Did Jesus truly existed before his incarnation?

This is an important question which must be addressed biblically, lest we will fall into grievous error. There are many people out there who are of the view, that Jesus Christ was not in being from eternity past, but began to exist at the time of his birth. Such people do not believe in the preexistence of Christ, and also outrightly denies the teaching that he is God. But the question is this, is it true that the Man Jesus was not in existence, until his miraculous conception and birth by the virgin Mary?

Others also, are of the opinion that Jesus was in being prior to his incarnation. They believe Jesus existed as the second person of the triune Godhead, before at a point in human history he took on flesh and dwelt among us. Which of the two opposing views is much more consistent with the whole counsel of God, respecting the nature of Christ? The only thing we can do is to examine the question in the light of what the scriptures teaches concerning it. I encourage you to stick with me, so we can dive through God's word together as we seek to answer the question before us.

John 1; 1-2, 14

''In the book of John, it is written: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth'' 

From the passage, we can see that the Word was in being with God from eternity past. That same Word that was with God is said to be God himself. The Word that was with God and is himself God took on flesh, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ and lived among us. This passage of scripture supports the preexistence of Christ

 John 6: 38-39

''No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him''

The Greek word for, "only begotten" is "monogenes" which means "one and only". The one and only God who is in the bosom of the father has exegeted and made him known. Jesus existed as God and communed with the father, but at a point in time, he came on earth and revealed the father to us.

John 6: 38-39

''For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day'' 

Jesus stated clearly that he came down from heaven and that the father sent him. This means that Jesus was in existence before the father sent him on earth to undertake the work of our eternal salvation.

John 6: 46

''Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father''

No human has seen God at any time, but the one who is from God, which is the Man Jesus Christ, as the context of the verse shows, he has seen the father. This proves that Jesus was in being with the father prior to his dwelling among us.

 John 17: 5

''Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was'' 

Jesus made it known to us that he existed with the father before the foundation of the world, and he prayed the father to glorify him with himself with the glory which he had with him before the world was. This saying of Jesus not only affirmed his deity, but also revealed his preexistence. And in the verse twenty four of the same chapter, Jesus said: for you loved me before the foundation of the world. If Jesus was not in existence with the father prior to his incarnation, then how could he have made such assertion?

Ephesians 1: 4

''Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love'' 

God in his grace chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, in order that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. The question is, how could God graciously choose us in Christ, before the world was, if he was wasn't in being at that time? But the words of the apostle makes it clear that Jesus has always existed from eternity past

Galatians 4:4

''But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law''

The fact that God sent his Son, implies that the Son was there with him. This simply tells us that the Son has always been in existence with the father, from eternity past till the time of his incarnation, see also (Romans 8; 3).

Philippians 2: 6-8

''Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross'' 

Paul by the Spirit teaches us that Jesus existed in the form of God, he possessed all the attributes which makes God God, and yet for the sake of our salvation, he emptied himself and took upon him the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men. So Jesus existed as God before taking on human flesh. 

John 8: 56-59

''Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." So the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple''.

Of course, Abraham lived so many years before Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born. Yet, Jesus made a bold claim by saying that before Abraham was born, "I am". He identified himself as the one who appeared to Moses on mount Moriah, and gave him the commission to go and set his people free from Egyptian bondage, see (Exodus 3; 1-15). Jesus wanted them to know that in his divine nature, he existed before their father Abraham, but unfortunately their unsanctified mind led them to pick up stones to stone him for blasphemy.

Colossians 1: 16-17

''For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together''

The apostle by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote that Jesus Christ was actively involved in the work of creation. For by him, as a principal agent and not as a subordinate instrument were all things created. In fact nothing was made that was made without Jesus Christ, he is the creator of all things, which reveals the fact that he existed before time began. He is not only the creator, but he is the sustainer of all things, for in him all things hold together. According to the author of the book of Hebrews, Jesus upholds all things by the word of his power (Hebrews 1; 3). Jesus is the one holding the universe together and sustains the lives of all living beings. Who can hold such an office? save God. The scriptures which supports the preexistence of Christ permeates throughout the entire new testament. Did Jesus Christ existed before his incarnation? Yes he did

God bless you 

A thought to ponder 🤔 

Did Jesus Christ existed before his incarnation? Yes he did

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