God's Powerful Word Incarnate

God's Powerful Word Incarnate

John 1:1-5, 10-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-8

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, because sometimes words just can't adequately describe an experience, or a person, or even a scenic view.

Last Week: God's Powerful Word in Print!

• How the Bible stands alone among every book ever written.

o Supernatural in its prophesy, its unity, its depth of insight, its vast corroboration, its power to transform lives and offers peace with God, and its eternal strength/survival. (Greg Koukl: Stand to Reason)

• How anyone who claims the Bible to be just one of many sacred writings is revealing a profound lack of knowledge.

• The Bible is a Powerful Revelation of God Message of Hope for Humanity!

So God didn't rest on the grandness of Creation to reveal who He is!

And God didn't rely only on the descriptions and directions he gave through human mediators!

God's greatest word/revelation of truth happened when God became flesh!

John 1:1-5, 10-14 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV) In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

Jesus displayed God's POWER

• As Creator

• As Revealer (Communicator!)

• As the source of all light (knowledge, understanding, wisdom – all revealed!)!

o ALL SEE HIS glory and majesty through what He's created!

o He bursts into His creation at times and places through various means!

? He led alongside and through Moses!

? He introduced walking in step with God – according to His will!

? He introduced a plan of substitutionary sacrifice for sin!

? He introduced a covenant relationship – (personal responsibility to choose life)!

o JESUS OFFERS THE CLEAREST TRUTH REGARDING THE NATURE OF GOD

Jesus displayed God's WILL

• To give life!

• To offer a place in His family!

• To relate to his children as a loving Father – guidance, discipline, and grace!

• HOW DID MOST HUMANS RESPOND??

o Distracted by sin… they hid from the light of truth!

o Deceived by counterfeits!

o They rejected the authority of their MAKER!

Jesus displayed God's LOVE

• He approached us on our level!

• He came announcing peace without a show of force!

(But as a baby in a manger! Vulnerable, non-threatening, temporarily powerless.)

• Jesus never showed a sign of force against humanity – his enemy was the deceiver and his lies, and Jesus's only weapon was truth!

• His constant self-sacrificing demonstrated love like no other person had shown!

Jesus displayed God's CHARACTER

• He was without sin!

o He did what God, the Father gave Him to do.

o He said what the Father gave Him to say.

o He accomplished what the Father gave Him to accomplish.

"He became obedient unto death; even death on a cross!"

o There was never any rebellion or resentment or disagreement.

• He was without factual error!