begotten Son) made all the universe (John 1:3, Colossians 1:15-16). And, of course, much later in time Christ was also begotten as man. In John 8:58 we read the words of Christ “Before Abraham was born I AM”. It is clear from the use of the words “I AM” in this context that our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was claiming eternality which only the true God can claim. It is important to understand, also, that although Christ existed from all eternity within the Father, He was generated (or begotten) only once as God. In other words, God the Father was not eternally generating His Son. The concept and traditional doctrine of the eternal generation of Christ does not make any sense anymore than it would make sense to say that a human father is continually begetting the same son over and over again. But, again, just because Christ was not eternally generated does not mean that Christ is not eteranl because Christ did exist from all eternity, in some form, within God the Father before He was begotten as God.
But if Christ was God how, then, could He die? The Scriptures teach that God can and did die. We read in Revelation 1:17-18 “… Fear not; I am the First and the Last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen …” The title “First and the Last” is from the Old Testament and it is a title that belongs only to Jehovah (or God). Thus it is none other than Jehovah (or God) Who is saying that He died. We know from the context of the first chapter in Revelation that it is none other than Christ who is speaking here. No one has the power to kill God, but God can, if He so chooses, give up His life so long as it is for a morally right cause and purpose. Just as it is not morally wrong for one human