2. Our Text
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
John 1:1–18 2
3. Our Text
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. 6 There was a man
sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as
John 1:1–18 3
4. Our Text
a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all
might believe through him. 8 He was not the light,
but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true
light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into
John 1:1–18 4
5. Our Text
the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was
made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not
receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who
John 1:1–18 5
6. Our Text
believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor
of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of
God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt
John 1:1–18 6
7. Our Text
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of
the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This
was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me
John 1:1–18 7
8. Our Text
ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16
For from his fullness we have all received, grace
upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one
John 1:1–18 8
9. Our Text
has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the
Father’s side, he has made him known.
John 1:1–18 9
11. The Purpose of this Gospel
Jesus did many other signs in the presence of
the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31 11
14. Theology Alert!
1. Jesus was pre-existent with the Father
2. Jesus was in intimate fellowship with the Father
3. Jesus shares the Father’s very essence
4. The Father’s means of redemption and adoption
5. Incarnation (deity becomes a man)
6. Revelation (deity fully revealed)
14
15. Genesis in John
In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1–3 15
16. Genesis in John
All things were made through him, and
without him was not any thing made that
was made.
John 1:1–3 16
17. The Logos of God
The agent of
creation
Uncreated
17
23. For Clarity
The Bible is the transcribed Word of God
Jesus is the revealed the Word of God
23
24. The Son Rise
In him was life, and the life was the light of
men. The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4–5 24
26. The Witness of John the Baptist
There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about
the light, that all might believe through him. He was
not the light, but came to bear witness about the
light.
John 1:6–8 26
27. True Light
The true light, which gives light to everyone,
was coming into the world. He was in the world,
and the world was made through him, yet the
world did not know him.
John 1:9–10 27
28. A Picture of the Son Descending
Leaving Heaven
Coming to Earth
Entering His Creation
Light for everyone
28
29. Born Again
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the
flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12–13 29
30. Receive Salvation
Must respond to God’s offer
Given the right to be God’s children
Those who continue to believe
No physical birthright
30
31. Manifestation
And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the
Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 31
35. Totality of His Divine Nature
For from his fullness we have all
received, grace upon grace. For the
law was given through Moses; grace
and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16-17 35
37. Our Take-Away
1. Jesus is the eternal Son
2. He is the revelation of the Father
3. Salvation is through Him
4. Know what you believe and believe
what you know
37
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. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as
a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into
the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who
believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me
ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one
has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Long driveway to an elegant house.
Prologue- Sets the tone for the book and gives the essential knowledge of Jesus Christ
John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Early Church Father Clement of Alexandria called it a “Spiritual Gospel”
Matt. Lineage from Abraham Luke Lineage from Adam John Jesus is eternal
Belief/faith……………….100+
The key word in John’s Gospel is “belief” or “faith”. These two words and related words occur over 100 times in John’s Gospel. Looking up these words in John’s Gospel reveals:
The characteristics of Christian belief
How this faith should be expressed
What we receive from believing in Jesus
God as Father……………100+
Eternal Life………………..35
Witness……………………..21
Love…………………………..20
Of this sermon is from John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”
You need to know what you believe and believe what you know
Theological structure of vv. 1–18 and recurrent themes
1. Jesus was pre-existent with God the Father (1a)
2. Jesus was in intimate fellowship with God the Father (1b, 2, 18c)
3. Jesus shares God the Father’s very essence (1c, 18b)
4. God the Father’s means of redemption and adoption (12–13)
5. incarnation, deity becomes a man (9, 14)
6. revelation, deity fully revealed and understood (18d)
John 1:1–3 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 were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Jesus the agent of creation- the Father said “Let there be Light” The Holy Spirit brooded Jesus bought forth
Not created
Speaking to Jews and Greeks
Minister to JW friends- Michael the Archangel/ Jesus the brother of Lucifer
Witness to Muslims- Jesus is a prophet
Clear up trinity questions.
How many gods are there?
Parse verse 3 for them
Creation Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Everlasting Isaiah 40:6–8 All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Life Giving- Isaiah 55:10–11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
The Word is seen as wisdom, The manifestation of presence takes place in the Holies of Holies
Temple God’s Presence
Torah God’s Word
Psalm 33:6 (NASB95)
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
Proverbs Wisdom is with God at creation
Word Abstract Principle
Logos is a message not a single word. Logos is a message and a person
apart from Him nothing came into being” This is a refutation of the gnostic false teaching of angelic aeons between the high, good god and a lesser spiritual being that formed matter
Refute Gnosticism
With God
Was God
Is Jesus
Central theme: if you want to know who the true God is, look long and hard at Jesus
The one we know as Jesus is identical with the Word who was there from the very start, the Word through whom all things were made, the one who contained and contains life and light. The Word challenged the darkness before creation and now challenges the darkness that is found within creation itself. The Word is bringing into being the new creation, in which God says once more, ‘Let there be light!’
The Bible is the transcribed Word of God
Jesus is the revealed the Word of God
John also writes this in Revelation 19:12–13 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
John 1:4–5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Life- Zoe Jews This phrase is emphasizing that “life” itself comes from the Son, the Word. John uses the term, zoē, to refer to resurrection life, eternal life, God’s life
Life- Bios Greeks earthly or biological life
John uses for the truth and knowledge of God (cf. John 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 12:46). Notice the life was for all humans!
John 1:6–8 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
John 1:9–10 The true light, (Genuine, real and opposed to false) which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
Leaving Heaven- His eternal home
Coming to Earth-
Entering His Creation- didn’t know him (Incognito) reinforces his role in creation
Light for everyone- God’s offer of enlighten and A picture of the incarnation Immanuel or God with us. salvation though Jesus Christ
Immanuel God with us
John 1:11–13 (ESV)
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Must respond to God’s offer
Given the right to be God’s children- legal
Those who continue to believe (Believed is a bad translation)
No physical birthright
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Counter the Gnostics
Switches to another Old Testament narrative
Dwelt among- Tabernacled literally pitched His tent
Glory became human
Seen his glory- glory dwelling in manifest
You cannot see my Glory
John 1:16–18 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus…Notice Moses is the Law giver Jesus is the Grace and truth giver
Jesus is full of grace
We receive grace
Jesus is the eternal Son
He is the revelation of the Father
Salvation is through Him
Know what you believe and believe what you know
