Preexistence of Christ Alton Bailey

**Sermon by Alton Bailey: The Preexistence of Christ** It’s good to be with you today. I want to speak to you for a few moments this morning concerning the preexistence of Jesus. I made this picture last month near Las Vegas, New Mexico. I’ve got some information I left here on the front link. This is by the World’s Last Chance Organization. The organization was formed in 2004, according to Grok, which, you know, used to be Twitter. It’s artificial intelligence. But anyway, this organization was by Kayla Ross. There’s about 682,000 people in this organization. This is not the only place this billboard is up. It’s in other places in the United States, and it’s starting to catch a little bit more in the United States. So, I thought it’d be good to teach a lesson and present to you a lesson concerning the preexistence of Jesus. A few years ago—well, it’s been several years ago—my son-in-law, he was a Jehovah’s Witness, and they came by the house and gave out material. So, we made an arrangement to study with their preacher at their building at nine o’clock on a Saturday morning. Well, we started out, and he was teaching that Jesus didn’t exist until he was conceived and was given birth by Mary. I used scripture, and he wouldn’t accept that. When you don’t want to accept the scripture, you got no basis to study because God’s Word is truth. That’s what I want to look at with you for a few moments today. Jesus, it says, is not God. Jesus did not preexist in heaven. We know there’s lots of scriptures that prove to us that Jesus is God. If you will, turn with me to [Matthew chapter 1, verses 22 and 23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A22-23&version=NKJV) to begin with, the first book of the New Testament that we have. Verse 21, beginning of Matthew 1, New King James Version, talking of Mary: “She will bring forth a Son,” the angel said, “and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” For all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. It says here, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is [Isaiah 7:14](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+7%3A14&version=NKJV), translated “God with us.” So, Jesus was God with us. God said this in Matthew chapter 1. Now, if you will, let’s go to [John chapter 1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18&version=NKJV). I’ll use the New King James Version in John chapter 1. Let’s read those 18 verses of this letter written by the Apostle John. He begins in verse 1: “In the beginning was the Word.” The beginning of what? Well, the beginning of creation from [Genesis 1:1](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+1%3A1&version=NKJV), also the beginning of time. But in the beginning was the Word. We’ll notice who the Word is as we continue to read. “He was in the beginning with God, the Word was. All things were made through Him, through the Word, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness, speaking of the world, did not comprehend it.” There was a man sent from God whose name was John, speaking of John the Baptist. “This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,” speaking of Jesus, “that all through Him might believe. He, John, was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He,” speaking of Jesus, “was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” “And the Word became 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.” And John, John the Baptist, he bore witness of Jesus, of Him, and he cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I say, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me,’ and His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,” speaking of Jesus, “who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” So, the Apostle John declares that Jesus was with the Father even before the world began, at the existence of the world. In verse 14, it revealed that He became flesh, and He dwelt among us. Jesus is deity. In [John chapter 8, verses 58 and 59](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A58-59&version=NKJV), in the New King James Version, Jesus is dealing with the scribes and the Pharisees in John chapter 8. We know that’s who He’s dealing with primarily because of verse 3; it tells us the scribes and the Pharisees. So, in John chapter 8, Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. He was doing this teaching in the temple, and He went through the midst of them and so passed by. Jesus said to the scribes and the Pharisees in this very same chapter, in verse 24, “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” And they didn’t accept that, did they? If they had, they wouldn’t have picked up stones to throw at Him, to stone Him to death. So, they didn’t accept that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. In [John 17:5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A5&version=NKJV), Jesus says He was soon to be crucified, and He was praying to the Father, and He said, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” So, Jesus Himself confirmed that He was with the Father, being glorified in heaven before He came to this earth to walk as a man and to die the death upon the cross. One important purpose of the letter of John is to help us. There are seven miracles that are notable in the book of John. It can help us today to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. For example, in the first miracle that is recorded for us in [John 2:11](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A11&version=NKJV), this is called a sign, which was a miracle, that He turned the water into wine. That was His first one. The second miracle is [John 4:54](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4%3A54&version=NKJV), where Jesus heals the nobleman’s son. The third miracle that John has recorded for us in his letter is [John 5:7-10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5%3A7-10&version=NKJV), where Jesus heals the paralyzed man. You remember he was laid at the pool of Bethesda, and, you know, he was supposed to be let down into the water, but he was paralyzed. You remember when Jesus healed this man? Well, the fourth one is recorded for us in [John 6:10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A10&version=NKJV) beginning, where Jesus feeds the 5,000. And if you notice as you’re studying the letter of John, Jesus would use a miracle, something physical, to teach the spiritual truth. Because when He fed the 5,000, then He said, “I am the bread of life.” So, He would use a miracle to teach something of a spiritual nature, principle. Well, the fifth sign was Jesus in [John 6:16](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A16&version=NKJV), where Jesus walks on the water. And the sixth sign was in [John 9:1-7](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+9%3A1-7&version=NKJV), where Jesus heals the blind man. And the last, the seventh, that is recorded, I think is the greatest of all, is when He raised Lazarus from the dead in [John 11:1-45](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A1-45&version=NKJV). Jesus produced many signs to confirm what He was saying was true. The miracles would confirm who He was and what He was teaching. Yes, He did preexist before He came to this earth. He was in heaven with the Father before He left and gave up those glories that He was receiving in heaven. We know [John 17:5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A5&version=NKJV) that He was being glorified in heaven. He gave that up to come to the earth to be treated in such a way as He was treated and even nailed to the cross. God, at His timetable, in [Galatians 4:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+4%3A4&version=NKJV) beginning, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” I’ve got this on the bench up here, but there’s over 300 Old Testament prophecies prophesying about Jesus. In fact, I have a list; it’s 351. The first Messianic prophecy is [Genesis 3:15](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A15&version=NKJV). That’s the first one, talking and telling about Jesus Christ. The last of the 351 comes from [Malachi 4:6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+4%3A6&version=NKJV), the New King James Version: “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” [Malachi 4:6](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi+4%3A6&version=NKJV) is found in its fulfillment in [Luke 1:16](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A16-17&version=NKJV): “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The word Messiah is referring to Jesus. In [John 1:41](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A41&version=NKJV), Andrew found his brother Simon, who later was Peter. He found his brother Simon and he said, “We found the Messiah.” They were disciples of John the Baptist. You remember John said that He had come, you know, he was taught about that, that He was even before him, before John, and John taught this. And so, no doubt, he taught these disciples this, Andrew and Peter. And so he said, “We found the Messiah,” which is translated to Christ. Messiah means the anointed one. In the book of Psalms, there’s 101 Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus. In the book of Isaiah, there’s 124. [Micah 5:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+5%3A2&version=NKJV), he prophesied of the preexistence of the Messiah to come. [Isaiah 9:6-7](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9%3A6-7&version=NKJV), Isaiah spoke of the king to come as an everlasting Father. [Zechariah 2:10-11](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+2%3A10-11&version=NKJV), Zechariah recorded that the Messiah’s own promise to come. You see, whenever I studied with this man, he wouldn’t accept this as the Word of God. He had his own doctrine. But this is the foundation in the Bible of our studies. If a person doesn’t believe in the Bible, what standard do we have to teach? Whenever I study with someone, that’s one of the first questions I’ll ask: Do you believe this is the Word of God, the Bible? If they say no, that’s our standard to study with them. Sometimes you may encounter an atheist that would say no. Then you have to go to secular history and try to teach them concerning that if they’ll accept those types of teachings. Jesus affirmed His preexistence in [John 8:56-58](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A56-58&version=NKJV). That’s when, in 59, they decided to pick up stones and stone Jesus. Jesus affirmed His preexistence in His prayer. In [John 17:24](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+17%3A24&version=NKJV), Jesus said to the Father, “For You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” That’s the preexistence of Jesus. Jesus in the preexistence, as we’ve read in [John 1:1-18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18&version=NKJV). Notice in [Colossians 1:16](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A16&version=NKJV), I know I’m going quite rapidly with these scriptures, but I’ll leave this outline here on the bench. But in Colossians 1:16, New King James Version, beginning: “For by Him,” speaking of Jesus in the context, “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.” That shows us that Jesus existed prior to Him coming to the earth, being born by Mary. In [Hebrews 1:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A2&version=NKJV), it begins here: “Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,” speaking of Jesus, “through whom also He made the world.” Jesus made the world to be in the brightness of God’s glory and to express the image of His person and uphold all things by the word of His power. The reason we have 24 hours in a day is the word of the power of the Lord. He upholds all things. When He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Jesus is deity. The Father’s deity. The Holy Spirit is deity. You see, these people with the signs behind me, they do not believe in the Trinity. They only believe in Yahweh, Jehovah. But we have three in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Deity doesn’t have a beginning. Deity is eternal. God doesn’t have a beginning. God doesn’t have an ending. Deity doesn’t. In [Psalm 90:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+90%3A2&version=NKJV), the psalmist said, New King James Version: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” Jesus is God with us. Significant thoughts concerning Jesus: Jesus is life. He taught that He was the life of the world. Life involves togetherness, doesn’t it? Death involves our separations. You know the words Jesus said in [Matthew 25:41](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A41&version=NKJV), “Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity.” Verse 46, “In the everlasting punishment,” that signifies death. It’s a departure, and so that’s the ultimate failure. Significant thoughts concerning Jesus: In [Colossians 1:17](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+1%3A17&version=NKJV), it says He’s “before all things, and in Him,” speaking of Jesus, “all things hold together.” That’s why everything’s in proper order. [Hebrews 1:3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+1%3A3&version=NKJV), “By the power of His word,” this world does exactly as it’s supposed to do. Jesus took the physical act of feeding people to teach spiritual truths. He taught when He raised Lazarus from the dead, He said that He was what? The resurrection and the life. Jesus would take something that happens physically and teach a spiritual doctrine or teaching concerning that. In [John 6:33](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A33&version=NKJV), Jesus taught that He was the bread of God. He was the bread of life that had come into the world. It says, “For the bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” In [John 6:35](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35&version=NKJV), Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will not hunger,” He’s talking spiritually, “and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” In [John 6:48](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A48&version=NKJV), again He says, “I am the bread of life.” [John 6:51](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A51&version=NKJV), again, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven.” So that teaches us that He had to preexist to come down out of heaven. “We must accept that anyone who eats of this bread,” Jesus said, “he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” He tells what He will do. He gave that as a sacrifice for us. Another thought: the light concerning Jesus. This world is dark spiritually, and Jesus came into the world, and He was the light of the world. Jesus said to the Pharisees in [John 8:12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A12&version=NKJV), “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness,” He’s talking spiritually, “but have the light of life.” We need to understand that in eternity, you won’t have a sun or a moon or stars. All of this will be destroyed. We think sometimes, man does well, I can go outside, and I can see. That’s physical. What about spiritual? Most of the world does not accept all the teachings of this Word. They want to pick and choose. We need to understand that in eternity, there will not be a sun or moon or stars. You know, it mentions in [Revelation 21:23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A23&version=NKJV) that heaven will be illuminated by God. God is such a light that word “illuminated.” Now, there won’t even be shadows in heaven; it will be illuminated by God. [2 Peter 3:10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A10&version=NKJV), “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” All these physical things of this world will be destroyed. The world will be destroyed. Jesus is light in eternity. The lost will be in a place of outer darkness. What does that mean? That means those that are lost will be the furthest removed from God that you can be. That’s the outer darkness because God is light. What we know from [Luke 16:19-31](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A19-31&version=NKJV), could the rich man see Lazarus? You know, if you’re in the darkness, you can see someone in the light. It says that Lazarus was being comforted in Abraham’s bosom, but it doesn’t say that the rich man was in comfort. In fact, he was in what? Torment, and it never ends. It never ends. So, in [Matthew 25:30](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A30&version=NKJV), it says, “Cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” You know what gnashing is? You take some teeth, and you’re hurting so bad, you grind them. That’s gnashing. Have you ever had that kind of pain? I have, and I’m sure all of us have had acute pain where we hurt so bad you just brush your teeth. That’s the gnashing of teeth. Can you imagine eternally when they reject Jesus and they speak against Him? In [Revelation 21:23](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+21%3A23&version=NKJV), speaking of heaven: “The city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” The world is spiritually dark, and those that are in the darkness will be lost eternally unless they obey God’s words. In [Ephesians 4:17](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A17-18&version=NKJV) beginning, Paul said, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened.” You know what? Satan has blinded, in [2 Corinthians 4:4](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A4&version=NKJV), the minds of the world. This is straight from Satan, isn’t it? He’s blinded people. This sign that I made a picture of in New Mexico, he’s blinded their minds. “Having their understanding darkened,” verse 18, Ephesians 4, “being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” [Psalm 119:105](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A105&version=NKJV) teaches us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.” And notice in [Proverbs 4:18](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+4%3A18&version=NKJV), “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” And “the way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” Ignorance can cause us to be lost. In [John 8:12](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+8%3A12&version=NKJV), then Jesus spoke to them again. You remember the chapter, verse 3, verse 13, He’s talking to the Pharisees primarily, and Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in spiritual darkness but have the light of life.” Jesus has many attributes. He existed before the world was. In fact, it was through Him that we exist and through Him that this world exists. And through Him, as we read about the Lord’s Supper, the sacrifices required what? Blood, didn’t it? And the only sacrifice ultimately that the Father would accept, in [Isaiah 53:10](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53%3A10&version=NKJV), “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.” And He did that because of us. That’s our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. If you’re here this morning and you have a need of the gospel invitation, we have a Savior that’s already come to the earth and that’s already given us His plan of salvation and that has shed His blood on our behalf. And there’s power in the blood. You can’t take soap and water and wash it away. It has to be through the blood of Jesus. So, if you have a need of the gospel invitation in any way, we need you to come as we stand and sing.