Opening the Photo Album
Jn 1:1-18
- Photo Albums have changed over the years
- Fist it was quick draw artist on the scene
Then it was B/W pictures taped too sheets of pictures
- Then Binders equipped to take photos between plastic
- Today computes do blogs
In many ways, technology is making it possible to be two places at the same time.
Some parents are setting up a baby cam in the nursery so grandparents can log on the Internet and watch their grandchild sleep.
Have you seen the Oreo Webcam Commercial where a father on a business trip in Singapore opens up the cookie and dips it into milk with his son in America. The dad says goodnight son and the son says good morning daddy. Using high speed connectivity, the father is able to "be there" with his son as they share a moment together
Facebook has teamed up with Skype now you can video chat.
Google not to be out done is testing Google+ with a thing called “Circles” Choose which group of people you share too. “Sparks” sorts stories and articles by topic together in one area for you to talk about with your Google + circles that are interested in those topics. & “Hangouts” where you will be able to video chat with up to 10 people at the same time
- None of this is the same as being there
- Nothing replaces the personal touch.
- When God wanted to show himself give his message of salvation and forgiveness to us, he didn't "video call" it in. He came.
Opening the Photo – The GOSPELS
1. The first 3 Gospels are called the Synoptic Gospels because they are written from the same viewpoint.
- The fourth Gospel is different.
- Matthew and Mark emphasize the miracles of Jesus
- Luke gives attention to the parables
- John is giving His Word – His heart
John 1:14 NASB "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Problem
Christian Post 7/09/11 reported a Gallup Poll 30% of Americans believe that the Bible is the Word of God
Another Gallup poll In a 1983, Americans were asked "Who do you think Jesus is."
70% of those interviewed said Jesus was not just another man.
42% stated Jesus was God among men.
27% felt Jesus was only human but divinely called.
9% states Jesus was divine because he embodied the best of humanity.
Also, 81% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians.
"Jesus has been acclaimed as the greatest religious leader who ever lived, as being the most influential person to have lived on our planet, and as being unique to the degree that no one can be compared to Him.
The main theme of the Scriptures is the Person and the work of Jesus Christ.
- He is God.
- There are three affirmations of His Deity:
I. JESUS IS REVEALED AS GOD 1:1
A. He is revealed as the Divine Companion 1:1
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after ourlikeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
John 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
B. He is revealed as the Divine Communicator 1:1, 14, 18
Revelation 19:11-14 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (SEE Hebrews 1:1-14)
C. He is revealed as the Divine Creator 1:3, 10
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Colossians 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.
Ephesians 3:9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
D. He is revealed as the Divine Christ 1:11
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
II. JESUS IS RECOGNIZED AS GOD 1:7
A. By John 1:15
Jn 1:12KJV
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
B. By Thomas John 20:28
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
C. By the Jews John 10:24-33
III. JESUS IS RECEIVED AS GOD 1:12
When He’s received He overcome our:
A. Darkness 1:5
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
B. Depravity 1:9
C. Death 1:10
