In the Beginning God was JN 1:1-4
Mark 1:1 “Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.”
As we want to start messages on the Gospels we have to start with the Gospel of John because of what it says in the beginning of the book. I want to take the time to go through the Gospels in a chronological order so we can know Christ better so as this will take time it might be a year or two before we get done. As I have studied the book of John I found that the reason it was written is because of the Gnostic belief that denied the deity and the humanity of Christ. He could not be both God and man is what they were saying. The key verse for this book is: JN 20:30-31 Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life. Jesus is described as the Word. He was in the beginning because He was God. There is no other person or thing that this is said about. He was here before history began.
A. He pre-existed with God. Just as it says in Gen. 1:1 so in JN 1:1 there is no attempt to prove the existence of God. It is key here to know that He was with God. One religion says that He became God. Col. 1:18 He is the head of the body, who is the beginning.”
B. His position with God. He was not in God, but with God, as person with person, eternally. He is one with God and has the very being and mind of God and so is the very representation and function and spirit and authority of God. He is in likeness of eternity, personality and deity of God.
He has four relationships given to us:
1. To the world he is the Creator. Not anything that was made was made without Him. This is better than any guarantee that we will ever have for any thing we have. We have the green people who want to save the world and have put restrictions in place to have save trees, whales, recycle products, reduce pollution so that the world will not be ruined by man kind. I am hear to tell you that God is in charge and when He decides that all things must end He will cause it to happen. Until then I want you to rest that you will have what you need for living. If you run out of what is necessary for life then He is ready to take you home to heaven where there is no lack. PS 33:6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. PS 33:9 For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. COL 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. HB 1:2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. We may as creatures think we have made some things with our power but we can claim nothing.
God and the Spider: During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire, he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen." After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. "Hah, he thought. “What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor." As the enemy drew closer, he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall." We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget what God can work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. And remember with God, a mere spider’s web becomes a brick wall of protection.
2. To us He is the light and life of men. He is the source of life. We know that Adam was made from the dust and it was as God breathed into him the breath of life that he was made alive. We all came from the fact that God made the first man and woman to reproduce after their kind. The word for life appears 36 times in this Gospel but only once as used here as biological life. Jesus is the source of all life as also He is the source of all light. Do you remember the words “And God said let there be light?” That was the 3rd verse in the Bible. PS 36:9 For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. JN 8:12 Jesus said to the people, "I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path." Life and light are the attraction coming after us and making the first move. We are born in darkness and need the light. How beautiful do we find the Word of God when it comes to us and says I will bring you light and life. This is light that chases away, drives out, and scatters all darkness. This is light that sets apart, separates and distinguishes all darkness. This light pierces, breaks into, opens, bursts through, and penetrates the darkness so that there is no darkness. JN 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes. Col. 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has changed us into the kingdom of his dear Son. 1 Peter 2:9 “for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 JN 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. It is Jesus and only Jesus that gives us light and life.
3. He has a relationship with people and to none other of His creation. All dogs do not go to heaven nor fish or cats. He has chooses to be in us. We are the only creatures who can read His word. His word is personal and comes from God to man. It is the word of God that lights every man that comes into the world. You need to be more excited about His word. Do you bring His word to church? Do you carry a copy to where you work? Do you have a copy in your car? Do you have it hidden in your heart? If it is the most precious thing in the world that God has given to us why is it in many places just collecting dust? How can one have a relationship with some one you know very little about? How can you know Him if you do not know His word? If you do not know Him your relationship with Him will not be very good. Why would you want to go to heaven to be with some one you do not know? Please do not tell me I do not have time to get into His word. Are you too busy? I would ask you Why?
I’m too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed! I refuse to be discouraged, to be sad or to cry. I refuse to be downhearted and here’s the reason why: I have a God who is almighty; who is sovereign and supreme; I have a God who loves me, and I am on his team. He is all wise and powerful; Jesus is His Name; though everything else is changeable, My God remains the same. I refuse to be defeated. My eyes are on my GOD. He has promised to be with me, as through this life I trod. I am looking past my circumstances, to heaven’s throne above. My prayers have reached the heart of God. I am resting in His love. I give thanks to Him in everything. My eyes are on His face. The battle is His; the victory is mine; He will help me win the race.
4. In verse 5 we have the truth that light has come to shine in the darkness but the darkness did not want it. What do you know about the dark ages? It lasted around 1,000 years. It was brought about because people stopped reading the Word of God. Instead of reading the word for themselves they let the priests interpret the word and they believed what they said. Do you believe every thing you hear? I pray that you take the message you hear even in this church and check it out in your own Bible to make sure it is certain and true.
I know He is the creator, so why do I wonder why some things are not right. I know He has forgiven me, so why can’t I forgive myself. I know He is a healer, so why do I dwell on sickness. I know He can do all things, so why do I refuse to help others. I know He will protect me, so why do I fear. I know He will supply all my needs, so why do I wonder if I will have enough? I know He is my strength and my salvation, so why do I refuse to be a doer of good. I know that everything and everyone has a season, so why when someone’s season is over do I weep instead of rejoice. I know He is the right way, so why do I go the wrong way. I know He is the light, so why do I choose to walk in darkness. I know that whatever I ask of GOD, GOD will give me, so why am I afraid to ask. I know tomorrow is not promised, so why do I put off for tomorrow what I can do today. I know that the truth shall make me free, so why do choose to believe what is false? I know He gives us knowledge and understanding, so why do I lean on my own understanding. I know we are told to live in the spirit as well as walk in the spirit, so why do I choose to live in the spirit but walk in the flesh. I know that when praises go up blessings will come down, so why do I reject to praise Him. I know I am saved, so why do I refuse to believe the word He has given me. I know He has a plan for me, so why am I rushing it, when it is His time not my time.
