I Can’t Believe COGIC Bishop GE Patterson Did This With The Doctrine Of The Triune God!

A Message That Began Before Bethlehem

Nearly twenty years after it was first preached, this sermon continues attracting attention because it presents the story of Jesus Christ from a perspective many listeners rarely hear.

Rather than beginning in Bethlehem with the birth of Jesus, the message reaches back to the opening chapters of Genesis, arguing that Christ’s story began long before the manger.

The preacher builds his message around the opening words of the Gospel of John, emphasizing that “In the beginning was the Word,” before connecting those verses to God’s work during creation.

According to the sermon, the repeated phrase “Let us make man” reflects divine activity already taking place before humanity ever existed, highlighting the eternal relationship between God and the Word.

From that foundation, the preacher explains that creation itself came into existence through God’s spoken word, presenting the Son as actively involved in every act of creation described in Scripture.

Instead of treating Jesus merely as a historical figure born in Bethlehem, the sermon portrays Him as existing before time itself and participating in God’s creative work from the beginning.

To illustrate that idea, the preacher briefly recalls his own Bible studies, describing how different Greek expressions translated as “with” reveal varying degrees of closeness and unity between God and the Word.

He argues that whenever God spoke during creation, the Word carried out what had been declared, presenting creation as the result of perfect unity between the speaker and the spoken Word.

The sermon then shifts toward the mystery of the Incarnation, describing Bethlehem not as the beginning of Christ’s existence but as the moment when the eternal Word became visible to humanity.

According to this interpretation, God chose to enter human history by taking on flesh, allowing people not only to hear His message but also to see and experience it personally.

The preacher uses familiar illustrations to explain that unseen realities often exist all around us, comparing invisible radio and television signals to spiritual truths that require the right receiver to recognize.

In that analogy, Jesus becomes the visible expression of God’s eternal Word, making divine truth understandable in a way humanity could finally grasp.

Much of the sermon focuses on the opening chapter of John’s Gospel, repeatedly emphasizing that all things were made through the Word and that true life and light are found in Him.

The preacher stresses that darkness has always attempted to overcome that light, yet throughout history it has never succeeded in extinguishing it.

He points to ancient empires, political systems, and historical challenges as examples of forces that opposed Christianity but ultimately failed to silence its central message.

The sermon also encourages believers to move beyond outward religious expression, arguing that genuine faith involves understanding who Jesus truly is rather than relying only on emotional experiences.

According to the preacher, recognizing Christ’s identity gives greater meaning to worship because it reveals the purpose behind His coming into the world.

As the message progresses toward the Christmas narrative, Bethlehem becomes the fulfillment of a plan established long before creation itself.

The shepherds, the angels, and the manger are presented not as isolated events but as the visible climax of God’s eternal purpose to bring salvation into the world.

The preacher vividly describes the angels announcing Christ’s birth, explaining that heaven itself responded with joy because humanity had finally witnessed the Word made flesh.

He argues that the excitement surrounding Jesus’ birth extended beyond earth because the Incarnation represented the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem humanity.

Throughout the sermon, the speaker repeatedly returns to the theme of light, insisting that Christ remains the true source of spiritual illumination regardless of changing circumstances or opposition.

Even before the sun was created, he explains, God’s light already existed through the eternal Word, making the physical light of creation only a reflection of a greater spiritual reality.

The sermon closes on a message of hope, reminding listeners that peace is possible even when the surrounding world appears filled with conflict and uncertainty.

Rather than allowing current events or personal struggles to define their outlook, believers are encouraged to find lasting confidence in Christ’s presence and His promises.

Nearly two decades later, the sermon continues to resonate because it combines passionate preaching with an expansive biblical narrative, inviting listeners to look beyond the familiar Christmas story and consider the larger message of the Gospel.

Whether one fully agrees with every theological conclusion or simply appreciates its powerful presentation, its central theme remains clear: the story of Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem—it began “in the beginning,” and, according to the preacher, continues to offer hope to the world today.