Ever since Christ came to the earth and died on the cross,
the world has been
arguing over his life.
Was he really the son of God
or just a great man of God?
For those who believe in the Bible as God's word,
there does not need to be any
doubt on this matter.
The Scriptures plainly teach that Jesus is the Son of God
and, therefore, God Himself.
The New Testament presents Jesus
as
being more than just a mere man.
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.
The New Testament claims that
Christ is
equal with God.
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." Phil 2:5-11. One
could also notice John
5:17,18. Jesus is also presented as the co-creator (Eph
3:8-9; Col
1:16-17; Heb
1:1-2).
Next, we will study the eternal purpose and pre-existence of Christ.
Jesus has always existed.
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.
Does the Bible teach that Jesus Christ
has always existed?
The answer is a resounding YES!!!
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." Col
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.
Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice for sin
and to
purchase the church with his own blood.
Jesus predicted that he would suffer; "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.
By suffering and dying on the cross, Christ became the sacrifice for our
sins; "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.
Under the Old Testament sacrifices, there was no forgiveness; "For
it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away
sins." Heb 10:4.
Christ purchased the church with his blood; "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.
This was Christ's purpose; "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:" Eph 3:10-11.
If you would like to discuss the content of this article, please send mail to
GJCOC@onebox.com.
-- Ralph Price --
