"The Word is God" Sermon: John 1:1-5

“The Word is God”
[John 1:1-5]
June 4, 2009 Old First Presbyterian Church

What is the most important question for us to answer? How to fix the economy? How to stop North Korea’s nuclear ambitions? How to stop global warming? How to get one politician in and another one out? How to lose that last five – ten – pounds? I am firmly convinced that the most important question – the only question that will matter for all of eternity – is, “Who do we believe Jesus is?”

Over the next three Thursdays – and more – if the Lord is willing and you would have me preach – I would like to look at the beginning of the Gospel of John with you. And more – if we are able. John gave us the reason for his writing his gospel: “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20::31, ESV).

John begins his gospel by stating, “in the beginning was the Word.” Notice – John does not say, “from the beginning was the Word,” although the Word was from the beginning, the Word was also “in the beginning.” That means that the Word existed before time and space were created. The Word existed before anything but God existed.

He continues: “and the Word was with God.” That means that the Word is distinct from God. For example, if I say I am with Dorothy, the implication is that we are not the same person – we are distinct persons from each other. So, the Word is distinct from God.

Yet, we’re told that “the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” Even though the Word is distinct from God, the Word is also the same One Being as God. What John is telling us is the same thing that we’re told in the mysterious doctrine of the Trinity: there is One God, and He exists in more than One Person – in fact, in Three Persons.

Then John tells us that “all things were made through [the Word], and without him was not anything made that was made.” We known from the first chapter of Genesis, that God created everything that is. Here we are being told that the Word created everything that is.

Paul said the same thing: “there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (I Corinthians 8:6b, ESV).

In the first three verses of his gospel, John tells us that there is a God Who existed before the creation and created everything that is. He tells us that this One God exists in more than One Person – One of Whom is the Word, Who is also known as Jesus Christ.

And, at this point, we may think, “Well, that’s wonderful, but what does that do for me today?” “That may be fine to talk about and figure out – as far as we can understand the Trinity – but so what?”

John begins to explain the “so what” of this in the next two verses: “In [the Word] was life, and the life was the light of men.” The Word, we see, Jesus Christ, gives life. John explained this further when he wrote, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and that life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I John 5:11-12, ESV).

John says that we only have life through the Word – through Jesus Christ. And by that, he means that the life we live now only really has meaning through belief in Jesus Christ, and we will only receive life in the Kingdom of God after death through Jesus Christ. If we do not have Jesus Christ – if we do not believe in Him, we will not receive life after death, but eternal Hell instead.

John concludes this section by writing, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The Word – Jesus – is “the light of men,” and He has defeated the darkness. All the things that hide in the darkness – sin, death, and the devil, have been defeated by Jesus.

Paul explains it this way, “[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that everything in him might be preeminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:15-20, ESV).

Jesus, Who is God, grants life both now and in the life to come to all those who believe in Him Alone for their salvation. He is able to do this because He is God and He took on a real human body and soul so He could take the place in judgment of all those who would believe – and survive – be victorious – over sin and death and the devil – through His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

Jesus has purchased eternal life for all those who will believe in Him Alone for salvation.

The economy ebbs and wanes and it will do so until Jesus returns. Yet, as important as it is to be wise and good stewards with our money, we can’t buy our salvation – we can have all the money in the world, and we will still go to Hell if we don’t believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation.

It is important to make sure that North Korea and others are kept in check with regards to their nuclear ambitions. However, if we die of old age in our sleep or under a hail of nuclear bombs, it doesn’t change the fact that we will still go to Hell if we don’t believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation.

It is also important for us to care for the planet – for all the Creation – and if we are causing global warming, to seek a way to stop, or at least, control it. But, in the end, if we abuse the planet to extinction, or care for it and preserve it to the best of our ability, we will die, and we will still go to Hell if we don’t believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation.

Each of us has understanding of politics and how we believe government ought to be run, and we are right to pray for our politicians and to go out and vote whenever we are given the opportunity. But politicians come and go: some are bad, some are worse – a few might even do some good – but we will still go to Hell if we don’t believe in Jesus Alone for our salvation.

And our weight – we are to care for our bodies as best as we can, but we ought not to be obsessed with them. When Jesus returns, all those who believe will be raised from the dead and given new, restored, perfected, sinless bodies, like Jesus’. And all those who do not believe will be raised from the dead and given new, eternal bodies that will continue to sin and eternally be punished for their sin.

That’s why the most important question is, “Who do we believe Jesus is?”

The answer we give will make all the difference for all of eternity. John says that Jesus is God – the Incarnate God – the Word – the Only Life and Salvation.

Who do you believe Jesus is?

Let us pray:
Almighty God, we thank You for the Gospel of John – for leading John to explain that Jesus is both Perfect Human and Holy God – the Only One Who can save us from our sin and return us to a right relationship with You. We ask that You would help us to believe. Assure us of the Truth of Salvation in Jesus Alone. And give us a life of joy as we follow after Him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.