John writes, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Jesus used the same the Self-existent phrase that he used at the burning bush, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14); “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” (Revelation 1:11).
The Bible teaches that Christ is the Creator of all. “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 1:16). And “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Now if all things that were made were made by Him, then how could He be made? How could the Creator be a created being?
Some use 1 Thessalonians 4:16 to refer to Jesus as merely an angel – a created being. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” But the word “angel” is used in many different ways in the Bible. King David was called an angel and he was a human (1 Samuel 29:9). An angel means “a messenger”. Michael, the Archangel, is a title for the highest messenger who is as God – Christ.
Others use Hebrews 1:5 and claim that Christ was an angel who was raised to a higher position. “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” If Christ really was an angel elevated to His present status, then God did say to an angel, “Thou art my Son.” But the truth is that God did not say this to any angel “at any time.” The purpose of this verse is to highlight the sonship of Christ and thus further establish His superiority over the angels.
And also some take the word “firstborn” in Romans 8:29 to mean Jesus was created. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” But, Paul’s emphasis here is upon Christ’s position as the Eldest Brother in the family of the redeemed. The ultimate purpose of the plan of salvation is the restoration of unity in the family of God’s kingdom, so that God may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28). In this family, Christ as the Eldest Brother has traveled the way before us and set the example to the right life.
The Scripture teaches that Jesus has always been in existence “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). The “goings forth” of Christ reach to eternity in the past. “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1–3). From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
