The Lamb of Heaven Pre-Incarnate

Subtitle: Before Bethlehem, He Was the Eternal Word, the Creator of All Things, and the Savior Who Stands in the Fire.

Series: Heaven on Earth (1 of 4)

Introduction

Every December, most of us start the Christmas story in the same place—Bethlehem. A manger, a young couple, angels in the night sky. But the Bible starts the story much earlier. Christmas doesn’t begin with a baby in a cradle; it begins with the Lamb of God in eternal glory. Before shepherds heard the angels sing, before Mary felt the first kick in her womb, before the foundation of the world was laid, the Lamb was already there—speaking creation into existence, holding all things together, and stepping into the fire with His people. This series, Heaven on Earth, is about lifting our eyes from the stable to the throne so we can see the full glory of the One who came. What began in Bethlehem ends at the throne, and the story is far bigger than we usually realize.

In the early 300s, the Christian church was growing quickly across the Roman Empire. People were coming to Christ, churches were being planted, and the gospel was spreading farther than ever before. But a crisis hit the church that threatened to tear it apart at the foundation.

A popular preacher named Arius began teaching something new — and dangerously wrong. He said Jesus was not eternal. Not fully God. Not equal with the Father. In Arius’ words, “There was a time when the Son was not.”

If that were true, everything about Christianity collapses.

The church realized this wasn’t a side issue. This was the issue.

So in the year 325 A.D., the Roman emperor Constantine called the first worldwide gathering of Christian leaders in the city of Nicaea — modern-day Turkey, now called the Counsel of Nicaea. Over 300 bishops traveled hundreds of miles, many carrying scars from Roman persecution because following Jesus had cost them dearly.

The debates were intense. Historical accounts say Athanasius (ATH-uh-NAY-shus) — a young pastor who later became known as “the Father of Orthodoxy” — stood almost alone against Arius and his followers. But Athanasius would not bend. He argued from Scripture that the Son was not created, not lesser, not temporary — but fully God, eternal with the Father.

Athanasius said, “If the Son is not truly God, He cannot save us.”

After weeks of prayer, discussion, and examining Scripture, the council overwhelmingly rejected Arius’ teaching and affirmed what Christians still confess today:

Jesus Christ is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God… begotten, not made.”

In other words:

Jesus didn’t begin in Bethlehem. He has always existed.

He is the eternal Son of God — the Lamb of Heaven.

Christmas is Heaven breaking into Earth.

Phrase of the Day: “You don’t need a seasonal Savior — you need the One who existed before Bethlehem.”

Today’s Roadmap:

Before Bethlehem, Christ Spoke.

Before Bethlehem, Christ Created.

Before Bethlehem, Christ Saved.

Point 1: Before Bethlehem, Christ Spoke

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus is not introduced as a baby — but as the Word.

“In the beginning…” takes us back to the first verse in the bible:

Genesis 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us (Emmanuel: God will us)

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The light of Christ shined in darkness…”Let there be light”

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

You don’t need a new word; you need the Word who is God.

Christ has been speaking long before Christmas.

Christ is still speaking in our lives today.

He speaks:

light into our darkness,

truth into our confusion,

love into our shame,

identity into our insecurity.

Jesus is the Eternal Word

Hebrews 1:2–3 ESV

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Application:

You don’t have to interpret your life through fear or assumptions.

Let the eternal Word interpret it for you.

Transition:

If the eternal Word existed before Bethlehem, then the universe itself bears His fingerprints.

POINT 2 :Before Bethlehem, Christ Created

The Lamb of God was before creation

1 Peter 1:18–21 ESV

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

The Lamb is not part of creation, but the Source.

John 1:3 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The pre-incarnate Christ didn’t simply witness creation — He accomplished it.

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Illustration:

A couple of years ago, NASA released an image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope — an image they call the Deep Field. On the surface, it looks like a picture filled with little specks of light. But those specks are not stars. Almost every one of them is an entire galaxy.

Not a single star…

Not a cluster of stars…

A galaxy, each containing hundreds of billions of stars.

And in the Deep Field image, galaxies sit behind galaxies, layer after layer, like looking through an open window into the endlessness of the universe. Some of those galaxies are so far away that the light leaving them took over 13 billion years to reach the telescope. The image is not just beautiful — it’s overwhelming.

NASA scientists said, “This is the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the universe ever taken.”

But here’s what John’s gospel tells us:

Before any of those galaxies existed… the Word already was.

Jesus didn’t watch creation happen.

He spoke it into existence.

As R.C. Sproul said,

“There is not one rogue molecule in the universe outside of Christ’s control.”

Application:

If Jesus can hold galaxies together, He can hold your life together. When the world feels chaotic, remember: the Lamb that was slain is the Lamb that sustains.

Transition:

But His pre-incarnate work didn’t end with speaking and creating. There’s something even more personal.

POINT 3: Before Bethlehem, Christ Saved.

Jesus didn’t wait until Bethlehem to start saving people.

Daniel 3:16–30 ESV

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

This is what theologians call a Christophany — an appearance of Christ before His incarnation.

Jesus didn’t wait for you to believe before he died for you.

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Salvation is secured wether you believe it or receive it.

The Lamb that was slain is ready to save.

Before Bethlehem, Christ didn’t stand outside the furnace shouting instructions.

He stepped into the fire with His people.

He didn’t wait for the incarnation to start rescuing.

He didn’t wait for the cross to start saving.

He didn’t wait for you to get your life together before coming near.

You don’t need a seasonal Savior — you need the One who steps into the fire.

Application:

You may feel like you’re in a furnace today—burned, scared, overwhelmed, unsure what to do next. But hear me:

The fire you’re in is not hotter or stronger than the Savior who steps into it.

CONCLUSION

The Lamb of Heaven did not begin in Bethlehem. Before Bethlehem, He spoke. Before Bethlehem, He created. Before Bethlehem, He saved. That Baby was the eternal Word wrapped in flesh. The Creator lying in a feeding trough. The Savior who steps into fire — now stepping into our world to redeem us.

Reinforce Hook: “You don’t need a seasonal Savior — you need the One who existed before Bethlehem.”

NEXT STEPS (C = DxVxF)

Dissatisfaction:

Where have you been relating to Jesus as if He were small, seasonal, or distant?

Where have you tried to handle life in your own strength instead of depending on the eternal Christ who spoke the universe into existence and steps into the fire with His people?

Let the Spirit show you the places where you have settled for less than a living relationship with the eternal Lamb.

Vision:

Imagine what your life would look like if you walked with Jesus not as a holiday figure, but as the eternal Word who knows you, the Creator who sustains you, and the Savior who stands with you.

First Step:

Begin practicing daily dependence on Christ this week by spending intentional time with Him as the eternal Word.

Every morning, open the Word and pray:

“Jesus, You are the eternal Lamb. Speak to me. Touch me. Lead me. Step into my mess and save me. I depend on You today.”

ALTAR CALL / GOSPEL INVITATION

To the unbeliever:

Friend, if everything you’ve heard today is true — if Jesus is the eternal Word who existed before time, the Creator who holds all things together, and the Savior who steps into the fire — then you must understand something: He did not come so you could admire Him. He came so you could belong to Him.

You don’t need a seasonal Jesus.

You need the Jesus who existed before Bethlehem.

You need the Lamb who stepped out of eternity and into human history for you.

You need the Savior who entered the furnace so you would never face the fire alone.

Romans says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

He didn’t wait for you to clean yourself up.

He didn’t wait for you to figure life out.

He didn’t wait for you to make the first move.

He moved toward you.

And He is calling you right now.

If you have never surrendered your life to this eternal Lamb, today is your day.

Step out of the fire you cannot survive and into the arms of the Savior who already walked through it for you.

To the believer:

Christian, the Christ who existed before Bethlehem is not finished with you.

Maybe you’re walking through a fire right now — a furnace of fear, grief, temptation, despair, anxiety, or uncertainty.

Listen to me:

The fire you’re in is not stronger than the Savior who steps into it.

Some of you need to come pray today simply to say:

“Jesus, I need You in the fire. I’m done trying to do this alone.”

Some of you have been relating to Jesus as if He were small, seasonal, or distant — but He is the eternal Lamb, the Creator, the Word, and the Savior.

Return to deep dependence.

Return to intimacy.

Return to the One who has never stopped walking with you.

And some of you need to kneel today not because you are failing, but because you are finally ready to surrender control.

Let Him speak.

Let Him hold your life together.

Let Him save you daily, not just eternally.

Closing Frame:

Christmas begins long before Bethlehem — and ends at the throne where the Lamb is praised forever.

The One who existed before the manger is the One who stands with you now.

Come to Him today.