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JESUS' PRE-EXISTENCE
Doctrine ... a subject that some shy away from, as being just too contentious !
And why bother with it, when some really nice people hold some really strange views and way out beliefs … what does it really matter after all ? Surely we can just celebrate what we have in common, and paper over the cracks, or just ignore them, or pretend that they don't exist ? Isn't Love supposed to cover all … even delusions, denials, and mis.beliefs ?
Well, the devil mis-quoted scripture to Jesus Matthew 4:6,7
But did Jesus entertain the devil and his attempt to induce Jesus to act from Himself in independence of His Father ? Not so ... Jesus answered and defeated Satan by the a means open to His humblest followers … the intelligent use of the Word of God.
The scene gives emphasis to the vital importance of 'rightly dividing the word of God' 2 Timothy 2:15 (Scofield's notes )
St Paul spoke a very clear message about the enemies tricks and strategies … For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
To every nations currency there will eventually appear … counterfeit. And then the alarms go out about such when the false notes begin to circulate … beware … and the police get involved to bring the perpetrators to justice. Con men are ever with and amongst us, just watch the local FAIR GO show on TV !
And so with scripture …. most all of the Cults have their own set of beliefs, and usually their own translations, or favoured versions, which they use to proclaim, broadcast and perpetrate their beliefs. And countless are taken in, and ensnared.
Someone observed that … the price of freedom is eternal vigilance !
for even otherwise 'nice' people have some strange ideas and theories
I repeat again ... it mattered to St Paul … as he approached his martyrdom.
His 2 books to Timothy were his last preserved writings, his final words to a young believer, and he strenuously emphasises the need for correct doctrine, over and over, again and again - repeated 16 times in the 10 chapters of these 2 books !
be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 2 Timothy 2:15-17 Note - he names the proponents of wrong teachings, which he calls fables, and idle babblings … there was no hiding from Paul's scrutiny !
Paul's strong advice to young Timothy - Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine … he repeats it … Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4 : 13-16
Peter likewise, in the same year as Pauls writing, as he also approached his demise ...
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 NIV
Just read again the whole chapter of 2 Peter 2 as he warns about the cunningly devised fables of 2Peter 1:16 and his stirring warnings. This is no trivial matter !
Here, Peter also notes the secrecy that usually accompanies such false teachings … the lack of openness to freely discuss beliefs. They are the ones that have 'supreme enlightenment', and others must admire and be in awe of their research and understanding !
Interestingly, both Paul and Peter agree on the usual motive behind false doctrine -
P R I D E ... as they refer to vain babblings and the great swelling words of VANITY ...
the same vanity that caused Lucifer to fall and become the deceiver he is.
Jesus also noted this in John 7:18 he who speaks of himself seeks his own glory etc
And so the Cults prosper, and false teachers continue … mostly because people and believers do not as those at Berea did searched the scripture daily whether those things were so Acts 17:11 for which God called them noble. Could this highlight one of the main reasons - that people dont know how to counter false doctrine and erroneous teachers – a simple lack of personal Bible knowledge ? Which takes diligence and honest searching.
For this reason God sent us his Holy Spirit, called the Spirit of truth, that he would lead honest believers into 'truth' and avoid the subtle deception of false doctrine and teachings. Lord … guide us, and spare us please from such and the traps that abound.
But on to the second of what most Cults believe :
denial of the deity of Jesus that he was / is God
denial of THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF JESUS that he is eternal as God is
denial of the personality of the Holy Spirit that he is only an influence or an “it”
Looking at this topic, I refer to several worthy characters for their opinions
JOHN
He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. John 1:10 He must have pre-existed to have made the world !!
PAUL
God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
And: “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. Hebrews 1 : 2 - 10
and yet again …
He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:15-17
which is quite clear and plain to most readers !
and then … who would have better known but Jesus himself !!
And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17 : 5
So, Jesus Himself reckoned that he was there, that he pre-existed creation !!
Kevin J Conner THE FOUNDATIONS OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE 1980
is widely accepted and recognised internationally as a teaching Apostle
Pages 98 & 99 PDF attached for any interested
in which he cites some 23 instances of theophany - Jesus occasional pre-cross manifestation in human form as recorded in the Old Testament remembering that man is forbidden to worship angels
some of which are ...
JOSHUA
So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.”
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, “What does my
Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:14,15
Note Although it does not specifically say who this Commander of the Lords Army was,
Joshua worshipped him and he received that worship, indicating deity, not an angelic being. The place where you stand is HOLY, again indicating deity and God who alone is called Holy also refer Genesis 15:3
KING DAVID
The Lord (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah) (Hebrew ADONAI), Sit at My right hand, until I make Your adversaries Your footstool. Psalm 110:1 Amp
Scofield Notes The importance of Psalm 110 is attested by the remarkable prominence given to it in the New Testament
(1) It affirms the deity of the Jesus, thus answering those who deny the full divine meaning of His N.T. Title of 'Lord' Matthew 22:21-45 Mark 12:35-37 Luke 20:41-44 Acts 2:34, 35 Hebrews 1:13; 10:12, 13
(2) This Psalm announces the eternal priesthood of Messiah - one of the most important
statements of scripture v4 Genesis 14:18 Hebrews 5: 6 7:1-28
DANIEL
Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:21-25
NOTE A fourth man appeared in the furnace, un-named
the fire had no effect on any of the 3 and now 4 men - miraculous
to a pagan King Nebuchadnezzar he appeared as a Son of God – which coincidentally is a title of Jesus
Question Who was the 4th man with the 3 in the furnace if he wasn't Jesus ??
and performing such a great miracle the while ??
And so we are encouraged …
Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of GRACE (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) Hebrews 13:9 |
