This question has puzzled theologians for centuries: Was He God—Was He Angel—Was He Spiritual Essence—Did He Exist Only in the Plan, Thought, and Purpose of God?
By Ted Armstrong and David Jon Hill
Did Christ exist prior to His Human birth through the virgin Mary? Was He God? Was He actually born in HUMAN flesh? Or … was He born of a divine mother, immaculately conceived? What does the Bible teach on this vital subject?
We cannot know the answers to these questions until we first realize just what—or who—is God. Is God a person … an Essence … or only a principle or an idea?
The word “God” is grossly misunderstood. Men have always liked to “create God in their own image” by putting their own interpretation on the meaning of the word “God.” Here—from the Bible—is the real meaning of this word.
In Genesis 1:1 the original Hebrew word translated “God” is Elohim, the plural form of the Hebrew word El or Eloah meaning mighty one. This word is plural—it means MORE THAN ONE. However, it is not plural like boys or girls but rather a uni-plural word like church or family. There is one God, but composed of MORE THAN ONE MEMBER.
Scripture Reveals God NOT One Person
First, let’s read Genesis 1:26 which says … what? Read it!
“And God said, Let us make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness . . .”
Do you think God was talking to Himself? Notice what God continues to say, “And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of us to know good and evil. . .” Notice it—God said “. . . the man is become as ONE OF Us . . .” God could not have said ONE of us if there were only one person composing God.
Now, for the final clincher, let’s turn over to 1 Samuel 4:8. The Philistines had heard a great cry which went up from the camp of the Hebrews when the ark of God had entered the camp … and they were afraid—so read on. “Woe unto us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? These are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.” That certainly finishes it—THESE ARE THE GODS! Meaning plural—not one person, but more than one, forming and composing God who is a KINGDOM.
Is God a Trinity?
If the family of God has more than one member does the Bible reveal just how many persons in this family? Is it a trinity composed of three members—Father, Son and Holy Ghost?
To begin with, the word “Ghost” should be translated “Spirit.” When the King James version of the Bible was translated in 161 l, people firmly believed in ghosts. Due to this fact, the words which should have been translated “Holy Spirit” were translated “Holy Ghost,” thus giving this most sacred word a wrong connotation.
Christ himself, in unmistakable words, reveals just how many persons there are in the family of God. “No man (or person) knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Matt. 11:27). How many persons mentioned? Only two, the Father and the Son. If there were another member of the Godhead, he would certainly know both the Father and the Son, would he not?
Now consider—is Christ the Son of God? As he is the Son of the Person He called the Father, and if the Holy Spirit is a separate person, He couldn’t be the son of the Holy Spirit could He? And yet your Bible plainly says that before Joseph and Mary came together “. . . she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” There it is! If the Holy Spirit were a separate person in the family of God, then Jesus is the son of THAT person and NOT of the Father!
The truth is that the Holy Spirit is not one of the Persons of the Godhead, but is the substance of which those who are in the Godhead are composed. “God is a Spirit …” (John 4:24). There is only one Spirit which composes God but God is a family of more than one person. Just as we humans are composed of flesh and blood (material substances) so the family of God is composed of Spirit … the Holy Spirit. Just as we use the power of material muscle to carry out our human plans so the family of God (Elohim) uses the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out the divine plan.
If Jesus is now part of the family of God, when did He achieve that status?
How Jesus Became a Son of God
Let’s examine the statement made in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In the original Greek the “Word” is Logos which means one who speaks—a spokesman—one who personifies the very words of God.
According to John 1:3, it was the “Word” which made all things. Therefore He had to exist before anything else (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1: 10- 19). God created all things by Christ, who employed the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father gave the order to Christ who spoke the words which were executed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Again—we read in Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send my messenger … even the messenger of the covenant.” A messenger is one who brings a message—a spokesman—a Logos.
When this promised Messenger came He was called Jesus. That was His human name just as John or George or James might be your name. However while your parents might have named you anything that sounded good, there was a reason for the name Jesus. The angel told Joseph that he should call His name Jesus because He should save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).
God always names people what they are. When the devil was a shining archangel his name was Lucifer which means “light-bringer” or “shining star of the dawn.” When he rebelled, his name was changed to fit his new character so he was called “Satan” which means “an adversary.” In the same way the Savior was called “Jesus” because that name shows what He is. The name Jesus means “YHWH (THE ETERNAL) saves” or “YHWH (THE ETERNAL) is the Savior.”
Jesus Himself said that He existed before Abraham (John 8:58). And according to the first chapter of John, He had existed from the beginning of creation. Did He then exist before this “beginning”?
To determine the answer, let us examine a little-understood passage in the Bible. The sixth chapter of Hebrews states that Christ has been ordained a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. Who was this mysterious figure, mentioned only twice in the Bible?
Was he man… angel … or what? Melchisedec “first being by interpretation King of Peace. “ He was not human but divine–one of the GOD family! Hebrews 7:1 reads as follows: “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God” . . . Notice … he was priest of the most high God. “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like unto the Son of God; ABIDETH A PRIEST CONTINUALLY.”
Notice carefully. He was not the FATHER of the God family—He was the Priest or Representative of the Father. He was like the SON—He was Christ the Eternal before He became human flesh by birth as the Christ child. Melchisedec “abideth a Priest continually”—He was, at the time Hebrews was written, “abiding”—remaining continually High Priest. At that time Jesus Christ was the High Priest. There is but ONE High Priest. Therefore Melchisedec was the Logos—the YHWH-who was by human birth made flesh—He and Christ are one and the same Person. And He existed as much from eternity as He shall for eternity—“having neither beginning of days nor end of life.” He always existed, the same as the Father!
The final clincher to this whole discussion is Micah 5:2. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah … out of thee shall come unto me he that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from EVERLASTING.” Jesus existed from all eternity before being born into human flesh. He is one of the persons in the eternal family of God. He was not a created being of the Father.
Since Jesus is divine, then was He ever born into HUMAN flesh at all? Was Mary a divine person, immaculately conceived, according to the doctrine of the “immaculate conception”?
Immaculate Conception a Fable
This doctrine teaches that Mary’s parents were so perfect that God changed them into holy, sinless divine flesh. It was while they were in this state that Mary was conceived. If this were true, then Mary was not composed of mortal flesh as we are.
In II John 7, we find what God, through His apostle, labels this idea: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” It is a doctrine of antichrist!
Before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was a member of the eternal Godhead. When He was born he was a HUMAN being who could be tempted, suffer, bleed and die (Hebrews 2:14). After His resurrection He was again an immortal member of the family of God.
Yes—it’s all very easy to understand. A lot of Bible quotations and lengthy references are not necessary in order to get a clear picture of the overall meaning of Bible scripture. Rather a summing up of the important points on any one subject, adding the TOTAL together, accepting each verse for what it says, and not attempting to make one fit the other–that is the proper way to arrive at the answers.
Kingskid2 Weblog 
ugarit 6000bc yahweh a son of el—christ son of god with god before yahweh existed —christ became jesus at birth—-yahweh god of jews who spoke to moses—-jesus name from greeks meaning gods son—–that rock was christ not yahweh—-new testament gods dispensation—-only name that saves jesus—–none other
By: steve on August 6, 2008
at 09:52 am
Hello Steve,
Thank you for visiting and commenting, come back anytime.
“…….that rock was christ not yahweh…”
Sorry, that Rock was the Messiah, Yahweh, Jehovah—they are all One and the Same.
By: kingskid49 on August 6, 2008
at 01:23 pm
I object to your portrayal of the Immaculate Conception. It shows a complete lack of understanding or any desire to understand. The doctrine teaches that Mary was preserved by God from the stain of original sin and that this was necessary Christ, as he was man, to be sinless in his own right. Mary was mortal flesh as we are but was preserved from the guilt of original sin. God was able to do this; it was fitting for him to do this, since she was to be the Ark of the Covenant, the final Covenant between God in Man in Jesus Christ; and he did do it.
By: Gary on November 2, 2008
at 08:15 pm
Sorry that you object, Gary, however, your objections are misplaced. I know what man made doctrine says, but you see you are clinging to a fairy tale.
I ask this of you: Show me where in the Word of God does it concur with your Romish dogma? I have another question: Who/what is the woman depicted in Revelation 17?
Read the Word of God for yourself, Gary, or you may very well be one to receive the mark of the beast and be lost forever.
Peace
By: kingskid49 on November 3, 2008
at 02:48 am
So . . . He existed before Abraham, and listen to what Colossians 1:17 says, “He is before all things.”
John the Baptist repeatedly said that, even though Jesus was coming after him, He was actually before him.
Jesus makes a lot of grand statements in the book of Revelation, and here are two of them. In Revelation 1:8 He said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” And in Revelation 21:6 He said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
The prophet Micah delivered this powerful prophecy of the Messiah in Micah 5:2. It’s a prophecy that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem, and it says, “…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
So there are many indications that Jesus existed before every other person and thing, which makes sense when you consider that all things were created through Him. That’s what it says in John 1:3, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.”
Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.”
Hebrews 1:2 says that, through His Son, God made the universe.
So Jesus existed before all of creation, since all things were created by Him.
Now, if He existed before He was born, where was He?
In John 6:62 Jesus asked a rhetorical question, “What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before!”
Of course some of them did see Jesus ascend, as reported in Acts chapter one. It says Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, up into the sky, and a cloud finally hid Him from their sight. And where did He go? Well both verse two and verse eleven say He went into heaven.
He ascended into heaven, where He was before. Before what? Before He came to earth.
John 1:14 describes it this way, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”
And where was the Word before He became flesh?
John 3:13 says, “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.”
That’s Jesus. Several times in First Corinthians 15 He is described as the “man from heaven.”
John 6 talks about the bread that came down from heaven. In verse 41 Jesus said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” In verse 38 Jesus uses this phrase, “…I have come down from heaven…”
So before Jesus was born, He was in heaven. In John 16:28 Jesus said, “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
And in John 17:5, before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”
It’s important as Christians that we know who Jesus is, and that we understand what He did. In this case, He left heaven, and the Word became flesh. He became a baby in Mary’s womb, was born and carried out His life and ministry, and finally His glorious redemptive work on our behalf. And then He was taken back up into heaven from where He came.
By: dude on January 21, 2011
at 08:46 am
Dudical Dude, I concur. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to this post. My slogan is “Read your Bible for what it says not what someone has said that it says!”.
Please come visit anytime.
Peace,
King’s Kid
By: kingskid49 on January 21, 2011
at 01:40 pm
Allowing that God can foresee everything, why were Adam and Eve allowed to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Which brings us to the state we are in now. By stopping this, no atonement of sin would have been needed, unless there is more here than meets the eye. Whats it all about ?
By: Raphael on August 2, 2011
at 11:59 am
Raphael, You have forgotten the most important part of our relationship with God: CHOICE! That is what He gave to us in the beginning, then He gave us this statement through His servant Moses to help us keep it on our hearts (minds):
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:Deuteronomy 30:18-20 (in Context) Deuteronomy 30 (Whole Chapter)
By: kingskid49 on August 3, 2011
at 01:26 pm
I understand the fruit was Satans lies, but why was it allowed to happen ?
By: Raphael on August 2, 2011
at 12:54 pm
Raphael, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read the post and to comment. Please feel free to come back anytime. Peace and Love to you!
By: kingskid49 on August 3, 2011
at 01:52 pm
I understand the fruit was Satans lies, but why was it allowed to happen ? Why does God hide his meaning why cant he just come out and say what he means. It would make all of his intentions clearer, !!
By: Raphael on August 2, 2011
at 12:58 pm
Raphael, God is all knowing; all powerful; and omniscient. He has allowed us to make our own choices, and receive the reward or penalty for them. I have read the Bible and the meaning is very clear: Obedience will beget you eternal life and disobedience will beget you an eternity in the Lake of Fire: where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die.
Mark 9:44-45
Mark 9:46-49
Might I make a suggestion? Read the Bible for what IT says not what someone says that IT says.
By: kingskid49 on August 3, 2011
at 01:46 pm
You have answered well.
I choose life for myself and my family, the way is narrow and winding strewn with rocks and pitfalls that the adversary has placed in our way.
Who is like our Lord and God none can overcome him, happy will be our days if we listen and obey. If we sin he is there for us, all we need do is recognize our sin and with sincere heart ask for forgiveness.
He is our Father and we his through Jesus.
By: Raphael on August 3, 2011
at 04:44 pm
AMEN!
By: kingskid49 on August 5, 2011
at 09:59 am
Raphael, I have another post that I think that you may find interesting, and thought provoking. Please check it out when you have the time, it was written by Brother Tyrone. Please feel free to leave comments.
Death, Jesus’ Return, and the Judgment
http://kingskid3.blogspot.com/
By: kingskid49 on August 5, 2011
at 10:03 am