The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ

Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

EVEN BEFORE CHRIST ASSUMED

human form He already exists. This
is contrary to common belief the
Christ’s existence began only when
He was conceived of Mary. If that
was true, it would appear that Christ
had a very humble origin – from a
woman’s womb. Actually, even man
did not begin from a woman’s
womb. Man began from God; he was
created in accordance to the plan of
God, as mentioned in Genesis 1:26.
Therefore, man began out of God’s
plan. However, there are those who
believe that Christ’s existence began
from the womb of Mary. But let us find out if that is true. Did
Christ's existence really begun from the womb of Mary? Or, are
there verses in the Bible that would prove that even before Mary
conceived Him, our Lord Jesus already exists?

Let us now read verses from the Bible. What verses would prove that even,
before Christ took the form of a man, He already exists, and that He
originated from elsewhere and not from Mary’s womb? This is what Micah
5:2 says--

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the

thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to
be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from
everlasting.”

That was the prophecy of the prophet Micah for Bethlehem, which was just
a very small town in Judah. If you will compare Bethlehem with the other
towns in Judah, it is relatively small. But according to the prophecy, from
that very small town will spring a very great thing. This is the place where
the man who would rule Israel will come forth. And saying Israel in the
real sense is inclusive of Judah. Actually, that race is composed of twelve
tribes. And it is in Bethlehem that the one who would rule the whole of
Israel shall spring from. And the verse said that His “goings forth have
been from old, from everlasting.” He will govern the whole Israel; He will
be a prince to them; He will be the King of kings in Israel.

And because His existence began from eternity, it would follow that He is
very great. But who is He who shall come forth from Jerusalem? When we
say “shall come forth” that means that such a place is not really his point of
origin. He originated elsewhere, and that was “from everlasting”. Who is
He? Let us read the fulfillment of Micah's prophecy in Matthew 2:1-2--
The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his
star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Definitely, the verses were referring to our Lord Jesus Christ, who was
born in Bethlehem of Judaea. That was where our Lord Jesus sprang from.
It is He whose beginnings had been of old, from everlasting. What is our
basis? Hebrew 7:14 says--

“For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses
spake nothing concerning priesthood.”

Indeed, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the prophecy. He, who was born
in Bethlehem, came from everlasting. He is older than our times; He is
beyond the beginning of time. Actually, time began only when God created
the heavens and the earth. But prior to the creation of the heavens and the
earth, He already exists. He began from everlasting – from eternity. And
we can further prove that He is even ahead of time, because He had been
existing even before the creation began. That means that He had also been
existing before He was born of Mary. This is what John 8:16 says--

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was
glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou are not yet fifty years old, and
hast seen Abraham?”

Abraham and Sarah came from the Jews. The Israelites came from
Abraham, and Abraham came from the Jews. Some thousands of years
after Abraham, Christ talked with the descendants of Abraham. And to
them He said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day.” But the
Jews sarcastically answered Him, “Thou are not yet fifty years old, and
hast thou seen Abraham?”

Please take note of how the Jews wrongly interpreted Christ, and because
of that, they also wrongly answered Him. How? Let us go over over John
8:56 once again. “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he
saw, and was glad.”

Who saw Christ? Abraham! Abraham saw the day of Jesus, and he was
glad when he saw it. But what was the reply of the Jews to Christ? “Thou
are not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?” They reversed
the idea of Christ’s pronouncement. What Christ said was, “Abraham saw
his day, while the Jews said, You are not even fifty years old and you
have seen Abraham?” They misinterpreted Christ. They made it appear
that it was Jesus who saw Abraham. Nevertheless, Christ gave them an
honest-to-goodness answer. John 8:58 says--
The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham
was, I am.”

The truth is, Abraham saw the day of Christ, and Christ also saw Abraham.
Why? He was already in existence during those times. Other English
translations of John 8:58 rendered it as--

“Verily, verily I say unto you that even before Abraham was, I was in
existence.”

He already exists even before Abraham was born. In fact, He even

witnessed the creation of the heaven and the earth. If He witnessed the
creation, will it be impossible if He also saw Abraham? That is why those
who believe that Christ’s existence began only when He was born of Mary,
are stupid! Christ said that even before Abraham was born, He was already
in existence. And Christ never spoke of lies, unlike the pastors today who
speak of nothing but lies. Christ never lied.John 8:46 says, “Which of you
convinceth me of sin?”

Nobody could ascribe to Him any sin.If the Jews had seen any sin, which
they can ascribe to Christ, they could have stoned Him.But there was
none.He did not touch any woman maliciously; He did not fool anyone; He
did not ask for a love offering or a prayer request; He did not ask for tithes;
He did not deceive His followers. That was why He was challenging the
Jews, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” This is what I Peter 2:21-22
says--

“For even thereunto were ye called: because Christ suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth.”

Did He cheat even a little? No! He did not sin, and neither was guile found
in His mouth. Therefore, He was not lying when He said that He was
already in existence before Abraham was born.That was true. That is why,
those who doubt Christ should think twice. I know for a fact that there are
groups today who do not believe that Christ is a God. For them, He is a
mere man. How can He be a mere man when He had already existed even
before Abraham was born? Please, take note of that. Can you delete the
verses of the Bible that said that, from Bethlehem would spring a ruler
who existed from everlasting? Jesus Himself confirmed that He had been
in existence even before Abraham was born. Aside from that, are there
other verses that prove Christ’s pre-existence? I Peter 1:10-11 says--

“Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what,
or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was with them did
The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

signify,”

Christ’s spirit was already existing even before. In fact, it was teaching.
According to Peter, the major prophets like Moses, Jeremiah, and the like,
had already searched diligently concerning the grace that was to come to
the Christians. They had searched the manner and the time that it was
taught by the Spirit of Christ, which was with them all along. In other
words, the Spirit of Christ was already existing even before Mary
conceived and gave birth to Jesus Christ, and it was already teaching the
prophets. Even before, the prophets had searched about the time that the
Spirit of Christ taught them of the salvation that was to come to the
Christians. The Spirit of Christ taught the prophets, and because of that,
the prophets learned. One of these prophets was Moses. Wasn’t it that
thousands of years before Christ came, Moses was already in Egypt? He
became the leader of Israel. And thousands of years before Christ took the
form of a man, He had already taught Moses. This is what Hebrew 11:24-
26 says--

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater than the treasures in Egypt.”

Christ had taught Moses to humble himself. He preferred to suffer

affliction with the people of God than to be called the son of the Pharaoh’s
daughter ... than to be an heir to the throne of Egypt. Moses could have
been the next Pharaoh because he was the prince of Egypt then. But he
refused that honor, and he decided to flee from Egypt. The Pharaoh was
furious when he left so that accused him of so many things.

Nevertheless, he opted to lead the people of God – the Israelites – out of

Egypt. He chose to labor and suffer affliction instead of enjoying the
pleasures in Egypt. He regarded the reproaches of Christ greater than the
treasures of Egypt. And how did Moses learn that spirit? It is because even
before Mary gave birth to Christ, His Spirit was already teaching the
prophets of old, like Moses.

Is that already a sufficient basis? Insofar as the Bible is concerned, the

testimonies of two or three witnesses are enough. John had testified; Peter
had testified; Paul had also testified. And based on the testimonies of the
Apostles, it is true that even during those times our Lord Jesus Christ
already exists. It was God who elected the Apostles to be witnesses. They
will testify for Christ. This is what Acts 10:39-41 says--

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the
Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: …”
The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

The Apostles said that they were witnesses to all the things that Christ did.
They were able to see everything that He did in the land of the Jews and in
Jerusalem, even the way He was hanged on a tree. “… Him God raised up
the third day, and showed him openly.

Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us,
who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Who were the witnesses that were chosen by God? The Apostles! Christ
was shown to them openly when God raised him up on the third day. He
was meant to be revealed, not to all the people but only to the witnesses
chosen by God. In fact, they ate and drank with Him. However, there are
those who claim that they are the true witnesses when they did not even
have a glimpse of, at least, the nails of Christ. And neither did they get the
chance of dining with Him, even in their dreams. The true witnesses are
those who ate and drank with Christ, and they were the Apostles. They
witnessed everything about Christ. That is why all the things that the
Apostles reported are reliable. And they are testifying that, indeed, Christ
already exists even before He was conceived by Mary. But do we have any
other witness? I Corinthians 10:3 says--

“And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same
spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them:
…”

While the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, they were being
followed.By whom? In In I Corinthians 10:1-4 it says--

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant …”

What was it that Paul didn’t want his brethren to be ignorant of? St. Paul
wanted the members of the first church to know... “… how that all our
fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And did all
eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink:
for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock
was Christ.”

Therefore, when the Israelites were traveling, a “Rock” was following

them. But it was not a literal rock but a spiritual rock. They saw it. It was
big. That was the rock that furnished them water when Moses tapped it.
That time, the Israelites were very thirsty, and there was no water
available. So, they started cursing and blaming Moses. And because of
that, Moses got angry. And in his anger, he tapped the rock without him
knowing it that, that rock was Christ.As mentioned, “they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

Was Mary already alive that time? Not yet! Not even Mary’s grandparents
The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

were already alive during the time of Moses. Thousands of years before
Mary was born, our Lord Jesus Christ already exists, and He was following
the Israelites in their journey.

Those who claim that Christ is a mere man are just trying to make the
truth vague. Despite the fact that the Bible’s pronouncement is already
clear, they are trying to make it blurred. Matthew 1:23 says--

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son …”

Who was the virgin being referred to? It was Mary. She shall be with a
child; she shall bring forth a son. “… and they shall call his name
Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” The son, that Mary
would give birth to, will be called “Emmanuel”, which means “God with
us.” What is He, man or God? He is a God. But those who misinterpreted it
believe that Christ is a mere man. Matthew said, Emmanuel means, “God
with us,” but for them, it means, “Man with us.” They claim that Jesus
Christ is a mere man, because His existence began only with Mary’s
conception. But that is not true. We cited verses from the Bible that prove
that Christ already exists while the Israelites were wandering in the
wilderness. As recounted in the Bible, Christ, in the beginning, was the
Word. And He was already in existence even when God has not created
anything yet. Christ is the wisdom of God. And according to St. John, that
Word was already there even before the creation. Therefore, He had a pre-
existence. John 1:1-3 says--

“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.”

Since the beginning, He was already there. And all things would not be
made without Him. God created everything to make His Son happy. Just
like an ordinary father who is willing to buy anything just to make his son
happy. In like manner, God made all things, including man, to make His
Son, Christ, happy. That was the intent. But later on, the people turned
their backs against God. They disobeyed God. But because God is very
merciful, instead of the people making Christ happy, He let Christ suffer
for man’s happiness. That was how great the love of God is for man.
Although the original intent why was man was created was, for him, to
give joy to Christ.What is our proof? Colossians 1:15-16 says--

“Who was the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that there in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or of powers; all things were created by him, and for him.”

On the other hand,John 1:14 says--

The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.”

From the start, the Word, which was made flesh, already exists. He dwelt
among them, and they were able to behold his glory. That was because it
was only when the Word was made flesh that they were able to behold
Him. But while it had not assumed the form of a man, He was not seen yet,
although He already exists. They were able to see Him only when He took
the form of a man. But only His physical body was flesh! But there are
religious groups that made the Word a mere man. The Bible clearly stated
that the Word simply took human form. The body, or the flesh, simply
served as a vessel that housed the Word. For example, if you will ask your
child to give you water to drink, your child will give you water, which he
poured in the glass. Which will you drink? Only the contents of the glass,
and not the glass, right?

What we are studying is the existence of Jesus Christ before he was

conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of Mary. We are,
thereby, belying the belief of others that Christ’s existence began only
when He was conceived by Mary. The Bible tells us that even before God
created all things, He already exists. Christ was also said to be the image of
the invisible God, and the firstborn of every creature. All things that are in
heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, were created by Him, and for
Him.

That is why all of the creations are meant for Christ – for them to give joy
to our Lord Jesus Christ. Even men are meant for Him. How will you say
now that Christ existed only when Mary conceived Him? When the
Israelites journeyed, He was already the Rock that followed them and
furnished them water to drink. And that time also, since He was still in
spirit form, He had taught the prophets of old, and as testified by Peter,
they, too, were taught by the Spirit of Christ. In fact, it was Christ who sent
the first prophets like Moses and Jeremiah. Luke 11:49 says--

“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send the prophets, and
apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:”

It was the wisdom of God who would send prophets and apostles. And the
wisdom of them said that some of those whom He shall send would be
slain and persecuted. Now, who is the wisdom of God who would send
prophets and apostles? I Corinthians 24:1 says--

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power
of God, and the wisdom of God.”
The Pre-Existence of our Lord Jesus Christ
Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano

Therefore, Christ is the wisdom of God. He was the one who would send
prophets and apostles. In other words, it was Christ who sent Moses. It
was also Christ who sent the other prophets like Jeremiah, Malachi,
Isaiah, Habakkuk, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, and all the other prophets of
old. They were all taught and sent by the wisdom of God who was nobody
else but our Lord Jesus Christ.