Many seem to wonder where Jesus was during creation and even when Jesus first began to circulate in the mind of God. Questions that only seem to come from those who hold to or at least have been taught the trinity their whole life. Yet, in the Apostolic church, these questions do not come up nearly as often, if ever. Because we hold to the Oneness of God as described in the Bible. This belief allows us to understand that Jesus was not simply on God’s mind in the beginning but was God in the beginning. To fully understand this we must begin with the foundation of who Jesus is and what scripture says about Him.
Jesus was not created but is eternal. As we read in John 1:1-4 in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He existed before anything and everything was created through Him. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. This all shows that in the beginning, Jesus wasn’t a thought but the one through whom all things came to be. It wasn’t that God and Jesus were there for creation but that simply put the singular God was there.
Jesus in one of His many I AM statements, that testified to who He is as God in the flesh, made it clear that He was from the begging. Stating plainly that He had existed even before Abraham. A statement so strong that it caused the Jews who heard it to pick up stones in order to kill Him.
John 8:58–59 (ESV)
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Scripture also declares that there is only one God. Not that there are three separate gods that come together to make one God. Scripture simply defines God as a singular being and that there is no other besides Him. Jesus corroborated this by stating plainly that He and the Father are one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Isaiah 44:6 (ESV)
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Isaiah 46:9 (ESV)
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
John 10:30 (ESV)
30 I and the Father are one.”
When the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary it was an order to create a body that would hold the fullness of the Godhead. We know this to be true as we read in scripture that in Him(Jesus) dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The process of immaculate conception was not creating Jesus Himself but simply a vessel to allow God to enter our world.
Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 2:9 (ESV)
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
I believe it is also worth mentioning why Jesus is referred to in scripture as the Son of God as well as the Son of Man. Many times in scripture we read of certain people referred to as the Son of _______. Take the Son of my Sorrow or Son Of Encouragement for example. We know that they were not in fact truly the son of those things. Instead, they were given such titles because they embodied those things.
Genesis 35:18 (ESV)
18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Acts 4:36 (ESV)
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
The same is true for Jesus as the statement is meant to allude to the fact that Jesus is the embodiment of God. As well as the full embodiment of man. Or in other words God in the flesh. To be fully accurate it was the Holy Ghost that overshadowed Mary, not the Father. So if anything Jesus would have been the son of the Holy Ghost. But that isn’t the case because the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three attributes of one God. Not three separate persons or beings. Just as you can be a father, son, and mechanic but you’re not three separate people.
God did not have a son and that is who Jesus was. Instead, Scripture teaches that God created a body by overshadowing Mary. Then manifested Himself in physical form on the Earth in that created body. Becoming the ultimate High priest and experiencing the very same temptations that we do. All so that He could become the sacrifice for the sins of the world and offer all people eternal life in Heaven. All this is to further illustrate that Jesus wasn’t just on God’s mind in creation but was God in creation. Because there is no separation between God and Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
It can be said though that God’s plan is to enter our world and reveal Himself in the flesh as Jesus was on His mind from the beginning. God is all-powerful and all-knowing . So it was no surprise to Him when man gave into temptation and sin entered the world. God knew before anything was created the path His creation would take.
Psalm 139:4 (ESV)
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Psalm 147:5 (ESV)
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
Isaiah 42:9 (ESV)
9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth
I tell you of them.”
Isaiah 46:10 (ESV)
10 declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
Hebrews 4:13 (ESV)
13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
In like manner, He already knew exactly how He would offer redemption to His creation. So He did not have to quickly conjure up a plan after sin was committed. Instead, He simply enacted the plan he had already laid out. That is why we see in the account of the fall God state that women would have a child that would crush the head of the serpent. Then we continue to see verses in scripture that point to the coming Savior. All revealing the plan God had from the very beginning.
Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV)
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
Micah 5:2 (ESV)
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
Hosea 11:1 (ESV)
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
Galatians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
From the beginning God had Jesus on His mind because they are one. God has never been without Jesus and Jesus has never been without God. They are one and the same from the beginning. And from the beginning God knew what He would one day have to do on the cross in order to save the creation He loves so dearly. Once you receive the revelation that God is one, all the questions that rise because of the trinity melt away. I hope that if you will currently hold to the trinity that you will pray. Seeking God to reveal the truth to you through His word.
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