Nature of Christ

[Hanseng]

Controversy over this issue is one of Adventism's many distractions from what is really important. The first thing to do is to forget about what Sr. White said, or what people think she said or meant. Each side has its favorite quotations, which appear to support their particular perspective. It's an issue which is easily resolved from the Bible alone.

Romans 8: 3 says Jesus came in the "likeness" of sinful flesh. Same word is used in Philippians when it says Jesus was in the "likeness" of men. The word likeness means "resemble."  as evinced by Judges 5:18. The context of Romans 8:3 defines sinful flesh. Romans 7 says that those with sinful flesh are unable to do the good that they would. They do evil and can not help themselves. Sinful flesh has indwelling sin.  Jesus said the prince of this world has nothing in me. Fallen man is controlled by the law of sin, Jesus was controlled by the Holy Spirit.

In Acts, Paul declined the worship of his admirers by saying we are men of "like passions" with you [Acts 14:15].  James said Elijah was a man of "like passions" with us (James 5:17). Jesus accepted worship. He was Divine, devoid of the law of sin in his members as well as the same "passions" as sinful man. He could pray "Not my will but thy will be done" and then carry out God's will. According to Romans 7, sinful man is unable to carry out God's will. As one of our brethren said, Jesus was unique. We, on the other hand, apart from Christ, are damned to the last man.

[Hanseng]

Regarding the word "likeness" in Romans 8:3:  The same word is used in Romans 6:5. In that use, "likeness"  compares our figurative death in baptism to the actual death of Jesus.  Being immersed is hardly the same as being crucified. Baptism is a "likeness" of Christ's crucifixion.