The Deity of Christ

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1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1. Verse 14 tells us who the "Word" is. What does verse 1 teach us about the deity of Jesus?

This verse clearly tells us Jesus was in the beginning. He was not brought into existence when Mary gave him birth. The first two Greek words in verse 1, < en arxh> en arche in the beginning, are identical to the first two words in Genesis 1:1 of the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, which was in common use when John wrote his gospel. In other words, Genesis 1:1 tells us "In the beginning God" and John 1:1 tells us, "In the beginning the Son of God." It seems John purposely used these words to emphasize the deity of Christ. This is why he wrote at the end of verse 1, "and the Word was God." Jesus is fully God. Somehow God also caused him to be fully man. He was God here on earth to convey to us the Father’s love and concern for us — so that we could draw close to him. And he was also man. He was tested and tempted as we are, but without sin. He knows what we go through. He understands our weakness and our human frailty.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia comments on the Greek < logoj> logos which means the Word, "Here the author makes three distinct affirmations: (i) "In the beginning was the Word." The evangelist carries back his history of Our Lord to a point prior to all temporal things. ...the Logos was existent when the world began to be. When as yet nothing was, the Logos was. ... (ii) "The Word was with God." Here His personal existence is more specifically defined. He stands distinct from, yet in eternal fellowship with, God. ... (iii) "The Word was God." He is not merely related eternally, but actually identical in essence with God. The notion of inferiority is emphatically excluded and the true Deity of the Word affirmed. In these three propositions we ascend from His eternal existence to His distinct personality and thence to His substantial Godhead. All that God is the Logos is. Identity, difference, communion are the three phases of the Divine relationship."

2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

2. Who created all things?

This verse is clearly teaching us that Jesus was back there with God the Father at the beginning of creation. The son was right there in Genesis 1:1 where it says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." This is why Genesis 1:26 tells us, "Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness....’ " The words "us" and "our" are referring to God the Father and Jesus the Son working together in the creation of the world. As Matthew Poole wrote in 1690, "...nothing that was made, neither the heavens nor the earth, neither things visible nor invisible, were made without him."

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

3. What is the light referring to; what is the darkness referring to?

In him was life. What a wonderful statement. Do we want to live our life to the fullest? Then seek Jesus, for in him is life. His life illuminates our path and brightens our soul. He is our light. His light will chase away our darkness. What kind of a life are you living? Do you struggle with problems and worries? Are you weak and defeated? Do you feel overwhelmed and in darkness? Stop trying to live your life your own way. Allow Jesus to become your life, and he will give you his light.

MacDonald comments on the phrase, "in him was life" — "This does not simply mean that He possessed life, but that He was and is the source of life. The word here includes both physical and spiritual life. When we were born, we received physical life. When we are born again, we receive spiritual life. Both come from Him."

Note: we will look at verses 6-8 in the next study when we look at the ministry of John the Baptist.

9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

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 His own did not receive Him.

4. Who did not receive Jesus?

Israel rejected Christ, but the gentiles embraced him. The gospel spread throughout the heathen world. America built its greatness on its Christian faith. America and other gentile nations had become the new home for Jesus. But we are in danger of repeating Israel’s sin. Jesus is searching throughout America for Christian followers, and his own are not recognizing him anymore. They are following after other gods: money, possessions, pleasure. Will Jesus someday say of America, "I came to my own, but they received me not"?

MacDonald comments, "The same One who supplied us with life is also the light of men. He provides the guidance and direction necessary for man. It is one thing to exist, but quite another to know how to live, to know the true purpose of life, and to know the way to heaven. The same One who gave us life is the One who provides us with light for the pathway we travel."

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

5. If we receive the Lord, what do we become?

Have you received Christ? Do you believe in his name? If you do, then this verse tells you Jesus gave you power, power to become children of God. What an honor has been bestowed upon us. We who were not worthy to be called sons or daughters, we who openly rebelled against God, we who crucified Christ with our sins are now called the children of God.

In the early part of this century, Oswald Chambers commented on this verse, "Is my knowledge of Jesus born of internal spiritual perception, or is it only what I have learned by listening to others? Have I something in my life that connects me with the Lord Jesus as my personal Saviour? All spiritual history must have a personal knowledge for its bedrock."

13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

6. Do our parents save us? Does our friends save us? How are we born into God’s family?

We enter into God’s family by being born into it, or actually born-again into it. Notice this verse tells us how we make it into God’s family. This verse tells us four ways we can try to be born spiritually. First, we are not born of blood – we are not Christians because our parents were Christians; second, we are not born of the will of the flesh – we can work as hard as we can to live a good life, but our best efforts will fall short; third, we are not born by the will of man – we cannot try to will or persuade someone else into God’s kingdom; and fourth, we are only born by God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

7. Why do you think God decided to send his Son to earth in the form of a man?

Do you recognize the glory of Christ? Do you only see him as the babe in the manger, or as the bruised and beaten Savior on the cross? He is much more than that. He is full of grace and truth. He has the glory of the only Son of God. He is the mighty ruler of the universe, the Almighty God, the all-powerful force that holds the worlds together. He is so big that the whole of creation cannot contain him. And yet he is small enough to live within our heart.

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'"

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

8. What have we received from Christ?

Verse 17 tells us that the law was given through Moses but grace and truth came through Christ. We need both. We need the law to show us how to live, and to convict of our sins, and we also need Christ because we cannot do it by ourselves. We need his grace and his mercy.

Footnotes:

Genesis 1:1 from the King James Version

Poole: A Commentary on the Holy Bible, vol. III, pg. 278, Hendrickson Publishers



	A Study of John 1:1-5, 9-18