John 1:1-4

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

I love how the book of John begins like the book of Genesis 1:1….”In the beginning….”. But what John writes next is a mic drop….. “In the beginning was the Word…..” Just like God created the heavens and the earth “in the beginning”, the Word was “in the beginning”. The Word is eternal. We know that “the Word” in verse one is referring to Christ. The Word (Christ) was with God from the beginning, and the Word (Christ) was God. This verse shows us the oneness of God, Jesus, and the Bible that we have in our hands. When we skip down to John 1:14, we see this clarified for us even more by the words, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. This is Jesus…..God in the flesh…..God’s Word in the flesh. Jesus did not come from God. Jesus was not created by God. Jesus was with God before time began. He was equal with God. He WAS God. In Genesis 1:26, God mentions a plurality of beings when He says, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness….”. John proves His statements about God, Christ, and the Word in John 1:3-4. First, He says that “all things were made through Him”. Through who? Through Jesus, aka the Word. Jesus was involved in every aspect of creation. Jesus was not just a man. He was not simply a prophet. He was not a part of God’s creation. Jesus is the Creator of the universe and everything in it. Nothing was made without Jesus. Listen to the apostle Paul in Colossians 1:15-17: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” This backs up John 1:3 completely. I had to include Colossians 1:15, because I love that part about Jesus being the image of the invisible God. The people who were alive when Jesus walked the earth literally saw God in the flesh! Wow! We didn’t get to see Him with our eyes, but we can see Him through reading the gospels. We can get a picture of Jesus in our minds. And someday we will see Him if we remain faithful to Him. The second thing that John says that proves that Jesus is God is by saying that “in Him was life”. Jesus does not only give life, He IS life! And since Jesus is life, shouldn’t we rely on Him for everything as we go through our lives? It is only “in Him” that we can live forever with God. We can’t have eternal life through anyone except Jesus. The world is certainly not going to help us get there. People outside of Christ are looking for life, but they are looking in all the wrong places. They are looking to the world for life, but the world only brings death. John also calls Jesus the light of men. God created light in the beginning. Jesus was with God in the beginning, and also created that physical light. Without light, we are blind. We are stumbling around aimlessly not knowing which way to go. This describes our life without the spiritual light of Jesus. Imagine if all of the sudden, everything went black and we couldn’t see anything with our eyes, and no one else could either. Think of the chaos. Our lives would stop. I think of the Egyptians and the plague of darkness. They only had to live for three days in darkness, and it stopped their lives completely. (Exodus 10:22-23) What about our spiritual lives? Without the light of Jesus, we are blind and wandering aimlessly through life without purpose and without hope. We have no life without “THE LIFE”…..Jesus. Where do we find the light of Jesus? We find it by opening up the Word, and letting it guide us. Remember, that Bible that you hold in your hand is Jesus…..the Word, the Creator, the Life, and the Light. We never need to neglect it. If we do, we are walking in spiritual darkness that is as thick as the physical darkness was before God said “let there be light”. 

I leave you with this….1 John 1:5-7: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Did you catch the part that says, “in Him is no darkness at all”? Doesn’t that sound wonderful? 

Are you walking in the light? Are you in Christ? If you aren’t, I’d love to help you. Are you a member of the Lord’s church, but are struggling spiritually in your walk with Christ? If you are…..believe me, I’ve been there many times, and I’d love to help you. If you have any questions, please reach out. 

God’s Plan of Salvation

Below is the plan that God has set forth in His Word, for humankind to receive His grace that leads to salvation and an eternity with God in heaven. This plan is straight from the Bible. 

We have to hear His word. (Romans 10:17) 

Upon hearing the message of Jesus, we believe it. (Mark 16:16) 

Then, we confess Jesus’ name before men. (Matthew 10:32) 

Next, we repent of our sins. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) 

Finally, we are baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins.  (Acts 2:38, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:26-27) After baptism, God adds us to His church. (Acts 2:47)

Then, we remain faithful in our commitment to Christ until death. (Revelation 2:10, 2 Peter 2:20-22)