Just to orientate the discussion a little, here, does everyone agree that when God gave his Son to this world out of love, his Son took a risk, an infinite risk, to his deity by becoming a man?

I appreciate the quotes and comments you posted. Thank you. However, I hate to say, I still do not understand your view. Do you believe Jesus had a beginning, a time when He proceeded from the Father?

Also, why do you think it's too deep and mysterious for us to comprehend the Father existing alone before Jesus proceeded from Him? My father existed before I was born. And I existed before my son was born. It's not difficult for me to grasp. Do you see what I mean?

In theory, yes. However, Jesus knew without doubt He would succeed. He said so many times. "I will come again, and receive you unto myself." This question is similar to saying "He could have sinned; He could have fallen". So, yes, He could have failed, He could have fallen, but He knew He wouldn't.

M: I appreciate the quotes and comments you posted. Thank you. However, I hate to say, I still do not understand your view. Do you believe Jesus had a beginning, a time when He proceeded from the Father? Also, why do you think it's too deep and mysterious for us to comprehend the Father existing alone before Jesus proceeded from Him? My father existed before I was born. And I existed before my son was born. It's not difficult for me to grasp. Do you see what I mean?

C: His incarnation wasn't an exact human analogy; his eternal, begotten Sonship isn't a perfect human analogy: that's why it's a mystery. Yes, God's Son was begotten, proceeded from the Father, literally "has come out of the Father" (from John's Gospel), "in the days of eternity", so far back that we can't know when, and Ellen White said as much herself, in that the length of lifetime in his pre-existence could not be calculated by mortals. That he is the Word of God from the beginning sets up the mystery of how and when he was begotten. We don't know, nor should we agonise over it: he is the only begotten of God, of one nature with him, and he and God are two separate individuals, co-eternal, co-equal..., but labels we don't need, for he is very God, infinite God but not the person of the Father, the infinite God himself.

Can God save us from sin by dying on the cross in the person of his Son and himself actually survive the ordeal as the Godhead, or the trinity?

Was the human nature of the Son of Mary changed into the divine nature of the Son of God? No; the two natures were mysteriously blended in one person--the Man Christ Jesus. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die; that would have been impossible. Christ, the sinless One, will save every son and daughter of Adam who accepts the salvation proffered them, consenting to become the children of God. The Saviour has purchased the fallen race with His own blood. {21MR 418.5}

This is a great mystery, a mystery that will not be fully, completely, understood in its greatness until the translation of the redeemed shall take place. Then the power and greatness and efficacy of the gift of God to man will be understood. But the enemy is determined that this gift shall be so mystified that it will become a nothingness. If believers only knew what this means, the work would be done in our churches that must be done if the members ever enter the kingdom of heaven. But when men in responsible positions pervert their reason and give themselves up to Satan's way of thinking, they will surely stand before the world on Satan's side, however great their influence may have been and still is, doing the work that Satan did, led and inspired by his spirit. {21MR 418.6}

Yes, God's Son was begotten, proceeded from the Father, literally "has come out of the Father" (from John's Gospel), "in the days of eternity", so far back that we can't know when, and Ellen White said as much herself, in that the length of lifetime in his pre-existence could not be calculated by mortals.

The dedication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times. God had promised to give the First-born of heaven to save the sinner. This gift was to be acknowledged in every household by the consecration of the first-born son. He was to be devoted to the priesthood, as a representative of Christ among men. {DA 51.1}

. . . the Father wasn't alone for eternity before his Son was begotten of God himself, for the Word of God was at least always with God our Father.

I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for said He, "If you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist." {EW 54.2}

I have often seen the lovely Jesus, that He is a person. I asked Him if His Father was a person and had a form like Himself. Said Jesus, "I am in the express image of My Father's person." {EW 77.1}

God is above eternity, too, since all things were made by him. God made eternity, too: that's how big he is: all things were made by the Word of God, as God created all things by his Son.