Was Jesus a created being? Was He just an angel in disguise? Or a special miracle worker? Or just another prophet? Did God decide to create Jesus 2000 years ago in order to give salvation to humans? Various religions define Jesus in many ways. However, the Bible teaches something different. It reveals this: Jesus is actually God taking on the form of a human.Scripture clearly shows that Jesus is in very nature God, and is equal to God. Jesus is God, found in appearance as a man!
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)
Jesus therefore could not be a created being since He existed before anything was created! Check out this passage:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3)
It's important to define who the "Word" is. The answer is found in John 1:14a.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14a)
Undoubtably the Word is Jesus. Therefore "Jesus" can be substituted everywhere "Word" is used in John 1:1-3. I'll do that below.
In the beginning was the JESUS, and JESUS was with God, and JESUS was God. JESUS was with God in the beginning. Through JESUS all things were made; without JESUS nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)
Only through Jesus were all things made. He couldn't make Himself! Through Him "nothing was made that has been made." That means before even angels were made, before the universe was made, and before anything else was made, Jesus existed.
Other scriptures reinforce the truth that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is God in visible, physical form. And He always was, He always existed.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NLT)
And check out this amazing passage that further corroborates the truth that Jesus existed prior to the creation of the physical world, and that everything was created through Him:
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)
The fact that Jesus is God in human form is one of the fundamental truths of Christianity. The only way that this could happen is that God is a 3-in-one entity, and Jesus is part of the God-Head, who some call the Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Don't try to totally understand this concept since we are not created with brains capable of such spiritual comprehension. And maybe there's a reason we were created without the ability to understand it--it requires faith on our part. The bottom line is that the Bible reveals it, so we believe it.
The good news is this: Jesus, God in the flesh, came down to rescue us sinners, sacrificing Himself on the cross to take our punishment for our sins, even though we don't deserve it. That's grace -- God's offer, through Jesus, of kind favor to those who have no reason to receive it. Why would He do that? What was His motive? Love. His unconditional, sacrificial love for us. And for us who believe in Him, we can be made right with God, and be reconciled to God, because through the cross there is forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.
Let's be thankful for a compassionate, loving God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14a)
Undoubtably the Word is Jesus. Therefore "Jesus" can be substituted everywhere "Word" is used in John 1:1-3. I'll do that below.
In the beginning was the JESUS, and JESUS was with God, and JESUS was God. JESUS was with God in the beginning. Through JESUS all things were made; without JESUS nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)
Only through Jesus were all things made. He couldn't make Himself! Through Him "nothing was made that has been made." That means before even angels were made, before the universe was made, and before anything else was made, Jesus existed.
Other scriptures reinforce the truth that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is God in visible, physical form. And He always was, He always existed.
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NLT)
And check out this amazing passage that further corroborates the truth that Jesus existed prior to the creation of the physical world, and that everything was created through Him:
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)
The fact that Jesus is God in human form is one of the fundamental truths of Christianity. The only way that this could happen is that God is a 3-in-one entity, and Jesus is part of the God-Head, who some call the Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Don't try to totally understand this concept since we are not created with brains capable of such spiritual comprehension. And maybe there's a reason we were created without the ability to understand it--it requires faith on our part. The bottom line is that the Bible reveals it, so we believe it.
The good news is this: Jesus, God in the flesh, came down to rescue us sinners, sacrificing Himself on the cross to take our punishment for our sins, even though we don't deserve it. That's grace -- God's offer, through Jesus, of kind favor to those who have no reason to receive it. Why would He do that? What was His motive? Love. His unconditional, sacrificial love for us. And for us who believe in Him, we can be made right with God, and be reconciled to God, because through the cross there is forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.
Let's be thankful for a compassionate, loving God.
