BEFORE THE WORLD WAS
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:5
Think back to a time when the world had not been formed by the Word of God — back to the everlasting and ever present eternity of God. Man in Adam knows nothing about this period, an existence beyond time and beyond space, that we have no words to describe or to understanding outside of our own comprehension of time. Only by Divine revelation can we look into one of the most profound truths of God — the eternal Sonship of the Son of God.
Reading the 17th Chapter of the Gospel of John, we see a glory that was pre-existent to the creation of the world; a unique relationship within the Godhead. This relationship existed before the world was. This relationship between two members of the triune Godhead, God the Father and God the Son, has ever been and ever will be. Not only are they co-equal, but they are co-eternal — it is a place of love, and a place of glory. John, through the inspiration of the Spirit of God, declares in John 1:18 that this relationship of the Son ever has been and ever will be in the bosom of the Father. It is a place of unity, a place of oneness, and a place of ever-presence. There is no separation and no discord. This oneness is past, present and future. We could declare this as — the eternal NOW.
The gospel record that was assigned to John by the Spirit of God was probably written between 78 and 100 AD. Many fix and exact date — yet, in their exactness, they all differ. Since there is this variation, I will take the broad range of dates. In this range we see a close relationship between the writing of the Gospel of John and the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, also written by John. In the Gospel according to John, we see God the Son described as eternally past and eternally present. In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we see God and the Son declared to be The Almighty and Eternal God, the first and the last, the beginning and the Amen. We see also the future glory of the Son. Whereas in John’s Gospel the past glory of the Son of God is described. This closeness in the writing of these two books is very significant.
Reading through the epistles of Paul and some brief segments in other epistles, especially in Jude, we see that the latter part of the first century of church history that there were those denying the teaching of the eternal Sonship and Deity of Christ. I believe that both the Gospel of John and the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ were written for the specific purpose of showing His eternal existence in the Godhead.
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31
The entire gospel account of John is based on the Sonship of God the Son. Reading it should draw us closer to this truth, for according to verse 31, that is why the Gospel of John was written. It is the only gospel that speaks of His pre-existence with the Father and His present union at His incarnation. It was given to reinforce His Eternal Deity. This gospel speaks of His glory before the world was — and the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ speaks of His glory to come. One glory He has ever possessed, the future glory He will possess — yet both glories were determined before the world was. Christ Jesus is the Eternal Son who has the eternal right to His inheritance. Hebrew 1:1-3; Isaiah 53:12
The following Scriptures are just a few from many which proves His eternal Sonship. John 1:18, John 3:1, John 8:35
“And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.” John 8:35
In this verse the Son of God ascribes eternal existence to Himself , notice, “the Son abideth” not for ever but the word is “ever” — past, present and future! Paul in Hebrews 13:8 also ascribes all eternity to Jesus Christ.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
The earthly name “Jesus” is attached to eternity, but for the reason of His sufferings. Yet in John 8:35, Christ is describing ALL eternity and His Sonship as the Eternal Son of God!
“Jesus asnwered, If a honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:” John 8:54
The Son, in this verse, is honoured by God — the eternal God — and this honour is given to the Eternal Son.
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” John 8:56
Here is the pre-existence of God the Son in connection with Abraham. Abraham rejoiced to see the day when Christ as the Eternal Son of God would be manifest in the flesh to take away the sins of the world. Christ revealed Himself as the Son of God to Abraham and Abraham called Him “Lord.” Genesis 18:1-3, 13-14, 22-23, 25, 27
In the context of John 8:35, the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour is speaking about the eternal existence of the Son — “abideth ever.” Then to clarify His pre-existence further, Christ declares in verse 58, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Christ used the eternal existent name of Jehovah; and according to the context of this chapter, Christ related this name of Jehovah to God the Son, the Second Person of the Godhead. It was for this statement that the Jews took up stones to stone Him. Why? Because they understood that He had described Himself to be the pre-existent God. They understood that He declared Himself to be the God of their fathers. They understood that he proclaimed Himself openly to them according to John 8:35 to be God the Son! On another occasion in John 10:30, 33, the Lord Jesus declares Himself as God the Son having a relationship with God the Father in Oneness. “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30
The word “one” in verse 30 of John, chapter 10, means “completeness” or “as a whole.” The Lord Jesus was telling the Jews that as the Father was God — He was in “oneness” with the Father; thus, making Himself the very God! This “oneness” cannot be separated, whether in eternity or during his incarnation. The fact, the word “one” gives the idea if the impossibility of separation. It can only mean the eternal oneness of God and can only be applied to the Divine Godhead. It was for this statement by Jesus Christ that the Jews again took up stones to stone Him. Why? Let’s look at the answer of the Jews in verse 33, “because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”
They understood the Lord Jesus to mean that the Son in verse 30 was equal to the God of their fathers. In fact, this man before them was the eternal existent God. They understood that the “oneness” could only be ascribed to the Almighty God.
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9
Christ Jesus possesses the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This fullness is not merely manifestation or incarnation, it is the fullness of all eternity. This fullness is speaking about the Person of Christ. Colossians 1:19 tells us that “it pleased the Father that in him” Christ “should all fulness dwell.” In chapter 1 of Colossians, verses 13-19, we see the Son as having dominion and creatorial power over all things — not only for the present, but for all eternity.
When we meditate on our redemption we often think only of ourselves: the forgiveness of sins, our new birth, the gift of the Holy Ghost, our cleansed conscience; however, there is a side of our redemption that belongs only to God. It concerns God’s glory, God’s Person, God’s satisfaction, God’s majesty, God’s righteousness, and much, much more. The irreparable part is that we, as children of Adam, could not pay the debt that was owed. This is why God in His Person had to satisfy our indebtedness by His death on the cross. He determined in His Being to restore man to Himself by death on the cross. 1 John 3:16; John 3:16-18. The ground of redemption was God’s doing — in fact — He did it for man in redeeming man to Himself.
Looking at another text, Hebrews 10:5, we ease drop on a communication between the Son of God and God the Father. God the Son declares “a body hast thou prepared me:” The meaning is “fitting” or being “fitted” with a body. This was the body of His incarnation and the body of His pre-incarnate appearances. Hebrews 10:10 tells us that the reason for the manifestation of the Son of God was for the offering of sin; a body spotless, sinless, harmless and undefiled. A body with no sin nature, a body with no possibility of sin — a body, or better stated, the manifestation of God the Son. 1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life;
For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:1-3
This body was for the suffering of death, a body to fulfill the law and to nullify the flesh, Romans 8:3. This body was sent from God, Galatians 4:4. We often miss the word “sent” in this verse and concentrate instead on being “made of a woman, made under the law;” however, the first part of this verse states that God sent His son to be made and this Son “sent” was the Second Person of the Godhead, God the Son. The word “sent” shows eternal existence.
In closing this article, I feel my inadequacy to declare the Eternal Sonship of Chris but to me it is one of the most important foundational truths of my faith. There are many more scriptures that add to this profound truth, but space and time will not allow me to develop this truth further. Along with scripture, the Spirit of God has sealed this truth in my very being.
In summarizing, scripture proclaims
1. God the Son was pre-existent
2. The incarnation was God the Son, the Second Person of the Godhead revealed!
3. Calvary is the strength of the eternal Sonship of Christ. For it was there that God died for our sins, 1 John 3:16, and God was raised the third day for our justification. Anything less than this truth is not Biblical salvation or Biblical atonement. It was a transaction that took place bewteen God the Eternal Son and God the Eternal Father. This is the Sonship of the Son of God.
“And no man ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of God which is in heaven.” John 3:13
© Copyright, 2014, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. ” Freely ye have received, freely give.”
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)