The Word Became Flesh John 1:14-18
An Ancient Heresy Great heresies arose during the 1st century The first was the Judaizers (Acts 15:1) Then came Gnosticism Salvation through hidden (or special) knowledge) Matter (physical world) is evil Therefore Christ could not be physical
Docetism was an offshoot of Gnosticism Origin of name Greek word “dokeo” “To see, to appear to be” Jesus only appeared to have a human body Answered by John Eyewitness testimony (1 Jn. 1:1) Inspired teaching (Jn. 1:1-18) Serious admonition (1 Jn. 4:1-3)
They Beheld His Glory The glory of His deity The glory of His grace “glory as of the only begotten from the Father” (Jn. 1:14c) Imminently seen on the Mount of Transfiguration (Lk. 9:28-35) The glory of His grace “full of grace…grace upon grace…grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14d, 16-17) All fullness is in Christ (Eph. 1:23)
The glory of His preeminence The glory of His truth “full…of truth…truth realized through Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:14d, 17) He is “the truth” (Jn. 14:6) The glory of His preeminence “He who came after me has a higher rank than I, for existed before Me” (Jn. 1:15c) Pre-existence and preeminence (Col. 1:16-18)
The glory of His revelation “No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (Jn. 1:18) Jesus manifested or declared the Father as no one had before (Heb. 1:1-4)
The Answer To Man’s Needs The need to know God To know Jesus is to know the father (Jn. 14:7-9) Jesus reveals the father (Lk. 10:22) The need for access to God “No one comes to the Father, but through Me” (Jn. 14:6) A mediator for man (1 Tim. 2:5)
The need for a Savior Jesus came to save (Lk. 19:10) Jesus came in the flesh to condemn sin (Rom. 8:3) He tasted death for all (Heb. 2:9) He came to save from sins (Matt. 1:21-23)