Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Have you written a book?
- Did you attach your name to it?
- John did not attach his name to his gospel
- He did not want to bring glory to himself
- His gospel is different to that of Matthew, Mark and Luke
- More narrative
- He wanted the focus to be on Jesus Christ
- The reason for writing the gospel - John 20:30-31
- That you might believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah - the anointed of God - and have eternal life
- He briefly refers to himself as an unnamed disciple X:35, 37, 41; 13:23, 18:15-16, 19:26, 20:3-8, 21:20-21
- Looking at v1-12
- A very deep teaching
- The Word was God and took on flesh
- Overview:
- How can human beings know God?
- Who is the Word?
- How can I know God personally?
How can human beings know God?
- Example of 'door to door' work
- Not a question many are asking
- Yet a fundamental question
- God exists
- Atheists suppress this truth because they do not want to be accountable
- Creation declares the glory of God - Psalm 19
- The invisible attributes of God are clearly seen - Rom 1:20
- God has given us a conscience
- An innate sense of right and wrong
- Rom 2:15 - God's law is written on our hearts and our conscience bears witness (though it can be seared)
- This does not tell us about God's love, His full character, His ways, about the Trinity
- We need a special revelation to know God fully and completely
- Because we are sinful - examples
- We are cut off from God
- Yet God sent His Son into the world to be the Light of the World
- God gave a promise - Gen 3:15
- God has continued to speak to His people - Abraham, the prophets, the Law
- The full revelation of God in Jesus Christ - Heb 1:1-2
- No-one can come to the Father except through Christ
- No-one has seen the Father except Christ - not even Moses
- We can know God through the Son
- We need more than creation
- We need more that the general/progressive revelation of the Bible
- We need the special revelation of Jesus Christ
Who is the Word?
- In the beginning was the Word
- The New Testament - written in Greek
- The Old Testament - written in Aramaic
- The Word - means the self-revelation of God
- Jesus is pre-existent
- Gen 1:1 - In the beginning
- Jesus is face-to-face with God
- Jesus is God
- This must have blown the mind of the readers
- Do you believe in the full deity of Jesus Christ?
- You cannot be saved if you deny the deity of Christ!
- He is the God-man
- Example of Heretic Cerinthus
- Perhaps in part John is writing to defend Biblical truth
- He also writes three letters and defends against heretics
- He also writes Revelation
- In the beginning with God
- All things were made through Him
- He spoke the world into existence
- He sustains the world
- He is the creator
- Who is Jesus to you?
- He is life
- He is the source of all life
- He is the fountain of all spiritual life
- "I am"
- He is light
- Pure, pervasive, illuminating, warms/cheers, but also burns
- He is the holy one of God
- He knows all things
- We do not come to Jesus lest our sins be exposed in His light
- If we turn from our sin and darkness - He casts it out
- Due to time we will return to further points next week
How can I know God personally?
- v12 - believe in Christ
- Do not be children of wrath - become a child of God
- You need to receive Him
- Are you aware of your sin?
- Do you know there is only one way that sins can be forgiven?
- Receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour
- No penance or works - simply come to Jesus
- Ask for salvation