This sentence in the statement of faith of many denominations and organizations is unbiblical in my view.
It declares a pre-existent Christ. Yet the first chapter of the Gospel of John declares that the Word (Logos)
was from the beginning and that the Word (Logos) became flesh. That flesh was the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The Logos was with God in the beginning, the Logos was God. All things were made through the Logos.
The Son of God, Jesus Christ remembers being the Logos previously. Saying, He had seen the Father.
John 1:1-3, 14 NIV
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. ...
14 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.
Again, a little research into the meaning of the term “logos” is important if we are to understand what this Scripture is saying, and compare it with what else is written, but is largely being ignored.
Why is Jesus called “the Word of God” as a title, rather than the “word of God” being the Holy Scriptures?
If you look up the word “logos” in the Greek Interlinear, you will see a very detailed definition that explains the difference....
Strongs Concordance “logos”
“of speech
- a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea
- what someone has said
- discourse....
- the act of speaking, speech
- the faculty of speech, skill and practice in speaking
- a kind or style of speaking
- a continuous speaking discourse - instruction
So the “word of God” can be written or spoken as instruction....which we see in OT times through God’s servants like Moses and his prophets. These heard God’s instructions and recorded them for our benefit.
Jesus’ primary mission, was to teach and instruct his fellow Jews from God’s written word and from his own experience as the Son of God in heaven “before the world was”. (John 17:5; 24)
In doing so he was “the Word” or spokesman for God throughout his entire existence. He was more than likely the communicator who spoke on God’s behalf to his earthly servants....the voice heard by Moses at the burning bush....and the voice in the Most Holy compartment of the Tabernacle....and perhaps the voice heard by the prophets so as to convey God’s prophetic word as a warning to the Israelites.
So, as God’s spokesman he was authorized to speak on his God’s behalf. This authorisation was important because it indicates that it was needed for Jesus to carry out the will of his Father in all things.
Matthew 29:18-20 tells us.....as his final instruction to his disciples....
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)
Why would Jesus need “ALL authority” to be “given” to him “in heaven and on earth” if he was God? As such, he would already have all that authority.
What did “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” actually mean then?
“In the name of” means “representatively” or “under the authority” of someone else.
If a Police officer told a criminal to “Stop in the name of the Law!”...what is he saying? Is he the Law, or is he a representative of the Law, acting under its authority.
Nowhere in Scripture are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit collectively called “God”.
The apostles collectively explained who was their “one God”.....in speaking about the false gods of the nations...they said...
“For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” (1 Cor 8:5-6 ESV)
Notice too that they attribute “God the Father” as the one FROM whom all things are.....and their “one Lord Jesus Christ” as the one THROUGH whom all things are. What is the difference?
Paul explains....
“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.“
(Col 1:15-17 ESV)
Firstly Jesus is the ‘visible image of the invisible God’. Think about what that means.....how does one become the visible image of one who is invisible? Only by his character and personality, which Jesus perfectly reflected in his speech and conduct....always giving credit to his Father for all he did and taught.
He is also called “the firstborn of all creation”....so all creation (including all the angels) came after him. This is how he is the “firstborn”...and “only begotten”, which in Bible terms describes an only child.
How is Jesus unique? He is the first and only direct creation of his God and Father. All creation thereafter, came
through the son...including the angels.
If “all things were created through him and for him” who was the one who would gift creation to the Son?
Being baptized “in the name of” these three, is recognising the role that each played in that person’s decision to become a disciple of Christ.
Jehovah educated his son and “sent” him to rescue Adam’s children...he in turn teaching them all that his Father had taught him. (John 1:15-16) The Holy Spirit was active in all that God accomplished. His powerful spirit brought everything into existence from nothing.....but creation came “through” the Son, not “from” him.
This is what Bible study involves....allowing the Bible to speak for itself, not allowing popular opinion to interfere with what it really says....and allowing other Scripture to interpret meaning rather than church theology.
God has never been about popular opinion or majority view......”few” are found on the road to life for that very reason.....so, if you hold to such things in spite of being shown otherwise from the Scriptures....you are a deluded victim of deception......not a disciple. (Matt 7:13-14; 21-23)
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www.logos.com
