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No human can claim that which is true concerning Jesus. He existed before He was born in
Bethlehem. Jesus is not simply unique, but He is unique in that He is God, God in the flesh.
"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:5-8 ASV). Jesus' pre-existence is taught in prophecy. God did not wait until the Lord was born to declare the Messiah's eternal existence. Micah 5:2 ASV made known that Jesus has existed from eternity to eternity, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah ... out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." In the early days of the Lord, scribes quoted and applied this verse to Jesus (Matt. 2). Jesus' pre-existence is taught in His being before Abraham and being "I AM": "Jesus said ... Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I AM. They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple" (Jn. 8:58-59 ASV). Compare the concept "Abraham was" in contrast to "I am." One has accurately noted, "Jesus' life was from and to eternity. Hence the formula for absolute, timeless existence, I am." The Jew's reaction demonstrates they knew He was claiming to be deity-eternal. Jesus' pre-existence, and therefore His deity, is taught in the magnificent declaration that He created the heavens and the earth (Jn. 1:1-3 ASV). "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made." Nothing was created without Him, no tree, no earth, no moon, and no angel. Jesus is from everlasting unto everlasting. He is not a created being; He is deity. The facts are these: The Word was in the beginning with deity because He is deity, and God has no beginning or end. Because man needed to be redeemed, the Word left the comforts of heaven and was born in the flesh by the virgin Mary. When the shepherds and the wise-men looked upon Jesus, they looked upon God. They worshipped God. Though He is no longer on the earth, Jesus is still God, and He is still the Savior of the world. Is He your Savior? |