The Eternal Christ
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
AG:
TS: The first 18 verses of John serve as a prologue for the Gospel of John. Throughout these verses the major themes handled in John are introduced.
The main theme is “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
RS:
1. His Relationship to the Father
1. His Relationship to the Father
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
A. Christ’s Eternity Declared
A. Christ’s Eternity Declared
John begins “in the beginning” just like Genesis 1 does.
We are taken back in eternity past before the cross, King David, Moses, Abraham, Adam, and even the universe itself
He already existed in the beginning
In the beginning only God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) existed). Somewhere along the way, they created Angels and then later in “time” the events of the Bible open.
Jn 1:1 Says, “in the beginning was the Word
This makes “The Word” (Jesus) eternal.
No beginning and no end
Before all things He was
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John’s focus was not on the man, Jesus, but on the divine, eternal, Jesus
Thus he gives no genealogy like Matthew and Luke.
The Word was WITH God
the Greek word implies a face to face meeting.
The Bible declares God is a trinity (3 in 1)
Here, we see plurality (more than 1) because the Spirit isn’t mentioned.
He is both WITH GOD and HE WAS GOD
B. Christ’s Deity Declared
B. Christ’s Deity Declared
He is GOD.
John made that point immediately!
Holman Concise Bible Commentary (The Word Became Flesh (1:1–18))
In using the term “Word” (logos), John was using a term familiar to both Jews and Greeks, though each attributed a different meaning to the term.
For the Greek mind the “Word” referred to the rational principle that supervised or governed the universe.
To the Jew, “Word” was a reference to God.
Thus John wanted to equate the “Word” with God while noting that the Word was distinct from the Father. John stated that Jesus was with God “in the beginning” and that through Christ “all things were made.” Jesus is therefore seen as co-eternal with God and as the Creator
Even when He took on flesh (v. 14) He remained GOD
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
The Bible allows no place for atheism
there is no room for doubt about how God has spoken: Through His word
2. His Relationship to the World
2. His Relationship to the World
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
A. He is the Creator
A. He is the Creator
Nothing exists that He didn’ t make
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
As Creator, God alone fully understands the universe.
in science, humans have observed the universe and tried to explain how things were formed, work, and predict what will happen in the future.
We are limited in our knowledge, God isn’t
Bible Science Then Science Now
B. He is light and life
B. He is light and life
His life gives light to everyone, and the darkness cannot extinguish it.
Christ brought life, a life that serves as the “light” for all people.
He came to bring life beyond mere human life
He brought eternal life with God
He brought the light of truth
Puts on full display our condition and pathway
Have you ever gotten dressed in the dark? One time when our lights were out and we had to get ready for school in the dark, I took a small flashlight and tried to shave. I thought I did a great job! When I arrived as school and saw myself properly illuminated, I saw streaks and patches. Thankfully, I had razors in my desk.
The light of Jesus shines into our world and we see our true condition
We are lost in need of a Savior
This opens the door for eternal life to all of us through Him!
Sadly, though He created the world, the world did not recognize Him
3. His Incarnation
3. His Incarnation
A. The Miracle
A. The Miracle
And the Word became 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.
This is my favorite verse related to the birth of Jesus.
The other gospels speak of earthly things:
angels messages, mangers, shepherds, etc.
This speaks of heaven’s side!
The eternal Word: who was both with God and was God
Took on flesh- literally tabernacled among us!
The infinite became finite
The Eternal conformed to time
The Invisible became visible
The Supernatural reduced Himself to the natural
He was God in the flesh, the GODMAN
fully God and fully human!
Due to this, we see His glory
We see God with flesh on
Yes, His flesh veiled the glory of God at time, but at other times we will see His glory shine through! (Walking on water, raising the dead, etc)
He displays the charactistics of God
Grace, goodness, mercy, wisdom, truth, etc.
John may well have had Exodus 34:5-6 in mind
Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
B. The Mission
B. The Mission
That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
The light of Christ shines into the world and we see our condition clearly in contrast.
It highlights our sin and we see our savior
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Christlikeness
Christ the transforming Light
Touches this heart of mine
Piercing the darkest night
Making His glory shine.
—J. Wilbur Chapman
He came to save sinners
Some Rejected
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
The world and even His fellow countrymen did not understand Him
They wanted physical deliverance from an oppressive government
As noble as that is, they had a far greater need
They needed deliverance from their sin
Jesus didn’t live up to their expectations, so they rejected Him
To the Jew, He is considered a failed Messiah
He went partway, but didn’t finish the job
Sadly, they missed His most important job: atoning for sin
Rejection of Jesus brings condemnation
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Some received Him
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Those who believed Him became children of God
To receive Him means
1. to acknowledge His claims
He claimed to be God
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
I and My Father are one.”
He claimed to give eternal life
He claimed both the Father and He will keep those who are saved
2. place one’s faith in Him
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Trust in Him for eternal life
3. thereby yield allegiance to Him
Follow him as Lord
Those truly saved, are completely changed and will persevere forever
The saints prove their conversion by their perseverance, and that perseverance comes from a continual supply of divine grace to their souls.
The Candle, Volume 27, Sermon #1594 - Matthew 5:15, 16
Charles Spurgeon
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Have you trusted in the Eternal Christ?