The beginning of the story of Christ is a beginning unlike any other. For unlike the subject of other stories, we cannot look back to Christ’s beginning: all we can do is look back to him as being the beginning. The beginning of his story is itself the beginning of all beginnings. For he himself is the beginning, he is the alpha, he is the first.
In the beginning, before the foundation of the world, before all things—indeed, before all time—Christ was.
Christ was in the beginning, but he was never alone. He was with God, in the presence of God, and God loved him. He was with God, loved by God, and, thus, distinguishable from God. Yet at the same time, he was indistinguishable from God: he was the very image of the invisible God, the exact imprint of his nature. He existed in the form of God and enjoyed equality with him. What God was, Christ was. He himself was God.
In the beginning, Christ was. He was with God. He was God.
Being God, Christ possessed in himself the glory of God. He shared glory with him who says he will not give his glory to another. Christ was the radiance of God’s own glory so that, through him, God himself was glorified.
This then, is how the story begins. In the beginning, before the foundation of the world, before all things, before all time, Christ was. He was with God. He was loved by God. He shared glory with God. He was God.
15 comments:
great post. in the Spirit of John 8:58, however, i'd recommend changing every "Christ was" to Christ is.
for example, paragraph 2:
In the beginning, before the foundation of the world, before all things--indeed, before all time--Christ is.
i just love how that reminds us of the mind numbing infinitity of our Great Savior.
Thanks, Danny.
It is indeed mind-numbing.
A precious view of our Lord and Savior. I am reading this on Suandy; what a wonderful way to end the Lord's day.
Thanks for the encouragement, David.
And now you run smack dap into the watershed issue, the question that determines the flow of the rest of man's theologizing; "Why did God create?" I get tired of hearing otherwise good theologians give anthropocentric answers to this question. God didn't need or want anything He didn't already have. Creation is an expression of something that already existed. But what?
Yes indeed, Rev.
Certainly, that which is, can only have come from that which has always been, and we have a glimpse of the latter in the passages to which this post alluded: there has always been a glorious God who has always had a glorious Son whom he has always loved with a glorious love. Somehow, the creation of the world must be understood as a function of these ultimate forces.
I think the answer is presented more clearly in the passages that describe the decrees God made in Christ before creation. It is to those passages I intend next to turn.
For now, however, I can do no better than to quote from Jonathan Edwards' "Essay Concerning the End for which God Created the World" (which I highly, highly, highly recommmend)
This propensity in God to diffuse himself may be considered as a propensity to himself diffused, or to his own glory existing in its emanation. A respect to himself, or an infinite propensity to and delight in his own glory, is that which causes him to incline to its being abundantly diffused, and to delight in the emanation of it. Thus, that nature in a tree, by which it puts forth buds, shoots out branches, and brings forth leaves and fruit, is a disposition that terminates in its own complete self. And so the disposition in the sun to shine, or abundantly to diffuse its fullness, warmth, and brightness is only a tendency to its own most glorious and complete state. So God looks on the communication of himself and the emanation of his infinite glory to belong to the fullness and completeness of himself, as though he were not in his most glorious state without it.
That is an awsome way to explain our wonderful savior. Thanks for taking time put it into words Brad.
Only wish I could have been there Sunday to hear David read it
I didn't read it publicly; I was reading it Sunday night before bedtime. But it would be worth reading publicly...
...
Creation is an expression of something that already existed. But what?
I wonder if the "what" hasn't already been expressed best by the inspired Psalmist everytime he says, "The heavens declare..." or "The works of His hands..."
i agree david.
i also think ephesians 1 presents a few more specifics with that:
it reveals the kind intention of His will
and
the glory of His grace
Hey Brad, just checking to see if I can post on your site. Sorry to interrupt the flow. BV
enjoyed your visit...even if it was WAY too brief!
Ben! Glad to see you dropped by. Post away.
Danny, Much agreed.
Hey Brad - really enjoyed lunch with you today!
blessings,
eric
Likewise, brother! I look forward to many more conversations.
Absolutely - and great post here by the way!
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