“In the beginning was the Word (Gk. Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

"In the beginning was the Word (Gk. Logos), and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).

In the holy Gospel of Saint John we read: "In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:1-5).

Orthodox Christian theology teaches that the center of Christianity is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. In fact, He is the centerpiece of all history. But the world struggles with His identity. Who is He? Is He God? Is He man? Both? The Holy Scriptures clearly answer these crucial questions.

In his holy Gospel, Saint John gives a specific and definitive explanation of who Christ is. "In the beginning was the Word (Gk. Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (1:1). Saint John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, revealed God the Word as "the Light" (1:6-7). "The Word (Logos) became flesh and dwelt among us" (1:4). Who then is Jesus Christ?

(1) He is God, for He was with God from before all time. Clearly, the One born Jesus of Nazareth did not have His beginning in His earthly birth. Rather, He is the Eternal Son of God, without beginning. There never was a time when the Son of God did not exist.

(2) He is also man, for He "became flesh." He has become one of us, being like us in all things but without sin.

(3) He acts both as God and as man, doing what is appropriate for rech nature in the unity provided by His one Divine Person. Never does Divine Nature and activity become changed into human nature and activity. The two are in union WITHOUT CONFUSION. Christ does, however, "energize" human nature with Divine energy so that human nature is redeemed from sin and death and brought into union with God, He thus "DEIFIES" humanity.

The miracle of these incomparable truths is known as the knowledge of Christ or "CHRISTOLOGY," Many documents have expounded on Christology, but the definitive text is the NICENE-CONSTANTINOPOLITAN CREED, the outcome of the First and Second Ecumenical Synods (Councils) in the 4th Century. The Creed of Chalcedon (issued by the Fourth Ecumenical Synod, A.D. 451) embodies other truths concerning the INCARNATION OF THE Logos (Word). These creeds set the Doctrinal fences outside of which WE DO NOT WANDER IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST.

The holy Apostle John bears witness to Christ: "That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Logos (Word) of Life–THE LIFE WAS MANIFESTED, AND WE HAVE SEEN, AND BEAR WITNESS, AND DECLARE TO YOU THAT ETERNAL LIFE WHICH WAS WITH THE FATHER AND WAS MANIFESTED TO US–THAT WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD WE DECLARE TO YOU, THAT YOU ALSO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US; AND TRULY OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST" (1 John 1:1-3).

We, too, bear witness to Jesus Christ. For since God became man, and we are united with Him in baptism, we experience His Incarnation in our lives. The MIRACLE of Christology for us is that, as the Son of God became man, we in turn may partake of God. (Resources: Orthodox Study Bible)

As Orthodox Christians we believe that as the Divine Logos (Word) Incarnate, Christ is also the Source of LIFE and enlightenment. Because the Logos (Word) is God, He is Life: only God has life in Himself. By seeing and participating in Jesus Christ’s life BELIEVERS BECOME "LIGHT" and "CHILDREN OF LIGHT (John 12:36). Moses saw this Light in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2). Prophet Isaiah saw it in his heavenly vision (Isaiah 6:1-5), and holy Apostles Peter, James and John saw it on the Mount of Transfiguration (Gk. Metamorphosis) (Matthew 17:2). In the Divine Liturgy at All-Holy Pascha (Easter), light breaks forth from the night at the proclamation of the Resurrection: "Come, take light from the Light that is never overtaken by night. Come, glorify Christ, Risen from the dead." On the other hand "darkness" is the satanic wickedness which actively opposes the Light. Though the world has embraced darkness (John 3:19), the Logos/Word freely offer Light to all. Although "darkness" will oppose the Light, yet CANNOT DEFEAT THE LIGHT! The "TRUE LIGHT", Jesus Christ, ENLIGHTENS EVERY PERSON, but the world as we see even currently REFUSES TO RECEIVE AND LIVE IN THIS LIGHT, AND DOES NOT "KNOW Him" (John 1:9-10). Our Holy Orthodox Church chants in the hymn after Holy Communion, "WE HAVE SEEN THE TRUE LIGHT, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE HEAVENLY SPIRIT, WE HAVE FOUND THE TRUE FAITH BY WORSHIPPING THE UNDIVIDED TRINITY; FOR THIS HATH SAVE US."

In the Old Testament the holy Prophets saw the Logos/Word of God as the presence of the Lord. This phrase "The Word/Logos was God", reveals He is not only from thy Father, He is COEQUAL and COETERNAL WITH THE Father: ONE IN DIVINITY WITH HIM. "I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE" (John 10:30). Some mistranslated this phrase "the Word was a god" (John 10:30) to propagate THEIR HERESY that the Son is a created being, NOT fully Divine. Such a translation is wrong and heresy. The Logos/Word is co-Creator of all things with the Father (Genesis 1 and Psalm 33:6 9), not merely an "instrument" or a "servant" of creation, Will, operation, and power are seen to be one in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ Saint John Chrysostomos

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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George