Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
John 8:58
"Jehoshua said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am." This verse is used by trinitarians to prove that Jehoshua is God but is Jehoshua really saying that here? Many times when reading verses we must remember the context surrounding that particular verse. John 8:58 is a perfect example of that. On the surface, Jehoshua's statement does seem to indicate that He was preexistent if not outright calling Himself God. I submit that neither of these is the case. Many non trinitarians believe in the preexistence of Jehoshua and use this verse as a proof text. First let's deal with the claim that Jehoshua's statement of "I am" means that He is the God that spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:14. The phrase "I am" by itself does not denote deity as even the blind man healed by Jehoshua uttered this seemingly common phrase. Also, it is noteworthy that in the Greek new testament in Exodus 3:14 in which trinitarians try to connect to John 8:48 the phrase used by God is not "I am" but rather "I am the being". This totally changes everything and exposes "I am" as just a common phrase that anyone can apply to themselves depending on the context and situation. God is making a declarative statement to Moses that He is the "being" an obvious declaration that He is God Almighty and He is above all. So if Jehoshua is God, John 8:58 cannot be used as a proof text because it does not correlate with what Exodus 3:14 states. In fact, we actually have an equivalent to Exodus 3:14 in the new testament and it is not "I am" but rather: "who is and who was and who is to come" This is found in Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8. This phrase speaks of the Father as the eternal being. Jehoshua is spoken of as the first begotten from the dead and as the one who was dead and now lives. This should be enough to realize that Jehoshua is not the eternal being but rather distinct from Him as the one who was dead then raised to eternal life. Also, Jehoshua cannot be the God of Exodus 3:14 which states in the following verse (15): "And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." How do we know this is not Jehoshua? Because Peter the apostle says so in Acts 3:13: "The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jehoshua; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him." Peter says that Jehoshua is the servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in other words Jehoshua is the servant of the "I am" (the being) of Exodus 3:14. Isaiah 42:1 "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles." This is a Messianic prophecy about Jehoshua and here He is clearly called the servant of Jehovah God. So if Jehoshua is not saying that He is Jehovah God in John 8:58, what does he mean? John 8:24-25 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.25They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jehoshua said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning. This passage is key in understanding what Jehoshua means when He says "Before Abraham was, I am". Jehoshua tells the pharisees and scribes that unless they believe that "I am he" you shall die in your sins". They then ask Jehoshua "who art thou?" Jehoshua tells them He is who He has been saying He is from the beginning. The beginning of what? His ministry! It was when Jehoshua was baptized that He began to teach and preach about the gospel of the Kingdom at 30 years old. Mark 1:1 "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." This is in the context of Jehoshua's baptism. This is when Jehoshua began to preach the word of salvation at 30 years old: "And Jehoshua himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli" Let's go to two days after Jehoshua's baptism and see what was confessed about Jehoshua: John 1:49 "Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel." Jehoshua affirmed Nathanel's confession and said he was an Israelite without guile. Again, Nathanael's confession was right at the start of Jehoshua's ministry. Let's look at who Peter said Jehoshua was: Matthew 16:15-17 15He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God.17And Jehoshua answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. Peter when asked by Jehoshua stated that Jehoshua was the Messiah, Son of the living God. Jehoshua didn't correct Peter but affirmed his confession of who He (Jehoshua) is. Jehoshua told Peter that he was blessed and that His Father in heaven revealed to him (Peter). The three titles mentioned above by Nathanael and Peter are prophetic titles given to the Davidic Kings: Messiah Son of God King of Israel These are eqauted titles reserved for the royal offspring of David (Psalm 2; 1 Chronicles 28: 2 Samuel 7. In fact when Jehoshua was baptized the Father confessed who He (Jehoshua) is: Luke 3:22 "and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee" Right smack dab at the beginning of Jehoshua's ministry, Jehovah God begat Him as His Son. This was a spiritual begetting per Jehoshua's words in John chapter 3 that one must be begotten from above to see the Kingdom of God. Jehovah declared that Jehoshua was His only begotten Son at His baptism. Even Satan knew that Jehoshua was God's Son and tried to get Him to doubt it right after Jehoshua's baptism: Matthew 4:3 "And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Matthew 4:6 "and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone." Twice Satan tempted Jehoshua by using His Sonship as a way to get Him to disobey God by taking advantage of His position. So to answer the question in John 8:24-25 about who Jehoshua said He was from the beginning, it is the Messiah, Son of the living God and King of Israel. This sheds light on what Jehoshua meant when He told the pharisees and Saducees before Abraham was "I am". Before Abraham was, Jehoshua was the prophesied Messianic Davidic King who by covenant is God's begotten Son. 1 Peter 1:18-21 says that Jehoshua was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This means before Abraham existed God already had the plan of salvation ordained and that Jehoshua would be the Savior. Jehoshua being before Abraham has nothing to do with Jehoshua literally existing before Abraham as a concious being but rather being predestined by God to be His Messiah. What did Jehoshua mean when He said: John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad." This led to Jehoshua's statement that Before Abraham was "i am". We have to go back to Genesis to see what Jehoshua meant by this statement. Genesis 17:19 "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him." This is known as the Abrahamic covenant in which Abraham's seed would be in an everlasting covenant with Jehovah God. This seed would be established through Isaac which the book of Hebrews calls "his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17). The promise of the death and resurrection of Jehoshua was also foreshadowed in Isaac: Hebrews 11:17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. The author of Hebrews goes back to the time that Abraham offered up his only begotten son Isaac to be sacrificed to Jehovah God. This passage was a foreshadowing of the gospel. Notice the phrase "only begotten son" used for Isaac. We know by this usage that Isaac was a type of messiah as Jehoshua is called the only begotten Son. Abraham had Ishmael so Isaac wasn't his only son in a literal sense but the title "only begotten Son" denotes preeminence and son of inheritance. The offering up of Isaac by Abraham was a prefiguring of Messiah being crucified on the cross and offered up to Jehovah God as the lamb. The author of Hebrews mentions that in Isaac shall Abraham's seed be called. We know from the new testament that in Messiah shall Abraham's seed be called as Paul says: Galatians 3:16 "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah" The seed was Isaac which is now fulfilled in Messiah. This is similar to the Davidic covenant in which Solomon was the first beneficiary but the promises of the royal covenant were ultimately fulfilled in Jehoshua. To be Abraham's seed isn't about the various families of the earth that are literal descendants of Abraham but rather those who are in covenant with the singular seed of Abraham, Messiah Jehoshua: Galatians 3:29 "And if ye be Messiah’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Jehoshua Messiah is the only seed of Abraham and those in a covenant relationship with Him are also Abraham's seed. Any other claim to be the seed of Abraham outside Jehoshua are invalid before Jehovah God. Genesis 22:2 "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Here in Genesis 22 we see the foreshadowing of Jehovah God sending His only begotten Son into the world to be sacrificed. Jehovah refers to Isaac as Abraham's "only son" and the author of Hebrews states "only begotten son" in reference to Isaac. Genesis 22:7-8 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?8And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together. Isaac asks where the lamb was that they were going to offer to Jehovah and notice what Abraham says in that God will provide it. This was a prophetic statement by Abraham regarding Jehovah offering up His Son Jehoshua as the Lamb. Genesis 22:9-10 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. Abraham was about to slay Isaac and offer him up as a sacrifice to Jehovah God. This was a foreshadowing of the cross and God offering up Jehovah as the once and for all sacrifice. Genesis 22:11-12 11And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am.12And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. The angel of Jehovah's Spirit calls out to Abraham and prevents Him from slaying Isaac. Jehovah God commends Abraham from not holding back "his only son" from Him (Jehovah God). This was evidence of Abraham's love for Jehovah God. Here we see another prefiguring of the gospel as John the beloved says that God didn't withhold His Son but gave Him to us as a manifest token of His love: 1 John 4:9 "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." Just as Abraham showed his love for God by offering Him (Jehovah) his only begotten son Isaac, God showed His love for the world by sending His only begotten Son Jehoshua. Genesis 22:13-14 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be seen. After Jehovah held Abraham back from offering up Isaac, Abraham then got a ram and sacrifices it to Jehovah God. What is noteworthy is what Abraham called the place where he offered up Isaac which was "Jehovah-Jireh" meaning Jehovah will provide. What will He provide? What does Abraham mean by this? For one, Abraham already told Isaac that Jehovah would provide a lamb. Yet it was actually a ram that Abraham sacrificed to Jehovah God. Abraham was showing the gospel by His statement in that the lamb was the future Messiah (Jehoshua). Basically this event at mount Moriah was the gospel being played out in type. Also, Abraham in saying that Jehovah will provide was foreshadowing the resurrection of Jehoshua because as Hebrews 11 says he recieved Isaac in a figure believing that God could resurrect him from the dead. So what we have here at mount Moriah is a type of the death and resurrection of the only begotten Son of God. This gospel message in the book of Genesis gets even better as now we are included in this prefiguring of the Son of God's death and resurrection. Genesis 22:15-18 15 And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven,16 and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice. This is where Galatians 3 comes in which is that the fulfillment of this promise to Abraham by Jehovah God was fulfilled in Messiah as the singular seed of Abraham in whom the inheritance is tied up in. The multiplication of Abraham's seed is fulfilled in those who are in covenant with Abraham's seed Jehoshua Messiah. This is the day that Abraham saw and was glad, the fulfillment of the promise made to Him by Jehovah God in that his seed would multiply as numerous as the stars in the sky & the sand on the seashore & that his seed would possess his (Abraham's) enemies gates. When we take John 8:56-58 together then we can understand that this has nothing to do with Jehoshua claiming to be Jehovah God or to have literally existed before Abraham. The Son of God is making a prophetic statement that He was the prophesied Messiah before Abraham was & whose day Abraham saw in terms of Jehovah's promise that his (Abraham's) seed would multiply greatly. Jehoshua doesn't say that Abraham literally saw Him but rather saw His day, meaning the fulfillment of his seed multiplying & possessing his enemies gates. Jehoshua is speaking of the Abrahamic covenant in these verses & Himself being the fulfillment of it. Why would Jehoshua be talking about Himself being preexistent and/or being Jehovah God when there is no prophetic value in those claims? It's simple because He is not as there is far more prophetic value in mentioning Himself as the fulfillment of Jehovah God's promise to Abraham. The fact that the pharisees & saducees picked up stones to kill Jehoshua does not prove He was claiming to be Jehovah as His claim to be the Daniel 7:13-14 Messiah got Him accused of that. ReplyForward
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2021
Categories |