John (2)

Introduction: Some people need no introductions. Since this was election week in Ohio, I suppose we all have some kind an idea of who Tim Ryan, and JD Vance are. Now, that idea may have been persuaded depending on who was doing the talking, but never the less, if they walked into our gathering today we would visually recognize who they were without an introduction.

In a similar fashion, it seems that Jesus has gained the same type of recognition in our culture. We may think He needs no introductions, because many people have some idea of who He is. But depending on who is doing the talking we may have a very clear or cloudy view of who Jesus really is.

Just because we can visually recognize a person does not mean we no anything about who the truly are. Any up to date I Phone has facial recognition, but that electronic device certainly doesn’t know you intimately. We may have heard a lot of information about Jesus, but still yet are not known by Him.

Last week we started a series working through the gospel of John. John the apostle is introducing Jesus in a day when many people had an opinion about who He was. One thing is for sure, Jesus was not running for re-election, but John was writing in order to clear up any muddy water about who Jesus is. Why would God use Him to write down the holy Scripture of another gospel? So that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing , we would have life in His name.

Today, we are going to work through John’s introduction of Jesus in the first 18 verses of chapter one where we will discover that Jesus is God. (Read the Passage)

Look first at 1:18. Jesus Himself made this claim and His Jewish opponents understood that he was claiming to be God. John 10:22-33

How is this truth revealed in 1:1-18? How do we know with certainty that Jesus is God? Because… (Outline the chapter)

Jesus is the eternal Word (1-3)

Explain: the self existent one.

O.T. Connection: Genesis 1

We Believe: Read from BFM Article II.B.

Jesus is the true Light (4-13)

Explain:

O.T. Connection Isaiah 42:5-9

Physical darkness is difficult, but spiritual darkness destroys. Illustrate. Point: Praise be to God who has illuminated, sized, laid hold of the darkness and brought true light into the world.

Receive means to welcome and take hold. Example: Like a groom would receive his wife from her father.

Jesus is the incarnate Word (14-18)

Explain:

O.T. connection to presence of God in the tabernacle and temple.

Illustrate:

Closing: Jesus is completely God. This reality has been revealed through the eye witness account of the apostle John who has recorded by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the very words that bring clarity and precision to the identity of Jesus Christ. We need not remain in uncertainty, doubt, unbelief, suspicion, or skepticism. He who is completely God has made God completely known. This clarity grants us confidence to receive Jesus Christ, to believe in His name, to become a child of God, and to have life in His name.

Often, when cold air mixes with warm ground temperature fog is formed. Fog makes it difficult to navigate, and get where we need to go. In a similar way, false ideas about Jesus often mix with the revealed truth of what has been written in the Scriptures. The result is foggy identities, foggy ideas about life, foggy behaviors for those who claim to follow Christ, foggy doubts and fears, and misguided obedience.

The fog has lifted. The truth has been revealed. Jesus is God. Receive Him as He has revealed Himself, and have life in His name. Reject Him or receive a false notion about Him as revealed by our own philosophies or notions of what we want in a Savior, and we will perish.

The good news of hope and eternal life is offered and available only through faith in the Eternal Word, True light, who is God in the flesh. Will you receive Him today?