How is it that Christ "is not able to do anything of himself, unless he sees the Father doing anything"?
For if the Father does not exist, neither does the Son. For the Son is of the Father and in the Father and with the Father, and not after the Father. In a similar way also what he does is of him and with him. For there is one and the same--not similar but the same--will and energy and power in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
St. John of Damascus, The Orthodox Faith. 4.18
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"For there is one and the same--not similar but the same--will and energy and power in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
Which means the disposition of Father and Son and Holy Spirit toward mankind was always not just similar, but identical. If the Father's favor needs winning over (for example), so does the Son's and so does the Holy Spirit's. If the Father is disposed to kill, so are the Son and Holy Spirit. If the Son is eternally gracious and merciful toward us, so are Father and Holy Spirit.
And so on.
And then we factor in God's immutability... however He is toward us is how He always was and ever shall be toward us...
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