ETERNAL WORD ETERNAL LIFE

TEXT: JOHN 1:1-18 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=john1&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE

In the beginning was Jesus Christ, the Word, by whom all things were created, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jesus Christ was with God from the beginning. Through him everything was made – without him nothing that was made has been made. In him was life which was the light of men that shines in darkness although the darkness has not understood it. God sent John as a witness to testify about the true light coming into the world to give light to all men so that they might believe. John was a witness to the light not the light itself.

Even though he was in the world he had made, the world did not know him and when he came to his own people they rejected who he was. However, to all who received him by believing in who he was he gave the right to become children of God – children born of God rather than by natural descent.

The Word became flesh in Jesus Christ and he lived among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the Holy Father, from whom he came full of His grace and truth. John testifies to this crying out this is the one of whom I said he who comes after me is greater than me because he preceded me. From the abundance of his grace we have all received many blessings. For while the law was given to Moses grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. And while no one has ever seen God, Jesus Christ, who resides at the Father’s side, has made Him known.


PRINCIPLES

I. John tells his first century readers that Jesus Christ is eternal God who was brought into this sinful world by God the Father to make His righteousness and grace known.

II. How does John tell his first century readers that Jesus Christ is the eternal God who was brought into this world by God the Father to make His righteousness and grace known?

III. John tells his first century readers that Jesus Christ was:

A. The Word of God.
(1) Eternal God.
(2) The Creator.
(3) Life & Light!

C. The Word become flesh.
(1) At the Father’s side
(2) God’s glory, grace & truth.
(3) God Incarnate!

B. The Way to God.
(1) Unrecognized by many.
(2) Received by some.
(3) Eternal Life!

IV. John tells us today that Jesus Christ is eternal God who was brought into this sinful world by God the Father to make His righteousness and grace known.

V. How does John tell us today that Jesus Christ is the eternal God who was brought into this world by God the Father to make His righteousness and grace known?

VI. John tells us that Jesus Christ is:

A. The Word of God.
(1) Eternal God.
(2) The Creator.
(3) Life & Light!

B. The Word become flesh.
(1) At the Father’s side.
(2) God’s glory, grace & truth.
(3) God Incarnate!

C. The Way to God.
(1) Unrecognized by many.
(2) Received by some.
(3) Eternal Life!

PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You and give You praise for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Word, who is eternal, who is God, who was with You from the beginning, and who is the Creator of all things.

Our Father, we praise You for the Life and Light he brought into the world and we ask Your forgiveness when we hide in the darkness of this world, when instead of coming into his Light and Life, we try to cover our sins because of our shame.

Our Father, we ask that Your righteousness which we have received when we believed in Your Son’s Name, in the Name of Jesus Christ – that Your grace that we have received, lead us to repentance and to not fear returning to the Light and Life that Your Son has brought to our lives.

Our Father, we thank You that Your Son made his dwelling place among us and with our belief in his Name that he makes his dwelling place within us, within our hearts through the power of Your Holy Spirit so that we are never separated from Your Love.

Our Father, we thank You for making Yourself known to us through the grace and truth we have received from Your Son’s sacrifice for our sins, for the Eternal Life that this brings and for the darkness that this brings us out of and the Light that this brings us into.

Our Father, we pray all of these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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