God's natural hatred for sin made necessary the role of a Mediator.

It should be understood that Christ's work as Mediator is not limited either as to time or extent. To be Mediator means more than to be intercessor. Christ was Mediator before sin came into the world, and will be Mediator when no sin is in the universe, and no need for expiation. "In Him all things consist." He is the very impress of the Father's being. He is the life. Only in and through Him does the life of God flow to all creation. He is, then, the means, medium, mediator, the way, by which the light of life pervades the universe. He did not first become Mediator at the fall of man, but was such from eternity. No one, not simply no man, but no created being, comes to the Father but by Christ. No angel can stand in the Divine presence except in Christ. No new power was developed, no new machinery, so to speak, was required to be set in motion by the entering of sin into the world. (The Glad Tidings; emphasis mine)

Here's a statement from Waggoner regarding Christ as Mediator:

The holy and infinite God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable, could no longer talk with man. No communication could now exist directly between man and his Maker. {Con 19.4}

God forbears, for a time, the full execution of the sentence of death pronounced upon man. Satan flattered himself that he had forever broken the link between heaven and earth. But in this he was greatly mistaken and disappointed. The Father had given the world into the hands of His Son for Him to redeem from the curse and the disgrace of Adam's failure and fall. Through Christ alone can man now find access to God. And through Christ alone will the Lord hold communication with man. {Con 20.1}

If one's hatred for sin makes a Mediator necessary, then Christ's hatred for sin would require the role of Mediator between Him and us.

I have the Sabbath School lesson this Saturday so any thing that everyone can bring to the discussion is at least by me, greatly appreciated...

T:If one's hatred for sin makes a Mediator necessary, then Christ's hatred for sin would require the role of Mediator between Him and us.

A:That makes sense. But there does seem to be a difference between Father and Son, such that Jesus is the Mediator, not the Father.

God's natural hatred for sin made necessary the role of a Mediator.

At any rate, my main point was that this statement:

is false.

That's rather circular, isn't it? The SOP tells us if Christ had remained in heaven, and the Father become incarnate instead, the history of His life would have been no different. In this case, one could say, "But there does seem to be a difference between Son and Father, such that the Father is the Mediator, not the Son."

Regarding your saying "but the SOP quotes suggest there was such a change," these look to be orthogonal concepts. That is, I doubt Waggoner would find any fault in what EGW wrote, nor she with what he wrote.

At any rate, my main point was that this statement:



is false.

God's holiness does not tolerate sin but actively reacts against it (Isa. 5:24, Hosea 9:15, Rom. 1:18). “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong” (Hab. 1:13, NIV). God's natural hatred for sin made necessary the role of a Mediator. God designed a way by which sinners could be sanctified and enjoy fellowship with Him again. This was possible through Christ, in whom atonement and holiness were mysteriously united. The Holy One was born as a baby on this planet of sin and impurity (Luke 1:35) to sanctify us through the power of His atoning death: “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ” (Heb. 10:10, NIV).