(John 1:2)
�That same was in the beginning with God� (John 1:2)
At first glance this verse seems to be merely a restating of verse one. This is done in the Scripture in some instances. The Hebrew poetry of the Psalms come quickly to mind. Repetition is often done to drive home the importance of a phrase.
However, this does not seem to be the case in this instance. There is an amplification of the truth of the divinity of Christ given in this verse.
The verse makes the point that the same Person mentioned in verse one is also the subject of verse two.
We look first at the unique Son. This is the same Jesus, the Eternal Word, as described in verse one.
Jesus is described as unique. He is One of a kind. That is the meaning of the words �only begotten� of the Father as used in verse fourteen of this first chapter. The Greek word �monogenesis� is used to describe Jesus as the �only begotten� of the Father. That means �unique� or �one of a kind.� Even in the English, we look at �only� and understand that point.
There are cults which will use verse twelve to teach that we become gods at the end of this life if we have been faithful to their teaching. Anyone who has had contact with these cults might consider that this was the same type of lie which Satan used in the Garden when he tempted Eve.
We are adopted into a sonship of God when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5 - these verses explain that we are adopted. Jesus was (IS!) The Only Begotten Son of God.
Other religious leaders may make their claims. They may teach good and moral values. But they do not have the stamp of authority which is upon Jesus Christ. He, alone, is the Son of God!
Other religious leaders and systems make claims that they are there to show us the way to God. Only Jesus could rightly make the claim that He is The Way to God. John 14:6 records Jesus making the claim, �...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.�
Such an audacious statement would bar Him from being seriously considered as even a teacher of religious instruction were it not a true statement. Were this not honest statement of fact, He would be either pridefully boastful or pitifully insane.
He is neither. He is the Son of God and God the Son.
He is unique.
Jesus is also the only Savior of mankind.
Romans 8:3 says about Jesus and His atoning death upon the Cross of Calvary: �For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh...�
There are a couple of important things to note in this verse. First, we could not be saved by the keeping of the Laws of God because we are weak in the flesh. Somewhere, somehow, some time, we would foul up the attempt to keep ourselves pure by following the Law. At the least we would develop a prideful nature that we were so good.
True? Isn�t it?
Galatians 3:11-12 tells us, �But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith...� A little later, in verse 24, Paul says, �Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.�
The Law, and our reactions to it, was but a school teacher; it taught us of our unworthiness before God. It�s purpose is to show us that we are in need of the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
The second thing to notice in Romans 8:3 is that Jesus came as a unique representative of humanity. He was �...in the likeness of sinful flesh...� He came, as very God, into the human experience as one of us. He was born without the sin nature which had been passed on from father to father through the ages of human existence. That is one of the reasons why the doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Jesus is not simply an arcane topic of discussion among theologians.
That virgin birth meant that Jesus was our honest representative; He was in the body of humanity just as much as are you and I. But, He did not have that sin nature to separate Him from the Father as have you and I.
That means that when He went to the cross, he had no penalty upon Him as relates to His standing with the Father.
Therefore He could do that which no other person, no religious leader, no system of religious instruction, could possibly perform. He could offer Himself as The Only Perfect Sacrifice for sin which could ever be offered in the history of the universe of God!
That is why the writer of the Book of Acts, under inspiration, could write, �Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name, under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.� (Acts 4:12).
We can honestly say that Jesus is more than simply a Unique Savior of mankind, He is the Only Possible Savior of mankind.
No other way - it matters not how reasonable or moral that way may be - can ever give salvation from sin and peace with God.
Now we look at the truth that Jesus is the unchanging Savior. �...was in the beginning...� Look, for a moment, at that phrase, �...was in the beginning...� Compare this phrase with Genesis 1:1 as it speaks of God: �In the beginning God...�
Note that there is no attempt made to prove the existence of God. That truth is simply stated as evident. That same phrase is now attributed to Jesus Christ.
�In the beginning...� That phrase simply means that when everything that we know and understand about our physical universe began, Jesus was already in existence. It means that He was in existence before any thing, person, or object was created.
When describing Jesus to the Laodicean church John called Him, �...the beginning of the creation of God.� (Revelation 3:14) That is His position in the cosmos.
Some have misunderstood this verse in Revelation to suggest that Jesus was simply the first created being. A quick look at John 1:3 {�All things were made by him: and without him was not any thing made that was made.�) will illustrate the falseness of this view.
Jesus was the Creative Force which began all of the creation. Rather than being the �beginning� in the sense of being the �first� created entity, He was the �beginning� in the sense that He began the entire process.
That is also, essentially, the meaning of �Word� in John 1:1.
There is a verse, Hebrews 13:8, that God has been impressing on me for the past several days: �Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.�
Jesus is still the same great Creator God which He was in the beginning. That is only a rational conclusion in the light of eternity.
But, Jesus is also the same Person He was in humanity in those long ago days in Galilee. He still walks daily with the Christian. He talks with us, and teaches us, if we have the simple good sense to merely look at His letter to us in the Scripture and talk with Him in prayer.
Jesus was not an obnoxious bully during His Galilean ministries. He did not force Himself upon anyone. He simply called with the force of His personality and people responded. But, He did not coerce.
Many today feel that they need to use �aversion therapy� to induce people to become followers of Christ. Some will buy the biggest Bible they can possibly find so it will work better when they beat someone over the head with it!
That wasn�t the style of Jesus. Still, He did present His claims without apology or equivocation He stated Truth as truth simply because it was Truth. But, He did not berate. Ever!
Study the Scripture and you will never find a single instance where Jesus was anything less than loving toward the sinner. The only real exasperation I find in Jesus was in His dealing with His closest disciples. They were just too often too thick headed to understand His teaching. Even here, His unadulterated love continued to shine forth.
We have a phrase about some people: �They are just patient to a fault.� Well, Jesus was not patient to a fault; He was patient to a point. His point was to create disciples who would be willing to share His love and story. He did not cause people to cower in fear under a bushel; He courted people to let the light of His love shine from a position of honor. (See Matthew 5:15-16)
You might note, also, that the candlestick in the verses alluded to just above, was not the important part of the equation. The important part was the Light. Jesus is that Light (John 1:4). We are not important. But, we are to be bearers of that Light!
Why, then, do we act as though we are offended unless we cause anyone who would disagree with US to cower. It is not our fight. It is, however our responsibility to carry that fact of that Light out into the world where men and women may see that Light. At that point we need to display the faith which says that we understand God can do His work: �...and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.� (Acts 2:47b)
The only instance I can find in the entire gospel accounts where Jesus ever displayed anger in any form was in His dealings with those who used religion to keep people from coming to God.
May our attempts at witnessing never be so loathsome as to cause men to reason, �If that is Christianity, I don�t want it!�
Always preach the Word. Never persecute the populace!
This is important because Jesus is of the same passion as he was on the roads, cities, fields, lakes and mountains of Galilee those two thousand years ago.
His passion remains that of Luke 19:10. �For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.�
Jesus was a great moral teacher. But, that was not His purpose in coming to this earth.
Jesus was a great leader of men. But, that was not His purpose in coming to this earth.
Jesus was a great theologian. Several times in the New Testament gospels it is said of Him, �He taught as no man ever taught.� But, even this was not His purpose in coming to this earth.
Jesus was a great miracle worker and healer. But, this was not His purpose in coming to this earth.
Jesus was a great motivator of men and women. But, this was not His purpose in coming to this earth.
We might note that Jesus is still all these things as He is alive today! But, this is not His present purpose in the world through His churches.
Jesus came to �seek and to save that which was lost.�
Jesus looked about the earth and saw mankind as scattered like sheep without a shepherd to show them the way to return home.
Jesus looked at the souls of mankind and saw that their greatest need was not reformation but regeneration. They did not need instruction in socialability; they needed induction into salvation. Their primary need was not a better life. Their primary need was a new life.
Mankind had been born into a life of sin, misery, hopelessness and despair. Their most overriding need was a new birth into a new life of fellowship with the God Who had created them in the first place.
Mankind could not overcome the bonds which held them as slaves to the wiles of Satan. But Jesus could overcome this for them. All they must do is to accept that He has done so for them. He did the work so that mankind might reap the reward.
Someone has put this fact succinctly, �Jesus died on earth so that we could live in Heaven.�
This was His purpose and passion in coming to this earth in the form of a human. This is the purpose for which He has sent those of His churches into the world as well!
Jesus in the unchanging Savior in a world of changing values and mores.
This personality of Jesus has not changed in the ensuing ages. He remains the Savior of those who would know God. We can not do this for ourselves. The Scripture is quite clear on this fact. But, we do not have to do this. All we have to do is to simply accept the fact, in faith, that He has done so in our place!
Jesus is also toward us as He was toward His disciples. He is our friend. What a glorious thought this is. The Jesus Who died for my sins wants my fellowship. And, He wants this because it is for my good!
The disciples of the Emmaus road experienced testified to their reaction at having been with Jesus. They said, �...Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?� (Luke 24:32)
This same experience is ours as we fellowship with Him in His Word.
The wondrous glory of His presence!
He is all of these good things to us. But, He is also the judge of the world. See Romans 14:10 where Paul says that, �...we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.� For those who have accepted His offered salvation this will be a time of joy.
There will be sadness as we are confronted with those times we have not done all we should have done for Him. There will be regrets as we are reminded of those times we acted in violation of His perfect will. There will be mournful sorrow as we see those friends, relatives, and others who are denied access to the blissful halls of Heaven because, humanly speaking, we have not discharged our duty to warn them of their soul need.
But, overshadowing all this will be the unthought of joy as we are ushered into an eternity of blissful fellowship with the Lord of the Universe.
But there is another judgement of which Jesus is the Righteous Judge. He will also sit in judgement of those who did not respond to His call to a new life in Him. They will be judged solely on what they did with Him and His claims. �He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.� (John 3:18)
The duty of the Christian is to carry forth this warning into the world. We ought to do this in an attitude of concern and care. We should never allow sinful pride of our position in Christ, or ungodly disgust of the state of a sinful person, to keep one from seeing that Jesus comes in Love and care.
Judgement is to come. This is not our position as Christians. To judge others is to place ourselves in the place of Jesus Christ. This is sin.
Jesus is also the united Sovereign. �...with God...�
Jesus is seen to be one with God in purpose. �But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh, hitherto, and I work.� (John 5:17) We can understand this. We can understand that Jesus did the works of the Father. But, there is more implied here than just this.
Notice the reaction of the religious leaders who heard Jesus say the above. �Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.� (John 5:18)
Read the rest of the chapter. Jesus never tried to explain that they were mistaken in their feelings that He had made a claim to equality to God. Jesus is once again seen to be either a prideful liar or the pitiful lunatic. He was either God, or He was deluded, or he was a charlatan. No other conclusion can be reached from the reading of this passage.
But, Jesus went even further on another occasion. When He was with His disciples Jesus made this assertion: �...he that hath seen me hath seen the Father...� (John 14:9) Let no person deceive you by saying that Jesus never claimed full deity. He did - often and in many ways.
Jesus was one with the Father in purpose, that is true. But the oneness was part and parcel of His Own full divinity.
Jesus is also one with the Father as a creative source. The very next verse, after our text verse this week, says, �All things were made by him: and without him was not anything made that was made.� (John 1:3)
The writer of Colossians made the same confession: �For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist...� (Colossians 1:16-17)
It is a fact that Jesus of Nazareth, the Savior of my soul, is the creative God of eternity.
Jesus is also one with God in essence.
I Timothy 1:16 gives us this statement: �And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.�
Think about the great glory that is Jesus Christ. Now think about the great glory that can be ours if we will be accept the work He performed on the cross of Calvary.
There is much that we�ve been looking at that I cannot begin to explain or understand. It is beyond my grasp to understand the mystery of the trinity. There is but one God; yet He manifests Himself in three distinct personages.
I do not understand this. It is in the spiritual realms. I have no frame of reference to understand this. But it is a fact.
I can not understand why nearly every single object on earth tends to get smaller as it gets colder. Except for one - water. Can you imagine what would happen if water were to get smaller when it froze? The frozen water, being then denser and consequently heavier, would drop to the bottom of the lakes and ponds. Then new layers would follow suit. Soon all the water would be frozen. The fish within the lakes would be dead, trapped by the frozen water.
Instead water gets larger when it freezes. This causes the top of the ponds and pools to form a protective layer on top of the water which will actually tend to insulate the fish from the bitter cold of the surrounding air. This saves their lives and enhances the ecosystems.
Wasn�t it a wise God Who considered all this? Of course. That much I can understand.
I can not understand the mechanism of the Trinity. But, God said in His Word that it was so. That much I can understand.
Friends, we do not have to completely understand just how it is that Jesus saves our souls by His redemptive act on Calvary. But, we can accept it. That much we can do.
If you haven�t already done so, accept Jesus as your Savior. Do this today. It is a response to His love and mission.
It is an act toward your own spiritual and physical well being.
Do it today.