Re: [TruthTalk] Why the Eternal Sonship of Christ Matters to Me

[Bill Taylor]

From David's post   >   ke·no·sis    noun     partial relinquishing of divinity: according to Christian belief, Jesus Christ's act of partially giving up his divine status in order to become a man, as recorded in Philippians 2: 6-7 [Late 19th century. From Greek kenosis "an emptying," from the phrase in Philippians 2:7 heauton ekenose "emptied himself."] Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.   LOL, David, be sure to pull out your trusty Encarta the next time you need a theological explanation for a biblical term. As for me, I'll look to the lexicons when I need a definition and continue to draw my theology from sources a little, shall we say, closer to the mainstream of the Faith was delivered.   All laughs aside, thanks for your response. You have helped me better understand your position.   Bill     ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:02 PM Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Why the Eternal Sonship of Christ Matters to Me > Bill Taylor wrote: > >> The Son did not become less than God > >> in his service to humanity > > David Miller wrote: > >> 1. Yeshua, in his earthly service to humanity, > >> was made a little lower than the angels. > >> 2. Yeshua said his father was greater than he was. > >> Do such facts have any relevance in discussing the > >> notion of equality with God? > > Bill Taylor wrote: > >  I fail to see how this statement needs to be handled > > or understood in a light different than that of the > > kenosis of Phi 2.5-11. ... > > rather than parse my thoughts into oblivion, > > how about a definitive statement from you on > > your own teaching on these matters? That, it > > seems to me, would give us all a comparative > > basis upon which to draw. God bless you. > > I will be eagerly awaiting your presentation. > > ----------------- > ke·no·sis > noun > partial relinquishing of divinity: according to Christian belief, Jesus > Christ's act of partially giving up his divine status in order to become a > man, as recorded in Philippians 2: 6-7 > > [Late 19th century. From Greek kenosis "an emptying," from the phrase in > Philippians 2:7 heauton ekenose "emptied himself."] > Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft > Corporation. All rights reserved. > --------------------- > > I don't think I have it all figured out, Bill, and I am certainly not as > good a writer as you are.  Nevertheless, following are some thoughts I have > which perhaps explain how I view the kenosis. > > I perceive that in the beginning was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, > and the Logos was God.  The Logos did not perceive equality with God > something to be held onto, but rather he emptied himself, and took the form > of a servant, being born of a woman by the power of the Holy Spirit, not > just a son of a woman, but was born the son of God by his miraculous mighty > power. > > At this point he took upon himself some other names.  The Logos became known > as the Son of man.  The Son of God.  Emmanuel.  Yeshua.  Jesus.  Messiah. > Christ.  The Cornerstone.  The Lamb of God.  Apostle of God.  High Priest of > God.  Previously he was unknown by these names, but he now took upon himself > a new function which brought upon him new names and new titles. > > In becoming the man we know as Yeshua, the Logos relinquished some of his > glory that he had with Yahweh.  He did not relinquish any of his divinity. > Who he was had not changed.  Rather, he set aside the power and glory which > he had in the beginning.  He took upon himself the flesh of man and became a > servant, being made lower than the angels.  There are some ways in which he > is equal to the father.  He takes the father's name and inherits all that is > the father's.  There are other ways in which he is not equal to the father. > This is why he said that the father is greater than he is. On the earth in > human flesh, he did not have the glory and power that the father had.  So he > was not equal in this way.  He was not omniscient, which is why he prayed so > much and inquired of others, and he was not omnipotent, which is why he said > he could have called angels to deliver him from the crucifixion instead of > saying that he could have just used his powers as God to escape them.  So > becoming the son was a humbling experience.  The role of son is to represent > God to a world in darkness, and to submit unto the death of a cross when the > world which was made by him rejected him.  This was the specific role of the > son of God.  And now he is resurrected and glorified with the glory which he > had with the father in the beginning.  We will always remember his role as > the son, but as he rules upon the throne of David, he will be better known > in our hearts as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Everlasting > Father. > > Peace be with you. > David Miller. > > > ---------- > "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man."  (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org > > If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed.  If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed. >