First of all, Jesus claimed to be one with God (John 10:30). Also in John 14:10-11; "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."
Jesus claimed to be one with God (John 17:11). Also notice: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" John 17:24.
Paul stated as much in Philippians; "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:5-11. One could also notice John 5:17,18. Jesus is also presented as the co-creator (Ephesians 3:8-9; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2). Next, we will study the eternal purpose and pre-existence of Christ.
Inasmuch as Jesus Christ is God, it is also safe to say that he has always existed. There are many in the "religious" world who deny this claiming that Jesus is a created being. The Jehovah's Witnesses translate John 1:1 as "In (the) beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God and Word was a god." (The New World Translation). Notice the indefinite article "a" and the fact that "god" is not capitalized. To the Jehovah's Witness, Jesus Christ is not God Himself but a created being and, therefore, not eternal.
First, we can notice Jesus claims. Don't forget that those who say he is not an eternal being still claim that He was a great man of God. If Jesus claimed to have always existed and did not then he was a liar and therefore, not a great man of God.
Then we have to ask how he could do miracles and have such a faithful following. Jesus did claim to be eternal. He claimed to have been alive before Abraham; "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58. He said that he existed before the world was created; "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." John 17:5.
Other New Testament people claim that Jesus was eternal also. John the Baptist said that Jesus existed before him. Don't forget that John was born before Jesus. "John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me." John 1:15. Paul was another who made such claims for Christ. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Colossians 1:16-17.
We have seen that Jesus is deity and that he is also eternal. But what was his purpose for coming into the world? There is much discussion in the religious world about this matter.
Some feel that Jesus was just a prophet sent by God. We have seen why this is not the case. Some feel that Jesus came into the world to establish an earthly kingdom and rule over it. Those who believe this say that Jesus came to establish this earthly kingdom but, since the Jews rejected Him, He had to establish a temporary spiritual kingdom, the church. This just can not be true.
Jesus did not desire to be an earthly king. Notice John 6:15; "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." Furthermore, Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world (not fleshly) but spiritual; "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36.
"And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." Mark 8:31.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement". Romans 5:8-11.
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Hebrews 10:4.
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28.
"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:" Ephesians 3:10-11.
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-- Ralph Price --
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