First Corinthians 10:1-4 is very graphic and calls Jesus’ name as being with the Israelites in the wilderness 1,550 years before He was born physically. I know there are many indications that Christ was with the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt, but when the question arises about whether Christ existed from the beginning, before His physical birth, here is a good answer. John 8:56-58 reads, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
Keep this in mind as you read. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Do we have eternal life if we do not know the true God and His Son, whom He sent?
Jesus was with God and the Holy Spirit in the beginning and is one with Them (John 17:20-21). He was with God in the creation of the world, and He will be the “Bridegroom” of the church for all eternity. If people study and believe Scripture at all, they believe this truth.
At the creation, God said, “Let Us make man in Our image.” (God is not physical, and so this has to be the mind, heart and soul). In the Old Testament, God defined Himself as “I am that I am” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus used this same term in John 8:58 when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.”
Again, we see Jesus is Creator of all things.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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. (Colossians 1:13-16)
Even if we only looked to Micah 5:2, we would understand Jesus to be eternal. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Jesus is without beginning and without end (Revelation 1:8). Jesus is the Son of God, and He is God (John 1:1). Notice the text says He “was God” and was “with God.” Jesus was not created, but He was “with” God in the beginning. Jesus is attributed with having created all things that have been created (Colossians 1:16-17). He did not create Himself. The Father created all things through Jesus.
Hebrews 1:8 refers to Jesus as God. God the Father was speaking about Jesus: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever…” I agree that God the Father gave Jesus the authority He had, but that does not mean Jesus is not Deity. Jesus willingly submitted to the Father, and He is our example of humble submission.
Thomas called Jesus God, and Jesus did not contradict him. “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:28-29).
