In The Beginning

Today we start fresh in a new study...

The title of the rather lengthy and prayerfully, in depth study, from the Gospel of John is:

“Christ Revealed”

The author does not reveal his name by definitive title, yet, he calls himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

The understanding of which authors wrote the gospels goes all the way back to the apostolic era. All knew it was John.

John had a brother named James and they together were known as Boanerges or Sons of Thunder. Mainly for their temperaments: they wanted to call down fire on Samaria at one point of Luke 9, but also sought places of authority in The Lord’s kingdom (Mark).

Let’s just say the Lord had to redirect them a bit...

We can also note John runs a little faster than Peter...just sayin’...if you don’t get that one ask a neighbor.

But this morning we dive into the beginning of John’s Gospel...

Some important words to acknowledge in John’s Gospel: Truth (mentioned 25 times); love is mentioned 80 times.

So John is concerned with love and truth.

But if you scan John’s writings for a prolific word, you will come across the word believe...he uses believe at least 100 times.

John was concerned with: truth, proclaimed in love, and believed for hope and life.

I find it educational and informative to note that the church argued for a couple of hundred years about what we are proclaiming this morning.

Before we remind you of the early church fathers statement about the verses we will dive into this morning, I find it helpful to look at their parallels written about in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae.

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

So Paul reminded the church at Colossae of the pre-existent, co-eternal, creative, sovereign, saving, God man, who would redeem the world.

John, likewise, seeks to deliver a specific Word about the Word, about the Father, about their relationship, and about the work of Christ. Let’s read it now:

John 1:1–5 ESV

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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Before we dive into the heart of the text, as I said a moment ago, the Christian church did not resonate or conclude their understanding on this text until 325AD at the Council of Nicea.

Quickly I would like to read to you the creed that came from that meeting of the church.

The Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; begotten, not made, being one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;

and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead;

Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son;

who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Some churches, protestant churches quote this Creed as part of the their worship...this if fine to do...the problem most have today is understanding what is actually being said. For instance the words catholic church does not refer to the RCC but to the universal church.

Jesus Was God, God the Son

John 1:1–2 ESV

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.

Jesus Made

John 1:3 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

“All Things Were Made Through Him...”

Psalm 33:6 ESV

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Jesus Came

John 1:4 ESV

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

“Life and Light”

Jesus Is

John 1:5 ESV

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

“He Shines, That’s What He Does...”

Walking Away, But In...

Hold fast to Jesus as God.

Trust that He will not fail.

If you have never believed, let today be the day...