Logos

The word logos means “word.” In John’s Gospel, he uses it in various ways—technical, philosophical, and doctrinal, but before we think of these dense topics, we have to remember when it was used differently. Throughout the New Testament, logos is a common word with little significance; however, after the arrival of Christ Jesus, this ordinary word becomes extraordinarily significant to the Church’s purpose and message.

Ho logos—the word, is almost a synonym for the Christian message. Mark tells us that Jesus preached “the word” to the crowds (Mark 2:2). Jesus taught in the parable of the sower that the seed the sower sowed was “the word” (Mark 4:14). Paul and his accomplices preached “the word” (Acts 14:25). Yet many times when we hear “the word,” we connect it to the Word of God (Luke 5:1, 11:28; John 10:35; Acts 4:31; 1 Corinthians 14:36; Hebrews 13:7).

Regardless of the case, the Christian usage of the word indicates something that came from God or something that tells about God, or something that humanity could not have acquired on their own.

For Christians, the word is a spoken message that cannot be learned from a book or something transmitted from person to person. In other words, the true word of the Christian message comes through the living person of Jesus Christ rather than some ink marks on a written page.

The Christian message—the Word—that we are called to proclaim is used in at least seven different ways in the New Testament.

(1) The Logos of God is a Word of Good News (Acts 15:7). When we hear the Word it brings us good tidings of great joy that is for all people. The good news of the Word causes Christians during the Christmas season to sing of wondrous joy. When one discovers God’s magnificent love for all of his children, it is undoubtedly a word of considerable joy.

(2) The Logos of God is a word of Truth (John 17:7). The entirety of life is the search for truth. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” yet not even Pilate could answer it. How intolerable life would be if there were no fixed points of truth. How terrible it would be to have no firm foundation of absolute truth; but do not despair—God’s word is truth!

(3) The Logos of God is a Word of Life (Philippians 2:16). When we hear the Good News of the Gospel Message, it calls all men and women to stop existing and start living the abundant (flourishing) life God intends for all who will truth in him.

(4) The Logos of God is a Word of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19). The Good News informs us that we are not enemies of God, but friends, join heirs with Jesus, and those Christ has reconciled. The greatest gift of the Word is that it removes the estrangement between humanity and God.

(5) The Logos of God is a Word of Righteousness (Hebrews 5:13). The word tells you where goodness can be found and establishing a standard for holy living. Through righteousness, we have power over temptation and evil; nevertheless, the power we possess has its source in the Word of God.

(6) The Logos of God is a Word of Salvation (Acts 13:26). Praise the Lord! We have been saved from ourselves, our sins, and our punishment! For all who will trust in Christ Jesus, we have established ourselves firmly in the truth that through him (and only him), we will be saved!

(7) The Logos of God is a Word of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:18). The Good News is the story of one who died for all humankind. It is a story of unmerited grace and love that would not stop until it reached the limits of total sacrifice. Therefore, the essence of the Gospel is its heart, the heart of God, broken on Calvary’s cross so that we may have victory through Christ Jesus our Lord.