Black Friday took on a whole new meaning this last week in Valley Stream, New York when a throng of 2,000 shoppers trampled to death a worker at a Wal-Mart store there. According to witnesses, other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death. And I can’t help but wonder how many of the people in that crowd called themselves Christians and were maybe even among those who would claim to want to keep Christ in Christmas.
That incident just goes to show how much that our culture has completely dismissed the real meaning behind Christmas. But, as we’ve seen already, the beginning of John’s gospel is the only real antidote to our culture when it comes to remembering the significance of Christmas.
So as we’ve done for four weeks now, let’s read out loud together verses 1-5 and 14:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it…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.
John 1:1-5, 14 (NIV)
For the past three weeks, we’ve focused on the first two verses where we’ve seen the “logos’” presented as eternal – He is uncreated and without beginning or end – as being a person with personality, and as begin completely God. This morning, we’re going to move on to verse 3 and discover one more attribute of the “logos”:
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
This verse reveals another important attribute of the “logos”:
The “logos” creating
There are two very significant aspects of the creative work of the “logos” that we’re going to focus on this morning:
1) The “logos” embodies all aspects of creation
John, as he often does in his writings, uses a positive statement accompanied by a negative statement for the purpose of emphasis. He starts with the positive – “Through Him all things were made…” The word that John uses for “all things” is a word that implies not just the creation in whole, but every single individual element of that creation. And he picks up that idea again with the negative statement that he uses for emphasis – “…without him nothing was made that has been made.” Again John is making the point that not one single thing was made that has been made apart from Jesus. John does not want to leave any doubt whatsoever that Jesus is the creator of all.
Paul gives us some even further insight into this principle in his letter to the Colossian church:
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16 (NKJV)
I’m using the NKJV translation of this verse because it is one of the few English translations that accurately shows that Paul uses three different prepositions in describing the relationship of Jesus to His creation. In doing so, Paul is addressing the Greek philosophers who had long taught that everything needed a primary cause, or a plan; an instrumental plan, or a power; and a final cause, or a purpose. When it comes to creation, Jesus fulfills all three of those roles:
• The plan – primary cause (by Him)
The word “by” could also accurately be translated “in”. Paul makes it clear here that Jesus is the primary cause of creation. He, along with God the Father, planned the creation.
• The power – instrumental cause (through Him)
Jesus is also the instrument of creation. He is the power through which the creation came about. Both John, in the beginning of his gospel, and Paul, in his letter to the Colossians confirm this fact.
• The purpose – final cause (for Him)
Not only did Jesus plan the creation and then carry it out through His power, Paul writes that the creation is also “for Him”. In other words, He did it for His own pleasure.
The clear teaching of both John and Paul is that there is no aspect of creation that is not embodied in the “logos”. And once again, that is a testimony to the deity of the “logos”. Since no one but God is both uncreated and capable of creating, then the “logos” must be fully God
2) The creative work of the “logos” is an ongoing process.
Let’s go back to our verse from John for just a moment:
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
There is a subtle difference in the forms of the verb “to make” that are difficult for us to pick up in our English translations. The first two uses of that verb “were made” and “was made” are in what is known as the aorist tense, which indicates a completed action in the past. But the third use of “has been made” is in the perfect tense, which indicates a past action with continuing implications. The idea that John is expressing is that there is a sense in which the creative work of the “logos” is an ongoing process. That concept is supported quite well by the entirely of Scripture. We see the creative work of Jesus evident from Genesis to Revelation:
• In the beginning
We’re probably all familiar with the opening words of the Bible:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
Unfortunately, those words alone don’t really reveal the involvement of the “logos” in the creative process, but these words a little later in the same chapter, certainly do:
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…
Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
This verse undoubtedly refers to the involvement of all three persons of the triune God in the process of creation. Even though it is difficult in our English translations to see that the word for God is “Elohim”, the plural form of the Hebrew word for God (which is also used in Genesis 1:1), the use of the words “us” and “our” certainly imply that all three persons of the Godhead, including the “logos” are actively involved in the creation. But the role of the “logos” in creation doesn’t stop there.
• In His incarnation
Even though the “logos” took on a body of flesh at the incarnation, we shouldn’t be surprised to find that the work that Jesus did here on earth was consistent with His creative nature. There is a great deal of parallelism between His ministry here on earth and what occurred at the creation.
1) Bringing into existence matter which did not previously exist
The word “created” in Genesis 1:1 is a word that means to create something out of nothing. The creation was not merely the transforming of pre-existing materials, but rather the forming of something completely new out of nothing.
This same process is demonstrated by Jesus in many of His miracles. For instance when Jesus fed the multitudes from only two fish and five loaves of bread, Jesus had to create all the additional food from nothing. This involved not just the creation of the appropriate carbohydrate, protein and other molecules, but their immediate arrangement into the complex forms and structures needed to make baked bread and fish.
2) Transforming of existing matter
This is the process that we see God employ in Genesis 2 when He took the rib from Adam and transformed it into Eve.
Not surprisingly, we see Jesus employing this same process. The most obvious example is His very first miracle of transforming water into wine. But it seems that the healing that Jesus frequently carried out also is an example of this aspect of creation. Diseased tissues, nerves, and muscles were instantaneously transformed by Jesus into healthy, functioning body parts.
3) The giving of life
We’re going to focus on this aspect of creation in much more detail next week. Again, we see this aspect of creation in Genesis 1 where God, including the “logos” breathes life into Adam.
There are three times that Jesus did the very same thing here on earth:
o A widow’s son
o Jairus’ daughter
o Lazarus
4) The result of His will
The creation was an act of God’s will. In His infinite wisdom and omniscience God decided to carry out the creation and His will was accomplished as he spoke the creation into existence.
Jesus used a wide variety of methods in performing acts of creation in his earthly ministry. Sometimes he used physical means like touching, or clay or even spitting. Other times, he merely spoke. But the one thing that all of His miracles had in common is that they came about as a result of an act of His will. Jesus willed it and it happened.
5) The purpose is to bring glory to God
The Bible is clear that one of the purposes of the creation was to bring glory to God. This familiar passage certainly communicates that principle:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:11 (NIV)
It’s interesting that in his gospel, John records only seven of the many miracles that Jesus performed. As he makes clear at the end of his gospel, his purpose is to reveal that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The first of those recorded miracles is one that I already referred to earlier – the turning of water into wine. John records for us what occurs as a result of that miracle:
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
John 2:11 (NIV)
As a result of that creative act, Jesus, who is God, received glory.
But the creative process did not end with Jesus’ life here on earth:
• In His ascension
Just hours before His death on the cross, Jesus encouraged His followers with these words:
In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2 (NIV)
What this reveals to us is that Jesus is not yet finished with His work of creation. Even after He ascended to the right hand of the Father, He has been creating our permanent residence. As we discovered in our sermon series on heaven, this is probably a reference to the New Jerusalem which will descend from heaven and become our permanent dwelling one day. And right now, Jesus is employing all His creative powers to make that a place of unimaginable beauty and splendor.
• In eternity
As I mentioned earlier, we find the creative process described from Genesis to Revelation. The last act of creation that we find recorded for us in the Scriptures is near the end of the Book of Revelation:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"…
Revelation 21:1, 5
One day, Jesus, along with His Father and the Holy Spirit will bring their entire creation back to its original, unspoiled splendor. No more will the creation be marred by sin. And, if you are a follower of Jesus, you will get to enjoy that new heaven and new earth for eternity in the presence of the Creator Himself.
The idea that creation is an ongoing process is a crucial concept for us to get a grasp on. Even among believers, the idea that God completed his creation and then just stepped back to let it operate on its own seems to be gaining more widespread acceptance. But once again, the Bible gives us a much different picture.
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 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. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…
Hebrews 1:1-3 (NIV)
Not only does this passage confirm that the “logos” is the creator and therefore fully God, it also points out that the “logos” is actively involved in sustaining that which He has created.
Once again today, I want to make this time more than just an academic study. So let’s take a few minutes to examine a couple of the major implications of the “logos” as creator.
THE “LOGOS” CREATING - IMPLICATIONS FOR US
1. Worshiping the “logos” as Creator is necessary to avoid God’s wrath
Last week we saw that believing in the deity of Jesus is necessary for salvation. Jesus made it clear that those who do not believe that He is “I AM”, in other words that He is God, will die in their sins. It is quite interesting to me that there is a similar warning to those who fail to recognize the “logos” as creator.
One can’t help but think that these words of Paul, written nearly 2,000 years ago were addressed directly to our culture:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.
Romans 1:18-25 (NIV)
Although there is a lot we could pull from this passage, the main point that Paul is trying to make here is that those who refuse to recognize the “logos” as the creator are suppressing the truth, and, as a result, they are subject to the wrath of God. Rather than worshiping the Creator, these people have perverted the truth and chosen to worship that which He has created. That can take many forms in our culture today:
• Some have come to worship physical objects in the creation. That can take on all kinds of forms, from radical environmentalism that basically worships the plants and animals that God has created to many New Age practices that involve the worship of certain places and objects that are believed to hold magical powers. I am by no means implying that we are not to be good stewards of God’s creation. In fact, the Bible commands us to do that. But I am certainly concerned about those who have distorted that concept so much that they worship the creation rather than the Creator.
• The whole concept of evolution certainly stems from an incomplete or inaccurate idea of God as Creator. The theory of evolution certainly excludes God from the creative process and even some related theories advanced by well-meaning, but uninformed people who call themselves Christians diminish the power and sovereignty of God.
• By now some of you are breathing a sigh of relief. You’re thinking, “I’m not a tree hugger, a New Ager, or an evolutionist so this passage doesn’t apply to me.” But before you’re too quick to just ignore this passage, let me just mention one more area where I think all of us are tempted to worship the creation rather than the Creator. I know it’s an area that I personally struggle with.
It’s the temptation for us to worship self. That’s an area Paul certainly addresses in this passage even though he doesn’t put it in those terms. But he certainly does write about those who are more concerned in their own physical pleasures than they are with being obedient to God. And that is just one symptom of those who have chosen to be the god of their own lives. If I fail to understand that God is the Creator who is to be worshipped, then it becomes really easy to put myself on the throne of my life, to make self the god of my life.
And there are some very serious consequences to worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. Paul writes that the “wrath of God is being revealed” against those who would do so. The verb “is being revealed” is a present tense verb and the idea here is that there are both present day and future consequences to those who fail to recognize God as Creator. In the present, God’s wrath is revealed in their lives through the consequences that they suffer as a result of being disobedient to God. Their hearts become so hardened that God eventually just gives them over to their sinful desires and they bear the natural consequences of that sin.
But there is also a future and everlasting component to God’s wrath. For those who refuse to recognize the “logos” as creator, they will suffer for eternity in a physical place of torment, separated permanently from the presence of God.
2. As creator, the “logos” has the right to rule over my life
Earlier we looked a Colossians 1:16. Let’s go back to the preceding verse for just a moment.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15 (NIV)
This is another one of those verses that has been misused by many to try to disprove the deity of Jesus by claiming that He was created rather than being the creator. You can easily see where that confusion might come from since Jesus is described here as the “firstborn” over all creation. The problem is that the word “firstborn” in English denotes being born first chronologically. And if that were the case, it would certainly imply that Jesus was a created being and therefore not God.
However, the Greek word used here is a word that indicates the preeminence or the right to rule in the same way that an heir has the right to rule over his predecessor’s estate. It is the same Greek word used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, to describe both Jacob and David, even though they were clearly not the first born chronologically in their families. However they were the ones who had the right to rule as the heirs of their families’ estates.
Since the “logos” is the creator, He therefore has the right to rule over that which He has created. And since He created each one of us, He has the right to be Lord of our lives. Since we discussed that in some detail last week, I’m not going to spend any more time here this morning except to remind us all that we can’t separate the roles of Savior and Lord when it comes to accepting Jesus into our lives.
3. The creative power of the “logos” is the basis for our hope in a future resurrection
One of the great hopes for those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ is that one day, like Him, we will experience a physical resurrection. Paul describes that process in great detail in 1 Corinthians 15, but we have time to look at only a brief portion of that extended passage:
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (NIV)
At our death, our soul and spirit is separated from our physical body. But when He returns to this earth, Jesus is going to re-unite our soul and sprit with our bodies and He is going to transform our bodies into the kind of glorious resurrection bodies that Paul describes for us in 1 Corinthians 15.
If you think about that process at all, it becomes readily apparent why that entire process is completely dependent on the fact that the “logos” is the Creator. As we’ve seen, one of the aspects of His creative power is his ability to manipulate matter – either to create something completely new out of nothing or to transform existing matter into something new. And that is exactly what has to occur in order for all pieces of our physical bodies to be gathered together again and then be transformed into a glorious new resurrection body.
At death, no matter what the circumstances or how much embalming fluid we inject into them, our bodies begin to deteriorate. That is true whether we are buried in the ground, cremated our bodies are involved in some kind of accident where they are burned up or destroyed in some manner. We will all return to dust. But the “logos”, because He had the creative power to breathe life into dust from the beginning, is able to put all our dust back together again and breathe life into us once again.
