Christ Always Existed

John 1:1 says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 says that the Word became flesh and dwelt among men. In Revelation 1:8 John quoted the Lord Himself: “I am the Alpha and Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” In Isaiah, written some 700 years before Christ’s coming, we find essentially the same statement: “This is what the Lord says–Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” (Isaiah. 44:6.)

The Prophet Micah foretold the birthplace of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to be Bethlehem, and then added that He was the One whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting (5:2.) The Apostle Paul wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17.) John also testified that “through him all things were made and without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3.)

Jesus Christ is both man and God

Christ’s birth by a woman was first predicted in Genesis 3:15. Matthew 1 gives His genealogy from Abraham and quotes Isaiah 7:14: “‘Behold, the virgin will be with child, and will give birth to a Son, and they will call him ‘Immanuel’ which means ‘God with us’.” Isaiah later wrote again of this miraculous birth: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6.) Look at the titles that belong to that Holy Child born to the virgin Mary! When the Angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary about this child she would give birth to, she exclaimed, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Gabriel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most high will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (v. 35.)So Jesus Christ is the only child ever born of God and of a woman (John 3:18)–without the help of a man. Thus, He is both God and man.

Later, when Joseph learned Mary was pregnant, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream to explain to him the miraculous conception of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Matthew says these things fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy concerning a virgin giving birth to a son, and that this child would be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:18-23.)

Jesus Christ came to die for our sinsJohn 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believed in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Isaiah predicted that Christ would be pierced for our transgressions…afflicted…led as a lamb to the slaughter (53:5.) Revelation 13:8 calls Jesus “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” His coming to earth to die for our sins was God’s plan before He made man.

 

Jesus Christ is the future King

 

A thousand years before Christ, the psalmist prophesied His second coming in judgment, power, and glory to take His throne as King: “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Psalm 45:6). Hebrews 1:8 quotes this prophecy, saying that God the Father said it to God the Son.

 

God said through Isaiah, “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior” (43:11); and “Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock” (44:8.) The only way we can understand these truths is to accept by faith the teaching of the Godhead made up of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)–one God in essence, yet three Persons.

Here is a simple formula to remember where the key scripture verses are to back up these teachings concerning Christ: Isaiah 7, 9, and 53; the first chapters of John, Ephesians, Colossians, Hebrews, and Revelation; and the 3:16s in John, 1 Timothy, and 1 John. Most people will admit that Jesus Christ was a truly good man. If He is that, then He certainly is no liar! He Himself claimed to be God and the Son of God. On the basis of that claim, He was crucified (John 8:58; 19:7.)

 

Imagine what great love the Son of God has for us, to come to die such a painful ignominious death on the cross to save us! Have you yet realized that He did that for you? Have you believed that He died to pay the penalty for your sins? He says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). If you will believe that he died for your sins, then He will come and fellowship with you, as He promised.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

 

Living with hope

 

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.