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.

Observations

Lesson #5

 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

One more lesson is needed before we leave these verses. In the beginning was Jesus, who John identified as the Word. He was in the beginning in Genesis 1:1 with God and by him was everything created. Jesus was not some created being because he existed as God before anything was created.

“The Word was fully God” and became flesh and lived among us and as he did he demonstrated his divine nature and confessed that he was one with the Father and able to forgive sin (Luke 5:21). The scribes and the Pharisees claimed he was speaking blasphemies and sought to have him killed.

The Word was God and was with God and came to dwell with us as a man as the image of God. As God he is one with the Father but yet he is distinct as the Son of God. Later we will add the Holy Spirit and then we will have three Persons, but one divine Essence.

This Jesus who John experienced as God in the flesh is the one who created all things. Here is the creator of the universe living among the disciple to die in our place for our sin so that we might have a relationship and peace with God. It is so important that we get our minds around this truth that Jesus is God, equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit because here lies the source of our salvation.

Prayer

Father, I am so thankful that in Jesus, the Son of God, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and that through him all things are being reconciled to himself, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:19, 20). Thank you for restoring my relationship with you through Jesus and providing peace for a troubled heart. Thank you for the living hope I have of one day being conformed into the image of your Son.

The Word

Lesson #4

 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

Why did John call Jesus “the Word”? Consider the following verses. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a). “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples’” (John 8:31). “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask . . .” (John 15:7).

Jesus said he was the truth and came to bear witness of the truth. The works he did was a witness of that truth. A true disciple abides in his word, but that disciple is to also abide in him. The words Jesus spoke and the life he lived provide us with knowledge of and an understanding of God. As you study the Gospel of John you find that Jesus and the Word are inseparable. They are the same and so John begins his gospel by calling Jesus the Word. This relationship is further enforced in Hebrews 1:1 – 2 where God tells us that he spoke to us by his Son. In Revelation 19:13 we read, “He [Jesus] is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13). Jesus is the “Word”, the eternal God who is the source of absolute truth.

Prayer

Father, how awesome it is to grow in relationship to Jesus Christ. The freedom one gains by learning about him and becoming more like him in relationship with him. As the source of truth your words to me are true. As the source of life you gave me life. As the source of light you removed my darkness. As the source of love you are overcoming anger and resentment in me, allowing me to love those who are unlovable. As God, my Lord, my savior and my redeemer, you provide meaning and purpose to my life. For this I give thanks.

His Infinite Majesty

Lesson #3

 “¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

Opening the Gospel of John by identifying Jesus as God, provides the reader with a much clearer understanding of the actions and sayings of Jesus in his relationship to his Father. By knowing that Jesus is God helps us understand the plan of salvation Jesus was providing for us by his life on earth, his death on the cross in our place, and his resurrection from the dead.

John tells us who Jesus is up front and then as a firsthand witness tells us how Jesus lived to demonstrate who he was and what his mission was. As we read this gospel we are to remember that Jesus Christ was with God and that he was God and that he came and lived to lay down his life for us (John 15:13). If we miss up front who Jesus is, we will miss the eternal benefit to be gained from this book.

Prayer

Father, thank you for choosing me and giving to me an understanding of who Jesus is. Lord, thank you for dying for my sin and providing me with the gift of eternal life. Father, thank you for causing me to be born spiritually and making me part of your family. Only through the person of Jesus Christ does one have access to God. Father, thank you for providing me with that access.

The Word Became Flesh

Lesson #2

Let us begin at the beginning of the Gospel of John and consider the term “Word” that is found in the opening verse.

“¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. ² The Word was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” (John 1:1 – 3 NET).

To gain an understanding of the term “Word” we need to look at John 1:14, “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” (ESV). In this verse John tells us that the Word is Jesus the Son from the Father.” Since Jesus is the Word we see from verse 1 that he existed in the beginning with God and was fully God. John had three years to figure out who Jesus really was. He experienced him as fully human and gradually came to understand that he was also fully God. He was the Son of God. It is this Jesus who existed with God before anything was created because we see from verse 3 that “All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.” John states his understanding in these verses and then takes the remainder of the book to help us understand. 

Prayer

Father, thank you for sending us your Son to live among us here on earth as the person known as Jesus, as a way of providing us with a greater revelation of yourself. Thank you Lord for your obedience in leaving your glory in heaven to come and live a perfect life among us sinful people and then to be nailed to the cross to die in our place to pay the penalty for our sin.

Introduction to the Gospel of John

Lesson #1

With this lesson we will begin a new series of lessons from the Gospel of John. We will first look at some high points of the gospel. It was written to help those who read or heard it being read believe who Jesus Christ is and gain eternal life as a result.

From John 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” we learn of the importance of an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. And in John 8:31, Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

The Gospel of John was “written so that [we] may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing [we] may have life in his name” (John 20:31). John wants to awaken faith in unbelievers and to sustain faith in believers and thus lead both in the direction of eternal life.

The Gospel of John is an eyewitness account of one who loved Jesus deeply and who lived with him for three years. John, also known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, wrote as a divinely inspired witness to the events of Jesus life and what they meant for our understanding. This inspiration is from the Holy Spirit “whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). John’s Gospel is therefore the inspired word of God.

Prayer

Father, I pray that this series of lessons from the Gospel of John would be used by the Holy Spirit as a witness of the Gospel to unbelievers and as an encouragement for believers to grow spiritually.

Guidance

Guidance

Guidance is the act of guiding or providing some form of direction. The one providing the guidance or direction then must of necessity possess certain qualities. One who guides another effectively would need to have intimate knowledge of the course or way and of all its difficulties or dangers. You may then go ahead to show the way and as you do you keep those that follow under control, or you may maneuver them in such a way that they stay on course. As we walk along the pathway of life consider the guidance provided by the Lord.

My Prayer

Lord, I am so thankful for the guidance you provide through the Holy Spirit; a guidance that will last until death; that will lead me along a level path to refreshing springs of water. Make me know your ways, O Lord. Teach me your path; the way in which I should walk. Lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation. Teach me to do your will so that with my life I will bring you joy. With my mind I plan my ways, but I ask that you will direct my steps, to guide my feet in the way of peace. Lord, direct my heart into your love and into the steadfastness of Christ. Guide me all the days of my life that I would be a delight to you. Thank you that you have ordained and established my steps.

Related Verses

“For God, our God, is our defender forever! He guides us” (Psalm 48:14 NET)!

“For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me” (Psalm 31:3 ESV).

“They will not be hungry or thirsty; the sun’s oppressive heat will not beat down on them, for one who has compassion on them will guide them; he will lead them to springs of water” (Isaiah 49:10 NET).

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the daylong” (Psalm 25:4 – 5 ESV).

“Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11 ESV).

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10 ESV)!

“My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one” (John 10:27 – 30 NET).

“A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NET).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1 – 4 ESV).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5 - 6 NET).

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you” (John 14:26 NET).