Notes compiled by Marty Zide and Steve McAtee
As we focus our attention upon the Person and Work of the Son of God, we will see that the Bible reveals a tremendous amount of information about the Lord Jesus the Messiah. We will see that He is unique in all of history. There never has been, nor shall there ever be, a person like Him.
The Preexistence Of Messiah In Eternity Past
The doctrine of eternal Sonship declares that the second person of the triune Godhead had eternally existed as the Son. There was never a time when He was not the Son of God. He was, is, and ever will be the Son.
The doctrine of the eternity of the Son of God is one of the most important doctrines that pertain to the Messiah. If He is not eternal, then He is a creature who came into existence in time and lacks the quality of eternality which characterizes God. To say that Messiah is eternal is to affirm more than to say that He is preexistent. He is both, but the emphasis must be on His being eternal.
As Taught Inthe Old Testament
Although there are more verses in the New Testament that teach that the Son of God is eternal, the Old Testament bears witness to this important truth
Is. 7:14 -Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (The meaning of Immanuel is “God with Us.”)
Is. 9:6 -For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, (Heb. Father of Eternity), Prince of Peace.
Mic. 5:2 -But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.
Ps. 2:7 -I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
As Taught In the New Testament
The New Testament clearly teaches that the Son of God is eternal. There are many direct statements that bear this out.
John 8:14 -Jesus answered and said to them, Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going
John 3:13 -No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
John 6:62 -What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?
John 8:56-58 -Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham? Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.
John 17:5 -Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
John 8:42 -Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
Rev. 1:8 -I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
John 1:15 -John testified about Him and cried out, saying, This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.
1 Cor. 10:1-4 -For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Messiah.
Col. 1:15-17 -He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all thingshold together.
All of the facts of the eternal Sonship of the Messiah point to His being fully God.