John 1:1-14 ESV
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And 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.
Why do we read the Bible?
The purpose of the word is truly life change…not for the sake of self improvement…but in order to properly worship Him.
It is all about Him. You see, when we open the Word…we should seek to know about Him…because it is all about Him.
Sometimes we have a wrong perspective, that it is all about us and “what we can get from it.” As if it is some sort of self help manual. It truly is all about Him.
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So what is life change?
Many of us are quite familiar with life change, because every three years you change jobs/home/schools/neighbors.
But what if it was more than that. What if the true change that we are referring to were more than a change in scenery, but rather it was a change in “see-erey.” In other words, the way you see changes because of your biblical world view.
That is what this series is all about…allowing the word of God to change your life, one verse at a time.
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Life change is necessary.
Healthy organisms do not stay the same…they grow.
Growth is necessary…Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen, Adult, Senior
You wouldn’t expect to go to your local favorite restaurant and see a man who is waiting your table come out holding your tray of food while he was wearing nothing but a diaper and sucking his thumb. That’s just weird.
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Just as much as the Bible is not a “Self Help” manual, it is also not some sort of entertainment that you just consume and lay aside.
It truly is the word of God and as it says in 2 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
John 1:1 ESV
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1-14 ESV
The Word Became Flesh
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And 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.
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We often tend to read into this verse and think it means from the beginning of time.
Certainly you can look at Genesis 1:1 and see that truth…but if we look a little deeper, I think we can see that even before creation, before God spoke the universe and mankind into existence…He was. In fact that is exactly what John 1:1 is saying.
John 1:1 ESV
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The words “in the beginning” take us back to the beginning of the Bible, where Genesis 1:1 says
Genesis 1:1 ESV
1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Tony Evans says in His study on the Gospel of John that this verse says three things.
He says this verse tells us that the Word (Logos) is:
1. pre-existent
2. co-existent
3. self-existent.
Before God spoke the universe into existence, He was.
So back to our text today which says in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God…pre-existent, co-existent, and self-existent.
The word here for “Word” is Logos. This word is used in this form (Nominitive, Masculine, singular) 69 times in the new testament. This is the only location where it is used three times in one verse.
I don’t know about you, but I think when someone uses a word three times in the same sentence, it is worthy of taking note.
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John 1:2-3 ESV
2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This places emphasis on what was just said…Jesus is not created…He is.
When God says in Exodus 3:14, in response to Moses inquiry, “Who shall I say sent me?”,
Exodus 3:14 ESV
1313Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
This “I AM” includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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John 1:4-5 ESV
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The life referred to here is “Zoe”. Of this the Expositors Commentary says:
The term “life” (zōē) is uniformly used throughout the Gospel. Wherever it appears, it refers either to the principle of physical life (vitality) or, most often, to spiritual life. Frequently it is coupled with the adjective “eternal” to denote the quality and power of the believer’s life. It occurs thirty-six times in John. The life was embodied in Christ, who demonstrated perfectly what eternal life is by his career (cf. John 14:6; 17:3). Christ is the “life” that is the “light of men.” In him God’s purpose and power are made available to men. He is their ultimate hope.
John 14:6 ESV
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 17:3 ESV
3And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
He is our ultimate hope. There is a great song by Shane and Shane that is written about Psalm 130, called I will wait for you. I encourage you to listen to it.
Psalm 130:1-8 ESV
My Soul Waits for the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
1Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.
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The lyrics of the song are taken from the Psalm, and say:
I will wait for you, I will wait for you. On your word I will rely. I will wait for you, surely wait for you, till my soul is satisfied.
So our focus verse says:
John 1:1 ESV
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Why is this so significant for us?
Because this word is…
John 1:9-14 ESV
9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX2_v-8_HpE
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“King of Glory” — Passion ft. Kristian Stanfill
“The Lion and The Lamb” — Big Daddy Weave
“Build My Life” — Pat Barrett ft. Chris Tomlin
“Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness)” — Shane & Shane
“I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130)” — Shane & Shane
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