Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Considering one verse from John (v14)
• What has captured your attention this morning? - examples
• When you think of Christmas - what do you think about? - examples
• We need to think of Jesus Christ
• "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory..." - John 1:14a
• John is speaking on behalf of God's children - who have seen Him
• ...the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father full of grace and truth" - John 1:14b
• We need to contemplate God's glory
• We need the Holy Spirit to reveal this to us
• Overview:
• The Glory of the Godhead - Jesus
• The Glory of His Grace
• The Glory of the Gospel

The Glory of the Godhead - Jesus

• Jesus looks like an ordinary child - examples
• Yet this little babe is fully God
• There is a great mystery in this
• Jesus has a glorified body (in heaven)
• Jesus is forever the 'God man'
• Christ has come to redeem our souls and our bodies
• It is a deep mystery
• How can Jesus 'limit' Himself?
• The Bible says Jesus "emptied Himself" and "humbled Himself"
• He willingly puts aside some of His Divine attributes
• Some say that Jesus Christ is not fully God - but He is and chose to take on human flesh
• We beheld His glory
• He came in the likeness of human flesh - but He had no inclination to sin
• He was born without sin since He was born of the Holy Spirit and not of Joseph
• The glory of the Lord is often depicted or thought about in terms of light
• Christ's glory was veiled - but momentarily revealed at the Transfiguration
• 2 Chronicles 5:14
• There were in the Old Testament Theophonies - examples
• But now we see this glory in a person (not in a tabernacle, temple or by a few on special occasions)
• We see the glory in the person of Jesus
• Think of Jesus glory at His baptism, miracles, resurrection, ascension
• "No one has seen God at any time" (v18)
• Those in the Old Testament only had glimpses
• Jesus Christ has seen God (v18)
• Jesus came to declare God - John 10:30, 6:46
• Jesus is the self-revelation of God - the Word became flesh
• As you see Christ you see God
• Isaiah saw Jesus' glory - do you?

The Glory of His Grace

• Jesus is "full of grace" (v14)
• Consider Mount Sinai when Moses face shone with glory
• The glory of grace is far greater
• The law of God causes people to draw back and fear
• The grace of God causes us to draw near
• Jesus encourages us to take His easy yoke and light burden
• He calls all to come to Him
• You may be fearful of the judgment of God
• Grace calls you to Christ as it will cover all sin
• The law bring judgment and death
• Grace brings eternal life
• The law cannot be kept
• Grace has completed the word
• Quote from Augustine
• The law makes ready for Christ
• Every Christian has received the fullness of God's grace (v16)
• Eternal life
• Every spiritual blessing in heavenly blessings
• Forgiveness, love, mercy and kindness

The Glory of the Gospel

• Full of grace "and truth" (v14)
• Truth is not just the words of Jesus Christ
• Jesus Himself is the truth of God
• He is the self-revelation of God
• He is the Word made flesh
• The full revelation of God and the gospel messages is in Jesus Christ
• We are not full of grace and truth - example
• The truth - the full plan of redemption found in Jesus
• He is the gospel
• Jesus means "Saviour" - He will save His people from their sin
• Jesus will go to the cross and take the sin of the world upon Him
• Jesus would offer a perfect sacrifice
• God Himself in the person of His Son has dealt with our sin
• Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended in to heaven
• Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and will come again in judgment

Closing Remarks