John 1:1-5, 14

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Christmas Sermon:

Preached similar sermon on Deity

Focus Here on Incarnation (Humanity)

-Explain use of NASB

Read John 1.1-18

John 1:1–18 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ ”

16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

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-Notes on beginning of synoptic gospels

John 20:30–31 (ESV)

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 1:1 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning...

Notes on “In the beginning”

Genesis 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

John 1:1 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning was the Word...

Notes on “The Word”

“The idea of God, who is in his own nature hidden, revealing himself in creation, is the root of the Logos-idea.” - WSNT

John 1:1 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God...

Notes on above

John 17:5 (ESV)

5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 1:1 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Notes

‘The translation “what God was the Word was” is perhaps the most nuanced rendering, conveying that everything God was in essence, the Word was too.

This points to unity of essence between the Father and the Son without equating the persons — NET Notes

John 1:2 (NASB95)

2 He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:3 (NASB95)

3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Note

John 1:4 (ESV)

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Notes

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word...

Identified in verse 14 as Jesus

Confirmed in:

Revelation 19:13 (ESV)

13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...

The incarnation!

The eternal Logos, becoming human!

Why?

Galatians 4:4–5 (ESV)

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

What we see in verse 12:

John 1:12–13 (ESV)

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV)

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power...

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

John 1:9 (ESV)

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

1 John 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us...

That’s what verse 4 means

John 1:4 (ESV)

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

This is what the incarnation accomplished.

But, Why are so many, so hostile to it?

John 3:18–21 (ESV)

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

There is much hostility to the Light!

But just like it was with the first creation...

We have this promise regarding this new era of creation:

John 1:5 (ESV)

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

And that’s what Christmas should remind us of.

Let’s pray