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The Doctrine of Christ.
pp. 108-109
"A Scriptural answer is asked for the following question: If Christ had no
being before birth, when did He Who was rich become poor for our sakes?
When after Bethlehem was He rich, and when did He become poor?" (quoted by
Critic-see page 17-from Editor's reply).
Psalm 2: 8: "Ask of Me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the
uttermost parts for thy possession."
John 17: 9: "I make not request for the world (inheritance)." Satan makes the offer
of the kingdoms of the world, but Jesus would not take them from his hand, but
renounced them: the way of redemption was by way of the cross. Christ was the "heir of
all things," but he beggared himself of his inheritance! The "world inheritance" was his
for the asking, but he would not take it up with death upon it, but he would first of all
redeem man from the power of death and the grave, and this he could only do by dying,
and in dying he destroyed him that had the power of death.
We have quoted the above from a letter received on the subject of the Deity of Christ.
Whilst seeking to respect the convictions of others, we feel that the above answer cannot
do anything but harm to the position of those who adopt such teaching.
Psa. 2: 8 is referred to to answer the question quoted at the commencement, but Psa. 2:
is quoted by Peter and by Paul with exclusive reference to resurrection. Acts 13: 30-37
has entirely to do with resurrection and its result, and in verse 33 we read, "He hath
raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, "Thou art My Son, this
day have I begotten Thee." It is upon this basis, namely, of resurrection, that the words
follow, "ask of Me and I will give Thee," &100:
It is utterly untrue to say that the Lord Jesus could have scripturally "asked" for the
inheritance before resurrection, and this being so, we again ask, "When, after Bethlehem,
was He rich? and when did He become poor?" We are sorry to have to write in this
fashion, but the honour of the Lord must come before our desire for peace, or the
consideration of other persons' feelings. We earnestly ask those who favour the position
advocated by the one whose reply we have quoted to reconsider such an answer and see
whether it really is Scriptural.
The statements made in the reply are in measure true so far as they refer to
redemption, but they contain no answer to the question. Born at Bethlehem, brought up
at Nazareth, living for thirty years as an obscure mechanic's son, "He became poor," but
"He was rich." When?