The Beginning
Notes
Transcript
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning was the Word
In the beginning was the Word
1. What is “The Beginning”? (see Genesis 1:1)
1. What is “The Beginning”? (see Genesis 1:1)
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Well, In the beginning, was when God created the heavens and the earth. This is a reference to the beginning of time. This is a reference to the beginning of everything that we see and know.
But let’s not overlook the obvious: What, exactly, happened in the beginning? God created the heavens and the earth. So, what does this imply about God? That’s right, He was there in the beginning. Because, obviously, if He were not already there, then He could not have created. Now, since God was there, during creation, in fact, creating, then we also know that He is not subject to the constraints of time as we understand time.
In fact, we read this in Psalm 90:2
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
And the prophet Habakkuk wrote this:
Habakkuk 1:12 (ESV)
12 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? ...
God is eternal.
God is eternal.
He is the One who is from everlasting to everlasting!
He is the One who is from everlasting to everlasting!
He is the Creator
He is the Creator
We know that many in our world deny the existence of God. They suggest that the universe is simply a cosmic accident. That you and I are cosmic accidents. Scripture tells us differently. Scripture tells us that the eternal God created the universe. That He created humankind in His image. Does the evidence point more convincingly toward creation, or to naturalistic, evolutionary thought.
In my mind, there is not question. The observable evidence easily suggests an Intelligent Designer, a loving Creator. And it overwhelmingly makes naturalistic evolution look ridiculous. But it’s not the evidence that matters; what matters is that the Word of God reveals the truth, and we either believe it, or we don’t. If you have doubts, I would love to discuss this with you, but know this: without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Now, let’s return to our primary scripture: John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word
In the beginning was the Word
So far, we know that the beginning refers to the beginning of time. We also know that God was already there as the Creator. We know that God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting.
And now, we consider what John 1:1 is telling us: In the beginning was the Word. So, John is explaining that the Word was already there in the beginning.
So the next question is this:
2. What is the Word
2. What is the Word
First, notice what John did not write. He did not write, “In the beginning was a word ...”
He wrote, “In the beginning was the Word ...”
And please take note in your bibles, that this Word is probably capitalized. Capital W, o - r - d.
So, to best answer the question, “What is the Word?”, we will continue reading John 1:1.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
We see three important points:
We see three important points:
The Word was in the beginning (before creation)
The Word was with God (already existing)
The Word was God.
3. How can something be both with God and yet be God
3. How can something be both with God and yet be God
The apostle John is very deliberate to help us to understand. Let’s read on. Verse 2:
2 He was in the beginning with God.
What just happened to the Word? The Word has been replaced with the pronoun He. “He was in the beginning with God.” Suddenly, John has made the Word personal. But there’s more. John describes His (the Word’s) activity:
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John explains herein that the Word, which was in the beginning with God was the very One Who made everything that has been made. He was with God during the creation process, yet also, He is God, and furthermore, He is credited as having made everything that has been made. That is, He, the Word, is the Creator.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Please look now at verse 14 of John 1.
14 And 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.
4. So, Who is the Word?
4. So, Who is the Word?
The Word, of course, is the Lord Jesus, the Son of God. I assume that most of you attend church, and perhaps you are part of a Bible study. It is probably true that you are not surprised by this conclusion. Nonetheless, I wanted to take you through this little journey to help strengthen your faith. Let’s review:
Jesus is the Word.
Jesus was with God in the beginning.
Jesus is God.
So we have God, and we have the Word, Jesus. They are both identified as God. In other places in scripture we also read about the Holy Spirit and His deity. That is, three persons all identified as God. This is where we derive our understanding of the Trinity.
Some religious people in our world suggest that there is no Trinity. They argue that the word “trinity” does not exist in scripture, and they are correct. However, the concept is clearly revealed in scripture.
I hope you see from John’s gospel that Jesus is both with God, and yet also God. Two distinct persons. One entity. We also read similarly about the Holy Spirit in other places. In fact, we first read about the Holy Spirit during creation:
2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And the plurality of God is revealed explicitly when we read verse 26:
Genesis 1:26 (ESV)
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ...”
And the fact of the Oneness of God is also clearly revealed in
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Students, this is not a contradiction. God is One Entity, revealed in Three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person of the Trinity is fully God, and yet each has specific roles. In the human realm, we really have nothing that provides a perfect analogy of this relationship.
Some suggest that the egg provides an analogy. It is a single object and yet has three distinct parts: the yolk, the albumen, and the shell. Yet, in describing the Holy Trinity, it is only a crude analogy at best, because each element of the egg does not possess the full essence of the egg. The shell is not egg. The yolk is not the egg. The albumen is not the egg.
Others suggest that water helps us to understand the trinity of God, because it exists in three forms: frozen, liquid, and vapor. Again, it provides a crude analogy. Each form of water is truly water, and yet each individual manifestation of water exists independently of the other two forms: Water freezes at low temperatures, it does not remain liquid. Likewise, it vaporizes at higher temperatures.
The One God, Creator of the Universe, exists in three persons simultaneously Who all possess the essence of God at all times.
Now, let’s bring this all together.
There was a beginning of time. There was a beginning for the universe. There was a beginning of matter. But God has always existed. The Word has always existed. Jesus Christ is the Word.
5. Why is Jesus called The Word?
5. Why is Jesus called The Word?
Let me suggest two reasons:
a. Because He spoke the universe into existence
a. Because He spoke the universe into existence
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
b. He is God’s final Word for the redemption of sinners like us.
b. He is God’s final Word for the redemption of sinners like us.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
6. Who is Jesus to you?
6. Who is Jesus to you?
Do you understand that Jesus is your Creator? He is the One who spoke the universe into existence. And as His creation, you are accountable to Him.
Do you understand that Jesus is God’s final Word for redemption. Like me and every person before me, except Jesus Christ, you are a sinner; if you are thinking that you will get by on your own goodness, you are mistaken. Peter told the religious leaders of his day that (Acts 4:12) there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name [except Jesus] by which we can be saved.
Do you understand that He is your only hope for salvation? You cannot be saved apart from what Christ has accomplished on your behalf.
Is He Your redeemer? Have you trusted Him to save you from your sin? In Acts chapter 16, we read the account of Paul and Silas in prison in a place called Philippi. The jail guard was so moved by the testimony of their faith, that scripture says (Acts 16:30-31) he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved ...”
That is the message for you today, young person. If you have not yet trusted in the savior, please do so today. Please bow your heads with me. If you have never recognized that you are a sinner in need of salvation, but have come to that realization today, then please pray a simple prayer acknowledging your sin to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive you of your sin. Ask Him to save you. Paul told the church at Rome (Romans 10:10) “… with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” So, if you trusted Christ this morning, when you get home, tell your parents. You can also tell your friends and your teachers. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” (Psalm 107:2)
Let’s pray.