The Preexistence of Christ by H. SHULTZ

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1912

The Preexistence of Christ

By H. SHULTZ

H. SHULTZ

It was Christ, the Lord, who led Israel through the wilderness, gave them bread from heaven, and water out of the rock. Ex. 16: 11-16; 17: 5, 6. This was many years before he was born of Mary in Bethlehem of Judea. That the Lord who is mentioned in the texts cited above is none other than Jesus Christ is proved from 1 Cor. 10: 1-4. The apostle says: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in 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.” The apostle, writing by inspiration of the Spirit of God, spoke the truth. Hence it is evident from the above scriptures that Jesus Christ existed previous to his earthly manifestation.

Again, we read in the Gospel according to John these words of Jesus: “Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8: 58. Abraham lived about three hundred sixty years before the time of Moses, but Jesus says that he “was,” or existed, even before the days of Abraham. Hence we have the would-be critics, who dispute the preexistence of Christ, arrayed against the apostles, and against Christ himself. O that men would learn the true wisdom which is, as it is written, “the fear of the Lord”!

We may go still farther back in the history of the world and find the blessed Lord existing before the world was. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 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.” Heb. 1: 1, 2. This statement of the apostle is in perfect harmony with the statement in Genesis in which the words of the Father are, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,” Gen. 1: 26. This language the Father addressed to the Son, “by whom also he made the worlds.” Heb. 1: 2. At the creation of the world, Christ was the brightness of the Father’s glory, the express image of his person; and it is he that upholdeth all things by the word of his power. Heb. 1: 2, 3. In the last prayer of our Lord Jesus we hear his voice ascending to his Father: “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.

Now, if Jesus Christ did not exist before he was born of Mary in Bethlehem, how could he have had any glory with the Father before the world was? Since we can not for a single moment entertain the thought that the eternal God or our blessed Lord did not speak the truth, as it is written, “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Rom. 3: 4), we must conclude that the position taken by many to-day in regard to this question is not true.

The apostle Paul, in speaking of Jesus Christ, says: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: for by him were all things created.” Col. 1: 14-16. This shows that Jesus existed before the world was, even before the angels were: “for by him [Jesus] 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.” Col. 1: 14-18. Surely words could not make it more plain that Jesus Christ existed with the Father long before our little world was created, and that he had a glory with the Father before this world existed, which is so far beyond our human comprehension that he desires his faithful followers to see it. John 17: 5-24.

This same Christ, the only begotten of the Father, the second person in the Godhead, who made all things, and who upholdeth all things by the word of his power, is to be honored even as we honor the Father. John 5: 23. They who honor not the Son do not honor the Father; worship is due the Father and the Son alike. Therefore to worship the Father and not the Son is to disobey God, and hence is no worship at all; for we are commanded to worship the Lord, even the Son of God. Ps. 45: 6-11, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Ps. 95: 6. The Lord our Maker is Christ, the Son of God. Col. 1: 14-18; Heb. 1: 2. “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.” Ps. 96: 9. Not only are men, women, and children to worship Christ the Lord, but even all the angels are commanded to worship the Son of God. Heb. 1: 6. Yes, let us worship the Father and also the Son. Yea, let this be my shame that I no more revere his name.

*Lodi, Cal.