The Sonship of Christ

THAT the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did exist as a personal, intelligent being, separate from the Father, before he was born of the virgin Mary, or even before this world was created is very plainly taught in the Scriptures. We have no sympathy with that doctrine which begins the existence of Jesus Christ with his birth in Bethlehem. Many trinitarians, as Dr. A. Clarke, held that his Sonship commenced at this time, that he was never the Son of God before that time. The unitarians claim that Jesus of Nazareth who was called the Son of God, absolutely began his existence here the same as any man, and that neither his soul, body, or spirit ever had a conscious existence before his birth in Bethlehem. We regard all these positions as being utterly false, and the last two in particular, as being exceedingly derogatory to the honor and character of Christ. It degrades him to a mere man, than which nothing could be farther from the truth, as we shall see presently.

It is not only directly and positively stated many times that he did exist before he was born into this world, but it is strongly implied times without number. Let us read a few scriptures: "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. This is certainly a plain, unequivocal, unvarnished statement that he did exist with the Father in glory before this world existed. Again in verse 24 he says: "For thou loved me before the foundation of the world." Did God love a non-existence? Once more: "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." John 6:38. If Christ began his existence like any other child, when he was born of Mary, then he never came down from heaven, never was in heaven, never saw the Father no more than John the Baptist, the prophet Daniel, or any other holy prophet.

Again he says: "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" John 6:62. Why talk of ascending up where he was before if he had never been there before? No such thing as this is ever said of any other man. Once more: "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven." John 3:13. When he compares himself with Abraham, he says: "Before Abraham was I am." John 8:58. How could this be if he did not live before he came into this world? The unitarian replies that he existed in the purpose of God; but it is just as true that all things existed in the purpose of God. Did not Abraham, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Paul and all these prominent characters live in the purpose of God from the beginning? Why, then say that Christ existed in the purpose of God more than the others? This will not do, besides it is not what it says. Then again Micah, one of the Old Testament prophets in predicting the birth of Christ, points him out as one who had been from everlasting. Micah 5:1, 2.

All are familiar with the first chapter of John. This has been called the stronghold of trinitarians and the dread of unitarians; but the simple truth is very plain. It does not show that the Son of God did exist with the Father before the world was, and that he made the world. Thus it reads :—

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life, was the light of men." "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." John 1:1-4, 10.

But does it not say that the Word was God? Yes; and it says that he was with God. Being the Son of God, of course he is properly called God. That is his name; but he was not the very and eternal God himself, for it says that he was with God. If he was with God this implies that he was distinct from God the Father. The first chapter of Hebrews is also a strong testimony upon the pre-existence of Christ. Thus Paul says:—

"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." "And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Heb. 1:2,10,12.

This is too explicit to be evaded. This Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son did lay the foundation of this earth, and the heavens are the work of his hands. They shall perish, says the apostle, but thou shalt remain; they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy years shall not fail. Thus the apostle compares Christ in existence with the very existence of the earth and even of the heavens and says in direct terms that Christ existed before they did, and that he made them, and therefore that he will also exist after they shall have passed away. This is certainly strong testimony to the pre-existence of our Saviour. But his pre-existence and exalted character is even more forcibly set forth if possible by Paul in his letter to the Colossians. Of Christ he says, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him." Col. 1:15, 16. Language could not be more comprehensive than this. He says, "By him all things are created." Then he specifies what they are. All things that are in heaven, or that are in the earth. But he does not leave it here. He says that he created everything that is visible or invisible. Then he mentions thrones, dominions, principalities. What a mighty Saviour we have!

That Jesus did exist with the Father before he came into the world, he asserts timeafter time. He says: "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go to the Father."

Where did he go when he left the world? He returned to his Father where he was before he came into the world. Did he have no existence before he came into the world? Then he has gone into non-existence again if he has returned where he was before he came. Another testimony from Paul upon this question is very decisive; "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8:6. The apostle says that Jesus Christ was once rich, but he became poor for our sakes. When was he rich? When did he become poor? He certainly was never rich while on this earth from the day of his birth till his death. Therefore this must refer to the riches and honor which he had in heaven, and which he gave up and left when he came into this world. Any other explanation to this text cannot be made.

In the very first chapter of Genesis we have a manifest reference to the existence of the Son of God at that time. "And God said let us make man in our image." Evidently this was the Father counseling with the Son. There were two of them. Testimony almost without limit might be given proving the pre-existence of Christ; but as this is generally admitted except by the unitarians, we leave it here.