John 1:1-18

Intro.

1. Who was Jesus? This question has been asked & answered from the time of His days on earth (cf. Matt. 16:13-15).

2. Jesus has been introduced to us in Scripture.

3. John 1:1-18 - John’s Prologue introduces Jesus to the world (20:30-31).

I. JESUS IS DEITY - 1:1-3.

A. He Is Eternal - 1:1a.

1. Before Genesis 1:1 (beginning), the Word already was!

2. Without beginning, uncreated, eternal - Jno. 8:58 (Micah 5:2).

B. He Was With God - 1:1b.

1. With - Not merely co-existence, but in active intercourse & communion - Idea of the presence of one with another. (Participating to the fullest) - 1:2

2. Jno. 17:5 - Shared glory of Deity with the Father.

C. He Was God - 1:1c.

1. Not "a" god or "the" God..."was God." (Deity)

2. "The Word was God in His nature & in His being, possessing the fullness of divine being, power & attributes." -(That You May Believe, Hailey, p. 20)

3. Heb. 1:3 - The very image (impress) of the divine essence. (Phil. 2:6)

D. All Things Were Created Through Him - 1:2-3.

1. v. 2 - The Word was with God in beginning (Gen. 1:26).

-Creation was an expression of the eternal fellowship of God!

2. v. 3 - All things - Col. l:16 (Heb. 1:2; Jno. 1:10).

-Eternal (God) - Personal (with God) - Active (Creator).

II. JESUS WAS GOD INCARNATE - 1:14, 18.

A. God In The Flesh - 1:14.

1. Phil. 2:5-8 - God took the form or fashion of a man.

(His nature: cf. "form of a servant," Phil. 2:7).

a. Form (morphe) - v. 6: "1) the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision…2) external appearance" (Thayer, 418).

b. Equal with God - v. 6: Possessed all glory with God - Jno. 17:5.

c. Emptied Himself (made Himself of no reputation) - v. 7: Of divine form (glory, appearance) & took on human form - "likeness of men" - 2:7 (flesh & blood, Heb. 2:14; Jno. 1:14).

d. Appearance (fashion) - v. 8: "the habitus, as comprising everything in a person which strikes the senses, the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life, etc." (Thayer, 610)

2. 1:14 - God "tabernacled" (dwelt) among men.

3. 1:14 - "We" Beheld His glory (divine essence)! - 2 Pet. 1:16f

a. Only begotten from the Father - "Unique position, only one of His kind’…God incarnate!

b. 1:14 - Full of grace & truth (cf. Col. 2:9).

4. 1:18 - Here was Deity in the flesh, the manifestation of God in a visible & tangible form (Col. 1:15; Jno. 14:7-10).

B. As God Incarnate, Jesus Fulfilled Several Roles For Our Benefit:

1. 1:4-5. 7-9 - Brought life & light to morally dead & dark world (6:35, 63; 8:12 - Bread of life, Light of the world).

2. 1:16-17 - Brought grace & truth (14:6; Col. 2:9-10).

3. 1:29. 36 - Lamb of God for sin (Savior; "Jesus," Matt. 1:21). -Heb. 2:14; 10:10

4. 1:41, 45 - The Christ (anointed One) (Psa. 45:7; Isa. 61:1).

5. 1:34, 49 - The Son of God / King (Psa. 2:6-7); Isa. 9:6-7; Lk. 1:32-33.

III. JESUS IS GOD’S AUTHORIZED SPOKESMAN - 1:17.

A. He Is Superior To Moses - cf. Acts 3:22-23 (Matt. 17:3-5); Heb. 3:3.

B. We Must Hear, Believe & Obey His Word (Truth) In Order To Receive Eternal Life (Grace) - Jno. 12:44-50.

1. v. 44-47 - Purpose & result of His work.
2. v. 48 - His word will judge us.
3. v. 49-50 - Obey God’s commands (words of Jesus - Truth) -- Eternal life (grace)!
4. 1:11-12 - Believers given the right (power) to become children of God. How? - cf. 12:44, 47

a. Obeying the truth Jesus revealed! - Jno. 8:31-32.

b. Jno. 12:42-43 - Believers are not automatically saved!

5. Gal. 3:26-27 - Faith involves baptism into Christ!

6. Jno. 1:13 - "Born of God"!

Conclusion

1. Jesus is God. He came in the flesh as God’s spokesman of truth & giver of grace. Must believe & obey Him to be saved.

2. What will you do with Jesus?!