In Him Was Life

Lesson #6

As we read ahead we must stop at John 1:4 and consider some additional information about Jesus Christ. John has referred to him as the Word who existed in the beginning with God and who himself was God who created everything that was created. As the Son of God he took his place among men through a virgin birth. He was fully God and fully human. Now John identifies the source of life to be in him: “In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.”

“In him was life” and since Jesus existed in the beginning with God before anything else existed but God, we know that life then existed before anything was created. Jesus, a living person, said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) and have always existed. This means that God is a living person who has no beginning; who has always existed as a person. God, as an intelligent being, designed a universe and as the source of life infused that life into his creation and as an image of himself he created man. But mankind sinned and God’s creature was now flawed. Jesus, God’s Son, entered his creation in a body of flesh to reflect a true image of God and provide a way for sinful, broken people to be restored to a perfect holy and righteous state forever with God.

This life that is in him does provide physical life, but it is much more than that. Physical life is temporary, but the life that exists in him is eternal life, it is spiritual life. For us to live forever we must have this life. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:25 ESV). To escape judgment for our sin we must come to Jesus and receive as a gift this spiritual life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11 – 12 ESV).

In John 1:4, John continues by telling us that this “life was the light of mankind.” Next time we will see why this is important.

Prayer

Lord, I knew absolutely the moment I believed and accepted the gift of life from you that it was real. Just as there is a clear difference between physical life and death, there is also a very clear difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. Once I received this gift of life, as I was born spiritually, I knew because my life changed and has been changing ever since. I long for that day when my work will be done here on earth and when I have finally been conformed into the image of Christ and will be able to stand face to face before you and see you as you really are. Lord, what an awesome thing it is to experience this living hope, especially when life gets ugly as it does for believers under persecution or those with a terminal illness or some other fiery trial.

NOTE: Sunday is a day of rest. I am going to honor that with no lessons on Sundays.