Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Can you therfore tell us how it was that Paul under inspiration, you do believe Paul was inspired don't you? wrote the following?
Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.
The central question is whether
"be equal with God" is something Christ HAD or did not HAVE. He HAD
"be equal with God". And in incarnation He STILL had
"be equal with God".
It is that the glory, dignity, splendor of that equality He set aside in humility to take on the emblem of perfect submission and obedience. Since
"the Word was with God and the Word was God" (John 1:1) Paul is speaking of something Christ HAD.
You mistakenly have represented
Philippians 2:6.
You teach equality with God is something He did NOT have and would not seize. But what Paul teaches is that He DID HAVE equality with God and yet would not hold on to the glory of that but humbled Himself.
"Who existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped, But emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men; And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, and that the death of a cross." (Recovery Version)
It is not a matter of something Christ DIDN'T have and would not seize.
It is a matter of something Christ HAD and its
glory (not its
nature) relinquished in humility.
The verse seems quite clear, so either we believe your dubious interpretation that the O God is made with reference to Jesus Christ or we can believe Philipians 2:6 that Jesus never gave consideration to the idea that he should be made equal to God.
1.)
"Existing in the form of God" denotes existing from the beginning, implying the Lord's eternal preexistence. IE. As long as God was, the Word was with God and was God. So
Philppians 2:6 indicates He is uncreated and eternal.
This agrees with
Hebrews 1:8 that the
Son is addressed as
"God".
And the verses just previous to
Hebrews 1:8 clearly prove that no angel is being discussed, including Michael -
For to which of the angels has He ever said, "You are My Son; this day I have begotten You" ? (Heb 1:5)
2.) The phrase
"in the form of God" means the
expression, not the fashion, of God's being
(Heb. 1:3) -
" Who, being the effulgence of His glory and the impress of His substance ..." (v.3)
"In the form of God" identified with the essence and nature of God's person and therefore
expressing them. This expresses Christ's deity.
3.) Although Christ was equal with God, He did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped and retained; rather, He laid aside the form of God (not the nature of God) and emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave.
He laid aside what He indeed did possess - the form of God. When the
Word who was
with God and was God became flesh
(John 1:1,14) He retained the nature of God and became Godman.
4.) Christ laid aside what He
did possess, not what He did not possess. For
"the form of God" laid aside, emptying Himself to take up
"the form of a slave".
He did not lay aside the nature of being a mighty archangel.
In His incarnation the Lord did not alter His divine nature; He changed only His outward expression, from the form of God, the highest form, to that of a slave, the lowest form.
This was not a change of essence but of state.
The correct and proper rendering of Hebrews 1:8 which leaves no room for the deceitful trinitarian to make anything of the seeming duplicity in the verse is as follows,
But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. - Hebrews 1:8
The Son is being addressed. And He is addressed with
"O God" .
The conclusive proof that the Son is God is reinforced by the next passage quotation of
Psalm 102:25
And, means that verse 10 is a continuation of the speaking to the Son in verses 8 and 9.
And, "You in the beginning, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain perpetually; and they all will become old like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed, but You [the Son who is God]
are the same, and Your years will not fail. (Hebrews 1:10-12 QUOTING
Psalm 102:25-27)
Now go read in its entirety
Psalm 102 and try to find it referring to any angel/archangel or anyone other than
Jehovah God.
Psalm 102 begins with the words -
"O JEHOVAH, hear my prayer; And let my cry come unto You. (v.1)
I do believe in the Trinity.
And no one came come to Christ unless it is given to that one by the Father. So I you do what you want.
"Jesus answered and said to them, Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day." (John 6:44) 
The memorial of Christs death
10 Apr '15 20:011 edit
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