Reveal what God is like

John 1:14-18

Unveiling God: The Glory of His Revelation

Bible Passage: John 1:14–18

Summary: In this passage, the Apostle John emphasizes the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God, highlighting His glory, grace, and truth. The Word became flesh, demonstrating God's character and desires towards humanity.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand that knowing God is found in the person of Jesus Christ. For those struggling with perceptions of God, this message offers reassurance that God is accessible and desires a personal relationship, revealing Himself fully through Jesus.

Teaching: The sermon can teach that Jesus is the perfect representation of God, full of grace and truth. Through the incarnation, believers are called to not only know God but to reflect His character in their own lives.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of Scripture, this passage illustrates how the entire narrative of the Bible points to Jesus as the revelation of God. From creation to the culmination of His plan in Christ, Jesus embodies the fullness of God's love and purpose.

Big Idea: God reveals Himself through Jesus, who is the embodiment of grace and truth, inviting us into a personal relationship with the Divine.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider diving into the concept of 'Word' in the Greek context of 'Logos' and its implications for understanding Christ's nature. Use Logos to explore the connection between the Old Testament's portrayal of God and the New Testament's revelation through Jesus, examining key texts that clarify God's character. Additionally, investigate any text-critical issues surrounding the translation of key terms in John 1:14–18.

1. The Word Made Flesh

John 1:14

In this verse, John reveals that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us," emphasizing the tangible, close presence of God in Jesus Christ. You could highlight the extraordinary fact of God's willingness to be intimately connected with humanity by taking on human form. This incarnation is a profound demonstration of God's desire to be known and to know us intimately. Perhaps encourage your audience to ponder the significance of God living among us and within us through faith, and the transformation this reality can bring in our lives.

2. The Witness of One

John 1:15

John the Baptist testifies to Jesus’ preeminence, stating that He ranks before him because He existed prior to him. Maybe you could underscore how John's testimony serves to affirm Jesus' divine nature and eternal existence. This could reassure your audience that Jesus isn't just a historical figure, but the eternal God who has come to dwell with us. Consider encouraging them to reflect on this testimony as a confirmation of Jesus’ divine authority and our call to prioritize Him in our lives.

3. The Fullness of Grace

John 1:16–18

These verses capture the fullness of grace we receive through Jesus Christ. Perhaps stress the transformative power of experiencing God’s grace—a grace that replaces the law with truth and love. This passage suggests that through Jesus, God is not distant, but deeply personal, offering direct access to His truth and nature. Encourage your congregation to embrace this grace, fostering a relationship with God that is rooted in reconciling love and truth revealed in Jesus.

Seeing God Clearly: The Face of Grace

Bible Passage: John 1:14–18

Summary: John presents Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, bridging the gap between humanity and the divine. The glory of the Word made flesh highlights not only the nature of God but also how we can intimately experience His love and truth in our lives. This passage also addresses the fullness of grace distinct from the law, underscoring the new covenant brought through Christ.

Application: This sermon can help listeners who feel distanced from God recognize that Jesus is the clearest representation of God’s love, thus encouraging them to seek a deeper relationship with Him. It can also support Christians in understanding their identity in Christ as bearers of grace in the world.

Teaching: The main teaching is that Jesus, as the embodiment of grace and truth, reveals God’s character and invites us into a transformative relationship. This understanding compels believers to reflect the grace they have received to others.

How this passage could point to Christ: In Scripture, Jesus is portrayed as the fulfillment of the old covenant and a revelation of God's ultimate plan for restoration. He is not only the messenger but the embodiment of the message of redemption throughout biblical history.

Big Idea: Through Jesus, we find that God's nature is one of grace that redefines our understanding of law and relationship, calling us to a life that mirrors His love to the world.

Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon, it could be beneficial to use Logos to explore the historical context of grace in relation to Jewish law in the First Century. Investigate the interplay between grace and law, especially how earlier scriptures like the Torah articulate God’s expectations versus the grace presented in the New Testament. Additionally, examining early church responses to grace might provide practical insight for the congregation's understanding of living out this truth.

1. God's Glory in Flesh

John 1:14

Perhaps, you could emphasize that the incarnation of Jesus represents God's decision to dwell among us, exhibiting His glory and nature in a tangible form. This verse reveals the profound truth that God is not distant, but present, inviting us to a personal encounter with His love and truth through Jesus. Encouraging believers to embrace this closeness could deepen their faith and encourage them to reflect His glory in their daily lives.

2. John's Joyful Testimony

John 1:15

You could suggest that John the Baptist's testimony is a crucial reminder that Christ's supremacy predates and overshadows all. This acknowledgment serves as a foundation for understanding how God’s grace, seen in Jesus, transcends all human notions of worth and accomplishment. By highlighting this, listeners might be encouraged to place their identity and value in Christ, fostering a life that prioritizes His eternal purposes over temporal concerns.

3. Grace Upon Grace

John 1:16–18

Maybe, you could focus on how these verses underscore the fullness of grace and truth that Jesus brings. Unlike the law which was seen as rigid and condemning, grace is shown as generous and life-giving. This comparison can help believers understand the transformative power of grace which calls them to extend grace to others, embodying the compassion and love of Christ in a fragmented world.

God Made Visible: The Incarnation of Christ

Bible Passage: John 1:14–18

Summary: This passage highlights the profound mystery of the Incarnation, revealing that God chose to enter human existence to communicate His love and truth. In Jesus, God is not just observed from afar; He is experienced in human form, teaching us about His character through His actions and words. John's declaration that Jesus is both fully God and fully man reinforces that our understanding of God requires engagement with the life of Christ.

Application: The sermon can aid Christians in recognizing that their understanding of God is shaped through the lens of Jesus’ life and ministry. It reassures those struggling with doubt that they can confidently approach a God who is revealed intimately and personally in Christ, encouraging them to seek a relationship grounded in this truth.

Teaching: This message teaches that the Incarnation demonstrates God's deep desire for relationship with humanity. By becoming fully human, Jesus bridges the gap between God and man, inviting us to know Him personally and live out our faith in community with others.

How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout the Scriptures, Christ is the fulfilling of God’s promise to be with His people. From the Old Testament prophecies concerning Immanuel, God with us, to Revelation where Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Incarnation encapsulates the grand narrative of God’s relentless pursuit of relationship with humanity.

Big Idea: Through the Incarnation, we learn that God is not a distant deity but a personal Savior who desires communion with us, calling us to embody that same relational spirit in our interactions with others.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider using Logos to explore the implications of the word 'Incarnation' in both early church writings and historical contexts. It may also be helpful to investigate various theological interpretations of the dual nature of Christ and how these have shaped Christian doctrine. Don’t forget to look into how John’s perspective complements the Synoptic Gospels' presentation of Jesus’ life and ministry, particularly concerning His relationships with the marginalized.

1. Word Became Flesh

John 1:14

You could emphasize how the Word becoming flesh is a transformative declaration that God bridged the divine-human gap by taking on our humanity. The incarnation makes God accessible; He is not distant but fully present in Jesus. This revelation encourages believers to deepen their relationship with Christ, knowing God intimately understands human struggles. As God came to dwell among us, He invites us to dwell in His presence, embodying His love in our earthly relationships.

2. Witness to Grace

John 1:15-17

Perhaps focus on how John’s testimony about Jesus stresses His preeminence and fullness compared to the law given through Moses. Jesus, full of grace and truth, shows that God’s revelation is not merely rules but a loving relationship offered to all. Believers can approach life with the assurance that they have received endless grace through Jesus. This grace empowers them to live out God's truth in their interactions with others, reflecting the relational nature of God's kingdom.

3. Visible God Revealed

John 1:18

Maybe explore how the unseen God has been made known through Jesus—God in visible form. This passage assures those with doubts that God’s character and desires are understandable through Christ’s teachings and actions. God’s plan has always been a personal relationship with humanity, fulfilled uniquely in Christ. Encouraging believers to seek Jesus through scripture and prayer, they can grow in understanding God’s timeless love, calling them to authentic communion with Him and each other.