The Gospel of John The Life of Jesus as recorded by John The Life of Jesus as recorded by John Jesus, the Word Jesus, the Word Week 2, August 13, 2014 Week 2, August 13, 2014 Gene Wright - Gene Wright -

Last week Last week Gospel that is different Gospel that is different Presents Jesus to the Greek world Presents Jesus to the Greek world Rise of the Heresies Rise of the Heresies Not really divine and/or not really human Not really divine and/or not really human John presents Jesus as fully human and fully divine. John presents Jesus as fully human and fully divine. Suggestion? Consider buying this movie: Suggestion? Consider buying this movie: About $5-10 About $5-10 This week? This week? The Gospel of John

John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Three great truths presented right at the outset Three great truths presented right at the outset 1) The Word was already there at the beginning 1) The Word was already there at the beginning The Word is not one of the created things - Jesus was pre-existent. The Word is not one of the created things - Jesus was pre-existent. If the Word was with God before the beginning, if the Word is part of the eternal scheme of things, then God has always been like Jesus. If the Word was with God before the beginning, if the Word is part of the eternal scheme of things, then God has always been like Jesus. That is VERY important. That is VERY important. The Gospel of John

John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Three great truths presented right at the outset Three great truths presented right at the outset 1) The Word was already there at the beginning 1) The Word was already there at the beginning Some are tempted to view God as holy, just and avenging and think that Jesus somehow altered God’s attitude toward men and changed God’s anger into love Some are tempted to view God as holy, just and avenging and think that Jesus somehow altered God’s attitude toward men and changed God’s anger into love Not true. God has always been like Jesus. Not true. God has always been like Jesus. Some are tempted to ask “What happened before Jesus came?” Some are tempted to ask “What happened before Jesus came?” Meaningless. Jesus has always been with God. Meaningless. Jesus has always been with God. The Gospel of John

John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Three great truths presented right at the outset Three great truths presented right at the outset 2) Always been the most intimate connection between God and the Word. 2) Always been the most intimate connection between God and the Word. No one can tell us what God is like, what God’s will is for us, what God’s love and heart and mind are like, like Jesus can. No one can tell us what God is like, what God’s will is for us, what God’s love and heart and mind are like, like Jesus can. There are no secrets between God and Jesus There are no secrets between God and Jesus Ok, other than the day of Jesus’ return Ok, other than the day of Jesus’ return Jesus is the one person in all the universe who can reveal to us what God is like and how He feels towards us. Jesus is the one person in all the universe who can reveal to us what God is like and how He feels towards us. The Gospel of John

John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Three great truths presented right at the outset Three great truths presented right at the outset 3) John does not say Jesus was “a God” 3) John does not say Jesus was “a God” No “article” present (a, an, the) No “article” present (a, an, the) Jesus is not “the God”, which would have said Jesus was not only identical with God, but simply God. Jesus is not “the God”, which would have said Jesus was not only identical with God, but simply God. Jesus is not “a” god. Not one among many. Jesus is not “a” god. Not one among many. The Gospel of John

John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Three great truths presented right at the outset Three great truths presented right at the outset 3) John does not say Jesus was “a God” 3) John does not say Jesus was “a God” No, John says that Jesus was God, meaning of the same character, quality, essence and being as God. No, John says that Jesus was God, meaning of the same character, quality, essence and being as God. Jesus is so perfectly the same as God in mind, in heart, in being that in Jesus we see perfectly what God is like. Jesus is so perfectly the same as God in mind, in heart, in being that in Jesus we see perfectly what God is like. John 14:8 “Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us…’ ” John 14:8 “Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us…’ ” “…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” “…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” The Gospel of John

John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1,2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Again, Jesus was there in the beginning with God. Again, Jesus was there in the beginning with God. He was not created. He was not created. Want to know God? Want to know God? Know Jesus Know Jesus The Gospel of John

John 1:1-3: “In the beginning … All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” John 1:1-3: “In the beginning … All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” Why this stress on how the world was made? Why this stress on how the world was made? Gnosticism / heresy saying that “God” could not have been the creator. Gnosticism / heresy saying that “God” could not have been the creator. John says - WRONG! John says - WRONG! The Gospel of John

John 1:1-3: “In the beginning … All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” John 1:1-3: “In the beginning … All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” John says - WRONG! So does the rest of the NT! John says - WRONG! So does the rest of the NT! 1 Corinthians 8:6 “for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” 1 Corinthians 8:6 “for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible” Colossians 1:16 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible” Hebrews 1:1,2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” Hebrews 1:1,2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” The Gospel of John

John 1:1-3: “In the beginning … All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” John 1:1-3: “In the beginning … All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” The NT stresses two great truths about creation The NT stresses two great truths about creation 1) Creation out of nothing. 1) Creation out of nothing. God did not work with any pre-existing matter. Behind all and in all is: God God did not work with any pre-existing matter. Behind all and in all is: God 2) This is GOD’s world. 2) This is GOD’s world. God is not detached and uninvolved. God is not detached and uninvolved. He is intimately involved in this world. He is intimately involved in this world. The Gospel of John

John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” John 1:1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being” We glorify God by remembering that God is behind everything and in everything all the time. We glorify God by remembering that God is behind everything and in everything all the time. The problem in the world is Sin, not God. The problem in the world is Sin, not God. He really does have the whole world in His Hands. He really does have the whole world in His Hands. Next week? John, the forerunner Next week? John, the forerunner See you then! See you then! The Gospel of John