Was Jesus a Created Being or Eternal Son of God?

I just received a call from a brother who told me that they have a hard time talking with a couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses about the nature of Christ. Sometimes being sincere in faith is not enough. You have to know the Biblical doctrine and how to defend it. The question about the nature of Christ is a very important topic since it involves our salvation. My Bible said:

“If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved.” (Rom 10:9 GNB)

Jesus AS LORD means more than just claiming him as your Master. It also answers the question about His essential nature. In Jewish mind, calling Jesus as “LORD” or “Son of God” is considered as blasphemy (Mark 14:61-64; John 5:18; 10:33) The title “LORD” as understood by the Jews is a sacred title that belongs only to their monotheistic God “Yahweh”. Therefore, addressing “Jesus is Lord” is the same as saying “Jesus as God”.

The Jehovah’s Witness believed that Jesus was just a created being. The first direct creation of God the Father Jehovah from time indefinite. When I was a Jehovah’s Witness I thought that this belief is defensible from Biblical point of view until I understood the context and some Biblical terms. One passage that I wrestled was John 1:3:

“Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.” (Joh 1:3 GNB)

According to this verse, in order for any creation to exist, Jesus must exist first otherwise there will be no creation at all! Now, if Jesus is one of the creation, then how can he exists in the first place for “not one thing in all creation was made without him”? So even God the Father could not create His own Son without His previous existence first. This is a great dilemma for them.

Another point to consider is how could Jehovah God be the Father before the existence of His Son? In order for Jehovah God to be the eternal Father he must have an eternal Son as well! Eternal Father requires an eternal Son! If the Son is not Eternal then the Father is not Eternal too!