Jesus Before His Birth

Thank you for your question. The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is both God and man. The God of the Bible is a trinity- three person in one God-head.

Genesis 1:26:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

The words “God” and “us” reveal that there is plurality in the Godhead. The Hebrew word for God in this verse is Elohim, which is a uni-plural noun, meaning the word represents more one individual part. The word “team” is an example of this type of noun because a team is one even though it is made up a more than one member. God is made of three persons, but one God. The Trinity is comprised of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The prophet Isaiah foretold that one member of the Godhead would take on humanity.

Isaiah 9:6-7:
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Here we see the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. Isaiah says a child is born, referring to the human birth of Jesus Christ. He continues by saying a Son will be given, referring to the divinity of Christ. Isaiah did not say the child would become the Son of God; he said the Son would be “given”. The theological term for the unity of God and man in One Person, Jesus Christ, is called the “hypostatic union.” This is a mystery, but one the Bible is very clear about. During His time on earth, Jesus spoke of His pre-existence before His physical birth.

John 8:58:
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 17:5:
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

John 16:28: 
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

As God, Christ was the Son of God eternally before his physical birth. At His physical birth, He was given a human name, Jesus. Before His birth He had various names, but the one I especially like is the Word of God.

John 1:1-3: 
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 any thing made that was made.

John 1:14:
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.

These verses tell us the Word of God existed in the beginning, was with God, and was God and the Word of God became flesh. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. He is one-hundred percent God and one-hundred percent man in One Person. This is the mystery and majesty of our God. Being both God and man, Jesus could be the mediator of both God and man and secure us eternal redemption. By being God he could offer eternal salvation. By being man He qualified to take our place on the cross. Jesus is the only person who can provide us salvation. No other name under Heaven can provide salvation, because no other person was God manifested in the flesh. (Acts 4:12) Jesus Christ was and is unique in the entire universe. He is the God-man. Praise His Glorious name throughout the endless ages!

Please read the archived answered question,“How do you know Jesus was God?” for further scriptures on the divinity of Jesus Christ.

I hope this helped,

Rick McFarland
Director/Singles Director
Real Answers bookstore
Grace Church