02 - Chapter 2

CHAPTER II.

Evidences that the Lord Jesus possessed divine nature, and was in that nature as’ truly God as he was man in his human nature.

UNITARIANS often object to this idea, because they conclude it is mysterious. But we care not whether the idea is said to be mysterious or not mysterious, so we can make bur ideas intelligible. This is the mystery an apostle speaks of, when he tells us, H God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up, into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16. But will, not^ Unitarians believe any thing that appears mysterious? The eternity of God, his underived existence, is in reality mysterious, that is, it is something we cannot comprehend. The view of the universe created and sustained by him is incomprehensible, yet we generally believe it. - We might see a ’chainlet down from a height, and understand that the lowest link hung on the one above it, and so it might continue to do to almost an infinite extent, but after all to suppose the highest link in the vast chain, hung upon and sustained itself would seem mysterious. Thus it is with the existence of God. Gravitation also is something that people ’generally suppose ’has a real existence: We see its effect. The planetary worlds seem to feel its influence at a great distance from the centre of the solar system.

Herschel, at the distance of one thousand eight hundred millions of miles, obeys its invincible mandate. A man cannot comprehend himself, nor even a hair that grows from his -head. Then certainly it discovers gross folly to undertake to comprehend the incomprehensible Jehovah, and it discovers gross infidelity for a man to say he will believe nothing but what he clearly’ comprehends. There are things of which we may have very distinct idea’s* which in themselves are utterly ^indefinable. Gravitation cannot be defined, that is, a man cannot tell what it is, but he may form some idea what it is not. When we say the underived existence of God forms a proposition, which in its nature cannot be defined, we would not wish to be understood that the proposition itself is one that cannot be made intelligible. These remarks we have made, in order to show the inconsistency of Unitarians, in repudiating the doctrine of the humanity and divinity of our Savior, on the ground that it is mysterious.

1. The existence of Jesus Christ is coetaneous with eternity itself, or with the existence of Jehovah.

David seems to speak of his existence in this sense when he says, “BEFORE the mountains were brought forth, or even thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from EVERLASTING to EVERLASTING thou art GOD.” Psalms 90:2. He thought the Creator existed from eternity to eternity, as far as thought can extend backward, nay, farther, or farther than it can reach into futurity. This is the highest and clearest description of the eternity of God to which words in human language can possibly reach. But it undoubtedly will be objected by Unitarians, that “this language does not refer to Jesus Christ at all.” Well, it does refer to the Creator who formed the earth and the world, and it Only remains to prove who was the Creator, in order to settle this question. It must, we think, be admitted, that the Creator was from eternity to eternity, according to the words of the text. Then we have found one being that has eternally existed. But a question of some importance on this point is, Who was the Creator? We answer, God was the Creator of all things., This we trust we shall be able to prove. We find that the Almighty has said, “I am the Lord that maketh all things, that stretcheth forth the heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Isaiah 44:24. Again. “For thus saith the, Lord, that created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth and made it; I am the Lord, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:18. It is certainly clear that he who formed the earth possessed underived existence, because he is said to be “ from everlasting to everlasting.” This perhaps a Unitarian would admit. But we ask again, Who was the Creator? We answer again: It was that person in the trinity whom we call. Jesus Christ. This we also can readily prove. “For by him were all things created, that are in the 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: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. “And thou, Lord;. in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands.” Hebrews 1:10. “ All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3. These last three texts are all spoken in reference to the Lord Jesus, as the reader may see by consulting his Bible. If, then, we have succeeded in proving that the Creator of all things had an existence from eternity to eternity, we have proved also that Jesus Christ has the same underived existence in respect to his divine-nature, and consequently our first proposition is sustained. But it is objected, “ that Jesus Christ is not in any sense self-existent, because he made the world, and so on, by delegated power.”

Now this objection defeats itself, from these considerations.

(1.) Creative power is an inherent attribute of the self-existent and eternal God, and he cannot delegate his attributes.

(2.) If Jesus Christ did it for him, and he was not truly God himself, then it follows that Jesus Christ created himself, “ for he created all things that are created,” and there can be but one uncreated being in the universe. -

(3.) It contradicts the Bible, for that (as we have shown from Isaiah) proves that the Cmrfor did it by- himself ALONE. If Jesus Christ created these things, and he was not truly God, then- Jehovah did it not, as he says he did. Hear him again, “ I am the LORD that maketh all things, that stretcheth forth the heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth BY MYSELF.” If the works of creation and the language which the inspired writers use in respect to Christ, do not prove his self-existence, we can certainly have no proof of any self-existent being in the universe. We have now proved that Jehovah created all things, and the Lord Jesus created all things, and it follows that they are one in nature, that is, that Jesus Christ in his divine nature is God, or there are two Almighty, Self-existent Creators! which is an absurdity. -

2. God by the mouth of thy prophet speaks of the Messiah as possessing uncreated existence. “ But thou Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old; even from EVERLASTING.” Micah 5:2. This corresponds precisely with what the Lord Jesus says of himself “ 1 am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of death and hell.” Revelation 1:17-18 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the ALMIGHTY. Revelation 1:8.

Here is testimony that Jesus Christ is (in some sense at least,) the FIRST and the LAST; that is, he is the fountain of all created existence* and in him is the final consummation of time and things. Jehovah applies to himself the titles of “first and last y “and says beside him ’?’. there is no God.” Isaiah 44:6. If, then, the terms first and last, when applied, to Jehovah, prove his uncreated existence and eternity, what do the same terms prove when Jesus Christ applies them to himself and teaches us that He is the First and the Last? God also testifieth as we have just seen, that Christ is one “ whose goings forth, have been from of old, even from everlasting.” Now, shall we believe that his “goings forth have been from ever lasting,” from the countless dates of eternity y or shall we not? It is either as God has said, or it is not so. How then must it appear, to see a man, & finite man, rise up I and say, “Jesus Christ is not unoriginated,” that is, “ he is not from eternity in his existence?” But, alas! how this sounds when it comes from a Christian, and a professed minister of Jesus Christ!! Is it possible that believers jn the truths of revelation shall use the same language in relation to the character of Christ that infidels do? and- both agree that there was never any incarnation of the Divine Being? From the foregoing remarks and quotations from the holy book of God, it is evidently proved that Jesus Christ in his divine nature is uncreated, and if uncreated his existence is eternal, and if his existence is eternal he is God. Then to his name be ascribed Glory, Power and Dominion forever and ever.