The Pre-Incarnate Christ

BIBLE DOCTRINE II LECTURE 27 CHRISTOLOGY – THE PRE-INCARNATE SON The following unbracketed information is taken from Robert Sargeant’s ebook: Landmarks of Baptist Doctrine. Pastor Warner’s comments are in brackets, unless otherwise noted. This lecture answers the questions: ‘Where was Jesus Christ before He was born of Mary?” and, ‘What was Jesus Christ before He came into this world?” Although He did not possess a physical, material body prior to the incarnation, the scriptures are clear that the Son was eternally pre-existent, co-existent, co-essential, and co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost.

SCRIPTURAL PROOFS FOR THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST A. John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word (cf. Genesis 1:1) B. John 8:58 — “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (cf. Exodus 3:14) C. John 17:5,24 — “...which I had with thee before the world was.” D. Philippians 2:6 — “Who, being in the form of God...” E. Colossians 1:16,17 — “For by him were all things created... F. Revelation 1:8 — “I am Alpha and Omega...” G. Isaiah 9:6 — the “everlasting Father...” H. Micah 5:2 – “…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” ETERNAL SONSHIP OR INCARNATIONAL SONSHIP? There are those who teach what may be termed the “Incarnational Sonship” of Jesus Christ—that He became the Son of God only at the time of His birth into this world: “Christ is and always has been the second member of the Trinity but only became a Son in His incarnation ... The term Son, then, refers only to Christ’s incarnation. He became a Son by His virgin birth and was affirmed a Son again at the resurrection.” (John Macarthur) [however, Macarthur later reversed this position…I believe in 1999]. [“Many years ago there was a great controversy, especially among the Plymouth Brethren assemblies, as to whether the Lord Jesus was Son throughout eternity or whether He became Son at the time of His incarnation. The influential teacher who denied the truth of His eternal Sonship, F.E. Raven, made this statement in 1895: "Now, 'Son of God' I understand to be the title of Christ incarnate; I should hardly use 'Son of God' as referring to His eternal Person." In 19th century England this same controversy raged among some of the Baptists. To answer this, J.C.Philpot wrote a 93 page defense of the doctrine of eternal Sonship. It is a well written, well reasoned, reverent study. Adam Clarke and Albert Barnes would be two examples of commentators who taught Sonship by means of incarnation, although it is interesting that the editor of Barnes' Notes, Robert Frew, strongly disagreed with this position and countered it in the footnotes.] A nationally known television preacher also espouses this view. [Jimmy Swaggart's strong denial of eternal Sonship is documented in The Biblical Evangelist, Dake's Annotated Reference Bible in its comment under Acts 13:33 strongly rejects the doctrine of eternal Sonship: ‘As God, the person we now know of as Jesus Christ had no beginning, was not begotten, was not a Son, and did not come into being . . . .but as man and as God's Son He was not eternal, He did have a beginning, He was begotten, this being the same time Mary had a Son. Therefore, the doctrine of eternal sonship of Jesus Christ is irreconcilable to reason, is unscriptural, and is contradictory to itself.’ A respected theologian and author of a classic book on the cults, Dr. Walter Martin, has also repudiated the doctrine of eternal Sonship: ‘The Scripture nowhere calls Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God, and He is never called Son at all prior to the incarnation, except in prophetic passages in the Old Testament. The term "Son" itself is a functional term, as is the term "Father" and has no meaning apart from time. . . . Many heresies have seized upon the confusion created by the illogical "eternal Sonship" or "eternal generation" theory of Roman Catholic theology, unfortunately carried over to some aspects of Protestant theology. Finally; there cannot be any such thing as eternal Sonship . . . . the word "Son" definitely suggests inferiority.’ ” (The Middletown Bible Church)] The text most used to support this theory is Luke 1:35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Note: Some who hold this view (e.g. Oneness Pentecostals) also teach the Oneness of God error — a form of modalism that teaches there is only one God Who has manifested Himself in different modes (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) at different times. Therefore, Jesus became the Son of God — either at His birth, His baptism, or His triumph. There was never a

1 Co-existent Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (they wrongly assume) THE ETERNAL SONSHIP OF CHRIST DEMONSTRATED:

Opposed to these false concepts is the Biblical declaration of the eternal Sonship of Jesus Christ; i.e., the fact that He has always been the Son of God from eternity past. A number of scriptures teach or imply this:

1. Psalm 2:7 & Hebrews 1:5,6 Ps 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Heb 1:5,6 For unto which of the angels said he at anytime, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. Although Psalm 2 is a ”Messianic Psalm” in that it refers directly to Jesus Christ, the tense in Verse 7 is present rather than future. It cannot be argued that the tense is present only in a prophetic sense, because Hebrews 1:6 states that God brought His first begotten [Son] into the world; i.e. Jesus was already the begotten Son before His incarnation.

2. The Father Sent The Son. Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. Gal 4:4 God sent forth his Son… 1Jn 4:10.14 ...he...sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins ... the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

These verses do not say the Father sent the second Person of the Godhead into the world (to become the Son); they declare He sent His Son!

3. Colossians 1:13-20 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. “We note that all the fifteen [I count 16] pronouns in verses 15 to 20 inclusive are in apposition with the noun, Son, [of verse 13]. Each dependent sentence, therefore, declares some fresh glory of the Son, to Whom they all relate, and in Whom they all combine with a transcendent harmony. Thus it is clear that the Son was the Creator of the universe, not just “The Word” or the “Second Person” of the Trinity.” (Hocking, W. J.)

Heb 1:2 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; [Thus, it is clear that the Son made the worlds…was present at Creation…The Son was indeed the Creator!]

4. John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” We know that Jesus Christ declared the Father during His earthly ministry (e.g. John 14:8,9; 17:6,8,14,26). This means that the Lord Jesus Christ must have been totally begotten Son ... in the bosom of the Father” before His incarnation!

5. Matthew 2l:37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. The son in this parable was clearly a son before he was sent on his mission.

6. Romans 1:3,4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Verse 3 states that the [eternal] Son was “made of the seed of David according to the flesh”… a reference to the incarnation and Christ’s humanity. Verse 4 states Christ was “declared to be the Son of God with power” — meaning that His eternal Sonship was demonstrated by His resurrection. They do not teach that Christ was made the Son of God. Just as the [eternal] Word was made flesh (John 1:14) so the [eternal] Son was made flesh.

7. Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his Son’s name, if thou canst tell? [Here, speaking of a capital “S” Son…who could that be?!... The Son of God.]

2 8. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… [A ‘son’ was given….already a son when the Father gave Him. A ‘son’ wasn’t born…a ‘child’ was born.]

9. Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. This scripture teaches that the Son became a servant (Philippians 2:7,8). It does not say he became a Son — he was a Son! The term “Son” implies equality, not subordination (i.e: John 5:18; 10:30,33).

10. Daniel 3:25 I see four men ... and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Jesus is called the Son of God some 580 years before His incarnation. How did a pagan king know it was Christ? No doubt through the personal witness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (verse 17). [How would Nebuchadnezzar know about ‘the Son of God’ if He weren’t already existing?!...]

THE INCARNATIONAL SONSHIP OF CHRIST REFUTED: For many, this issue may seem to be simply a matter of semantics. Even though many of those holding to the incarnational Sonship theory do not deny the deity of Christ nor the Trinity, there are several implications involved in its acceptance. For example: 1. This view denies the eternal Father. Sonship implies (and requires) Fatherhood. Therefore, if Christ was not the Son of God before His incarnation then there was no Father before that time. 2. This view denies the actual relationship between God and Jesus. The term “Son of God” becomes a title assumed by Christ, and has Him ‘playing’ the role of a Son during His earthly ministry. In actual fact, the term “only begotten Son” declares the intimate, eternal relationship between the Father and The Son - John 1:18; 17:5 3. The Bible never says Christ became the Son of God. Luke l :35 does not say Mary’s child would become the Son of God, but that Christ would be called [by men] the Son of God. The Bible does teach, however, that He became the Son of Man. 4. Christ Is The Son Of God From Eternity Past. Both Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5 quote Psalm 2:7. If the “this day” refers to a point in time, then Hebrews 1:5 places that point at the incarnation, whereas Acts 13:33 would have Christ becoming the Son of God at His resurrection. That’s absurd! He was clearly the Son of God before His resurrection, so it makes sense that he was also the Son of God before His incarnation. 5. This View Means God Has Changed. If Jesus wasn’t the Son and now is the Son, there has been a fundamental change in the Godhead. …cf. Malachi 3:6a (I change not). 6. [It neuters the Tri-une Godhead. Without eternal generation and eternal procession and the doctrine of hypostatic subordination it is impossible to distinguish the different persons of the Trinity. There are no revealed personal relations or properties. Even terminology like the First, Second, or Third Person of the Trinity becomes illegitimate. We are left with three colourless, unvarying, indistinguishable persons in the Trinity. This result smells of the barrenness of human philosophy, not the richness of biblical revelation. 7. It cheapens the glorious Gospel. Finally, the suppression of a real eternal fatherhood and a real eternal sonship lessens the glory of redemptive love. Is not the glory of the Father giving his Son for our redemption lessened if we limit the idea of sonship in this sentence to mere equality? The result is that one neutered divine person gives another colourless divine person. On this idea, where is the glory of the Father's sacrifice? Where is the glory of the Son's filial obedience? The tendency to doubt eternal generation and eternal procession diminishes the glory of the gospel. (A Modern exposition of the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, by Samuel E. Waldron)]

THE PRE-INCARNATE WORKS OF CHRIST The scriptures teach that the Son was active in the creation of the universe: Jn 1:3,10 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Col 1:16,17 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Heb 2:10 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. 3 THE PRE-INCARNATE APPEARANCES OF CHRIST ln the Old Testament, a Personage called “The Angel of the LORD” from time to time appears on the scene. It is evident from a close study of such accounts that this Angel is a “pre-incarnate manifestation of deity” — undoubtedly the Lord Jesus Christ in angelic form. Gen 18:1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

Judg 13:16 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord. 17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? 18 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? 20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the angel of the Lord did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

Gen 22:11 And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Gen 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar,…

The theological expression for these appearances is a “theophany” (qeofavneia) — from “theos” (qevoß) = ‘God,’ and “phainein” (fanein) = ‘to show.’

Gen 48:15,16 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads.

Is 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Note: Jesus Christ is not an angel. The Jehovah’s Witness cult teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is the archangel Michael, effectively denying the deity of Christ by making Him a created being —which John 1:3 and Colossians 1:1 refute. I Thessalonians 4:1 and Jude 9 differentiate Michael and the Lord. Heb 1:2 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; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Note: Appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ after His resurrection and ascension are referred to as “Christophanies.” Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.