Simple Salvation Church of God

Posted by: Michael Stevenson on Sat, Mar 31, 2018

This is a question which has many theologians puzzled for centuries. Just who and what was Jesus before birth? Was He God, an angel, a spiritual essence, did He only exist in the plan, thought, and the purpose of God? Here are the plain answers that you need to know—this is the Precious Truth About Jesus!

This is a question which has many theologians puzzled for centuries. Just who and what was Jesus before birth? Was He God, an angel, a spiritual essence, did He only exist in the plan, thought, and the purpose of God? Here are the plain answers that you need to know—this is the Precious Truth About Jesus!

WHY should there be all this confusion about who Jesus Christ was? Why is there all the confusion concerning His existence? In this western world of “Christianity” exists great religious confusion—many differing thoughts and debates—over Jesus Christ—the one who all Christianity speaks of!

 Even the many various theologians cannot agree on who, or what Jesus was before His birth! Yet, your very own Bible explains to us whom He was and what! But yet, most are unwilling to look into the subject for themselves, they don’t have time to do a study on the subject of Jesus Christ!

 What about you? Are you willing to sit back and carefully study the very Word of God to find out the truth? If so, then it is time for you to put aside your pre-conceived thoughts and notions and turn to the very Book of which God gave mankind to be His Instruction manual!

Did Jesus Christ Have A Father?

During His ministry here on this earthy, Christ had revealed a Father-Son relationship that had existed between Him and His heavenly Father. Within the pages of the Bible, God had stressed the family relationship—showing to us the importance of family—a serious relationship that would only make sense that God would set an example for mankind. First, between the Father and the Son and then second, between each of those Christians who are begotten and the Father. The Church is also revealed as the mother of all (Galatians 4:26). Individuals within the very Church of God refer to each other as brethren because the Church is a part of the FAMILY. Throughout God’s Inspired Word, He shows to us that there is a real FAMILY which He knows personally!

 Let’s come to understand it and see what God has revealed within His Word!

 The most logical starting place is in the very start of the Bible—and so we need to turn to Genesis, the first chapter. We find that it records that “In the beginning, God…” These are the very first words which God’s Instruction book records. It tells us something, for it tells to us that God had obviously existed in the very beginning—from before the earth was ever created God had existed! But, when we start to realize the very truth—that very awesome truth that reveals to us the creation, we find that it was NOT accomplished not by just one person, but, that it was accomplished by more than one! For we are told this truth that “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”—Genesis 1:26. God was not like the absent-minded professor, who was speaking to Himself—for He was revealing the plurality of persons, more than one. For God was showing to us that there was more, that there was a FAMILY called “God.”

The Hebrew Language As Proof

The Hebrew word that is used for “God” in Genesis 1:1 and through the creation account is “ELOHIM” which literally means “more than one” and it is the plural form of the Hebrew word “El” or “Eloah” that can be correctly translated as “Mighty One.” The plural form as is used in your Bible means “The Mighty Ones” or more than just one person!

 Elohim is a plural word that shows to us more than one person—just as the words “group” or “church” or “family” are single words which mean more than one person also! So, as we are now beginning to find, we now find that the Hebrew is starting to show to us clearly that there was “more than one” that made up the “God” within the creation account of Genesis!

 More over—all other scriptures further support this important truth! Listen to the words of the inspired Paul who had said that “For by Him (Christ) 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.” Yes, Paul was telling us that Jesus Christ is the one with whom was doing the creating. He further explained that “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.”—Col. 1:16-17 So then, was Paul just speaking to flatter Christ or was he just simply adding spiritual-sounding phrases to help make Christ seem more magnified and more important to Christians within his care? No! For “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”—2 Timothy 3:16. Thus, this is where the Church of God gains all of its teachings and doctrines—from the Bible—from God’s literal Inspired Word! Thus, when Paul was writing, he was not writing to build up Christ, but was writing what the Spirit was leading him to write—he was writing truth that was revealed to him.

 If all things were created by Jesus Christ, the He must have been one of the persons that had been included within the Hebrew ELOHIM that we read of in Genesis 1:1. For now it only begins to make sense—but, there is more on the subject that we must not ignore!

Christ Existed Before Adam!

While most Christians would think that there is only the Genesis account of the creation, we find that there are two accounts of the creation! Of course, the first is in Genesis, but the second is found in John’s Gospel. Here, in John’s book, we find the most vital passage which will give us the clear, simple truth of Christ’s office before He was ever born on earth. “In the beginning was the Word”—John 1:1. If you will notice, it tells us “In the beginning…” which therefore implies before anything was ever created. We cannot have two beginnings—there has to be only one beginning—thus, it is speaking of the same time period as we have found in Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!”

 There is the vital truth that is still so unseen by man—and yet, it is plainly revealed within the pages of your own Bible. It is so plain that anyone who understands cannot miss it!

 The Greek word that is translated into the English “Word” in John 1:1 is “LOGOS” which means more literally “spokesman” or the one who speaks. In other words, this means “representative” on behalf of someone! To continue on, we find that it tells us that “The same was in the beginning with God…” If the same was in the beginning with God, then it must be another being. It must be someone else that was also called God! “…All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made”—John 1:2, 3. Yes, all things which are made was made by Jesus Christ—the one who is the same as the spokesman, or the LOGOS who came to earth and took a physical form as we find in Colossians 1:16,17!

 The very Person in the God Family who had later became Jesus Christ was the one who had said “Let us make man in our image” which thus executed His office as the very Representative and Executive of the God Family!

 Notice then how clearly John states this truth—“And the Word (LOGOS) was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”—John 1:14). Jesus Christ is the very one who gave us grace and truth (v.17) and thus, it is Jesus Christ who was the Word—the one who was the Spokesman on behalf of that other person that is revealed in this important knowledge that we are showing to you!

Jesus Is Also God!

We need to keep in mind that the Bible never says that there is only one member of the God Family, but does tell us of a plurality of persons—more than one! Otherwise, Jesus would have been a liar, for He had prayed constantly to His Father in heaven. Thus, if there was only ONE, then why was Jesus praying to His Father?

 Light is also further shed on this misunderstood topic in the book of Hebrews. Paul tells us that “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by a Son (Ivan Panin New Testament) whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds!” Thus, it becomes clear that Jesus is the very Creator! Yet, millions do not know, nor even comprehend this very truth! Paul called Him “God our Saviour”—Titus 1:3. And so—in the person of Christ, our very Creator has become also our own Savior! Christ is at once our Maker and is also a member of the very Godhead. Therefore, His life which He had given for us is of far greater value than the sum total of every living, breathing human being!

 In order that the penalty for sin be paid, which penalty is death—death for all eternity unless it receives the pardon and is washed away (Romans 6:23), then it has become needful that Christ be Divine—that His life be worth more than all our human lives put together—in other words, Christ’s own life must be more higher than anyone else ever! Therefore, when Christ took upon Himself our sins, then He paid the penalty which had been brought about as a result of sin—not eternal life in hell-fire, but the cessation of life altogether—no longer being a live! For this is death! “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures”—1 Cor. 15:3. Remember 1 Corinthians is the awesome Resurrection Chapter! Jesus was made into flesh (John 1:14) and became a living human for this very reason, that He might die on the cross for all mankind! And yet, if Christ were only just a mere human, His life would have only paid for the death penalty that was brought about by one other human. The penalty for everyone’s sins had to be paid and it was therefore up to Christ to pay that penalty!

 But, let’s remember, the very penalty for sin is death and God can never die! Therefore, the penalty meant that there had to be a human life that had to pay the penalty—therefore since God could not Himself pay that penalty, it was of absolute necessity then that Christ had to be both Divine and human!

 Thus, the most awesome mystery of God is not grasped here in its overwhelming significance but by those who will hunger and thirst for God’s real and awesome truth! (Matt. 5:6. Thus, the Logos, the One who was to be the Spokesman and who was the Creator by His very Word “emptied Himself 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”—Phil. 2:7-8, margin. Yes, Jesus Christ was the very one who had gave Himself, taking upon Himself the form of mankind and humbled Himself enough so that He could be obedient, even to go to the very cross in death! This is why it then became so important that He be both Divine and human—so that He could take upon Himself our sins, forgiving all of us of our sins!

 Thus, the very Divine Creator of all things was changed into human form, becoming flesh! Was Jesus human? Yes! Your very salvation depends upon Him being human flesh! Without Him being human, then He could not die for us!

 Thus, now we see why Jesus is also God—in other words, a part of the God Family—being Divine and yet being a human being just as us! Without this, it would have been useless for us to be able to have salvation!

Jesus Did Have Human Nature

Yes, God had come to earth in the flesh as Jesus Christ, living a perfect life, free from sin and thus, was able to die and to pay the full penalty of our sins in our place—thus, paying the ransom for us to go free from sin! Jesus was indeed God who had become mortal “for the suffering of death”—Heb. 2:9.

 We have shown in the past the proof that Jesus Christ was human, that He had died and was completely dead during the three days and three nights that He had laid in the grave. “He also himself likewise (as the children are partakers of flesh and blood) took part of the same”—took on Himself human nature—becoming flesh and blood—“that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”—Heb. 2:14.

 Jesus therefore had to cry out to God both day and night to keep Himself from falling! Millions of people do not understand this very point, they think that Jesus could not have ever sinned! Yet, Jesus Himself had to struggle with temptations all the days of His mortal ministry. He had to also overcome human nature, the natural pulls and devices of flesh, and most do not understand this—they don’t under-stand the fullest extent of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and in many cases are trusting in a false Savior!

 “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin!”—Heb. 4:15 “Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared!”—Heb. 5:7 Your very Savior had to cry out to God, in strong crying and in tears so that He Himself could be an overcomer—just as we also must overcome—so that He could not fall into sin and so that He could withstand sin and temptations, being able to finally die on the cross with the record of a perfect life! Are you therefore worthy of this awesome and greatest sacrifice that ever was performed?

Just Who Was the LORD of the Old Testament Therefore?

Found in the King James Version of the Bible, is the word “LORD” which is often used, and usually always in small capital letters. Wherever this appears in the capital letters, it is translated out of the Hebrew word “YWVH” which is often pronounced today as “Yahveh.” The YHVH, when more correctly translated is actually “The Eternal” or the “Ever-Living One,” rather than “Lord.”

 Throughout the books of the Old Testament, the LORD appeared to various people, dealt particularly and personally with the ancient Israelites and talked directly (through form the darkness of a cloud or the brightness of a fire) to Moses. This very person who had spoken with Adam, Enoch, Moses and Abraham, was the One who later became Jesus Christ!

 How do we know? Well, Jesus Christ Himself told us of this very truth that He is the same who was the Eternal!

 “For the Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape!”—John 5:37 This then almost universally misunderstood truth has brought many to repudiate the Old Testament, to cast aside if you will, the Laws of God as having no binding enforcement on any of us today!

 But, when understood, we find that it tells us that Jesus Christ is the One whom the ancients had spoken with because of the fact that NO ONE has seen or spoken with the Father!

 Some ask “what of the transfiguration?” Yes, what of this event? The disciples, Peter, James and John had been with Jesus on the mountain, apart from the others, when this took place—an actual foretaste, a view ahead of what the soon-coming Kingdom of God will be like! As the disciples stood about, watching with awe and wonder at this, there came a “voice out of the cloud, which said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him”—Matt. 17:5. But, if you will look carefully, you will see that the scripture never says that it was God the Father that spoke! Read it for yourself in the Bible!

 Many have falsely assumed that the Bible says things which it never does say! Notice this case, where a voice is heard speaking, and yet Christ Himself says clearly that it could not have been the voice of God (John 5:37). The only logical conclusion then in the light of all scripture is that an angel (messenger) had spoken as one bearing the message from the Father!

 So then, since the Father was not the being who spoke to Moses and even showed him His hind parts (Exodus 33:23), then it was obviously the Eternal who was the One that was executing God’s word! That was then Christ’s prior office, which was His all-important duty! Who was the One who spoke to Moses? It was therefore the Spokesman that spoke to Moses!

 Let’s look at another verse of scripture! “…And did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they (ancient Israel) drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ”—1 Cor. 10:4.

 This very verse then speaks it all! The One who had given the laws to Israel anciently from Mount Sinai was Jesus Christ who was the Eternal of the Old Testament—the GOD who had dealt with Israel personally, who had shown Himself to Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and the kings of the earth!

 Most assume that the God of the Old Testament was the Father of Jesus Christ. This is proven by God’s Inspired Word to be a great false teaching! As we showed in 1 Corinthians 10:4, it was Jesus Christ that was the very Rock of the Old Testament! Remember that the word “LORD” is YHVH which means the Eternal! Now, look at 2 Samuel 22:2, 3 which says that “He said, ‘The LORD (YHVH) is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence’”—RSV.

 We find in Psalm 18:1-2 that this same Rock is YAHVEH or Jehovah. When Moses was speaking with Jehovah, and asked Him His name (Ex. 3:4-5, 13), He answered that His name was “I AM”—vs. 6, 14 and “Jehovah”—the Eternal (v.15). Also notice Exodus 6:2-3. In John 18:5-8, as soon as Christ had made Himself known to the crowd that was led by Judas as “I AM”—the “he” in italics is added without separation, and was never in the original—they went backward and fell to the ground. So then, in John 8:56-58, Jesus had called Himself the “I AM” thus, clearly showing us who Jesus is!

 The person of the Godhead who is our Redeemer is Jesus Christ. We find this in John: “They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is needed the SAVIOR of the world’”—John 4:42, RSV. Also look in Isaiah 60:16, where YAHVEH is also called the Redeemer, which is the Savior, or the Holy One of Israel!

 Jesus the very Savior was indeed the Holly One who was born of Israel (Jacob). Jesus is the same Lord of the Old Testament!

 Make no mistake about it—the One who the Church of God worships is the Eternal of the Old Testament!

So Then, What Should Be Done About It?

So then, what an overwhelming truth that this is to realize the awesome glorious, the awe-inspiring magnitude of Jesus’ pre-human existence! It should make you understand more fully the precious truth of the great price that was paid so that we could go free from sin! God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ had paid that penalty!

 Think of that scope!

 God the Father had sent His own Son down from heaven to this world so that He could suffer for mankind and thereby provide a way of escape through salvation, a way to enter into real eternal life! The Life that was poured out upon that cross was a real and literal human life—but it was much more than human—it was also the very God-LIFE! Jesus was Human but also Divine1 Day and night while on this earth, He had remembered that power and glory from all eternity He had enjoyed with the Father and He realized He had to rely upon the Father so that He could overcome also! The very determination and the very desire of Christ to be obedient allowed Him to become the very Savior of the world!

 Can you therefore understand this concept? Your very Creator—the One who gave you everything here on this earth—has died for you so that you can go free! So then, what should you do about it? Don’t you think that you owe it to yourself to follow Jesus’ very example if God is calling you?

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