Reason 3 of 10
Jesus is the eternal Creator, not our older brother
The Church teaches that every person lived before birth as a spirit child of heavenly parents, Jesus among them as the firstborn. The Bible says everything that was made was made through Jesus: he is the Creator, not one of the created.
What Latter-day Saints are taught
The Church teaches that all people lived before this life as spirit children of a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother, and that every person ever born is our spirit brother or sister. In that teaching Jesus is the first and greatest of these spirit children, chosen in the premortal council.
Every person who was ever born on earth is our spirit brother or sister.
The Church's own words Gospel Principles, chapter 2, "Our Heavenly Family" · source
21And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;
Doctrine and Covenants 93:21 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
22Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 23And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.
Abraham 3:22-23 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What the Bible says about the Son
John says that without the Word nothing was made that has been made. Paul says all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, were created through him and for him, and that he is before all things. If all created things were made through him, he cannot himself be a created spirit.
Jesus did not say before Abraham was, I was. He said I AM, the name God gave himself at the burning bush, and his hearers understood exactly what he claimed.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3 (WEB) · context
16For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
Colossians 1:16-17 (WEB) · context
8But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.” 10And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
Hebrews 1:8-10 (WEB) · context
58Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
John 8:58 (WEB) · context
14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 (WEB) · context
Why it matters
A Saviour who is a highly advanced brother can show us the way. Only a Saviour who is God can bear the sin of the world and be trusted with eternity. The Bible's Jesus is both: fully God, and fully man for us.
13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
Titus 2:13-14 (WEB) · context
What Latter-day Saints answer
Latter-day Saints point to Colossians 1:15, which calls Jesus the firstborn of all creation.
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Colossians 1:15 (WEB) · context
Why that answer falls short
Read the next verse: the firstborn is the one through whom all things were created. In Scripture firstborn means rank and inheritance; Israel and David are both called God's firstborn though neither was born first. Paul's point is that Jesus is over all creation, because he made it.
Sources
- Gospel Topics essay "Mother in Heaven"; Gospel Principles chapter 2; Doctrine and Covenants 93:21; Abraham 3:22-23 (churchofjesuschrist.org).