by esther phinias | 17 July 2018 08:46 pm07
The Bible opens in Genesis 1:1 with the foundational statement, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Yet, it doesn’t provide an in-depth explanation of how God created the heavens and earth — including the sun, moon, stars, animals, and humanity. However, a deeper understanding emerges when we explore the rest of Scripture, particularly Hebrews 11:3, which says:
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (NIV).
Here, we learn that everything that exists was created through God’s spoken Word. This verse highlights that the visible world was made by the invisible will and intention of God, and not out of pre-existing materials.
But, what is this “Word” that created the world?
In John 1:1-3, we find the answer:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. (NIV)
According to this passage, the “Word” (Greek: Logos) is both with God and was God. The Logos is more than just a message; it represents the very divine thought or will of God. In Greek philosophy, the Logos was understood as a principle of order and knowledge, but in Christian theology, it is revealed as Jesus Christ — the eternal and divine Son of God who became incarnate.
Theologically, the Logos is not just an abstract concept but a living, active force through whom God created all things. This introduces us to the mystery of Creation: the world was created by God’s will, mediated through the Logos (Jesus). Colossians 1:16 confirms this:
“For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
This passage reveals that Christ was not only the instrument through which creation occurred but also the ultimate purpose of creation. Everything exists for His glory.
The Word Became Flesh
So, if Jesus (the Word) was with God from the beginning and was indeed God, why did He need to come to earth in human form? The answer is tied to God’s plan of redemption.
In John 1:14, we read:
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NIV)
This is the doctrine of the Incarnation, the teaching that Jesus, while fully divine, took on human nature to live among us. This is critical because only a perfect, sinless human could be the suitable sacrifice to atone for humanity’s sin.
Theologians have called this the hypostatic union — the union of the divine and human natures in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is both fully God and fully man, without mixture or confusion of natures.
Jesus’ Mission: Reconciliation and Redemption
The main reason Jesus came was to restore humanity’s broken relationship with God. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Paul writes:
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
Before the fall, man lived in perfect fellowship with God, enjoying communion and dominion over creation. But sin (disobedience to God’s will) shattered that relationship. As a result, humanity was separated from God, and death entered the world. God’s justice required that sin be punished, yet His love longed to restore humanity.
To reconcile the world to Himself, God sent His Son, Jesus, to bear the punishment for sin on our behalf. In Romans 5:10, Paul further explains this:
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” (NIV)
This passage highlights two essential aspects of the Gospel: Jesus’ death brought about reconciliation between God and humanity, and His life — His resurrection — secures the believer’s eternal salvation.
Jesus accomplished this reconciliation through His atoning sacrifice. The blood He shed on the cross paid the penalty for our sin, fulfilling the requirements of God’s law. As Hebrews 9:22 says:
“Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”
Jesus as the Revealer of God’s Will
Jesus came to reveal God’s will and make salvation available to all who believe in Him. In John 14:6, Jesus said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.“
Here, Jesus claims exclusive authority as the only mediator between God and humanity. Through Him alone can mankind find forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This verse emphasizes that Jesus is the only path to salvation — not through good deeds, rituals, or other religions, but solely through faith in Him.
Jesus reveals God’s nature in a way that no one else could. As John 14:9 states:
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
In His life and ministry, Jesus demonstrated God’s love, holiness, mercy, and justice. Through His miracles, teachings, and ultimately, His death and resurrection, Jesus made the invisible God visible.
Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: The Ultimate Fulfillment
The ultimate purpose of Jesus’ coming was His death and resurrection, which fulfilled God’s plan of redemption. As 1 Peter 3:18 says:
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
Jesus, the righteous One, took the place of the unrighteous — us — to bring us back to God. Through His death, He bore our sins, and through His resurrection, He secured our victory over sin and death.
In Romans 6:4, we read:
“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
By identifying with Jesus’ death and resurrection through faith, believers receive new life and are empowered to live according to God’s will.
Jesus as the Final Revelation of God
Jesus didn’t just come to give teachings or laws. He came to reveal the fullness of God’s revelation. As Colossians 2:9 declares:
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
In Jesus, we see the fullness of God’s nature and character. All that was hidden in the Old Testament — God’s justice, mercy, holiness, and love — is fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
While Jesus came to accomplish the work of salvation, He did not leave us alone. After His ascension, He promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Teacher, to dwell within believers and guide them in all truth. In John 14:26, Jesus said:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live the life that Jesus modeled and to fulfill the Great Commission by spreading the Gospel to all nations.
Conclusion
The reason Jesus Christ came into the world is deeply rooted in the eternal plan of God: to reconcile humanity to Himself through His death and resurrection. Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14) who became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He revealed God’s will, restored the fellowship lost in Eden, and opened the way for all people to come to God through Him.
As John 3:16 famously states:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This is the heart of the Gospel: Jesus came to save us, not just from our sins, but to bring us into a restored relationship with our Creator, so that we can worship Him in spirit and truth.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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