An Explanation
I feel that an explanation for the need to publish my last blog, "but emptied Himself," is perhaps in order. I am aware that this may not convince all who take time to read it, but it will clarify my thoughts regarding what I believe to be a fatal error regarding God's only-begotten Son here in incarnation.
On every occasion of singing the lovely hymn that begins, "Lamb of God our souls adore Thee," written by J.G. Deck, a brother of superlative ability in expressing so many precious truths in his hymns, I have declined to sing the words "Thou didst lay Thy glory by." Hymn 27 Psalms And Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978.
And in my desire to find help with the divine disclosure in question, I turned to brethren whom I hold in the highest esteem; brethren who were foremost in teaching the Scriptures; those whom I regard as being the finest teachers of the Word since the Apostles. And I became more and more alarmed by some of the phrases found in their writings. I hasten to add that our grasp of things divine, heavenly, spiritual and eternal, develops over time, just as revelation has been granted to us in increasing measure as we read through the written Word of God in its entirety; and therefore these dear brethren may well have expressed such thoughts differently at a later date.
But nevertheless J.N.D. writes, "He strips Himself of His own glory;" also, "He laid aside the form of Godhead;" and further, "Leaving the form of God in abeyance." But Darby did pen these words, "when He was in the form of God, He emptied Himself, through love, of all His outward glory;" that is much in keeping with what I have in mind.
W.K. uses the phrases, "When about to become a man, He did not carry down the glory and power of Godhead;" "He put in abeyance all His glory." But in so many of his works his defence of the intrinsic deity and impeccable humanity of Christ is unparalleled. His co0mmentary on the Gospel of John is to be treasured.
These are but a few lines from great men of God that cause me to be wary, because even the most erudite, spiritual and godly of men may use words that they might wish they had retracted earlier, or perhaps would express differently.
My purpose is not to condemn these my beloved mentors in the faith, but to relieve my heart of something which continues to burden me, particularly with my failure to express my apprehension of these profound revelations relating to the Person of the Son.