Christ The Word
Of God
Revelation 19:13
The Lord Jesus Christ is frequently called
"the Word of God" in the New Testament (John 1:1; Heb. 4:12; II Pet.
3:5; I John 1:1-2; 5:7; Rev. 19:13). Without question, he is called the Word of
God because the Jewish writers, from ancient times, spoke of the Messiah as the
Word of God, and the Apostles wanted their countrymen to know that Christ is
the Messiah, that he is indeed the Word of God. But this name is given to the
Son of God for other reasons too.
CHRIST IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD BECAUSE
HE IS THE SON OF GOD. As a word, whether silent or expressed, is the birth of
the mind, the image of it, and equal to it, and yet distinct from it, so Christ
is the only begotten of the Father. He is the express image of the invisible
God. Indeed, he is God, in all things equal with the Father. Yet, he is a
distinct Person in the Holy Trinity (John 1:1).
CHRIST IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD BECAUSE
HE IS THE LIVING WORD OF WHOM THE WRITTEN WORD SPEAKS. Everything recorded in
Holy Scripture speaks of Christ. All the Old Testament Scriptures promise him.
The four Gospels present him. Acts, the Epistles of the New Testament, and the
Book of Revelation proclaim him (Luke 24:27, 44, 45).
CHRIST IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD BECAUSE
OF THE WORKS ASCRIBED TO HIM. He is the Word of God who spoke for God's elect
in the council and covenant of grace before the world began. He spoke for us in
the council chambers of the Triune God as our Surety, agreeing to do his Father's
will for the accomplishment of our salvation (Psa. 40:6-8; Heb. 10; 5-10).
Christ is the Word by whom all things were created. He spoke all things into
being out of nothing (John 1:3). As the Word of God, Christ is the Revelation
of God's Being and the Interpreter of the Father's mind to us (John
Don Fortner