THE VERY ATTRIBUTES OF HIS FATHERS IN HEAVEN. Whatever doctrine of grace he presented, whatever promise of joy, whatever deed of love, whatever divine attraction he exhibited, HAD ITS SOURCE IN THE FATHER OF ALL. IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST WE BEHOLD THE ETERNAL GOD engaged in an enterprise of boundless mercy toward fallen man. Christ clothed his divinity with humanity, that his humanity might touch humanity, and divinity reach divinity.” {ST August 20, 1894, par. 8}

“All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life.” — CSA, p. 43.7 • EGW

Ellen White plainly explains that life flows out from the Father, through the Son, out to the universe and then returns through Christ to the Father. She also states that the Father is the GREAT SOURCE OF ALL and that this is the law of life for the universe.

If God is a Trinity, with three co-equal, co-eternal beings, why does she not say that the life flows out from each person of the Trinity?

Why “Father’s life” through the Son?…why not life of the Son through the Holy Spirit? Or Holy Spirit’s life through the Son?

Why only the Father is the “GREAT SOURCE OF ALL” and NOT all three?

If 3 divine beings entered into the roll of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, as Trinitarians claim, for the plan of Salvation, Why is it that this is the “LAW OF LIFE FOR THE UNIVERSE”(unfallen worlds) and not just for the fallen race?

John 17:1-2 “1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2As thou [Father] hast given him [Jesus] power over all flesh, that he [Jesus] should give eternal life to as many as thou [Father] hast given him[Jesus].”-Emphasis added.

Again, according to John 17:2, It is the Father who had invested Christ to have the power over all flesh that He(Christ) may confer this same life onto others as his own.

“None of us liveth to himself.” Romans 14:7. This is a law of God in heaven and on earth. God is the great center. From Him all life proceeds.…” — {6T 236.1}

God is Immutable-Unchanging

God doesn’t change His mind, His law, His covenant or His ways. His permanence is eternal.

Mal 3:6I am the LORD, I change not.

James 1:17The Father of lights, in whom there is no shadow of turning

Ps 89:34My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips

Deut 7:9the LORD thy God, the faithful God which keeps covenant…
to a thousand generations

Rev 14:6He is the Author of the Everlasting Gospel

God has a Spirit

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit (ruach) of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Gen. 1:2)

“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” (Psalm 143:10)

“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” (Pro 1:23)

“Some confound God with his Spirit, which makes confusion.” — ‘The Sabbath God,’ RH, 7-3-1854

“Here is a plain distinction made between the Spirit, and God that raises the dead BY that Spirit. If the living God is a Spirit in the strictest sense of the term, and at the same time is in possession of a Spirit, then we have at once the novel idea of the Spirit of a Spirit, something it will take at least a Spiritualist to explain.
There is at least one impassable difficulty in the way of those who believe God is immaterial, and heaven is not a literal, located place: they are obliged to admit that Jesus is there bodily, a literal person; the same Jesus that was crucified, dead, and buried, was raised from the dead, ascended up to heaven, and is now at the right hand of God. Jesus was possessed of flesh and bones after his resurrection. Luke xxiv, 39. “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I, myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have.” If Jesus is there in heaven with a literal body of flesh and bones, may not heaven after all be a literal place, a habitation for a literal God, a literal Saviour, literal angels, and resurrected immortal saints! Oh no, says one, “God is a Spirit.”
So Christ said to the woman of Samaria at the well. It does not necessarily follow because God is a Spirit, that he has no body. In John iii, 6, Christ says to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” If that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, then on the same principle, that which has a spiritual nature is spirit. God is a spirit being, his nature is spirit, he is not of a mortal nature; but this does not exclude the idea of his having a body. David says, [Ps. cxiv, 4,] “Who maketh his angels spirits;” yet angels have bodies. Angels appeared to Both Abraham and Lot, and ate with them. We see the idea that angels are spirits, does not prove that they are not literal beings.” — J. N. Loughborough, An Examination of the Scripture Testimony Concerning Man’s Present Condition and His Future Reward or Punishment, p. 26, 27 1855

God is omnipresent-He is everywhere

Just as God is eternal (unbounded by time), So He is omnipresent (unbounded by space). Although God is a Spirit Being, He is a “corporeal” Being, that is, His personality consists of tangible substance/body (shape and form) + spirit/mind. He is a “whole Person” in this sense. Thus, God has a local presence in heaven, i.e. our ‘Father which art in heaven’; And yet He is also omnipresent BY His Spirit (His incorporeal personality). 

Ps 139:7-13 Where shall I go from Your spirit? Where shall I flee from You presence?
If I go to heaven or hell, You are there. Darkness and light are both alike to You.

Psalm 33:13-14 “The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.”

“HE [Christ] REPRESENTED GOD NOT AS AN ESSENCE THAT PERVADED NATURE, BUT AS A GOD WHO HAS A PERSONALITY.” — Manuscript 24, 1891 {7BC 921.9}

“The Lord’s throne is in heaven” (Psalm 11:4); YET BY HIS SPIRIT HE IS EVERYWHERE PRESENT. He has an intimate knowledge of, and a personal interest in, all the works of His hand. ” — E. G. White, Education , p. 132

“The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy beings, all waiting to do His will. Through these messengers He is in active communication with every part of His dominion. By His Spirit He is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels He ministers to the children of men.” Ministry of Healing {MH 417.2}

Note: God has a distinct personality with physical bodily form which resides in “the place of his habitation but he can be present in all places BY his Spirit.

1Ki 8:27 The heaven of heavens cannot contain thee

Isaiah 66:1 God said, “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool”

Jeremiah 23:23, 24“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord?”

Nothing can happen in any part of the universe without the knowledge of Him who is omnipresent. (3 BC 1141)

Omniscient: He is All Knowing

A consequence of being everywhere is that He is aware of everything.

Ps 139:1-6 LORD…you understand my thought afar off, are acquainted with all my ways

Ps 147:4,5 He tells the number of the stars; He calls them all by name;
His understanding is infinite.

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things that are not yet done

Job 42:2 No thought can be withheld from you

Isa 48:13 The eyes of the LORD are in every place

Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Acts 2:23 The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God

1Pet 1:2 According to the foreknowledge of God the Father

Hebrews 4: 13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

“The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings” Proverbs 5:21. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place” Proverbs 15:3. “He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven” Job 28:24. “The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts” 1 Chronicles 28:9. He knoweth the things that come into our minds, every one of them. There is no creature “that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” Hebrews 4:13. {Ms180-1897.3}

“I AM means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike with God. He sees the most remote events of past history, and, the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things that are transpiring daily… {PrT May 30, 1895, par. 1}

Omnipotent: He is All Powerful

God has all power, without restrictions or limitation. There is nothing He cannot do.

Rev 19:6 The Lord God omnipotent reigns

Matt 19:26 With God all things are possible.

Jeremiah 32:17,27 He is the God of all flesh. There is nothing too hard for Him.

Mark 5:7 He is the Most High God

Genesis 14:22 Jehovah Most High God, Possessor of heaven and earth.

Genesis 17:1 The Almighty God

Deuteronomy 9:29 You brought out Israel “by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm

1Chronicles 29:11O LORD [YHWH, Jehovah], thou art exalted as head above all

1Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the majesty

vs 12 and in thine hand is power and might

Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these…
for He is strong in power

Nahum 1:3 The LORD is great in power…and has His way in the whirlwind and the storm

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.

Ephesians 1:19 The exceeding greatness of His power…the working of His mighty power

Invisible and Unseen

Because of His infinite power, God cannot be safely seen by sinful mortal human eyes. Yet, Jesus, the Son of God, was seen by many mortal men. These verses, then, must refer to God the Father.

John 1:18 No man has seen God [the Father] at any time, the only begotten Son…He has declared Him.

John 6:46 Not that any man has seen the Father, save He which is of God.
Jesus has seen the Father

John 5:37 [men] have not heard [the Father’s] voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

Exodus 33:22-23 Moses saw God’s glory and His back pass by “but My face shall not be seen”

1 Timothy 1:17 The King…invisible, the only wise God

1 Timothy 6:16 Dwelling in the light, whom no man has seen, nor can see

Colossians 1:15 Who [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God

There is only One God

This is an undisputed bible truth. All scripture testifies to this fact. Abraham came out of polytheistic Babylon to serve Jehovah, the one true God. The ancient Jewish nation distinguished itself as the world’s great monotheistic religion.

Deuteronomy 4:35, 39 Jehovah alone is God

Psalm 83:16-18 You alone are Jehovah, the Most High over all the earth.

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. God calls for exclusive worship

Isaiah 48:11,12 I will not give my glory to another…I am the first, I also am the last
vs14 The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel
vs 15 The Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King

Rev 1:8 Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty

Isaiah 44:6 I am the first and I am the last, and Beside me there is no God

Revelation 1:4,5 from Him which is and was and is to come [God the Father] and from the seven spirits before His throne [Spirit of God] (which are the seven eyes of the Lamb Rev 5:6; the Stone Zech 3:9) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, first begotten of the dead.

Isaiah 43:10 Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isaiah 46:9 I am God and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me
Ps 83:16-18 You alone are Jehovah, the Most High over all the earth

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God: you do well

1Corinthians 8:4 There is no other God but one

1Corinthians 8:6 “But to us there is but one God, the Father”

Galatians 3:20 But God is one

Ephesian 4:6 “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

1Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”

Jesus, the Son of God, quoting The Shema of Deut 6:4, said

Mark 12:29_Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one. This is the greatest of all the commandments.

Note: Christ did not deny the fundamental belief in one God. Nor did He establish the New Testament Church on any foundation other than Christian Monotheism. When Jesus quoted Deut 6:4 He did not use the Greek plural form to indicate unity among many but “one” to indicate unity in number. And when the scribe confirmed Christ’s declaration in terms of number, Jesus did not correct him. Mark 12:32_There is one God; and there is none other but he.

God of Jesus

Revelation 3:12 “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”

Hebrews 1:9 “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Father created all things through the Son

It was God the Father who, through Jesus Christ, created all things. God the Father was the author of the creation in cooperation with the Son who executed the Father purpose.

Proverbs 30:4 “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?”

Eph 3:9 says, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in GOD, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”

Acts 4:24 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, THOU ART GOD, WHICH HAST MADE HEAVEN, AND EARTH, AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IN THEM IS:”

Just a few verses later we find…

Acts 4:27 “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,”

NOTE: The God of Acts 4:24 who “MADE HEAVEN, AND EARTH, AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IN THEM IS” is the Father of the “holy child Jesus” in Acts 4:27.

Hebrews 1:1-2, it says, “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom[Jesus] he [God the Father] made the universe.” (Compare these verses: Col 1:16, John 1:3)

Rev. 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou [referring to the Father] hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Father is Greater than the Son

John 10:29 “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

John 13:16 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

John 14:28 “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.”

John 20:17 “Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ( Compare Rev 3:12, Eph 1:17)

In the book of Acts, the religious persecutors killed one of Jesus’ disciples named Stephen.  And as they were about to stone him, Stephen was granted a vision. He stated: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”-Acts 7:56   Jesus, “the Son of man,” was thus seen by Stephen in a role supportive to God the Father in heaven—“at God’s right hand”—even as he had been ‘alongside God’ before he came to earth-John 17:5; “glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

1 Corinthians 3:23 “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”

1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”

1Corinthians 15:24-28 “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.  For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.  The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.  For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”

“The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man. He was of as much more value than man as his noble, spotless character, and exalted office as commander of all the heavenly host, were above the work of man. He was in the express image of his Father, not in features alone, but in perfection of character.” Spirit of Prophecy V.2 p.91

All things come from the Father

Matt 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

John 3:35 “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”

John 5:26 “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.”

John 13:3 “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;”

John 17:1-2 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him[Jesus] power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him[Jesus].”

John 17:24 “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”

Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

Acts 2:33 “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

1 Cor. 8:6 “ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (Compare Col 1:16, “all things were created by him, and for him”)

1 Corinthians 11:12(KJV) “For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.”

Apostle Paul says, speaking of the Father, “of whom are all things”.  All things come from the Father but through “Jesus Christ, by whom are all things,”

Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hebrews 2:10 “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 

Again and again we see that it is the Father who gives and Jesus is the recipient; never the other way around.

“His Son He had invested with authority to command the heavenly host. Especially was His Son to work in union with Himself in the anticipated creation of the earth and every living thing that should exist upon the earth. His Son would carry out His will and His purposes but would do nothing of Himself alone. The Father’s will would be fulfilled in Him
.”–Lift Him up, p. 18

“Christ has power from his Father to give his divine grace and strength to man—making it possible for him through his name, to overcome.” {RH September 8, 1874, par. 15}

How many things did Christ receive from His Father?

“All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all.” — (Desire Of Ages, p. 21)

And of course “all things” means everything! And John 5:26 further confirms this includes His life as you would expect. Ellen White said we can possess this same life through Christ. And all things also means that God gave not only His life but even His own Spirit to His Son.

Our Refuge

Duet. 33.27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:”

Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalms 57:1 “O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge.”

Psalms 91.2 “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

Psalms 94.22 “But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.”

Father of all

”GOD IS AT WORK. HE DOETH WONDERS, AND ALTHOUGH HE IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP, PRAYER CAN REACH HIS THRONE. HE that is turning and overturning, HE that can do marvelous things, will regard the contrite prayer of faith from the humblest of his children. The prayers of Christian mothers are not disregarded by THE FATHER OF ALL, WHO SENT HIS SON to the earth to ransom a people for HIMSELF. HE will not turn away your petitions, and leave you and yours to the buffetings of Satan in the great day of final conflict. It is for you to work with simplicity and faithfulness, and God will establish the work of your hands.” {RH April 23, 1889, par. 3}

”IN PLAIN LANGUAGE THE SAVIOUR TAUGHT the world that the tenderness, the compassion, and love that he manifested toward man, were the very attributes of HIS FATHERS IN HEAVEN. Whatever doctrine of grace he presented, whatever promise of joy, whatever deed of love, whatever divine attraction he exhibited, HAD ITS SOURCE IN THE FATHER OF ALL. IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST WE BEHOLD THE ETERNAL GOD engaged in an enterprise of boundless mercy toward fallen man. Christ clothed his divinity with humanity, that his humanity might touch humanity, and divinity reach divinity.” {ST August 20, 1894, par. 8}

“…I delight to dwell on THE RELATION OF GOD TO US, AS THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT IS THROUGH THE SON that we can look to Him and CALL HIM OUR FATHER. We cannot have too exalted views of our relationship with the Father of all the human family.” {Lt363-1907.3}

God is a Lawgiver

“GOD IS A MORAL GOVERNOR as well as a Father. HE IS THE LAWGIVER. He makes and executes His laws. Law that has no penalty is of no force. {Ms5-1876.13}

“God is a moral governor as well as a Father. He is the Lawgiver.” — Manuscript Release, Vol. 12, p. 208 • EGW

“The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver.” — Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 2, p. 9 • EGW

“…THE LAW OF JEHOVAH, the foundation of his government in Heaven and upon earth, WAS AS SACRED AS ITS DIVINE AUTHOR; and for this reason the life of an angel could not be accepted of God as a sacrifice for its transgression. His law was of more importance in his sight than the holy angels around his throne. THE FATHER could not change nor abolish one precept of HIS LAW to meet man in his fallen condition… {ST January 30, 1879, par. 12}

“The law of God could not be set aside even to save lost man. THE WELL-BEING OF THE UNIVERSE DEMANDED THAT THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED… {ST November 4, 1908, par. 14}

“The Ancient of Days is GOD THE FATHER. Says the psalmist: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Psalm 90:2. It is HE, THE SOURCE OF ALL BEING, AND THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL LAW, that is to preside in the judgment… {GC 479.2}

“Let the missionaries of the cross proclaim that there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, who is Jesus Christ the Son of the Infinite God. This needs to be proclaimed throughout every church in our land. Christians need to know this, and not put man where God should be, that they may no longer be worshipers of idols, but of the living God. Idolatry exists in our churches. [Means had] better be employed to save souls from death, which would be placing jewels in the crown of Jesus Christ and stars in our own crowns in the kingdom of heaven.” {Ms40-1891.78}

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;12