The Pre-Existence of Yeshua
After the death of Yeshua a make-or-break issue developed between
emerging rabbinic Judaism and emergent Christianity -- the conviction on the
part of the rabbis that "Christian" claims for Yeshua were becoming too much
of a threat to the primary Jewish confession that YEHOVAH is one. "Christianity"
had moved beyond the bounds of acceptable diversity within Jewish monotheism
and succumbed to an unacceptable view of YEHOVAH.
While the "Christians" correctly claimed that there were two
divine powers in heaven after Yeshua's resurrection, they incorrectly claimed
that Yeshua had pre-existed in heaven as one of those divine powers before
his human birth.
Many, carelessly reading the book of John in the New Testament,
erroneously assumed that the Logos of John 1:1 could be substituted by Yeshua,
or the argument that Colossians 1:15 was intended by Paul as a description
of Yeshua the Messiah was true. Nobody, it seems, considered the possibility
that John was explaining the concept of YEHOVAH's Shekinah Glory to a society
steeped in pagan Greek philosophy.
The fact of the matter is that Yeshua began in the flesh when
he was begotten by his father Joseph when Mary conceived in her womb. He grew up as
a human being, learning the laws of YEHOVAH. Yeshua grew in spirit, in truth
and in righteousness, finally giving up his life as a sacrifice for OUR sins.
He was able to do this because he himself lived a sinless life. He became
perfect through suffering. He qualified for his offices in the Kingdom of
YEHOVAH God. He is the firstborn among many brothers.
Yeshua did not pre-exist any more than we did. YEHOVAH chose
us, as He did Yeshua, before the foundation of the world. -- John Keyser.