The pre-existence of JESUS !

The [ pre-existence ] of JESUS CHRIST?

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ! ! !

Did CHRIST JESUS exist ( before ) HE physically walked the earth? Scripture says that HE did ! Do you believe the scriptures? GOD’S words for us? ( I do ! )

John 17:5, This verse alone (to me ) is sufficient to show that the Scripture supports JESUS’ pre-existence,

But there are many more passages that support the same.

(John 3:13; 6:33, 38, 62; 8:23; 16:28).

JESUS HIMSELF taught of HIS own pre-existence. HE existed prior to Abraham’s birth. In John 8:53, the Jews said; Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? To which JESUS replied:

Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

55Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

*( personal note ) * I love the undeniable “ fact “ that, in verse 59, they took were going to stone JESUS, and HE was (not allowing) them to touch HIM, and HE very simply passed right through

The midst of them ! ( I love JESUS’ style. ) ! I love JESUS ! Ok, moving on……………………!

John 17:2-8

2As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 6I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

Several texts present JESUS as pre-existing with HIS FATHER, (Romans 8:3; 1 John 1:2; Galatians 4:4).

Several more passages even identify JESUS as the CREATOR, (John 1:2–3; Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:2) !

It’s been noted by some that the Gospel of John does not contain a geneology… Look again ! It’s in the first verse. The shortest geneology

( I believe ) in the Bible !

John

Chapter 1

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Probably the most powerful evidence for the pre-existence of CHRIST was the very behavior of JESUS HIMSELF. HE was often doing and saying things that only the GOD of Israel had the right or power to do. JESUS’ healing of the paralytic in Mark 2 was done to demonstrate HIS authority and HIS ability to forgive sins (Mark 2:3–12). JESUS’ Jewish audience was well aware that such actions were reserved only for YAHWEH. JESUS’ actions in Luke 7 drew a similar reaction (Luke 7:48–50).

The ( fact ) JESUS pre-existed in HIS divinity is (further proven). by HIS being the object of worship repeatedly in the Gospels (Matthew 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38; 20:28). Never did JESUS reject such adoration. HE saw such worship as entirely appropriate. JESUS implied that HE had authority over the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) as well as the authority to abolish the Law (Ephesians 2:14–15). Such behavior is sheer blasphemy coming from anyone (short of a divine) (and therefore pre-existent) Person.

In addition, JESUS identified HIMSELF as the divine Son of Man (Mark 14:61–64) and claimed to be able to raise HIMSELF from the dead (John 10:17–18)! This turned out to be the very miracle that HE claimed would authenticate HIS radical claims and ministry, (Matthew 12:38–40;16:1–4). Jesus accomplished this grand miracle and gave convincing proof of it (Luke 24:36–43; John 20:26; 21:1-14; Acts 1:3–6). This miracle established JESUS’ claim to deity and thus provides further confirmation of HIS pre-existence.

THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST JESUS ! ! !

That the New Testament is full of references to the divinity of CHRIST is difficult to deny. From the four canonical Gospels through the book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles, JESUS is not only seen as The MESSIAH (or CHRIST) but also equated with GOD HIMSELF. The apostle Paul refers to the divinity of CHRIST when he calls JESUS our "great GOD and SAVIOR" (Titus 2:13) and even says that JESUS existed in the "form of GOD" prior to HIS incarnation (Philippians 2:5-8). GOD The FATHER says regarding JESUS, "Your throne, O GOD, will last forever and ever" (Hebrews 1:8). JESUS is directly referred to as the CREATOR HIMSELF (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17). Other biblical passages teach CHRIST'S deity, (Revelation 1:7; 2:8; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Peter 5:4).

While these direct citations are sufficient to establish that the Bible claims JESUS is divine, a more indirect approach may prove to be more powerful. JESUS repeatedly placed HIMSELF in the place of YAHWEH by assuming The FATHER'S divine prerogatives. HE was often doing and saying things that only GOD has a right to do and say. JESUS also referred to HIMSELF in ways that hinted at HIS deity. Some of these instances provide us with the strongest proof of JESUS' divine self-understanding.

In Mark 14, JESUS stands accused at HIS trial before the High Priest. “Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the CHRIST, the Son of the Blessed?" And JESUS said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-62). Here, JESUS is referring to the Old Testament book of Daniel where the prophet Daniel states, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and HE came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before HIM. And to HIM was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve HIM; HIS dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and HIS kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13-14).

In this reference to Daniel's vision, JESUS is identifying HIMSELF as the Son of Man, a person who was given “dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve HIM.” The Son of Man has a dominion that is everlasting and will not pass away. One immediately wonders what kind of person has a dominion that is everlasting. What kind of a person is given a kingdom and will have all men serve HIM? The High Priest, who immediately recognized JESUS’ claim to divinity, tore his robe and declared JESUS guilty of blasphemy.

JESUS' use of the title "Son of Man" has surprisingly strong apologetic value. A skeptic of CHRIST'S deity cannot easily dismiss this particular self-designation of JESUS. That CHRIST referred to HIMSELF in this manner enjoys multiple attestations, as it is found in all of the Gospel sources. The phrase "Son of Man" is used of Jesus only a few times outside of the Gospels themselves (Acts 7:56; Revelation 1:13; 14:14). Given its scarce usage by the early apostolic church, it is unlikely that this title would have been read back into the lips of JESUS if, in fact, HE had not used this particular self-designation. And yet, if it is established that JESUS really did use this title of HIMSELF, it becomes apparent that JESUS considered HIMSELF to have everlasting power and a unique authority beyond that of a mere human being.

Sometimes, it was JESUS’ actions that revealed HIS identity. JESUS’ healing of the paralytic in Mark 2 was done to demonstrate HIS authority and ability to forgive sins (Mark 2:3-12). In the minds of HIS Jewish audience, such abilities were reserved for GOD [alone]. JESUS (also) receives worship several times in the Gospels (Matthew 2:11; 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38; 20:28). Never did Jesus reject such adoration. Rather, HE regarded their worship as well placed. Elsewhere, JESUS taught that the Son of Man will ultimately judge humanity (Matthew 25:31-46) and taught that our eternal destinies depend on our response to HIM (Mark 8:34-38). (( Such behavior is further indication of JESUS' divine self-understanding.))

JESUS also stated that HIS forthcoming resurrection from the dead would vindicate the very special claims that HE made for HIMSELF (Matthew 12:38-40). After having been crucified and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, JESUS did, in fact, rise from the dead, establishing HIS claims to deity.

The evidence for this miraculous event is very powerful. Numerous contemporary sources report JESUS’ post-crucifixion appearances to (both) - individuals and groups under various circumstances (1 Corinthians 15:3-7; Matthew 28:9; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:26-30, 21:1-14; Acts 1:3-6). Many of these witnesses were willing to die for this belief, and several of them did! Clement of Rome and the Jewish historian Josephus provide us with first-century reports of several of their martyrdoms. All of the theories used to explain away the evidence for the resurrection (such as the Hallucination Theory) have failed to explain all of the known data. The resurrection of JESUS is an established fact of history, and this is the strongest evidence for JESUS’ divinity.

“ H I S T O R Y “ Equates out to: "HIS" - "Story"……

The story of the MOST DOCUMENTED Man, ever to walk the face of the earth -

JESUS ! The King of Kings, The LORD of LORDS.

Our KINSMEN REDEEMER ! Do { you } know HIM?? You should... Please get to know HIM --

“ You “ will not regret it, nor forget it !

GOD Bless.