39 What if God was one of us?
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ETS-The Word made flesh makes a grand entrance to the world he created.
ESS-The Word made flesh has to be recieved and believed upon.
OSS-Are you born again because you have trusted Jesus?
FCF-
What if God was one of us
Joan Osborne
Or maybe play the song
If God had a name what would it be?And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with Him in all His glory What would you ask if you had just one question?And yeah, yeah, God is great Yeah, yeah, God is good
And yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see if, seeing meant
That you would have to believe in things like heaven
And in Jesus and the saints, and all the prophets?And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good And yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeahWhat if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?Just tryin' to make his way home
Like back up to heaven all alone Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good And yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeahWhat if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us Just a stranger on the bus
Tryin' to make his way home?Just tryin' to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone Back up to heaven all alone Just tryin' to make his way home Nobody callin' on the phone
'Cept for the Pope maybe in RomeOr maybe play the song
Many religions tell us that we have to do a lot of good works in order to get to heaven. Even a lot of Churches give us the impression that we have to earn our way to God. But the Bible tells us that we could not earn God’s favor or even try to get to him. It teaches us that instead of us trying to get to God, the divine became man in order to draw us to himself. It is such a great story that you can not make it up, only God can do it. We can’t earn his favor as a matter of fact our sin destroyed any favor with him, but God became man and died for us while we were still sinners. We can be accepted by the almighty not because of anything we have done but because what he has done on our behalf.
Today we are going to look at the implications of who this God and the implications that it has for our lives.
The ironic thing about this song is that this is true God became one of us, we could not make it up, God became man and was one of us.
1. The word becoming flesh forces us to make much of Jesus (1:1-5).
1. The word becoming flesh forces us to make much of Jesus (1:1-5).
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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Problem our image of God is way to small
Many use Jesus as a little good luck charm, pull him out and he will give us what we want
V 1
In the beginning genesis 1:1
But before this beginning there was God and he was not created
God is eternal
Kids ask where did God come from
Answer he has always been
God is trinity
With God
How do you explain that God is both three and one
He is trinity
“Self-Giving love is the trinity’s signature.” -Moltman
Illustration
Family unit is to be a reflection of God and to show his love
I could not show love if I never married heather and now with all these kids we can show even more love, Nathaniel when he was young was shooting hoops and I just watched him, I love this kids. As much as I want to show love to my family it is nothing compared to the love of God
Father loves the son perfectly
Son loves the holy spirit
He is capital letter God
Jehovah witness make Jesus small
A God
No he is the God who appeared to Moses where the bible says there is no name for me I am who I am
Illustration
Family unit is to be a reflection of God and to show his love
I could not show love if I never married heather and now with all these kids we can show even more love, Nathaniel when he was young was shooting hoops and I just watched him, I love this kids. As much as I want to show love to my family it is nothing compared to the love of God
Father loves the son perfectly
Son loves the holy spirit
He is capital letter God
Jehovah witness make Jesus small
A God
No he is the God who appeared to Moses where the bible says there is no name for me I am who I am
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible A. The preincarnate Word 1:1–5
There is probably no fully adequate illustration of the Trinity in the natural world. Perhaps the egg is one of the best. An egg consists of three parts: shell, yolk, and white. Each part is fully egg yet each has its own identity that distinguishes it from the other parts. The human family is another illustration. Father, mother, and child are all separate entities yet each one is fully a member of its own family. Each has a different first name, but all bear the same family name.
Jehovah’s Witnesses appeal to this verse to support their doctrine that Jesus was not fully God but the highest created being. They translate it “the Word was a god.” Grammatically this is a possible translation since it is legitimate to supply the indefinite article (“a”) when no article is present in the Greek text. However, that translation here is definitely incorrect because it reduces Jesus to less than God. Other Scriptures affirm Jesus’ full deity (e.g., vv. 2, 18; Phil. 2:6; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3; et al.). Here the absence of the indefinite article was deliberate.
“As a rule the predicate is without the article, even when the subject uses it [cf. vv. 6, 12, 13, 18, et al.].”
Jehovah’s Witnesses appeal to this verse to support their doctrine that Jesus was not fully God but the highest created being. They translate it “the Word was a god.” Grammatically this is a possible translation since it is legitimate to supply the indefinite article (“a”) when no article is present in the Greek text. However, that translation here is definitely incorrect because it reduces Jesus to less than God. Other Scriptures affirm Jesus’ full deity (e.g., vv. 2, 18; ; ; ; et al.). Here the absence of the indefinite article was deliberate.
He is Creator
He is where life is found (4-5)
Have you ever noticed that all people look for life
College student article about looking for it in parties
Money
Approval of others
Fame
Successs
Application
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
Illustration
Family unit is to be a reflection of God and to show his love
I could not show love if I never married heather and now with all these kids we can show even more love, Nathaniel when he was young was shooting hoops and I just watched him, I love this kids. As much as I want to show love to my family it is nothing compared to the love of God
Father loves the son perfectly
Son loves the holy spirit
He is capital letter God
Jehovah witness make Jesus small
A God
No he is the God who appeared to Moses where the bible says there is no name for me I am who I am
He is Creator
He is where life is found (4-5)
Have you ever noticed that all people look for life
College student article about looking for it in parties
Money
Approval of others
Fame
Successs
We can opt and have not over come this darkness, and we continually look for life apart from him
2. Because the word became flesh we must remember His coming was predicted (6-8)
That’s my King Video
We can opt and have not over come this darkness, and we continually look for life apart from him
2. The word becoming flesh needs to be testified about like John did (6-8).
2. The word becoming flesh needs to be testified about like John did (6-8).
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
God had used many in the Old Testament:
Moses
“Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.”
But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”
And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.”
Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah
Isaiah
Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Jeremiah
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
Now this man would inaugurate Jesus
People were looking for the messiah
He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Who was this man?
Why are president’s inaugurated?
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
Illustration
Family unit is to be a reflection of God and to show his love
I could not show love if I never married heatber and now with all these kids we can show even more love, Nathaniel when he was young was shooting hoops and I just watched him, I love this kids. As much as I want to show love to my family it is nothing compared to the love of God
Father loves the son perfectly
Son loves the holy spirit
He is capital letter God
Jehovahs witness make Jesus small
A God
No he is the God who appeared to Moses where the bible says there is no name for me I am who I am
He is Creator
He is where life is found (4-5)
Have you ever noticed that all people look for life
College student article about looking for it in parties
Money
Approval of others
Fame
Successs
We can opt and have not over come this darkness, and we continually look for life apart from him
2. Because the word became flesh we must remember His coming was predicted
Where it says John would come
Why John came
Greater Moses
3. Because the word became flesh we must chose a side.
What was John the baptist purpose?
a. That people would believe in Jesus
Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
John 20:
6: So that all might believe through them
The gospel, God is not looking to send people to hell rather he is looking to give them life
Deion Sanders-Title of his book-No but God gives life
Yes he wants to rescue them but to give them Life
b. That he might decrease and Jesus might increase
“He must increase, but I must decrease.
Application
Application
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
Illustration
Family unit is to be a reflection of God and to show his love
I could not show love if I never married heatber and now with all these kids we can show even more love, Nathaniel when he was young was shooting hoops and I just watched him, I love this kids. As much as I want to show love to my family it is nothing compared to the love of God
Father loves the son perfectly
Son loves the holy spirit
He is capital letter God
Jehovahs witness make Jesus small
A God
No he is the God who appeared to Moses where the bible says there is no name for me I am who I am
He is Creator
He is where life is found (4-5)
Have you ever noticed that all people look for life
College student article about looking for it in parties
Money
Approval of others
Fame
Successs
We can opt and have not over come this darkness, and we continually look for life apart from him
2. Because the word became flesh we must remember His coming was predicted
Where it says John would come
Why John came
Greater Moses
3. Because the word became flesh we must chose a side.
Are you following John’s example of, “He must increase we must decrease?”
3. The Word becoming flesh has to embrace the person of Jesus by faith (9-13).
Are you following John’s example of, “He must increase we must decrease?”
3. The Word becoming flesh has to embrace the person of Jesus by faith (9-13).
The gospel, God is not looking to send people to hell rather he is looking to give them life
Deion Sanders-Title of his book-No but God gives life
Yes he wants to rescue them but to give them Life
Where it says John would come
Why John came
Greater Moses
3. Because the word became flesh we must chose a side (9-13).
“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?”
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.
When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”
So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
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 those who were His own did not receive Him.
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,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
exp
1:9
2 diff interp
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible C. The appearance of the Light 1:9–13
There are two possible interpretations of this verse. One is that the true Light enlightens every person who comes into the world (Gr. masculine participle erchomenon, AV, and NASB and NIV margins). The other is that the true Light comes into the world and enlightens everyone (Gr. neuter participle erchomenon, NASB and NIV). The second option seems preferable since the Incarnation is so much in view in the context. The point is that Jesus as the Light affects everyone. Everyone lives under the spotlight of God’s illuminating revelation in Jesus Christ since the Incarnation (cf. 1 John 1). His light clarifies the sinfulness and spiritual need of human beings. Those who respond to this convicting revelation positively experience salvation. Those who reject it and turn from the light will end up in outer darkness. They will experience eternal damnation.
Find an illustration where people rejected something that was revolutionary
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible C. The appearance of the Light 1:9–13
“Two points receive special emphasis: one is the astonishing fact that the Word of God, true God as he is, took upon him human nature, and the other is the even more astonishing fact that when he did this, people would have nothing to do with him.”
Flying or sailing or something
1:10
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible C. The appearance of the Light 1:9–13
“The world’s characteristic reaction to the Word is one of indifference.”
v 11-12
rejection vs acceptance
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible C. The appearance of the Light 1:9–13
“The world’s characteristic reaction to the Word is one of indifference.”
“. . . in the Johannine writings . . . pisteuo [“believe”] with eis [“in” or “into”] refers to belief in a person.”
“. . . in the Johannine writings . . . pisteuo [“believe”] with eis [“in” or “into”] refers to belief in a person.”
“. . . in the Johannine writings . . . pisteuo [“believe”] with eis [“in” or “into”] refers to belief in a person.”
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
illustration
Does this mean everyone in the world is forgiven and does not have to worry about sin anymore? Christ has paid the penalty in full. The Bible teaches we are clearly forgiven. But there is one thing we must do in order to experience the gift of salvation: we must receive Christ. Receiving Christ involves both turning and trusting. One must decide to turn from a self-directed life (including turning from trusting in yourself for salvation) and trusting in Christ to be your Savior and Lord. Trusting Christ means to depend on His work on the cross for your salvation. And trusting Christ as Lord means to invite Him to come into your life and take control. Mere intellectual assent does not constitute saving faith. It is not enough to acknowledge intellectually that Jesus can save us. True belief involves total trust. To trust in Jesus Christ is to let go of every other confidence, of every other resource, of every other security and to receive Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation. Charles Blondin, a Frenchman, was one of the world’s finest tightrope walkers. He successfully crossed the treacherous Niagara Falls (approximately a 1,000 foot span, 160 feet above the raging waters) on a tightrope. He then turned to the crowd that was clearly awestruck by this spectacular feat and asked how many believed he could traverse the tightrope a second time pushing a wheelbarrow. The crowd cheered enthusiastically, acknowledging their belief in Blondin. He succeeded, and then asked the astonished crowd again, “Does anyone believe enough in me to get in the wheelbarrow and cross Niagara Falls with me?” No one volunteered! Finally, Blondin’s manager climbed on Blondin’s back, and they traversed across Niagara Falls together. The manager trusted Blondin to get him safely across the great chasm. The great chasm between man and God isn’t crossed by intellectually believing but through completely trusting in Him.
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible C. The appearance of the Light 1:9–13
“In the gospel of John belief is viewed in terms of a relationship with Jesus Christ, which begins with a decision to accept rather than reject who Jesus claims to be. This leads to a new relationship with God . . .
“. . . in the Johannine writings . . . pisteuo [“believe”] with eis [“in” or “into”] refers to belief in a person.”
“. . . in the Johannine writings . . . pisteuo [“believe”] with eis [“in” or “into”] refers to belief in a person.”
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
New spiritual life does not come from any of these sources but from God Himself. Ultimately it is the result of God’s choice, not man’s (cf. ). Therefore the object of our faith must be God rather than our heritage or race, our works, or our own initiative.
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (). Galaxie Software.
Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible C. The appearance of the Light 1:9–13
Third, new spiritual life does not come because of a human decision either, specifically the choice of a husband to produce a child. It comes as the result of a spiritual decision to trust in Jesus Christ. The Greek word for “man” here is andros meaning “male.” The NIV interpreted it properly as “husband” here.
New spiritual life does not come from any of these sources but from God Himself. Ultimately it is the result of God’s choice, not man’s (cf. Eph. 1:4). Therefore the object of our faith must be God rather than our heritage or race, our works, or our own initiative.
4. The word becoming flesh reveals grace (13-18).
4. The word becoming flesh reveals grace (13-18).
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
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.
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.’ ”
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
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.
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.’ ”
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
What do we need to know about grace?
a. The Law makes us realize how great it is.
b. Grace is what makes Jesus so great
What advantage do humans have over angels they understand grace.
A lady who is a missionary in Africa ministering to Muslims asked one of her Muslim friends if she had any idea what grace is?
She had no idea.
Exposition