There Is A Was

-Ronnie Wolfe | 3-1-2018

I.  IS

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

In this first verse of the Bible there is no mention of an IS or a WAS. We must simply assume that there IS a God.  Paul the Apostle, however, tells us that we must know that God IS – Acts 17:24  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he IS  Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Not only should we read and notice that God IS, but we should believe that he IS. Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he IS, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Many in the world do not believe that God IS. They train their minds (or someone else trains their minds) to reject the being of God to their misery and destruction.

II.  WAS

John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  The same was in the beginning with God.

The word translated WAS here is a timeless word. It is not simply the past tense of a verb; it is a word describing the WORD as a timeless being. “In the beginning was the Word” means that at the time of creation Jesus (the WORD) existed. He WAS because of his timeless existence.

“The Word WAS with God” indicates that he exists as a separate person but not as separated from the essence of God but is the same with God and as God. He WAS with God all the time of God’s existence. Verse two reiterates the fact that “the same” (the Word) was with God in the beginning (the beginning of universal creation).

In verse one again, we notice at the end of the verse “the Word WAS God.” This is a claim made by John that the Word (Jesus) was God. Not only was he with God; he WAS God. This word WAS, remember, is timeless. Just as God is timeless and exists above time and creation, so does Jesus exist and live above time and creation.

He “WAS God” does not mean that he “used to be God,” as in the past and now is no longer God but that he WAS in a timeless sense. He IS God; He WAS God; and he will continue to be God, for it is his essence by which he IS God.

John 8:58  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. The verb AM here also implies a timeless existence in Jesus. Then one more layer of this musing is this:  Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.