John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by 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 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
What does John mean by “the word”?
The word was a term used by theologians and philosophers, both Jews and Greeks in many different ways.
In Hebrew scripture, the Word was an agent of creation.
Psalms 33:6 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
The source of Gods message to his people was through the prophets, and Gods law, His standard of holiness.
The Greek philosophy “the word” was the principle reason that governed the world.
While in Hebrew thought “the word” was another expression for God.
John’s description shows clearly that he is speaking of Jesus.
Jesus. A person who was known and loved, but at the same time was the creator of the universe.
John 1:10 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
The ultimate revelation of God is the living picture of God’s holiness, the one who holds all creation together.
Colossians 1: 17-19 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
John 1: 15-17 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
After Christ came people could know God fully, because he became visible and tangible in Christ.
Christ Jesus is the perfect expression of God in the Human form.
Errors people make about Jesus are to minimize his humanity, or minimize his divinity. Jesus is both God and man.
Colossians 2:9-10 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In Christ Jesus the fullness of God lives in a human body, making Him the Godhead.
What this means is that all of God was in Jesus’ body: his human body.
When we have Jesus we have everything we need for salvation and righteous living.
This is one of the strongest statements about the divine nature of Jesus found in the bible.
Philippians 2:5-9 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus is supreme over all creation: including the spirit world.
We as believers must believe in the deity of Jesus Christ.
If we don’t our Christian faith is hollow, misdirected and meaningless.
This is the central truth of Christianity. We must oppose those who say that Jesus was just a prophet, or a good teacher.
Galatians 4:4-5 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
When the right time came God sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins and Gods timing is perfect.
Sometimes we wonder when God will respond to our prayers. He always responds at the right time.
As you impatiently wait, trust Gods judgment. Trust that he has your best interest in mind… always.
Ephesians 3:19-20 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
This fullness is fully expressed only in Jesus Christ.
In union with Jesus, and through the empowering spirit, we are complete.
We have all the fullness of God available to us. We must appropriate “or set apart” that fullness through faith and through prayer as we live daily for Him.
Ephesians 4:11-13 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The Holy Spirit has given each Christian special gifts for building up the Church.
Of you don’t know what your gifts are, ask God to show you. As you begin to recognize your area of service, use your gifts to strengthen and encourage the church.
God has given His church “which means the body of Christ” an enormous responsibility to make disciples in every nation.
This involves preaching, teaching and yes bible studies.
As the body reaches its fullness of God we can accomplish more together than we could ever dream as being possible.
Working together we can express the fullness of God through his son Jesus Christ.
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