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FIRST-PERSON: From Creator to Christ: The eternal Word of God

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Editor’s Note: The following is an adapted excerpt from “Word [2]” in the “Theology for Every Person [2]” series. (B&H Publishing)

The Bible begins its enlightening discourse with the foundational claim that God created everything by breathing and speaking. Reflecting on this creative activity, orthodox Christians conclude the Lord God made the heavens and the earth by His Spirit and by His Word. God “created” (Genesis 1:1) while His Spirit was “hovering” over the nothingness (v. 2) and His Word “said” things with power (v. 3).

Every time “the Lord God” spoke His Word during those first six days, that which was previously nothing became something (Gen. 2:4). God repeatedly said, “Let there be,” with perfect authority. And whatsoever He spoke about, that thing came into being (1:3, 6, 9, etc). At the same time, God’s eternal Spirit executed the perfect will He was proclaiming (v.2). The one Lord God thereby brought every creaturely reality, including the space which marks the world’s physical extension and the time which marks its progress, into existence.

Afterwards, God revealed further truths about His Word through the prophets. Calling Israel to find comfort in the Lord, the prophet Isaiah reminded them of God’s power amidst their frailty. “All humanity,” He said, is like the grass which “withers” and like the flowers which “fade” (Isaiah 40:6-7). But by contrast, while the world begins and ends, “the Word of our God remains forever” (v. 8). He also disclosed that God sends His Word into the world to engage it intimately with His power and authority. The Lord God is above and beyond our conceptual capabilities (55:8-9), so His Word comes to us like “rain and snow.” The Word descends from above, as an act of utter grace, to give life to the earth and its inhabitants (v. 10). From these Old Testament passages, we come to realize three profound truths about the Word of God: The Word is eternal. The Word creates all things. And the Word sustains life.

We then hear further stunning news: The eternal Word is more intimately involved in human life than through original creation and continuing sustenance. God continued speaking through the prophet, “My word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do” (v. 11). Yet more truth about the Word of God is hereby revealed: The Word comes from God and is sent into the world. The Word is distinct from God. The Word exercises personal agency. And the Word successfully accomplishes the will of God.

Isaiah also revealed how God would redeem His people through the suffering of his elect “Servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12). However, the connection of this Servant with the eternal Word, and with the powerful “Son of Man,” who would reign over the universe forever from the divine throne (Dan. 7:13-14), was not yet clearly perceived. Even the immediate disciples of Jesus did not understand the world-altering truth about the Word and the Servant until after Jesus conquered death, reconstituting our humanity through His resurrection. Nevertheless, the facts of the New Testament’s eternal Gospel – that the Word of God is both God and with God, that He became a human being to redeem humanity by His death and resurrection, and that He reigns forever – were already revealed to the Old Testament prophets.

According to the New Testament, this Word, the only begotten Son of God, is Jesus the Christ, the Son of Man and suffering Servant (Matthew 16:16; Mark 14:61-63; 15:28, 39; John 1:1, 18). This One, who is truly God and truly man, recapitulated or perfected our humanity, working our salvation through His atoning death and victorious resurrection for us (Matthew 16:21; Ephesians 1:10; Hebrews 2:9-10). The risen Lord explained this transformative truth about Himself from holy Scripture to the apostles (Luke 24:25-32, 44-48). He then disseminated the good news to the world through His church’s proclamation. This proclamation focuses on His person as the Word who became flesh and His work to provide us with salvation (John 1:14; Romans 1:1-4; 10:9-10).

It was only after the resurrection, when Jesus explained the mystery of the good news of salvation to His disciples that this revelation became clear to mankind. The mystery of the divine plan worked through the Word, which was previously made known in the Old Testament, thus includes at least seven profound truths:

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  1. The Word of God is eternal, powerful, and personal. 
  2. The Word created all things.
  3. The Word sustains all things. 
  4. The Word came into the world. 
  5. The Word worked wonders in the world. 
  6. The Servant suffered vicariously for our sins and conquered death.
  7. The Son of Man reigns over everything forever from the divine throne.

There is so much more which needs to be said about the Word of God. We will learn together of how the Word is the eternal Son of God the Father. And of how He is our Creator and Providential Lord with the Father and the Spirit. How He created us in His image and continues to love us despite our sin. How He remains the electing God even as becomes the Elect One, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. How He walked before us to blaze the trail into life through His atonement on the cross and His resurrection from death. How He is the One who now confers grace by calling sinners to believe in Him, to be born again, and to become His disciples. How He is our predecessor, guide, and intercessor through this life. How He will ensure that we come through every danger, even death itself, into the very throne room of God. And we will finally learn together how, on the “day of the Lord,” before His glorious throne, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord” (Amos 5:18-24; Philippians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:2).

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