Having started this fourth verse of the first chapter of John’s gospel, I think it necessary to stop here and consider why John’s gospel differs so much from the other three. Why did God inspire John to put such an emphasis on our God-man Mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ? There indeed is a reason and that is for the comfort of His people.
When we understand the origin of our spiritual life, we can fully rest assured as Abraham that what God has promised He is fully able to perform, Romans 4:21. The scriptures teach us “For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20. Our God-man Mediator has been our Mediator from before creation.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
John 1:4
John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."
Here is a continued unfolding of this unique, distinct Being within the Godhead. It will be beneficial at this point to consider a couple of points.
In John 4:24, when talking to the woman at the well, Jesus told her:
"God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." God’s essence is pure Spirit.
Secondly, in 1Timothy 6:16:
"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honor and power everlasting. Amen."
Immortality is self-subsistence. This is how God revealed Himself to Moses.
Here is a continued unfolding of this unique, distinct Being within the Godhead. It will be beneficial at this point to consider a couple of points.
In John 4:24, when talking to the woman at the well, Jesus told her:
"God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth." God’s essence is pure Spirit.
Secondly, in 1Timothy 6:16:
"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honor and power everlasting. Amen."
Immortality is self-subsistence. This is how God revealed Himself to Moses.
Friday, December 30, 2011
John 1:2, 3
2The same was in the beginning with God.
The same (that is, the Word) was already in the beginning with God AND, according to the previous verse, was always God. Is this not a reinforcement of the two-fold nature and Being of the Word? Please note here how the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John reinforces the fact that the Word was already in the beginning both God and in a unique, intimate relationship, face-to-face with God. This point will be important, as we shall see later.
The same (that is, the Word) was already in the beginning with God AND, according to the previous verse, was always God. Is this not a reinforcement of the two-fold nature and Being of the Word? Please note here how the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John reinforces the fact that the Word was already in the beginning both God and in a unique, intimate relationship, face-to-face with God. This point will be important, as we shall see later.
Monday, December 19, 2011
John 1:1, part 2
Let us consider now how the Word relates to the Father as a unique individual. The apostle tells us that the Word was with God and the Word was God. There is more here than a revelation of the Great Three-One God.
It would be completely unnecessary for John to state that the Word was with God if he were speaking only of God. God (Father, Word, and Spirit) is spirit [πνεῦμα ὁ θεός] John 4:24, and is omnipresent. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is indeed a unique Being.
It would be completely unnecessary for John to state that the Word was with God if he were speaking only of God. God (Father, Word, and Spirit) is spirit [πνεῦμα ὁ θεός] John 4:24, and is omnipresent. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is indeed a unique Being.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
John 1:1, part 1
Some Thoughts regarding the First Seventeen Passages of the First Chapter of John
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
What is meant here by “In the beginning?” Is it not as it is written in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” At this point, in the beginning of the revelation of God beginning with the creation of all things, the Word was with God and was God.
The Word is not said to become with God or become God, but already was. Why do the scriptures state that the Word was with God and was God? Does this verse not teach that the Word is a union of two that was with God and that was God?
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
What is meant here by “In the beginning?” Is it not as it is written in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” At this point, in the beginning of the revelation of God beginning with the creation of all things, the Word was with God and was God.
The Word is not said to become with God or become God, but already was. Why do the scriptures state that the Word was with God and was God? Does this verse not teach that the Word is a union of two that was with God and that was God?
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
A
TREATISE CONCERNING
THE
HEAVENLY ORIGIN
OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth have often times been brought to know that much of what is commonly known as Christianity is not biblical, but traditional. Such was the case of the state of religion in the days of our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly, visible, physical ministry. How often do we read where our Lord rebuked the religious leaders of this time?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Some considerations on the doctrine of Christ
Why the Doctrine of Jesus Christ
Christ Jesus teaches in the scriptures that He is THE way THE truth and THE life.
The scriptures also teach us that Christ Jesus is the Chief Corner Stone, the Foundation of both the Apostles AND the Prophets.
1. Consider that for any truth to be rightly divided THE truth (Christ Jesus) must be first rightly understood. If Christ Jesus is understood in truth, all other doctrines taught in the scriptures will be properly understood.
2. In other words, unless the Foundation of Christianity, Jesus Christ, is properly identified and known, there is no proper foundation, nor building thereupon.
Christ Jesus teaches in the scriptures that He is THE way THE truth and THE life.
The scriptures also teach us that Christ Jesus is the Chief Corner Stone, the Foundation of both the Apostles AND the Prophets.
1. Consider that for any truth to be rightly divided THE truth (Christ Jesus) must be first rightly understood. If Christ Jesus is understood in truth, all other doctrines taught in the scriptures will be properly understood.
2. In other words, unless the Foundation of Christianity, Jesus Christ, is properly identified and known, there is no proper foundation, nor building thereupon.
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