A gospel message - John 1:1-12 (short)

Scripture Reading

John 1:1-13 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

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

Our Scripture today focuses on who the Son of God is and who we are. In many ways it summarizes the gospel message. I want to take four points from this text today and focus on them.

Jesus is God

Jesus is light and Jesus is life

Man is sinful

Faith in Jesus alone saves

Our first point - Jesus is God

-  In the beginning was the Word

- The phrase in the beginning is a direct reference

- Genesis 1:1  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

- When John says the Word WAS in the beginning     - he is telling us the word WAS before the beginning.      - The Word existed before the creation of the universe.

When John tells that the Word was in the beginning, it is because the Word is more than just Words on a page, the Word is eternally found in God.

 Then John tells us that the Word was with God

After John opens our eyes to see that the Word is more than just pages in a book He shows us the Word is more than just one person.

There has been an eternal relationship between “the Word” John is describing and Father God

He shows us that the nature of the Word has eternally been with God.

Not only is the Word with God but the

Word was God

This second person spoken of here as the “the Word” has been in intimate relationship with God the Father throughout all eternity.

Now our eyes are opened even further to see that the Word being described here is not just Father God but this is The Son of God.

Philippians 2:6–8 “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons with three distinct roles.

Yet they are all fully One God, equal in their nature of being God.

Col 2:9 For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ.

The Son of God has the fullness of God's nature

Jesus was “Immanuel God with us”

Our second point - Jesus Christ is life and light

John 1:4–5 “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Jesus is the life.

Not only is this a reference to the reality that Jesus gave us life at creation

Breathing the breath of life into Adam, He upholds our very breath

But moreover it is a reference to the eternal life he now offers those who believe in Him.

John 14:6 Jesus told him " I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

- Jesus is the light

- Here John uses a phrase that many trained in Scripture would think of as being morally pure.

- John declares here and throughout the book of John that in Jesus is the light!

-  John 3:19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

- John 12:46 I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me would not remain in darkness.

The light of Jesus Christ shines in the darkness of the devils kingdom.

The light of Jesus shows us our sin and the way of salvation.

The forgiveness offered through his blood at the cross, will drive out the darkness of sin and bring eternal life.

the darkness can not overcome it

In the same way the darkness of a room cannot destroy the candle that brings light to the entire room.

We can see the light of Christ in the darkness of this fallen and broken world.

When we receive Christ and follow Him, He will be the lamp for our feet and the light for our path.

John 1:9 “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

The light of Jesus is the true light, which gives light to everyone, and He has come into the world.

Our third point - Man is sinful

John 1:10–11 “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”

The light of Jesus came not only into the world but it came to a people that were called by his name, the Israelites.

Because God is always faithful to his promises, he kept his promise to send a Messiah and deliver God’s chosen people from sin.

However, the people that were called by his name rejected their salvation and their own Messiah.

This shows us how man is sinful by nature and it is not simply identifying ourselves with God that makes us God’s child but it is about trusting in Him and the Messiah Jesus Christ.

It shows us that it does not matter what nation you come.

It does not matter how much money you make.

It does not matter what titles or degrees you have.

Man is sinful by nature and without trusting in the Messiah Jesus Christ alone, all men are condemned to eternity in hell.

Our last point - Faith in Jesus alone saves

John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

The apostle John tells us that there was a remnant that did recieve him.

Among the people of Israel there was a group of fishermen, political zealots, and even a tax collector that were willing to accept Jesus.

When Jesus found them he called them by name

Is Jesus calling your name today?

Jesus is the light of eternal life.

When a gift is given we must receive it.

What does it look like to receive the gift of God's grace?

It looks like believing on the person of Jesus Christ

To turn away from our pride, our man made religions, our lives of sin and turning to the living God

To turn away from building our own kingdoms in this world that will perish to an eternal kingdom that has no end.

It is not our willpower that saves but rather we must be willing to surrender to the salvation that Jesus has already provided when he paid the penalty for our sins on the cross.

We must believe in our heart that Jesus rose from the dead in victory over the grave.

When we believe on His name we recieve forgiveness of our sins and He gives us the right to become a child of the Most High God

When we believe in the name of Jesus we become a citizen of heaven.

We are given the right to be called a child of God.

We are born into an eternal family.

Has God been prompting your heart today to turn from the kingdoms of this world and to trust in the salvation found in Jesus.

Stand with me as a child of God. In a new family. In the eternal kingdom.

Give glory to Jesus as your LORD and Savior!

Amen