Monday, November 21, 2016

Jesus Is The Light of the Worl - Part 1546

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was live; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:1-5)

Note that the scripture does NOT say "He" was in the beginning with God but that the "same" was in the beginning with God. And all things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

What could these scriptural passages say to the reader? The one point we know the scriptures do not do here is point to a second person -- one that was co-equal, co-existent, and co-eternal from the very beginning. Indeed, Genesis begins with "In the beginning, God ..." (Genesis 1:1) One God that came forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 43:12; Isaiah 9:6)

The Word that was with God and was God (as outlined in John 1:!) comes from the Greek word meaning "expression of thought."  The Word that was with God is further described in this very same verse as the Word that WAS God. The Word was the Lord God Himself being revealed. The Word being the visible image of the invisible God. (Hebrews 1:1-12) In Him, dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) This is why Jesus could say, "I and My Father are ONE!" (John 10:30. Because  the Word was inseparable from the God who created both the heavens and the earth, and you and I as well.

Just as we are one, even when we speak, so was the Lord God Almighty. The difference being that the Lord prepared for Himself a body so that we could experience His love and mercy. The prophets not only testified of the Son which was to come, but similarly, Jesus confirmed the prophecy in His journey her on earth.

The point being that the Son was yet to come -- And she shall bring forth a Son and ye shall call His Name Jesus for He shall save you from your sins ... Emmanuel, meaning God with us, (Matthew 1:21-23)

Moreover, as C. Criss points out, the Bible tells us that He sent His Word, and healed them, thus delivering them from their own destruction. (Psalm 107:20) 

"So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). 

As noted, God did not send another to do His divine will. His Word was God Himself clothed in human flesh, and yet always without sin. He who knew no sin became the perfect sacrifice. "I, even I, am the Lord God your Saviour, and beside Me, there is none else."

For far too long now, the religious traditions of men have pointed to a three-headed god. And because many do not know His Name, these refuse to speak about Jesus, even though Jesus told them that He was "the Way, the truth, and the Life." (John 14:6) Shortly after, Philip asks Jesus to show him the Father, and that would suffice. What was Jesus response? "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. (John 14:7-12)

But again it is worth noting that the Son which was prophesied from afore and only lived from when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary never included an "eternal Son" present with the Father. How do we know? "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" (Genesis 1:1) He was the Father of all creation. Other scriptures?

"But to us there is but ONE God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him..." (I Corinthians 8:6) 

"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6)

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24)

In His humanity, Jesus called out in prayer to His Father and addressed Him as the one and only God. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. What is the Name? Jesus. And Jesus, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God..." (John 17:3). 

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..." (1 Timothy 3:16)

When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He said concerning salvation: "Believe thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works" (John 14:10). 

"If ye had known e, ye should have known y Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him" (John 14:7). 

"...he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father..." (John 14:9). It was only through the humanity of Jesus, through the shell of visible flesh, could His disciples clearly "see" the invisible God the Father who dwelt in Him. 

There is only one God, who is Spirit, who is the Father that dwelt within the body of Jesus. "There is one body, and one Spirit..." (Ephesians 4:4) We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). 

The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world  The plan of redemption was in the mind of God--this is what was with Him from the beginning. He always knew that fallen man would one day need a Saviour so God Himself already had a way out for His fallen mankind. Before the foundation of the world, He had a plan. And He brought everything and one to fruition so that we -- you and I could find forgiveness in His shedding of precious blood.

So that we could find healing and restoration in Himself through faith. Yes, He was manifest in flesh. He expressed Himself in the form of a man and since the Word is God Himself, He became flesh. "God was manifest in flesh." The body that God inhabited was "made of a woman, made under the law..." (Galatians 4:4). The genealogy made available for one and all to see. The Son of God (humanity of God) did not exist prior to the manifestation because it was made "under the law"....not prior to the law. The Father was in the man Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself.

"After His kindness and love, God became our Saviour." (Titus 3:4-7)

Stand in the offering plate.

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