Christ is not simply God-like, He is undiminished God, absolutely equal with the Father.
The first attribute which Christ shares with God is eternality. Micah 5:2 prophecies that while Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, He existed throughout eternity. That Christ is eternal means that He is not beholden to temporal limitation. In other words, something that it eternal has no beginning or end. Only God possesses eternality.
The Apostle John stated that in the beginning… [Christ] was with God (John 1:1). In the beginning refers to the beginning of the time, space, and matter. The verb was (eimí) is in the imperfect tense, which communicates continual existence in the past. The verse could be rendered that Christ (i.e., the Word) was continually existing with God in the beginning.
Christ, Himself, stated, “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). This statement is a declaration of existence before Abraham. Again, note the use of the verb was (eimí). The verb was is in the imperfect tense indicating continual existence. Thus before Abraham was born, Christ was continually existing. As well, note the Christ statement of existence — I am. This is a reference to Exodus 3:14 when God declared to Moses, “I am Who I am.”
Christ is before all things (Colossians 1:17). The verb is (eimí) in the present tense means to exist. The term before (pró) is a temporal preposition meaning at an earlier time. It conveys the sense that Christ existed at an earlier time than all things. All things, including time, space, and matter, were created during the six days of creation. That Christ existed before time, in particular, indicates that He is without temporal limitation ergo eternal.
- who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, - Philippians 2:6
The first attribute which Christ shares with God is eternality. Micah 5:2 prophecies that while Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, He existed throughout eternity. That Christ is eternal means that He is not beholden to temporal limitation. In other words, something that it eternal has no beginning or end. Only God possesses eternality.
- Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say, as I live forever, - Deuteronomy 32:40
- But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end. - Psalm 102:27
The Apostle John stated that in the beginning… [Christ] was with God (John 1:1). In the beginning refers to the beginning of the time, space, and matter. The verb was (eimí) is in the imperfect tense, which communicates continual existence in the past. The verse could be rendered that Christ (i.e., the Word) was continually existing with God in the beginning.
Christ, Himself, stated, “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). This statement is a declaration of existence before Abraham. Again, note the use of the verb was (eimí). The verb was is in the imperfect tense indicating continual existence. Thus before Abraham was born, Christ was continually existing. As well, note the Christ statement of existence — I am. This is a reference to Exodus 3:14 when God declared to Moses, “I am Who I am.”
Christ is before all things (Colossians 1:17). The verb is (eimí) in the present tense means to exist. The term before (pró) is a temporal preposition meaning at an earlier time. It conveys the sense that Christ existed at an earlier time than all things. All things, including time, space, and matter, were created during the six days of creation. That Christ existed before time, in particular, indicates that He is without temporal limitation ergo eternal.
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