SPELLING EDITED V-34. WHAT DOES John 3:31 TRULY MEAN? Does John 3:31 teach us that Jesus pre-existed up in heaven? Do the Scriptures, in general, teach us that an eternal pre-existing God the Son came down from heaven and incarnated himself to become flesh? Are there any verses in the Bible that teach us that when the word was made FLESH that it yet remained fully Almighty God having TWO natures at the SAME time, one divine, and one human? Let us read John 3:31 to refresh our memory. And then we will read the context to learn its TRUE meaning in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. John 3:31. “He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all.” As I have said many times, any verse when taken out of its context may seem to say something that it is not truly saying. In other words, when one reads this verse alone and by itself apart from the rest of God’s word, then it may SEEM as if John the Baptist is saying that Jesus came down from heaven. But when we read the context, we can see that he that is ABOVE all was GIVEN that power and authority FROM ABOVE and not that Jesus himself preexisted in heaven and came down from heaven. We will also learn that he that is of the earth is John the Baptist speaking of himself as to one who is testifying about the Son of MAN, Jesus, who is the CHRIST. And also, that Jesus IS YET COMING AS the BRIDEGROOM in all power and authority FROM heaven to be above all. Let us read the CONTEXT so that you can see this for yourself. Please read John 3:22-36. “After these things, came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23. And John ALSO was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24. For John was not yet cast into prison (Please notice that we see TWO people baptizing people as THEIR own disciples at the SAME time. Jesus is baptizing or having his disciples baptize his followers. And John the Baptist is baptizing his followers at the same time) 25. Then there arose a QUESTION between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. (The Jews wanted to know if John was the Christ. Who is the Christ was the question) 26. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, (Which means master or teacher) he that was with you beyond Jordan, (Speaking about Jesus whom John Baptized in John chapter 1) to whom you bare witness, behold, the SAME baptizes, and all men come to him. (So John perceives their questioning as they want to know WHO is the Christ since both John and Jesus had FOLLOWERS) 27. John answered and said, A MAN can receive nothing, except it be GIVEN him from heaven. (In other words, a MAN can only be the Christ if that honor be GIVEN TO him FROM heaven. So then, it is the ANOINTING that came from heaven above) 28. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am NOT the Christ, but that I am sent before him. (Today, we would say something like, Let me make this perfectly clear to you that I, John the Baptist, am NOT the Christ. But rather, I am a prophet of God who was sent by God to prepare the WAY for the coming of the ANOINTED one that God commissioned. Then John proceeds to tell the Jews the second coming of Jesus first) 29. He that has the BRIDE is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy, therefore, is fulfilled. (In other words, I, John the Baptist am just the friend of the bridegroom ANNOUNCING the bridegroom and just to hear his voice makes my joy full) 30. He (Speaking of Jesus that is coming AGAIN AS the BRIDEGROOM) must increase, but I must decrease. 31. He that COMES (As in, He who is coming again as the BRIDEGROOM) from above is above all: he (Referring to John the Baptist speaking of himself) that is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth: (Or more CORRECTLY, he that is of the earth is of the earth and he is speaking of) he that comes (Or he, the bridegroom that is coming) from heaven is above all. (You see my dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God does not DESCEND DOWN from heaven until the SECOND coming of Jesus. The FIRST coming of Jesus was his VIRGIN birth when the spoken word of PROPHECY was performed by Almighty God Yahweh the Father who made the word FLESH. The Jews were expecting a coming King and NOT a suffering servant of God. So that is why John spoke of the RETURN of Jesus before the ANOINTING of the Son of MAN, Jesus in the following verses of Scripture) 32. And what he (Now speaking of the ANOINTED Son of MAN, Jesus in John chapter 1 at the baptism by John in the River Jordan. What he) has seen and heard, (From his God and Father DWELLING IN him) that he testifies; (Or THAT which the Father dwelling in the Christ is what Jesus, the Christ, teaches) and no man receives (Or not YET one is understanding) his testimony. (For you see, it was prophesied that Jesus would speak in PARABLES) 33. He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. (Or he who is getting hold of what Jesus is teaching is sealed with the Holy Spirit that bears witness to them that the Father is the ONLY TRUE God, according to John 17:1-3) 34. For he whom God has sent (Or whom God has COMMISSIONED. The word commission means to GIVE power and authority to someone to accomplish a task that they are given to do. So God ANOINTED the Son of MAN, Jesus, for the purpose to be God’s anointed Prophet who) speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him. (Or God IS GIVING the GLORIFIED Son of MAN His Spirit without measure to come again as the BRIDEGROOM and the King of kings to rule FOR Yahweh for 1000 years to be above all. It was AFTER the cross that it pleased God for the FULNESS of the Godhead to dwell in the Son of Man BODILY to be made PERFECT in the express IMAGE of God. That is WHEN the Son of MAN, Jesus became God’s ETERNAL Son, the FIRSTBORN of every CREATURE to be made in the IMAGE of the invisible God. Please read the three-part study “WHEN DID JESUS BECOME GOD’S ETERNAL SON?” Also, read “WHAT DOES FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE TRULY MEAN?” But for now, let us continue to learn the true meaning of John 3:31) 35. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes NOT the Son shall NOT see life; but the WRATH of God abides on him.”
So then, John the Baptist begins by teaching us the RETURN of Jesus coming as the bridegroom FROM heaven. Then John talks about the ANOINTING that is given FROM above or from heaven. And then John ENDS by talking about the second coming of Jesus FROM heaven to execute the WRATH of God. So to ME, John 3:31 does NOT prove that Jesus pre-existed in heaven in eternity past as some Christians INTERPRET verse 31 to mean. Let us read Proverbs 30:4 which teaches us about Almighty God the Father AND His Son Jesus. God is asking TWO questions. What is His name and what is His Son’s name. Proverbs 30 verse 4 starts off by asking WHO is he that ASCENDS and IS DESCENDING back down from heaven. Proverbs 30:4. “Who has ASCENDED up into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, AND what is His son's name, if you can tell?” The answer to the very first question as to WHO has ASCENDED up into heaven and who will be descending back down from heaven is the now the gloried highly exalted Son of MAN, Jesus, who BECAME God’s ETERNAL Son after the cross. The LITERAL translation reads, who has ASCENDED up into heaven AND he IS DESCENDING? So the HUMAN Son of God ASCENDED UP into heaven BEFORE the now glorified Son of man will be DESCENDING back down from heaven. That is the ORDER in which the PROPHECY is given. There are no prophecies of God’s Son descending down from heaven FIRST and then ascending back up into heaven to again descend back down from heaven. I want you to read Isaiah 9:6,7, and while you are reading this prophecy, I want you to notice the ORDER in which the events are PROPHESIED. Please read Isaiah 9:6,7.
“For (Order of event #1 that has already been FULFILLED) unto us, a CHILD is BORN, (THEN comes Order of event #2 that has also already been FULFILLED) unto us a son is given: (Speaking of the HUMAN Son of MAN, Jesus as the Son given as the ONE sacrifice for the sins of the world. Yahweh provided His own Lamb that was slain in the mind of God from the foundation of the world. God chose His Lamb to be made inferior to the angels so He made the human race a little lower than the angelic beings) and (And THEN Order of event #3 is YET FUTURE and it is YET TO BE FULFILLED) the government shall be upon his shoulder: (Which is the WRATH of God executed by Jesus. That is WHEN the kingdoms of this present world will become the kingdom of God's dear Son to begin the 1000 year reign of Jesus) and (And THEN will come Order of event #4 that is YET FUTURE and it is YET TO BE FULFILLED WHEN the government will be set upon the shoulder of Jesus IN the world to come, at which TIME) his NAME shall be CALLED Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, (Or more precisely, according to Hebrew 5:9, the Father of everlasting life or the AUTHOR of eternal life. For you see, it was BECAUSE, OF the Son of man, Jesus obeying his God and Father's Will that Jesus made it possible for whosoever believes in him shall be saved. Jesus was MADE perfect and he BECAME the Father of eternal life AFTER the cross. For you see, the Son of MAN, Jesus, was GIVEN the authority and the power AFTER the cross to JUDGE and also to give eternal life to whomsoever he chooses. This is why Psalms 2 prophesies to kiss the feet of God’s Son whom He ordained to be his King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is also called) The Prince of Peace. (And, according to Revelation 1:5, Jesus is our Prince right now standing at the right hand of God. But at his second coming, Jesus will SIT on the right hand of Yahweh to rule and reign FOR Yahweh as the Lord of the Sabbath. And at that time, the kingdoms of this present world will become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. And) 7. 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.”
Also, please notice WHO is doing the PERFORMING of His own spoken word of PROPHECY that came forth OUT FROM His mouth. It is Almighty God Yahweh the creator who is performing His own word. So to me, Jesus is the FULFILLMENT of the spoken word of PROPHECY. Jesus began as a THOUGHT in God’s mind as God's secret plan of salvation. Not just the salvation of mankind that He had not yet created, but also the RESTORATION of the entire universe back to being at PEACE having no WAR. God created the human race to put an END to evil. Please read the studies under the heading >>>WHY ARE WE HERE-IS GOD AT WAR?<<< Also, below is a complete list of all the studies that I have which show WHY I no longer believe in the doctrine of the Trinity and why I can NEVER believe in the doctrine of Oneness. I assure you that every verse that SEEMS to be saying that Jesus pre-existed in eternity past has another meaning that does NOT contradict any other verses of Scripture in the entire Bible. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you CONTINUE to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT
VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PREEXISTED! To me, the best way to know the ONE true God in ONE person is to know who Jesus TRULY IS according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God so please read ALL the studies under the heading >>>WHO IS JESUS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?<<< and you will see that the Bible itself teaches us that Jesus was CREATED by his God and Father. And if you have any questions related to the correct meaning of certain verses of Scripture on this subject of who Jesus is please read all the studies under the two headings >>>A LIST OF STUDIES ON THE TRINITY!<<< and >>>VERSES USED TO TEACH THAT JESUS PRE-EXISTED!<<< These two headings have ALL the studies that I have on who Jesus truly is according to what the Bible itself teaches us in simplicity. I compiled these three headings to make it easy for my readers to send just one, two, or three links to those you desire to help understand what the Bible itself teaches concerning who Jesus is in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
RETURN TO HOMEPAGE AT |
|
|