The Prophetic Preexistence of Christ
Much Scripture attests that Christ preexisted in a prophetic sense. Those who conspired against God’s holy servant Jesus, whom he anointed, did whatever his hand and his plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:27-28) All the Law and the Prophets bear witness to the righteousness of God that has now been manifested apart from the law – the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. (Rom 3:21-22). Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about this grace searched and inquired carefully, as the spirit of Christ in them predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. (1 Pet 1:10-11) Abraham rejoiced that he would see the day of Christ – he saw it and was glad. (John 8:56). The revelation of Christ exists before Abraham. (John 8:58).
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Luke 10:24 (ESV), Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see
“For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Acts 2:23 (ESV), Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God
“This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”
Acts 2:30-32 (ESV), Being therefore a prophet –he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ
Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Acts 3:18-26 (ESV), What God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled
But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Acts 4:27-28 (ESV), To do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place
“for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV), To him all the prophets bear witness
“And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 26:22-23 (ESV), Saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that
“I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
Romans 3:21-22 (ESV), The Law and the Prophets bear witness to it
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV), His own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
1 Peter 1:10-11 (ESV), The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.”
John 8:54-58 (ESV), Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad
54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
John 8:54-58 (Peshitta, Lamsa), Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad
“Jesus said to them, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing; but it is my Father who honors me, the one of whom you say, He is our God. Yet you have not known him, but I know him; and If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like youselves; but I do know him and I obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad. The Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and yet you have seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I was.
Jesus is the center of God’s plan and purpose
Jesus is the center of God’s plan and purpose established from ancient times as Moses said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you. (Deut 18:15-19) Jesus is the Christ foretold by the mouth of all the prophets (Acts 3:18-26). In the fullness of time, Good sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law. (Gal 4:4-5). God foreknew us and also predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn amount many brothers (Rom 8:28-29). The mystery of God’s will is the purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him. (Eph 1:9-10) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Eph 1:11) The plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, has been brought to light. (Eph 3:9-10) This is according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph 3:11) God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess 5:9) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for our sake. (1 Pet 1:20) To those who are called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24) The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev 19:10) The name by which he is called is the Word of God. (Rev 19:13) It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking (Heb 2:5)
Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 (ESV), The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen… I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him
Micah 5:2 (ESV), From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Acts 3:18-26 (ESV), All the prophets who have spoken – also proclaimed these days
18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV), When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Romans 8:28-29 (ESV), Predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Ephesians 1:3-5 (ESV), He chose us in him before the foundation of the world
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
Ephesians 1:9-11 (ESV), According to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will
Ephesians 3:9-11 (ESV), The plan – the manifold wisdom of God – the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus
“to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (ESV), God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV), The Word of the cross- to us who are being saved it is the power of god – we preach Christ crucified
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV), His own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
1 Peter 1:20 (ESV), He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.
Revelation 19:10, 13 (ESV), The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy – he is called the Word of God
“Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy… He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.”
Hebrews 2:5-6 (ESV), God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking
For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?
Jesus was made Lord and Christ (he was not that to begin with)
Isaiah 42:1 (ESV), Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Luke 1:30-33 (ESV), He will be great – the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 9:35 (ESV), This is my Son, my Chosen One
And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!
Acts 2:36 (ESV), God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Acts 3:13 (ESV), The God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Acts 5:30-31 (ESV), God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV), He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead
“And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 17:30-31 (ESV), God – has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Philippians 2:8-11 (ESV), God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV), There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Hebrews 5:1-5 (ESV), Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”
Hebrews 9:24 (ESV), Christ has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
John 3:35 (ESV), The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand
The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
John 17:2 (ESV), The Father has given him authority over all flesh
The Father has given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom he has given him.
John 17:3 (ESV), Eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Jesus is the First and the Last of God’s plan for salvation
Jesus is the first of the resurrection, and all those who are saved from the beginning to the end are saved through Christ. Jesus is the first and the last of the new creation (not the original creation). Firstborn of all creation pertains to the new creation (firstborn from the dead)
Acts 4:11-12 (ESV), There is salvation in no one else
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 5:18-19 (ESV), By the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Romans 8:29 (ESV), That he might be the firstborn among many brothers
Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (ESV), There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist
“there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (ESV), For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV), If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV), His purpose – which he set forth in Christ -as a plan to unite all things in him
9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 3:7-11 (ESV), The plan – the manifold wisdom of God – the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Colossians 1:12-20 (ESV), He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Hebrews 1:1-5 (ESV), He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high – having become as much superior to angels
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Hebrews 2:5-13 (ESV), It was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking
For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
Revelation 1:12-18 (ESV), I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of Death and Hades
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
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