Introduction:
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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12 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,
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 saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 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. ’”
16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him
(John 1:1-18 NASB)
Theme: Three truths you must affirm about Jesus Christ so you may know God and enjoy a right relationship with Him.
I. You must affirm His Deity vv. 1-4a
Four lines of evidence. One bold assertion:
A. His Preexistence vv. 1-2
B. His Personal Communion with God vs. 1-2
C. His Pronouncement as God vs. 1
D. His Preeminence as Creator vs. 3
E. His Property of life vs. 4a
II. You must affirm His Luminosity vv. 4b-13
Three characteristics of the True Light:
A. The Brightness of the Light gives us hope vs. 5
B. The Witness to the Light provides us an example vv. 6-8
C. The Personality of the Light brings us salvation vv. 9-13
1. His presence in the world brings man spiritual light
2. His presence in the world was unknown to it
3. His presence in the midst of his people was unwelcome
4. His provision for God’s children is received through faith
III. You must affirm His Humanity vv. 14-18
A. His humanity was visible for us to see vv. 14-15
1. A humanity dwelling among men vs. 14
The Definition of Chalcedon, AD 451
We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the unity, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.
2. A humanity of glory vs. 14
3. A humanity testified by John the Baptist vs. 15
B. His humanity was necessary to explain the Father to us vv. 16-18
1. The fullness of grace and truth came through Jesus Christ vv. 16-17
2. The only begotten God is uniquely qualified for this vs. 18
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