Receive The Word

Hymns

Thy Word, Ancient Words, Wonderful Words of Life

Readings

Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14

Sermon

Who is the Word? Is Jesus God? Let’s find out in John 1:1-18.

Jesus is God

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5 NKJV)

Before the Gospel of John was available in all churches, some thought that Jesus was a created being and not God. This Arian heresy is still believed today by some groups, notably Jehovah’s Witnesses. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in Egypt, used John 1 to counter this wrong idea.

Early churches did not always have a complete New Testament, so parts of the puzzle were omitted. The first verse of John reveals that the word was God [existed NOT came into existence]. He was not created, but created all things.

Receive Him

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:6-13 NKJV)

We receive Him by hearing the Word. Faith comes from hearing the Word (Romans 10:14-17) not a motivational speech or faith without repentance. Ancient believers read the Bible aloud (Nehemiah 8:7-9) and public reading of scripture has long been church practice (1 Timothy 4:13).

When preachers avoid the Bible, especially the words of Jesus, the sheep cannot receive “the Word.” Why would we ignore Him in our churches, politics, business practices and marriages?

The Word Became Flesh

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:14-18 NKJV)

The word “dwelt” is “tabernacled” or “tented. God the Son “tabernacled” in the earthly tent of a human body, preparing for that time when God the Father dwells with us.

Jesus is the Word. Do we eagerly receive the Word, and welcome Him to tent with us. Someday heaven will descend to earth and He will live with us forever.

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.