Comprehending Christ

 

I am writing this as we are entering the Christmas season — the “mass” or “celebration” of Christ. Many scholars actually believe Christ was born in the flesh in September, not December. Rather than getting wound up about when Christ came in the flesh, let’s rejoice that He came. 

Christ — Uncreated, One with and Equal to Father God

Christ as the uncreated begotten Son of the Father has always been. The Nicene Creed is very specific in its wording. It was stringently, stridently hashed out and agreed upon by Church fathers who often violently disagreed on so many other issues.  This wording, which is mostly taken from scripture and is what we base our very faith upon, outlines “Who is Christ?” And it was needed to combat a multitude of heresies, especially Gnosticism and Arianism that were besieging the early church and that we can still find operating inside and outside of the church today. It states that the Lord Jesus Christ is:

[The Son of God, the Only-begotten,] Begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made; of one being with the Father, through Whom all things were made:

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, Whose kingdom shall have no end.

Ancient Heresies with Modern Trappings

The truth that Jesus, the Christ, is a Son Who is and was not created and is equal to (one with and of the same substance as) Father God and Holy Spirit addresses the heresy of Arianism and its more recent expressions in the doctrine of penal substitution. 

The truth that He came in the flesh as a human, both human and divine (hypostatic union), addresses the heresies found in Gnosticism and Dualism. 

The truth that He is the ONLY begotten son of God, “not made,” combats the popular humanistic heresy today that humanity, which was created, IS God. We, as sons/daughters, are NOT big “G” God but are little “g” gods (John 10:34). We partake of and express divinity (2 Pet. 1:4; Col. 1:27), but are NOT THE Source in and of ourselves (John 15:5). We did not create ourselves and do not have the sweeping authority over the metron (area of influence) of ALL creation, but our individual limited metrons (area of influence). We are “AS Christ is”(1 John 4:17), but we are not Christ, Himself. 

Christ as THE Word

Now that we’ve gotten some of these ancient (with modern twists) heresies out of the way, let’s explore some breathtaking perspectives of Who we actually do celebrate during Christmas! John 1:1–3 (New American Standard Bible 1995) says:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Christ IS the Word, scripture says. Scripture is scripture and is inspired but is not THE Word Who is Christ. Scripture does its life-giving job when it points toward Him accurately OR shows us where WE have been confused about how we have seen and understood Him. It progressively unveils God so that we see Him most accurately revealed in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). Prior to that, He was veiled as separate, angry, distant, punitively wrathful …

All Creation in Christ

All creation was created through Him, without exception, and is in Him. All creation includes unbelievers. There is no place that He is not in creation (omnipresent God? Yes!). Unbelievers (those who don’t believe in Christ or believers who do, but struggle with unbelief in specific areas) by definition just don’t believe yet; thus, are not able to experience the full benefits of being in Christ. John 1:4–5 (NASB 1995) brings this out:  

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (emphasis mine).

Humanity in Darkness

Where we have darkness and struggle comprehending Christ — the Light of every human — is where we need Holy Spirit’s help to do so by enlightening the eyes of our understanding (Eph. 1:17–19).

John 1:911 (NASB 1995) reiterates humanity’s problem!

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him (emphasis mine). 

Humanity Coming to The Light

John 1:12–13 (NASB 1995) elucidates humanity’s solution!

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

We need to comprehend Christ! 

The word comprehend is the Greek word katalambanō, which means to 

take eagerly, seize, possess, apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-)take.

Comprehending Christ, Grasping Love

This is why Paul prayed so passionately in Ephesians 3:16–19 (NASB 1995)

16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (emphasis mine).

Comprehending Christ involves an unveiling of hidden limitless riches. Ephesians 3:16–19 (The Passion Translation) puts it this gorgeous way:

16 And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.

17 Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.

18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

And I pray that Love pours in and through you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God in this and every season you are in!

 

Much Love,

Catherine