Theological Meaning of Embracing Jesus Christ
The Greek verb προσδεχόμενοι (prosdechomenoi), meaning "awaiting" or "receiving," is used in Titus 2:13 to describe the act of embracing Jesus Christ, specifically in the context of awaiting His appearing [2]. This concept is central to the Christian faith, as it involves not only the acceptance of Christ as Savior but also the anticipation of His return.
In the New Testament, the idea of receiving or embracing Christ is closely tied to faith and the act of becoming a follower of Jesus. According to John Gill, receiving Christ involves believing in Him with the heart, embracing Him as Savior, and accepting His teachings [7]. This reception is not merely intellectual but a deep, spiritual acceptance that transforms one's life.
The Colossians were exhorted to continue in the faith as they had received Christ Jesus the Lord, indicating that their initial reception of Christ was a foundational moment in their spiritual journey [5]. Adam Clarke interprets this as continuing to hold fast to the doctrine of Christ and not being turned aside by false teachings [5].
The act of embracing Christ is also associated with the concept of adoption, where believers become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Easton's Bible Dictionary describes adoption as an act of God's grace that brings men into the number of His redeemed family [3].
In Hebrews 12:2, Jesus is described as the "author and perfecter of faith," indicating His central role in the life of believers. The passage encourages believers to look to Jesus, enduring hardship as He did, and to fix their eyes on Him [1].
The theological meaning of embracing Jesus Christ encompasses a range of concepts, including faith, adoption, and the anticipation of His return. It involves a deep, personal acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord, and a commitment to follow Him. As John Calvin notes, the knowledge of Christ is not merely intellectual but involves a personal experience of His grace and love [4].
The embracing of Christ is a pivotal theme in Christian theology, reflecting the intimate relationship between believers and Jesus Christ. As Charles Hodge observes, this relationship involves a union with Christ, where believers become "flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone" through the Holy Spirit [6].
The New Testament writers emphasize the importance of holding fast to the faith and continuing in the teachings of Christ. The act of embracing Christ is not a one-time event but a ongoing process of deepening one's relationship with Him.
Sources
- Hebrews “looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -- Hebrews 12:2”
- MACULA Greek “Titus 2:13 — Greek linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: προσδεχόμενοι τὴν μακαρίαν ἐλπίδα καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τῆς δόξης τοῦ μεγάλου Θεοῦ καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ Word-by-word: προσδεχόμενοι = "awaiting" [4327] V-PNP-NPM; τὴν = "the" [3588] T-ASF; μακαρίαν = "blessed" [3107] A-ASF; ἐλπίδα = "hope" [1680] N-ASF; καὶ = "and" [2532] CONJ; ἐπιφάνειαν = "[the] appearing" [2015] N-ASF; τῆς = "of the" [3588] T-GSF; δόξης = "glory" [1391] N-GSF; τοῦ = "of the" [3588] T-GSM; μεγάλου = "great" [3173] A-GSM; Θεοῦ = "God" [2316] N-GSM; καὶ = "and" [2532] CONJ; Σωτῆρος = "Savior" [4990] N-GSM; ἡμῶν = "of us”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Adoption — The giving to any one the name and place and privileges of a son who is not a son by birth. (1.) Natural. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses (Ex. 2:10), and Mordecai Esther (Esther 2:7). (2.) National. God adopted Israel (Ex. 4:22; Deut. 7:6; Hos. 11:1; Rom. 9:4). (3.) Spiritual. An act of God's grace by which he brings men into the number of his redeemed family, and makes them partakers of all the blessings he has provided for them. Adoption represents the new relations into which the believer is introduced by justification, and the privileges connecte”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 98: was formerly given to the Jews, is more obscure and less perfectly attested to us. If this cannot be said without extreme insult to Christ, by whom the infinite goodness of the Father has 2533 been more brightly and benignly than ever shed upon the earth, and declared to men, it must be confessed that it cannot be more confined, and less clearly manifested, than under the obscure shadows of the law. 7. Hence our Lord Jesus Christ, to give an example from which the world might learn that he had come to enlarge rather than to limit t”
- Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 2:6: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus - Many persons lay a certain stress on the words as and so, and make various fine heads of discourses from them; viz. As ye received Christ in a spirit of humility, so walk in him; as ye received him in a spirit of faith, so walk in him, etc., etc. This may be all proper in itself; but nothing of the kind was intended by the apostle. His meaning is simply this: Seeing ye have embraced the doctrine of Christ, continue to hold it fast, and not permit yourselves to be turned aside by sophistical or Judaizing teachers.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 69: Christ?” “It is not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the pardon of sin and eternal life; but also, besides that, to become more and more united to his sacred body by the Holy Ghost, who dwells at once both in Christ and in us; so that we, though Christ is in heaven, and we on earth, are notwithstanding, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone; and we live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as the members of the same body are by one soul.” “Do then the bread and wine ”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:6: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,.... Receiving Christ is believing in him: faith is the eye of the soul, that sees the beauty, glory, fulness, and suitableness of Christ; the foot that goes to him, and the hand that takes hold on him, and the arm that receives and embraces him; so that this is not a receiving him into the head by notion, but into the heart by faith; and not in part only, but in whole: faith receives a whole Christ, his person as God and man; him in all his offices, as prophet, priest, and King; particularly as a Saviour and Rede”