Semper Reformanda

“… to seek and to save” | The Advent of Christ | 1/25

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 (KJV)

The word ἔρχομαι (come), is a middle voice of primary verb. (G2064)[1] The subject acts, and the subject is acted upon (both active, and passive voice). It is widely recognised as a deponent verb. It is in a middle form, but translated as an active verb. (Cline, 1983)[2] There is a poetic resonance to the verb and the content of the scripture. Christ has arrived on a ‘seek and save’ mission. (Vos, 1992)[3] Heaven is not yet realised for the elect, nor are they hopeless. But the chief consolation for the believers is that YHWH is not an aloof, distant, brooding God. He is not on a maintenance or drifting mode. He is on an active seeking mode to save and rescue is own. (Piper, 2014)[4]

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2064/kjv/tr/0-1/

[2] Cline, G. (1983). The Middle Voice in the New Testament

[3] Vos, G. (1992). Seeking and Saving the Lost

[4] Piper, J. (2014). The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

“… of his fulness” | The Advent of Christ

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth… And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. John 1:14-16 (KJV)

The word ‘fulness’ is derived from plērōma; and in its literal sense it means to ‘cram (a net).’ (G4137)[1] Other meanings include ‘to make full,’ or ‘to bring to a realisation,’ or to execute. Relate that to the way it has been used with reference to ‘the advent of Christ.’[2] It could mean, a divine fulness. The fulness of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit filling up our lives. Or in other words, the fulness is divine. And the fact that the fulness came to dwell among us means that the fulness is accessible. Because the fulness reaches us, “not just from God, but through God.” Piper (2014)[3] refers to this fulness as ‘spiritual comprehension;’ it is a fulness experienced, not just understood. The advent of Christ signifies this: it is the fulness of grace and truth, the divine Himself made accessible for us, to restore us to his fulness.

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4137/kjv/tr/0-1/

[2] The phrase ‘advent of Christ’ in simpler words means Christmas. But considering how the latter word is suffocated with modern meanings of culture, consumerism, politics, et cetera, I prefer the longer phrase.

[3] Piper, J. (2014). The Dawning of Indestructible Joy

The Advent of Christ: Meditations

This season, I plan to run a twenty-five-day meditation on ‘the advent of Christ.’ I draw inspirations from Piper. J. (2014) The Dawning of Indestructible Joy. I will begin posting from 27.11.25. The blogposts will remain meditational. I did a similar blog-series a few years ago. It was called Love, Peace, Joy. I plan to keep this short and reflective; and focus on familiar Biblical truth(s). I hope you will join along. Please feel free to share your insights as well.

Shalom!

Image: The Nativity of Jesus Christ, Unknown Artist, c.1675-1700, Moscow, Russia, National Gallery Ireland