{"id":2618,"date":"2021-05-02T04:15:34","date_gmt":"2021-05-02T10:15:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=2618"},"modified":"2023-02-26T00:51:37","modified_gmt":"2023-02-26T07:51:37","slug":"preexistence-of-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/preexistence-of-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Preexistence of Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Much Scripture attests that Christ preexisted in a prophetic sense. Those who conspired against God\u2019s 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 he saw it and was glad. (John 8:56). The revelation of Christ exists before Abraham. (John 8:58).\u00a0<\/p>
“For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see<\/strong>, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p> “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge<\/strong> of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” <\/p> \u00a0Brothers, 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.\u00a0 Being therefore<\/strong> a prophet<\/strong>, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,\u00a0he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ<\/strong>, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.\u00a0This Jesus God raised up<\/strong>, and of that we all are witnesses. <\/p> But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled<\/strong>. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,\u00a0that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,\u00a0whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago<\/strong>.\u00a0Moses said, \u2018The 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<\/strong>.\u2019 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days<\/strong>. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, \u2018And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\u2019 \u00a0God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first<\/strong>, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.\u201d <\/p> “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<\/strong>. <\/p> “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God<\/strong>\u00a0to be judge of the living and the dead. To him<\/strong> all the prophets bear witness<\/strong>\u00a0that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p> “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<\/strong>, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.\u201d <\/p> But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it\u2014 \u00a0the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe<\/strong>.<\/p> \u00a08 <\/sup>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<\/sup> 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<\/strong>, 10<\/sup> 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<\/p> <\/p> “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully<\/strong>, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories<\/strong>.” <\/p> 54<\/sup> Jesus answered, \u201cIf I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, \u2018He is our God.\u2019 55<\/sup> 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<\/sup> Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad<\/strong>.\u201d 57<\/sup> So the Jews said to him, \u201cYou are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?\u201d 58<\/sup> Jesus said to them, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am<\/strong>.\u201d “Jesus said to them, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing;\u00a0but it is my Father who honors me, the one of whom you say, He is our God<\/strong>.\u00a0Yet you have not known him, but\u00a0I know him; and\u00a0If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like youselves;\u00a0but I do know him and I obey\u00a0his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and\u00a0he saw it and was glad<\/strong>.\u00a0The Jews said to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and yet you have seen Abraham?\u00a0Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I was<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Jesus is the center of God\u2019s plan and purpose established from ancient times as Moses said, \u201cThe 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\u2019s 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.\u201d (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)<\/p> \u201cThe LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers\u2014it is to him you shall listen<\/strong>…\u00a0I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers<\/strong>. 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<\/p> 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<\/strong>. <\/p> \u00a018<\/sup> But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19<\/sup> Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20<\/sup> that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21<\/sup> 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<\/sup> Moses said, \u2018The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you<\/strong>. 23<\/sup> And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.\u2019 24<\/sup> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days<\/strong>. 25<\/sup> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, \u2018And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\u2019 26<\/sup> God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p> “But when the<\/strong> fullness of time had come<\/strong>, God sent forth his Son<\/strong>, born<\/strong> of woman, born<\/strong> under the law, to redeem<\/strong> those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons<\/strong>.”<\/p> \u201cAnd we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose<\/strong>. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his<\/strong> Son<\/strong>, in order that he might be <\/strong>the firstborn among many brother<\/strong>s.<\/strong> <\/p> “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<\/strong> chose us in him before the foundation of the world<\/strong>, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined<\/strong> us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will<\/strong>.” <\/p> 9<\/sup> making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose<\/strong>, which he set forth in Christ<\/strong> 10<\/sup> as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.11<\/sup> 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<\/strong> “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God<\/strong>, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God<\/strong>\u00a0might 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<\/strong>.” <\/p> “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus <\/strong>Christ<\/strong>, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”<\/p> 18<\/sup> For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing<\/strong>, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God<\/strong>. 19<\/sup> For it is written, \u201cI will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.\u201d 20<\/sup> 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<\/sup> 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<\/sup> For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23<\/sup> but we preach Christ crucified<\/strong>, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24<\/sup> but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God<\/strong>. 25<\/sup> For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.<\/p> \u00a08 <\/sup>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<\/strong>, 9<\/sup> 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<\/strong>, 10<\/sup> 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<\/strong><\/p> He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you<\/strong>.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> “Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy<\/strong>… He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God<\/strong>.” <\/p> For it was not to angels that God subjected<\/strong> the world to come, of which we are speaking<\/strong>.\u00a0It has been testified somewhere, \u201cWhat is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Behold<\/strong> my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen<\/strong>, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him<\/strong>; he will bring forth justice to the nations<\/strong>. <\/p> And the angel said to her, \u201cDo 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.\u00a0He 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<\/strong>,\u00a0and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.\u201d <\/p> And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, \u201cThis is my Son, my Chosen One<\/strong>; listen to him! <\/p> Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified<\/strong>.\u201d <\/p> The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus<\/strong>, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.<\/p> 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<\/strong>, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. <\/p> “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God<\/strong>\u00a0to be judge of the living and the dead<\/strong>. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.\u201d\u00a0<\/p> 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<\/strong>; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.\u201d <\/p> 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<\/strong>, so that<\/strong> at the name of Jesus every knee should bow<\/strong>, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,\u00a0and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. <\/p>Acts 2:23 (ESV), Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge<\/strong> of God<\/h3>
Acts 2:30-32 (ESV), Being therefore<\/strong> a prophet –<\/strong>he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 3:18-26 (ESV), What God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets<\/strong>, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled<\/h3>
Acts 4:27-28 (ESV), To do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV), To him<\/strong> all the prophets bear witness<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>
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<\/strong><\/h3>
Romans 3:21-22 (ESV), The Law and the Prophets bear witness to it<\/strong><\/h3>
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV), His own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began<\/strong>,<\/h3>
1 Peter 1:10-11 (ESV), The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully<\/strong><\/h3>
John 8:54-58 (ESV), Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/p>John 8:54-58 (Peshitta, Lamsa), Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and\u00a0he saw it and was glad<\/strong><\/h3>
Jesus is the center of God’s plan and purpose<\/h2>
Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 (ESV), The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you<\/strong><\/h3>
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<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 3:18-26 (ESV), All the prophets who have spoken – also proclaimed these days<\/strong><\/h3>
Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV), When the<\/strong> fullness of time had come<\/strong>, God sent forth his Son<\/strong><\/h3>
Romans 8:28-29 (ESV), Predestined to be conformed to the image of his<\/strong> Son<\/strong><\/h3>
Ephesians 1:3-5 (ESV), He<\/strong> chose us in him before the foundation of the world<\/strong> <\/h3>
Ephesians 1:9-11 (ESV), According to his purpose,<\/strong> which he set forth in Christ<\/strong> as a plan for the fullness of time<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/p>Ephesians 3:9-11 (ESV), The plan – <\/strong>the manifold wisdom of God<\/strong> – the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (ESV), God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus <\/strong>Christ<\/strong><\/h3>
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<\/h3>
2 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV), His own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Peter 1:20 (ESV), He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times<\/strong><\/h3>
Revelation 19:10, 13 (ESV), The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy – he is called the Word of God<\/strong><\/h3>
<\/h2>
<\/h2>
Hebrews 2:5-6 (ESV), God subjected<\/strong> the world to come, of which we are speaking<\/strong><\/h3>
Jesus was made\u00a0Lord and Christ (he was not that to begin with)<\/h2>
Isaiah 42:1 (ESV), Behold<\/strong> my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen<\/strong>, in whom my soul delights<\/h3>
Luke 1:30-33 (ESV), He will be great – the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David<\/h3>
Luke 9:35 (ESV), This is my Son, my Chosen One<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 2:36 (ESV), God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 3:13 (ESV), The God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 5:30-31 (ESV), God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 10:42-43 (ESV), He is the one appointed by God<\/strong>\u00a0to be judge of the living and the dead<\/strong><\/h3>
Acts 17:30-31 (ESV), God –\u00a0has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed<\/strong><\/h3>
Philippians 2:8-11 (ESV), God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name<\/strong><\/h3>
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV), There is one God, and<\/strong> there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus<\/strong><\/h3>