“THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST, THE ETERNAL GODHEAD IS INVOLVED IN THE ACTION REQUIRED TO MAKE ASSURANCE TO THE HUMAN AGENT TO UNITE ALL HEAVEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXERCISE OF HUMAN FACULTIES TO REACH AND EMBRACE THE FULNESS OF THE THREEFOLD POWERS to unite in the great work appointed, confederating the heavenly powers with the human, that men may become, through heavenly efficiency, partakers of the divine nature and workers together with Christ.” (Ms 45, 1904, par. 16)
Alexandre Da Fonseca Lopes asked how do we solve the above quote. The quote should be approached as the quote below:
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? {AUCR, April 1, 1901 par. 10}
The Godhead means divinity or God being or divine quality. The phrase “the eternal Godhead is involved or the Godhead gave themselves” means no part of divinity was withheld for the salvation of men. In fact, Hebrews 9:14 equates the eternal Godhead to eternal spirit. God in Christ 2Cor 5:19 as a personal being died for us, God as a spirit works for effectual conviction and conversion of souls.
The testimonies will be the key to unlocking the testimonies. The Godhead is involved and the Godhead gave themselves:
“The Father is all the fulness OF THE Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.
The Son is all the fulness OF THE Godhead manifested.
The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit IN ALL the fulness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ…. SpTB07 62.3 – SpTB07 63.2″
“But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. “I do nothing of Myself,” said Christ; “the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.” “I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. 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. DA 21.2″
The Father being the source of all the divinity or Godhead gave his only begotten son, who has the life of his father which is divine in himself John 5:26, 1John 5:11, who in turn has been the channel of the eternal spirit Galatians 4:6, Acts 2:33, Titus 3:6 hence in every instance the Godhead is involved and the Godhead gave themselves for the salvation of man
Note, the paying of the debt of sin involved the Father too.
As the disciples comprehended it, as their perception took hold of God’s divine compassion, THEY REALIZED THAT THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH THE SUFFERINGS OF THE SON WERE THE SUFFERINGS OF THE FATHER. From eternity there was a complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character. {YI, December 16, 1897 par. 5}
I wish to say that no human language could be framed to give a just conception of the fullness of the love of God, EVEN THE INFINITE GOD, [WHO] SUFFERED IN HIS SON; and nothing He could express in His words or actions in doing and suffering could possibly exaggerate the conception of the grace of that great love of God wherewith He hath loved us. Now, what is required of every child of God? To search diligently “and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice” [Matthew 9:13]. Will all [respond] individually who claim to believe in Christ as their personal Saviour–all who truly believe Christ has developed the same in His individual members of His body, to multiply the similitude of His character in them? {16MR 193.1}
THE CROSS! THE CROSS! IT IS SET UP THAT WE MAY UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM HE HAS SENT. It tells us of the depth and breadth of infinite love, the greatness of the Father’s love. IT REVEALS THE ASTONISHING TRUTH THAT GOD THE FATHER GAVE HIMSELF IN HIS SON, that He might have the joy of receiving back the sheep that was lost. {17MR 214.2}
(2 Corinthians 5:19; Philippians 2:6.) Satan Uprooted From Affections of the Universe.–In carrying out his enmity to Christ until He hung upon the cross of Calvary, with wounded, bruised body and broken heart, Satan completely uprooted himself from the affections of the universe. IT WAS THEN SEEN THAT GOD HAD IN HIS SON DENIED HIMSELF, GIVING HIMSELF FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE HE LOVED MANKIND. The Creator was revealed in the Son of the infinite God. Here the question, “Can there be self-denial with God?” was forever answered. Christ was God, and condescending to be made flesh, He assumed humanity and became obedient unto death, THAT HE MIGHT UNDERGO INFINITE SACRIFICE (MS 50, 1900). {7BC 974.1}
God has measured how much it cost to save man. THIS SALVATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED ONLY BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF IN HIS SON. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Earthly parents love their children. How then did God feel when the Son of His love was despised by those whom He came to elevate and ennoble and save? He saw Him dying on the cross, mocked at and jeered at by the passers-by, and He hid as it were His face from Him. Christ was bearing the sin of the whole world, and dying in the sinner’s stead. EXALT THE GOD OF HEAVEN, YOU WHO CAN REALIZE THE DEPTH OF HIS SELF-SACRIFICE; FOR HE SUFFERED WITH HIS SON. {ST, January 27, 1898 par. 13}
When man, beguiled by Satan, disobeyed the divine law, God could not, even to save the lost race, change that law. God is love; His law is an expression of His character. To change His law would be to deny Himself; it would overthrow those principles with which are bound up the well-being of the whole universe. But in order to save the sinner, THE CREATOR SACRIFICED HIMSELF. THE FATHER SUFFERED IN HIS SON. The measure of God’s love is Christ. The Saviour’s sacrifice was not to create in God a love that had not before existed; but it was the expression of a love that had not been appreciated or understood. {BTS, February 1, 1908 par. 1}
“What manner of love is this, THAT THE ETERNAL GOD SHOULD ADOPT HUMAN NATURE IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON, and carry the same into the highest heaven!” (Ellen G White, Youth’s Instructor, 29th July 1897, ‘The gift of God’s grace’)
“God showed his love for us by adopting our nature, IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON. GOD HIMSELF INHABITED HUMANITY, making us partakers of the divine nature, that by the incarnation and death of his only begotten Son, our adoption as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ might be fully accomplished.” (Ellen G. White, Youth’s Instructor, 16th December 1897, ‘The New Commandment, Part 1)
“The gospel testifies THAT GOD IN HIS BOUNDLESS LOVE FOR MAN ASSUMED HUMANITY IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON.” (Ellen G. White, Letter 164, September 1st 1900, To Sister Caro)
GOD HIMSELF BECAME MAN, AND BORE THE ENTIRE WRATH THAT SIN HAD PROVOKED.” (Ellen G. White, Youth’s Instructor, 31st August 1887, ‘Search the Scriptures’)
“The second temple was not honored with the cloud of Jehovah’s glory, but with the living presence of One in whom dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily,— WHO WAS GOD HIMSELF MANIFEST IN THE FLESH.” (Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4 page 24, ‘Destruction of Jerusalem’)
“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. But in His infinite love and mercy, THE CREATOR SACRIFICED HIMSELF. IN HIS SON, GOD HIMSELF BORE THE PENALTY OF TRANSGRESSION, “that He might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” (Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, 4th November 1908, ‘The plan of redemption’)
“Christ himself was the Word, the Wisdom, of God; AND IN HIM GOD HIMSELF CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, and clothed himself in the habiliments of humanity.” (Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 1st February 1898, ‘The Plan of Redemption’)
“Because divinity alone could be efficacious in the restoration of man from the poisonous bruise of the serpent, GOD HIMSELF, IN HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, ASSUMED HUMAN NATURE, and in the weakness of human nature sustained the character of God, vindicated his holy law in every particular, and accepted the sentence of wrath and death for the sons of men.” (Ellen G. White, Youth’s Instructor, February 11th 1897, ‘The Mind of Christ’)
“GOD DISPLAYED HIS POWER AND WISDOM IN THE WORK OF CREATION. He revealed his majesty in the giving of his law. And, finally, IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON, HE CAME TO THE WORLD TO SHOW HIS LOVE AND GRACE. ” (Ellen G. White, Letter 75, November 16th 1902, To A. G. Daniells)
“GOD HAS ADOPTED HUMAN NATURE IN THE PERSON OF HIS SON, and has carried the same into the highest heavens.” (Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, page 25, ‘God with us’)
From the quotes above it seems clear to me that the penalty of sin was paid by the Father through the son. Both of them paid it. The question to us then should be, at what point did the Father stop paying it and left the son to pay it only, I believe none. The divine sundering was the climax of that penalty. Something was torn from the Father and the Son. This was the great depth of the payment.
