Jesus is God's Word

Alright, John chapter 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was with God. The Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through Him.

He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.

But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us. And we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness about Him, and cried out, this was He of whom I said, He who comes after me ranks before me, because He was before me. For from His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Father's side.

He has made Him known. This is the word of the Lord. Well, brothers and sisters, there is one thing we must never, ever do, and that's move one inch, one millimetre, from the word of God, from God's word.

For God's word is the place where we get to know our loving Heavenly Father. And it's the place where we grow in our living with Jesus as our Lord and our Saviour.

And it's the place we must finish, running the race with Jesus as our Lord and Heavenly Master. His word is the only way we truly know anything about God and His world.

I've been saying over the last while that God, well last week particularly, that God reveals His glorious power and might in the creation. And our eyes hear God speak.

And then God reveals Himself in His precious word, which is more to be desired than gold or than honey, even the finest, sweetest honey.

And our ears hear God speak. Right? But ultimately, God reveals Himself fully and finally in His Son, our Lord Jesus.

And I put it to you that our hearts hear God speak. For Jesus is God's word, God's ultimate, final word.

And you know that words are foundational for relationships. When we can't hear and we can't speak, clear communication becomes very, very difficult.

And when children first speak, we go, yes, that's fantastic. We delight to hear what they've got to say, until they drive us crazy by the continuous questions that go on forever and ever. But words inform us, don't they, of what's happening.

Words teach us. Words encourage us. Words hurt us. Words shape us. Words haunt us. Words make promises. Words reveal what's in our hearts. Words... Last week we saw that God speaks to our eyes in general revelation.

By general revelation I mean the created order particularly. The things in the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars. The heavens declare, proclaim the glory of God.

And our eyes hear that proclamation. The eyes of every person in the world hear the general glorious revelation of God. And we saw that the scriptures themselves speak.

The special revelation reveals God's word to us. That's how God reveals Himself to us. By special we mean the inspired word of God. That is the written word of God. The written revelation to us which is more precious than gold.

And sweeter than honey. Straight out of the hive. That's Psalm 19. Our ears hear God's word. And should shape our lives. So I want to finish our series by hearing God's word.

By majoring on Jesus. By majoring on Jesus. For God spoke to us uniquely and powerfully by sending His Son. When the Apostle John calls the word of God.

He's speaking of Jesus. Jesus the Christ. The King. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. And when we hear the Son speak to us. Our hearts hear Him.

Our hearts are softened. Our hearts are changed. As the Spirit of Jesus. Is at work in us. As our hearts truly hear Him speak.

And we believe in our hearts. That Jesus is Lord. And we confess with our tongues. Our tongues are loosed. And we confess that Jesus is Lord.

To the glory of God the Father. And then we are saved. And we willingly serve Him with the rest of our lives. So this morning I want to focus our attention on Jesus.

Who He is. As the living word of God. So here you see the word is eternally God. Verses 1 and 2. We're taken back to the beginning of the universe. And what we find is not dream time.

It's not a cosmic nothingness. It's not a Babylonian myth. What we have is the word of God is present. There are a number of things we need to understand about the word.

The word is there from the beginning. The word is not created. The word was always there from the beginning. So there not only was the word always there.

The difficult thing to grasp is that the word was God. Not the word was a divine little g God. Or so called God. Right.

But the word was actually God. The true and living God. The word is eternally God. Which speaks against the modern day Arians. The J-Dubs or the Christadelphians.

Who say that there's a time when Jesus did not exist. The word is not a created being. Secondly, the word Jesus is the creator of all things.

The first words of Genesis 1 are. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And God said by his word.

That there be light. That there be an expanse. Let there be water and land. Let there be lights in the sky. Let there be creatures in the sky. Let there be creatures in the water. Let there be creatures on land.

Let there be mankind. Everything in the universe was created by the word of God. All things there in verse 3. All things. Without him. Was not anything made.

That was made. God by his powerful word speaks. And the universe is created. And life is breathed into the world.

By the creating word. The creating creator God. He made out of nothing. There was nothing to make it out of. In the beginning there was the eternal God. Nothing else.

In the beginning there was the eternal word of God. Which is God. And nothing else. Prior to him there was nothing. So what John is saying here.

Is that at least there is one God. Right. Yet there are at least two persons in the one God. The word who is God. And the father who is God. The word spoke.

And the world was made. It came into existence. And then we have light in verses 4 to 8. This word is the light of men. The light allows us to see things.

To make things visible. Right. And yet. Here is the incredible problem. Right. Darkness.

Evil would like to do away with the light. But try as it may. It can't. Tries to overcome the light. Right. The only thing the darkness can do is.

It can't overcome it. Right. Try as it may. But the darkness can do evil. And reject the word. Disobey the word. Resist the word.

And so the light giving word. Which gives life. The eternal creator God. Is rejected. Rejected personally there in verses 9 to 11.

Look at it. The true light which gives light into everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world. The world was made through him. Yet the world did not know him. He came to his own. And his own people did not receive him.

The world is rejecting the one who made it. Because they would rather darkness.

The world in general rejected him. Even though he created them. The world being wicked people who inhabit it.

Rebellious wicked people who inhabit it. He comes to his own there in verse 11. They did not receive him. Imagine. Imagine you go to visit a family member you've never met before.

You know that happens these days. That's not that hard. We can be separated all around the world. You told them that you're coming to visit them. A long lost relative. You get off the plane.

No one's there to meet you at the airport. You get into the taxi and go to their place. You knock on the door. They open it a crack.

Right? You tell them it's you. And they say, go away. We're too busy to have you come in today. Go and find someone else to stay in some other place.

We really don't want to have anything to do with you. Jesus was rejected by his own chosen people. Which picks up the history of Israel. While Israel promised to follow their God.

They habitually rejected him. Over and over and over again. And the Old Testament laments that. The recalcitrance of his people. Jeremiah chapter 7 says, From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day.

I have persistently sent all my servants and prophets to hear them. To them, sorry. Day after day. Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear. But stiffened their neck.

He wanted to do. With the one who made them. And yet in God's sovereignty. This is what had to happen. So he could be the life-giving word.

The creation needed to reject their creator. So that the creation could be saved by their creator. From the wrath the creator should have laid upon them.

He's the life-giving word. Verses 12 to 13. Yet to those who receive him. He gives the right to become children of God. Born into a new family. Sons and daughters of God.

Not because of nationality. Not because their own tribe and nation. But because they received him. Welcomed him. Believed him. Who he is. Verse 12.

Those who follow him are born again. Those who receive him. He gives the right to become children of God. Those who believe in him.

He gives the right to become children of God. Literally there in verse 12. Who were born. Not of bloods.

Plural. They are born again. Right? Not in an ordinary way. Not by the planning of parents. Not by the physical bloods.

Bloods being mixed from two blood lines. Two parents DNA. They were born of God. Right? Given birth.

A new start. Fresh start. They are born into a new family. And so the word became flesh. Verse 14.

Here's the incredible mystery. This is the earth shattering truth. This true and living God became man. Human. Very flesh. Blood.

Became incarnate. Is the word. Not like the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama. Sorry. Who is the latest incarnation. Of an incarnation that dies.

And then reincarnates. No. He was born into the world. As a child. Miraculously. This Jesus. Grew up without sin. He lived confrontationally.

Died painfully. And publicly. Rose bodily. And ascended visibly. To the right hand of the Father. And here the one. To one.

Identity. Between word. And Jesus. Is made explicitly. That which has been hinted at. All the way.

In the first 13 verses. Is made absolutely clear. The incarnate word. Is Jesus. The son. Verse 14.

The logos. The word became flesh. Jesus. Right now. Right now. Jesus. Is the new man. Seated at the right hand.

Of the father. He is the eternal man. Who will return. To judge the world. God lived amongst us. In the flesh.

If we had lived. 2000 years ago. We could have seen. Jesus. We could have seen. God. In the flesh. Walking around. This planet. God.

Clothed. In human flesh. Literally. He. Tented. Amongst us. Just like God. Tented. Amongst. The people. The people. Of the old testament. First. In the tent of meeting.

With Moses. And then. The tabernacle. With the people. Went through the wilderness. And he. Traveled with them. Through the desert. With the people. God was present. With his people.

And so. To in Jesus. God incarnate. The word. God. In the flesh. Lived. Amongst us. Walked. The streets. Of Jerusalem.

In real time. In a real place. In becoming man. He doesn't lay aside.

His godness though. But lays aside. His glory. And dignity. Humbling himself. As in Philippians 2. Says. He doesn't lose.

His godness. His power. His might. Instead. He restrains himself. From using it. Jesus. Always dependent. And submissive.

To the father. Coming to do. The father's will. Jesus. The son. Is the obedient. Incarnate son. As on earth.

So in heaven. He voluntarily. Submits. To the father's will. He is the only. He is the unique. Son of the father. Verse 14.

He's the one and only. Right. He's the one and only. Best loved. Son. And his father. Is God. Himself. And he is truly.

The father's son. It's a uniquely. Christian thing. To believe that. Jesus. Is both. God. And man. That's unique. To Christianity. He. Muslim.

Believe. He was a prophet. A man. Jews. Believe. He was a blaspheming. Man. Hindus. Believe. In many. Gods. And just. Add him. To the collection.

Of gods. Atheists. Don't believe. In God. By definition. But to say. That Jesus. Is both. God. And man. Is uniquely. Christian. Confession.

It's a truly. Christian. Thing. To do. And he is still. Both. God. And man. Alive. Today. We believe. That God. Became man.

One of us. He is the supreme. Revelation. Of God. If we're to know God. Neither. Rationalism. Nor.

Mysticism. Or. Speculation. Will do. Rationalism. Deals. With God. As a mere. Object. To dissect. Under their microscope. And refuses.

To recognize. That we are the ones. Under his microscope. Mysticism. A band. Is all. Boundaries.

Of. Objective. Revelation. And heads into. Relivistic. Speculation. As mysticism. Starts in the mist. And ends.

In schism. That's mysticism. All right. Speculation. Dismisses. Revelation. And creates. A God. In our own image.

I like to think. Of God. Like this. I like to think. Of God. Like that. My God. Would never. Do this. In the past. God. Spoke. By the prophets.

At many times. In various ways. But in his last. Days. The days. We're in right now. He's spoken to us. By son. We cannot know God.

Any clearer. Than through the revelation. Of his son. He is a very word. Of God. And he is the real. Turning point. Right. In revelation. Right.

It's. The grace giving God. In verse 16 to 17. For from his fullness. We have all received. Grace. Upon grace.

Verse 16. Is very difficult. To understand. Right. Literally. It goes something. Like this. From his fullness. We have received. Grace. Even grace.

Or. Grace. Instead of. Grace. Right. One blessing. After another. Would be a good. Translation. And.

How do you understand. Verse 16. Or have a look. At verse 17. Verse 17. Explains it. Because. Because the law. Was given by Moses.

As we considered. Last week. The old covenant. Given through Moses. From God. Was his good. And gracious gift. Right. Sweeter than honey.

More precious than gold. Israel. Didn't deserve it. And. By. God's. God's. Gracious. Revelation. Himself. In his word. They became a holy nation.

And. So. Belonged to God. God. Graciously. Blessed. Them. By giving them. His word. Through Moses. I'm just going to move on. To the next verse.

In Deuteronomy chapter 4. Verse 1. For those who've got the hand out there. All right. It's through the law. Lived out by God's people. That they would be blessed. And they would be a blessing. To the world.

Around them. The world would look onto them. And go. Wow. You guys are great. So come to Deuteronomy chapter 4. With me please. Deuteronomy chapter 4. And have a look at. How gracious. And good. And wonderful. God's word is.

Deuteronomy chapter 4. So. It's the last book. In the Pentateuch. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus.

Numbers. Deuteronomy chapter 4. Pick it up at verse 1. Have a look at. How gracious. And good. God's law is. Right. Hear now.

Israel. Listen. To the statutes. And rules. That I am teaching you. And do them.

That you may live. And go in. And take possession of the land. That the Lord. The God of your fathers. Is giving you. You shall not add to the word. That I command you. Nor take from it.

That you may keep the commandments. Of the Lord your God. That I command you. Your eyes have seen. What the Lord did. At Baal Peor. For the Lord your God. Destroyed from you. Among you. All the men.

Who followed the Baal Peor. But you. Who held fast. The Lord your God. And are alive today. See. I have taught you. Statutes and rules. As the Lord my God.

Commanded me. That should do them. In the land. That you are entering. To take possession of it. Keep them. And do them. For that will be your wisdom. And your understanding. In the sight of the peoples.

Who when they hear. All these statutes. Will say. Listen to this. Surely. This great nation. Is a wise. And understanding people. For what great nation. Is there.

That has a God. So near to it. As the Lord. Our God. Is to us. Whenever we call upon him. And what great nation. Is there. That has statutes. And rules. So righteous.

As all this law. That I set before you. Today. How good. Is God's.

Old Testament. Law. For the people of Israel. That's what John is saying. That's gracious. But now.

From the fullness of Jesus. That is by him being. Completely. And fully God. Comes even more grace. Right. A new covenant of grace.

And truth. Comes through the Lord. Jesus Christ. Grace and truth. Full blown. Grace and full blown. Truth. Come through Jesus Christ.

Moses. The man. Mediated the law. Which was gracious. And good. And wonderful. And fantastic. Right. Jesus. The God man. Mediates.

And brings about. The fulfillment of the law. Which replaces. And builds upon. And extends. On one level. The word that was given.

In the Old Testament. Right. Which was gracious in itself. Something far. Far greater. Than the law. Written on stone. Now. Because God's word.

Is written on our hearts. In the new covenant. It's more gracious. Than sheep. Being sacrificed. And bulls. And goats. Here grace.

Is ultimately given. In the sacrifice. Of God's son. For our sins. And that law. Is written on our hearts. By the Holy Spirit. The words.

Engraved. Upon our hearts. God reveals himself. In his son. Who is the word of God. Fulfilling the Old Testament word. Given. Through Moses.

And now. Given. His full. Final. And complete. Self-disclosure. His clearest. Clearest word. In the living word of God. Because.

Verse 18. He's the one who reveals. He exegetes. Is the word. Shows us. Who God is. He makes the father known. You've seen Jesus.

You've seen the father. You've seen Josh Russell. You've seen his dad. He's the one who comes.

From the bosom of the father. And explains him to us. Explains him to us. In the most complete way possible. By actually becoming one of us. You've seen me.

You've seen the father. The father. And the word still speaks. The purpose of John's gospel. Is so that people.

Will believe. That the Christ. The son. Of God. Is Jesus. And by believing. Have life.

In his name. We can be confident. Of this. Jesus is reigning. Now. As Lord. The light.

Is still shining. The word. Is still speaking. And pleading. That we'll believe. That the Christ. Is Jesus. And by believing. We would have life. In his name.

Eternal life. In his name. And in his name. Alone. So here's my heart. All right. Let's get to the bottom line. Here. My heart.

Is that we will be good. Hearers of God's word. Pretty simple. That we'd never let go. Of Jesus.

We'd always be found. Following Jesus. That we'd always be found. Clinging to his word. Because Jesus. Is the word.

Is the life. Is the light. By which we can. See all things clearly. And so what'd that look like. Here we go. What'd that look like. Three things.

We will preach Christ. From his word. Because he's our judge. And our saviour. Secondly. That there'll be none here.

Who have not believed. That Jesus. Is the Christ. The King of Kings. And Lord of Lords. And so be saved.

And thirdly. That we'd always be giving ourselves. To the task. Of making an ever increasing number. Of disciples. Of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let's pray. Our Father in heaven. Thank you for revealing yourself to us. In your word. In your creation. In your son.

Help us to cling to him. Follow him. Serve him. Honor him. And preach him. For we pray in Jesus name.

Amen.