The Preeminence of Christ
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Thank you
Last time I came to preach I was struggling through some health issues and I did not feel well - Vitamin B deficiency
As I considered what to speak on over the next two weeks I was naturally led to declaring Jesus as the beginning and the end.
Prayer
I have been studying the 1st chapter of John recently as our life group has chosen this as our next book of Scripture to study. I have again been overwhelmed by the goodness and faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ and how John’s shows us who Christ is.
One of the primary themes in John chapter 1 is the preeminence of Christ. To put it a simpler way, how Jesus Christ is God and he reigns all over the creation.
Jesus is the Word
Jesus is the Word
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
In the beginning - This phrase parallels Genesis 1:1 and points to the beginning of creation. It is describing that the Word existed from all eternity and was present during the creation of the universe.
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
One time when the Jews came to test Jesus they accused Jesus of having a demon. Jesus then taught that if anyone kept his word, they would never see death. They said to him “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say “If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death. Then they asked him “Are you greater than our father Abraham who died?”
John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””
If you are farmiliar with what Jesus is saying here you can only imagine how much this struck the doubting Jewish leaders. The phrase “I am” refers to Exodus 3:14 when “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”” Jesus was claiming to be Jehovah God.
Now getting back to our first verse in John it says
In the beginning....was the Word - The use of the word “Word” touched both the Jewish and Greek cultures. The Greek word logos used for “Word” here has a very impersonal felling to it. It was used to describe divine reason or divine wisdom by the Greeks in their philosophical discussions. To the Jews the use of term Word would refer to the power of God’s voice or the words of Scripture.
Perhaps you recall Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”
or Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
John takes this impersonal word that both Jew’s and Greeks understood as divine truth and he applies it to the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the divine expression of God’s truth to mankind.
the Word was God - John uses the Greek language to emphasize that the “Word” was God. Jesus the Messiah was fully God with all the divine nature of the Father. The Son of God did not cease to be fully God when he took upon human flesh. Rather, he voluntarily refrained from using his abilities of being God and submitted fully to being a man under the direction of the Father and ministered through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus the creator
Jesus the creator
English Standard Version Chapter 1
3 eAll things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John says here that
All things were made through him - While all three persons of the trinity were active and remain active in creation, the New Testament describes the Son of God taking a leading role in the creation of the Universe.
Colossians 1:16-17 “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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Hebrews 1:2 “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
While the Father directed all things and the Spirit participated in creation, the Son was the active agent through which everything came into being. Everything was made for Him, its existence is dependent upon Him, and eventually everything will come to an end by Him.
1 Corinthians 8:6 “yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”
Rev 4:11 ““Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””
John continues down the line of Jesus as creator by saying
English Standard Version Chapter 1
4 fIn him was life,1 and gthe life was the light of men. 5 hThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In him was life - As the active agent in creation, the Son of God upholds all life by His Word. The life that he has made proclaims his glory.
You may be familiar with these verses of Scripture
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Rom 1:20 “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”
When Jesus tells us he has the power to give eternal life, this is no figurative or mystical statement. While the life he gives is most importantly eternal life to our dead spirits, it is also eternal life to our dying bodies.
During the time of Christ there was a religious group known as the Sadducee’s and they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Some of this false teaching had made its way into the church of Corinth and the apostle Paul addressed it saying...
1 Corinthian 15:12-14 “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
My brothers and sisters, Eternal life is litteral and it includes an eternal physical body that believers receive at the first resurrection of the dead, when we are raptured into the clouds at his coming.
In Christ Jesus is life!
and the life was the light of men -The life was the light John says. This is the same thing we just read in Romans. That God’s invisible attributes are clearly perceived in the things that are made. The life that God created gives light to all men.
In Psalm 19:1-4 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,”
Consider this, in Romans chapter 10, when describing the proclamation of the gospel and faith, the apostle Paul points to Psalm 19.
Rom 10:17-18 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.””
Since the beginning God’s creation has declared his invisible attributes and now that Creator; that light; was coming into the world.
Jesus the Savior
Jesus the Savior
English Standard Version Chapter 1
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet othe world did not know him.
He was in the world - The Word, the true light, the Son of God, the Messiah was in the world. The Creator came to the created, God took upon human flesh and dwelt among us. Isa 7:14 , Matt 1:23 , Phil 2:6-8 , 1 John 4:14
the world was made through him - I think we just covered this fairly well so I won’t belabor the point, but John again reemphasizes that the world was made through Christ.
yet the world did not know him - Although the Son of God is the Creator of heaven and earth, when he came to the earth, the people of the earth did not recognize him. An indictment against man and how man has rebelled against his creator and by nature does not recognize what is good. The knowledge and wisdom of this world is twisted and distorted into darkness by the prince of lies himself who is at work among those who do not believe.
Eph 2:1-3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Even when the light was in the world, the systems of this world did not know him and rejected him. Indeed the powers and authorities of this world hated him and crucified him for blasphemy.
2 Cor 4:3-5 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
Now the first chapter of John changes course from how the world rejects the light to a remnant that believes in him. This is a preview of the book of John as the first twelve chapters of John are on the rejection of the Christ while chapters 13-21 focus on the believing remnant.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
to all who did receive him - The word for receive here could be rendered accept, welcome, catch, take, seize, or even gather. It refers to a deliberate and self prompted reception of what has been offered freely. The righteous acts of Christ are final and have reconciled all things with God including Adam’s transgression. While Jesus Christ is the only and final sacrifice sufficient and acceptable to God for sin, man must receive the free gift of God’s grace, receiving Him as their Lord and Savior.
John 12:46-48 “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
John 17:8 “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.”
who believed in his name - This phrase defines what it means to receive the Word and the light that John is describing. It means to believe in the person of Jesus Christ, his claims about who he is and what he has done. It means to surrender your will to him as Lord and Savior. John 3:18 , John 3:36 , John 6:40 , John 11:25 , 1 John 5:13
he gave the right - It is God himself that declares us his children, it is He who calls, it is he who justifies and it is he who makes us his own. It is God that gives the rights to our birth, our life, and our inheritance through Jesus Christ. Eph 2:8-9 , James 1:18
children of God - Just as we are born into an earthly family with a mother and father, so we are born into an eternal family with God, this is a permanent status. While the example of an earthly family can be flawed because of divorce and abandonment, God is always faithful. There’s an old saying that blood is thicker than water. Well if that is the case, there is nothing thicker than the blood of Jesus.
We do not loose our family status with God, although we can loose our fellowship with Him. Rom 8:14 , Gal 3:26 , Gal 4:7
For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
13 who wwere born, xnot of blood ynor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
not of blood - Being born of God does not come through human genealogy or national heritage. This statement teaches both that Christ did not come simply for the Jew’s. It also helps us understand that no people are saved simply because they came from a believing family.
nor of the will of the flesh - Being born of God can not come through an act of human effort, human planning, or human passion. The new birth is an act of God.
nor of the will of man - Being born of God does not come because an authority demands it. Being God’s child is between God and every individual and a neither a parent , priest, nor government can control it. It is a birth of the Spirit of God.
born of God - The new birth is a birth of the Holy Spirit. While we must deliberately yield our will to Christ, it is he that saves us and seals us. Under the New Covenant and by His Spirit we are made a new creation. I heard a pastor once say we must be willing to be saved but it is not by our wills that we are saved. John 3:3 , 1 Peter 1:3 , 1 Peter 1:23 , 1 John 5:1 , Eph 1:13
Jesus is the image of the Father
Jesus is the image of the Father
English Standard Version Chapter 1
14 And zthe Word abecame flesh and bdwelt among us, cand we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son4 from the Father, full of dgrace and etruth.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
English Standard Version Chapter 1
16 For from hhis fullness we have all received, igrace upon grace.5
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
English Standard Version Chapter 1
17 For jthe law was given through Moses; kgrace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
And God spoke all these words, saying,
Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
English Standard Version Chapter 1
18 lNo one has ever seen God; mthe only God,6 who is at the Father’s side,7 nhe has made him known.
And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,
not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father.
But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
No one has ever seen God - In His true form, God the Father is Spirit and he lives in unapproachable light. He is invisible to us and it is by faith that we believe in Him. Only the other persons of the Trinity have seen Him. In Scripture we see that God has taken upon physical forms to interact with man. Scripture does not tell us which person/s of the trinity is interacting with people, however the three men that visit Abraham by the oaks of Mamre at the very least represent the Trinity. Gen 18:1-3 , Gen 32:27-30 , Ex 24:9-11
the only God who is at the Fathers side - John restates and emphasizes that the Son of God, Jesus, is the second person in the Trinity of the only God. John makes the point that Jesus is God and one with the Father, being at the Father’s side (as opposed to all others who cannot approach him).
has made him known - The son is the expression or the revelation of the Father. The Greek word used here is exegete. It is where we get our word exegesis which in short is to dig out from a passage of Scripture what it is inherently saying. Jesus was showing us who the Father inherently is.
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
Like the apostle Paul in his great thesis of Roman’s juxtaposing the power of the gospel and the purpose of the law. John in his gospel contrasts the law with Christ.
the law was given through Moses - The law through Moses was given to show man his sinfulness. Rom 3:20 , Rom 7:13 It is not possible to be righteous through the law but rather the law was given to show God’s demand for holiness. Rom 7:12 Ultimately the purpose of the law is to show man his sinful condition and need for the Messiah. Rom 7:24-25
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ - It is the mercy and kindness of God that leads to forgiveness and it is the grace of God that offers this freely. God has always been faithful to give both his grace and truth under both Old and New Covenants. Ex 33:13 , Ex 33:18-19 , Ex 34:6 However now through the incarnation of Jesus God’s grace and truth are manifested in the life of the Messiah and we get a clear picture of what this grace and truth look like.
his fullness - In Jesus Christ the fullness of God dwelt bodily.
grace upon grace - meaning “maximized grace” or “one gracious gift after another”. John is describing that Jesus is never lacking in anything and that he has completeness and superabundance. That all people benefit from him and even more those who believe. Christ has given us everything we need and has all we will ever need. Believers need not look anywhere but Christ himself for a source of spiritual power. He does not lack when he gives and he can never be diminished.
the Word became flesh - John emphasizes how the eternal God took upon a temporal existence, the Creator became part of the created, He whom is infinite took upon himself a finite existence, He who was invisible became visible, He who is all powerful humbled himself. 100% God and 100% man. While still being fully God in spirit he intentionally limited himself to the limitations of a man. These paradox’s are so profound yet so simple. God came to teach and to save his lost creation at our level and in only a way that he could.
dwelt - meaning to pitch a tent ; The Son of God dwelt in the flesh of man. This is references back to how God dwelt in the tent of meeting with Moses and everyone that wanted to speak with God came to the tent of meeting. Ex 33:7 , Ex 33:11
beheld his glory - The context here seems to signify beholding the glory of God’s character, full of grace and truth. Yet the glory of Jesus is spoken of in other terms as well. John saw Jesus when he was transfigured on the mountain and heard the voice of the Father say “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased”. Matt 17:1-8 John also was the only disciple at the cross which Jesus describes as the Father glorifying him. John 12:23 , John 17:1 , Isa 52:13 Perhaps John is describing for us all of these aspects when he says that he has seen the glory of the only Son from the Father.
grace and truth - The Messiah is the full expression of grace and truth. He came to find that which was lost, he met mankind at his level and spoke truth to humanity at every level. His life, ministry, death and resurrection are testimonies of his grace and the truth of our need for eternal life.