I would like you to turn this morning in your Bible, if you would, to John chapter 1.
! We are going to study John chapter 1 verse 1.
And as we begin this morning, I'm going to ask that you join me in prayer
and that through the remainder of our time together that you continue in prayer.
That means multitasking.
You pray, I will preach, and we will rely upon the Spirit of God to work in us
that we might rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ
and have delight in the one that someday we are going to see face to face.
Let us pray.
Precious Father, this morning we who are your children,
blessed beyond our full comprehension with salvation, with the indwelling Spirit,
with the companions of people that love the Lord Jesus Christ,
and with the written Word of God, which is the revelation that you have given to us of your Son,
we who are richly blessed as we are come again to ask that your Spirit would work in us,
that the Lord Jesus might be exalted,
and that we would grow in our affection for Him and our likeness to Him.
And we ask this in your precious name.
Amen.
I want you to listen as I read John chapter 1, verse 1,
and just have it framed in your mind, if you would, with me.
It says,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
As we look at that opening statement,
I want you to understand that the Apostle is doing what is an important feature in good teaching.
He begins by telling you what he's going to say.
And then you can expect that in the remainder of the book,
for pretty much the entire book,
he is going to lay out various pieces of information that bear in on what we are going to see and understand in John chapter 1, verse 1.
And as you might suppose,
at the close of the book of John,
he comes back around,
and in John chapter 20, verse 30 and 31,
he says,
Listen, there's a lot I could tell you about,
about the ministry and the testimony of Christ,
but the things that I've chosen,
they are the things that are going to focus in,
so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
and believing in Him,
you may have life.
And as we look at this passage this morning,
one of the things that I want you to understand at the very outset,
is that as we take up the book of John,
one of the things that I always want to have fixed in our minds,
and be thinking about,
is the fact that where we are today is not the end of the story.
I want you to have that clear in your mind.
The fact of the matter is,
is that every single one of us here this morning,
will someday stand before God,
and give an account for our life,
and those of us who have come by faith,
to know the Lord Jesus Christ,
as our personal Savior,
will enjoy eternity forever with Him,
and we are going to delight in His presence,
and the blessing of being there with Him.
For those of you who are here today,
and do not know the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have no doubt that there will be moments in eternity,
where you will perhaps think back,
and remember,
I remember hearing the gospel,
I remember hearing about the Lord Jesus Christ,
and oh,
the wretchedness of my heart,
that hearing the sweetness of who Jesus is,
I turned away,
and rebelled,
and walked out into the darkness,
and ultimately into eternity of suffering and hardship.
I want you to understand,
as we take up this book this morning,
in John chapter 1,
we are looking at a very,
very central statement,
about who the Lord Jesus Christ is.
And as we consider what it says here in this passage,
I want you to recognize that we who know Christ
are dependent this morning on the Spirit of God
helping us to comprehend,
and then apply the sweet truth that we find here.
I want to draw attention in this one verse
to four truths that the Spirit of God tells us about Christ.
Let's begin by recognizing that John the Apostle
says something about Jesus repetitiously in verse 1
that we're going to use as a starting point.
It says,
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
And so I want you to recognize this morning,
as you take this passage in hand,
that Jesus is the Word.
When it says,
In the beginning was the Word,
John is the only one of the apostles
and the writers of the Gospels
that refers to Christ by this title.
And as the title repeats itself
over and over again in the first verse,
it is fitting for us to ask the question,
So what is John saying?
What's the point
that he actually wants us to pick up on
and have stuck in my mind?
Allow me to go back just for a moment
to something I said last week.
And it was this,
that as a person reads through John,
one of the repeated questions that should be asked
is,
Okay, who is Jesus,
and who is he to me?
And as we have this little statement
that John makes again and again,
Jesus is the Word,
the question then is,
Okay, what does this tell us about Christ?
Now, we have a tendency sometimes
just to think that words are just blah, blah, blah.
In fact, you may have grown up as a child
and your mother or father
wanted to kind of soften
some of the criticisms of life
and so they taught you that little ditty.
Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but words will never hurt me.
And that, is that true?
Not at all.
Words have far greater impact
than we may want to admit on the surface,
but the truth of the matter is,
words are very, very significant.
And I want you to understand
that words really,
and this is something
that I want you to recognize
and identify and accept.
Words give expression
to the inner thought
that someone else is having.
I want you to turn just for a moment.
You're there in John chapter 1,
but I want you to turn,
if you will,
over to 1 Corinthians chapter 2.
1 Corinthians chapter 2.
Give me just a second
to get there myself.
1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 11 says,
For who knows a person's thoughts
except the spirit of that person
which is in him?
I don't know what you're thinking.
I may on occasion say,
I know what you're thinking,
and I may be able,
on the basis of recurring experience,
say, I think I've got a reasonable guess
at what you're thinking,
but the truth of the matter is,
I don't know what you're thinking
unless you, what?
Open your mouth
and out come indications
of what's really going on in your mind.
And that's the reason
that I think for one thing,
we who are believers,
listen to me carefully,
need to be more careful
about what we say with our lips.
Isn't that right?
Because the things we say
should reflect favorably
on the Lord Jesus Christ
in every instance
when we open our mouth.
Words tell other people
what is inside.
And words tell us
things about the speaker.
Furthermore,
going back to John chapter 1,
I want you to recognize
that in the case of God,
His words don't just tell us
about His character,
and that is true.
His words do tell us
about His character,
but His words are also powerful
to accomplish things.
You and I,
we can't do anything
other than put out
a little bit of hot air
and maybe influence
other people's thinking,
whatever,
but our words don't have
the same kind of power
that God's words have,
do they?
My word,
when I say,
brakes be fixed,
the car looks at me
and says,
yeah,
what's going on?
No,
I can't change anything
by virtue of my mere words
in a physical sense,
but God,
when He says something,
it actually takes place.
We understand
that the worlds were created,
the world was created
by God,
what?
Merely speaking it
into being.
And not only
did He speak it
into being,
but He did so
out of nothing.
Not just,
well,
I'm going to take
a little bit of this
and a little bit of that
and I'm going to make
something out of it.
God,
by virtue of His word,
created all
that we see around us
and we understand
that God's word
is powerful,
it is active,
it accomplishes
what He intends
to accomplish
and we recognize
also that by His word
the universe
is sustained.
By His word,
sinners are converted.
By His word,
those who were rebels
and enemies of God
become the children
of God
and by His word,
we receive
eternal life
and the blessings
that are full
for us who are
His children.
So when John
calls Jesus
the word of God
or the word,
he is announcing
several very important
facts that I want
you to fix in your mind
and have there
locked in.
Number one,
Jesus is the complete
revelation of God
the Father.
When John says
in John chapter 1
verse 1,
in the beginning
was the word,
the word,
he is telling us
that Jesus Christ
is the full,
complete,
accurate revelation
of who God
the Father is.
In relationship
to this,
I want you to look
at a couple
different passages
that are going
to amplify this
in your thinking
and so turn over
to Colossians chapter 1
verse 15 through 19.
By the way,
as we are going
to this passage,
let me explain
one of the characteristics
of learning
to be a good
Bible student.
You recognize
that the scriptures
are entirely reliable
and we can gain
further understanding
of one scriptural truth
by looking to see
where else
that scriptural truth
appears in scripture
and putting those
things together
helps us gain
a greater
and more complete
understanding
of whatever the point
is that we're seeking.
So when I say to you
that Jesus is the
complete revelation
of God the Father
and I have you turn
to Colossians chapter 1,
my purpose is to kind
of hammer the point
down and get you
to understand it
more clearly.
He, verse 15,
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, 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
are held together
and he is the head
of the body,
the church.
He is the beginning
of the firstborn
from the dead
that in everything
he might be preeminent
and then verse 19,
well worth underlining
and remembering
in your heart,
it says this,
for in him
all the fullness,
all the fullness
of God
was pleased
to dwell
and that word
that is used there,
fullness,
is saying it's all there.
In Jesus
is the entire
complete revelation
of God the Father.
Have you look
at another passage
in relationship
to this same point
and turn over
to Hebrews chapter 1,
Hebrews chapter 1,
verse 2 and 3.
In these last days
he has spoken to us
by his Son
whom he appointed
the heir of all things
through whom also
he created the world.
He is the radiance
of the glory of God
and the exact imprint
of his nature
and he upholds
the universe
by the word
of his power.
As we look
at this passage
coupled with
the Colossians
passage,
we understand
that when
John penned
that statement,
Jesus Christ
is the word,
he was telling us
that Jesus
is the complete
revelation
of God the Father.
Furthermore,
Jesus is the
perfect expression
of the will
of God.
Not only does
he tell us
or Jesus serve
as a revelation
of the character
and nature
of God,
but he also
serves to tell us
exactly what
the will of God
is.
Now,
let me back that up
when I say
exactly.
Are there parts
about the will
of God
that I will
never understand?
The answer
is yes.
However,
that which is
given to us,
revealed in the
scriptures,
about the will
of God,
Jesus explains
in its entirety.
And Jesus
shows us
what love is.
He shows us
how love acts.
He tells us
what lengths
grace will go
to to accomplish
salvation.
He makes
his heart
and his affection
for his children
evident.
He also makes
it clear
what it is
to fall
under the judgment
and condemnation
of God.
I want you to
recognize one
of the interesting
truths about
the Lord Jesus
Christ is that
most of what
the Bible
tells us
about hell
was actually
told from
the mouth
of Jesus
himself.
He was the
one who
talked about
hell more
than anybody
else.
And so
Jesus is
not only
the complete
revelation
of God
the Father
but he's
also the
perfect
expression
of the
will of
the Father.
I want you
to look at
a little
statement
that Philip
made in
John chapter
14.
You're there
in John
chapter 1
but go to
John chapter
14 if you
will just
for a
moment.
In John
chapter 14
verse 8
Philip said
to him
Lord show
us the
Father
and it's
enough for
us.
Say hey
listen the
one thing
we want
to see
the Father.
And how
did Jesus
respond?
Well wait
a minute
I've got a
little more
to teach
you.
That's not
what he
said.
He said
have I
been with
you so
long and
you still
do not
know me
Philip?
Now remember
what Philip
had said
is we
want to
see the
Father.
And Jesus
immediately
responds and
says hey
have I
been with
you so
long and
you still
do not
know me?
Whoever
has seen
me has
seen the
Father.
How can
you say
show us
the Father?
Do you
understand that
point?
Jesus
is saying
to
Philip
don't
you
get
it?
I
am
the
complete
and
satisfying
revelation
of who
the
Father
is
and
when
you
know
me
you
know
the
Father.
Going
back to
John
chapter
1 I
want us
to
recognize
secondly
that
Jesus
is
eternal.
In
the
beginning
was
the
word.
And
as
John
opens
up
his
gospel
if
you
know
much
about
the
scriptures
at
all
that
little
statement
in
the
beginning
takes
you
back
to
which
other
book?
Takes
you
back
to
Genesis.
In
the
beginning
God
created
the
heavens
and
the
earth.
And
here
as
John
begins
to
open
up
his
gospel
for
us
he
says
hey
listen
I
want
to
remind
you
of
who
Jesus
is
and
set
him
against
the
backdrop
of
creation
because
he
indeed
is
God
he
is
eternal
and
when
that
little
statement
is
made
in
the
beginning
the
intention
of
the
apostle
is
to
remind
us
good
Bible
students
that
we
are
of
the
fact
that
there
is
that
connection
between
Christ
as
the
creator
and
God
of
this
universe
and
in
speaking
about
the
beginning
John
is
not
using
the
term
to
!
identify
a
beginning
Lord
Jesus
Christ
rather
he
is
marking
the
fact
that
Jesus
existed
from
all
eternity
past
and
even
at
the
start
of
all
known
history
Jesus
was
already
present
already
active
already
engaged
and
in
communion
with
the
father
in
other
words
when
that
little
statement
is
made
in
the
beginning
was
the
word
that
little
word
there
that
is
used
could
be
put
this
way
was
continuing
the
word
actually
was
already
there
and
was
continuing
Christ
from
the
very
beginning
of
not
just
recorded
history
but
from
the
beginning
in
terms
of
eternity
past
Jesus
is
actually
there
and
it
is
a
recognition
that
he
is
part
of
the
triune
God
John
makes
it
clear
that
Jesus
is
God
who
alone
is
eternal
all
other
things
have
a
beginning
in
the
creative
work
of
God
look
forward
just
a
little
bit
if you
will
to
verse
two
and
three
he
was
in
the
beginning
with
God
all
things
were
made
through
him
and
without
him
was
not
anything
made
that
was
made
only
God
is
not
a
created
being
do you
understand
that
Jesus
Christ
was
engaged
and
part
of
the
creation
of
all
things
and
he
alone
is
God
and
we
recognize
that
I
particularly
love
the way
Jesus
nails
his
eternality
over
in
John
chapter
8
verse
58
and
so
turn
forward
just a
little
bit
if you
will
to
John
chapter
8
verse
58
in
John
chapter
8
we
find
Jesus
having
one
of
those
famous
discourses
with
his
adversaries
particularly
with
the
Pharisees
and
in
the
course
of
conversation
they
accuse
him
of being
a
Samaritan
and
having
a
demon
and
he
goes
on
and
explains
hey
listen
you're
not
interested
at
all
in
what
I
have
to
say
and
he
goes
on
and
nails
it
down
this
way
there
in
verse
58
he
says
truly
I
say
to
you
before
Abraham
was
what's
he
say
next
I
am
can
anybody
think
of
where
else
we
hear
that
phrase
I
am
remember
when
Moses
in
the
wilderness
at
the
burning
bush
said
hey
by
the
way
who
shall
I
tell
them
you
are
who
shall
I
explain
has
sent
me
he
says
well
you
can
refer
to
me
as
I
am
I
am
God
and
here
is
Jesus
taking
that
little
phrase
that
every
good
Jew
would
have
known
quite
well
from
Exodus
and
he
says
hey
before
Abraham
was
I
am
an
excellent
declaration
of the
deity
of
Christ
and
how
did
the
Jews
respond
you
look
there
in
the
passage
verse
59
so
they
picked
up
stones
to
throw
at
him
but
Jesus
hid
himself
and
went
out of
the
temple
the
reason
is
they
understood
that
Jesus
was
saying
I
am
God
I'm
God
so
as we
look at
this
passage
I want
you to
recognize
that
Jesus
is
telling
us
not only
that
he
is
the
revelation
of
God
but
he
also
is
eternal
God
eternal
further
more
as you
look
at
the
passage
in
John
chapter
1
we
find
another
fact
stated
about
Christ
it
says
and
the
word
was
with
God
the
word
was
with
God
it's
amazing
that
the
doctrine
of the
trinity
is
not
an easy
one
to
understand
we
accept
it
the
only
reason
I
believe
in
the
trinity
is
because
it's
in
the
Bible
it
doesn't
make
logic
that
3
1
right
and
here
is
Jesus
saying
I
am
God
and
I
am
with
God
when
he
makes
that
statement
the
word
was
with
God
he
is
pointing
out
that
he
and
the
father
have
this
interaction
with
one
another
and
relate
to
one
another
inequality
from
the
beginning
the
word
with
that
is
used
here
in
the
Greek
carries
the
idea
of
nearness
and
communion
in
other
words
what
Jesus
is
saying
is
that
I
am
in
communion
with
the
father
in
complete
equality
and
nearness
and
closeness
because
of my
relationship
with
him
and
I
want
you
to
understand
that
Jesus
who
is
our
savior
is
not
some
kind
of
senior
created
being
like
the
Mormons
would
recommend
the idea
is
well
Jesus
kind of
worked up
the ladder
and he's
ahead of us
a little bit
no the fact
of the matter
is is Jesus
makes it clear
that he is
God
the son
and equal
to the father
in every aspect
I want
I want you to
recognize
also that
when Jesus
saved us
and called
us
his own
he draws
us into
communion
and relationship
with him
and with the
father
in very much
the same
way
in which
he is in
communion
with his
father
I want you
to turn
over if you
will to
John chapter
17
and take a
look at this
issue of
union
with the
father
that appears
over and
over again
in John
17
John chapter
1 verse
1 it says
the word
was with
God
in communion
closeness
unity
and in
John chapter
17 as
Jesus
prays his
high priestly
prayer
he wants
all of us
to understand
that he
is interested
in the unity
of the body
of Christ
together
because of
our relationship
with him
look at
if you will
at verse
11
I am no
longer in the
world but
they are in
the world
and I'm
coming to
you holy
father
keep them
in your
name
which you
have given
me that
they may
be one
how
even as
we are
one
now let's
stop just
for a moment
and think
about this
how easy
is it to
be one
how easy
is it to
be one
it's a
whole lot
easier to
talk about
than to
do it
why is
that
does anybody
have an
idea
it's because
of our
nasty little
old problem
called what
self
sin
pride
whatever it
is
and here
is Jesus
praying
listen
father I
want you
to work
in them
so they
can be
one like
you and
I are
one
follow along
if you will
also
in John
chapter 17
verse 21
that they
may all
be one
just as
you father
are in
me and
I in
you
then again
in verse
22 the
glory that
you've given
me I've
given to
them that
they may
be one
even as
we are
one
verse 23
I in
them and
you in
me that
they may
become
perfectly
one so
that the
world may
know that
you sent
me and
love them
even as
you love
me
what is
the
relationship
that believers
are supposed
to have
with one
another
what is
it
it is
something
completely
different
from what
the
unbelieving
world
experiences
the only
time the
unbelieving
world really
has any
kind of
unity
is when
there is
some
self-serving
purpose
behind the
scene
right
yeah
we're
interested
in accomplishing
something
and so we
kind of
partner to
pull it
off
but there
is not
that
affinity
and that
union
that really
comes out
of a
genuine
relationship
with one
another
and with
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
and as
we look
at the
foundational
issue
of the
character
of Christ
we understand
that he
is in
union
with God
the Father
and as a
result
we who are
his children
are to be
in union
with one
another
I want you
to look
at another
fact here
if you
will
Jesus is
with God
but then we
come to one
other point
and there in
John chapter
1 it says
and the
word
was
God
when John
wrote those
words
the word
was
God
John
was not
declaring
that
Jesus
is one
of God's
subordinates
God's
how many
of you
have ever
had
Jehovah
Witness
knock
on your
door
ever
had
that
one
of the
things
that
Jehovah
Witnesses
struggle
with
Morim
struggle
with
Muslims
struggle
with
is the
idea
of
the
Trinity
the idea
in their
thinking
is that
there really
is
only
one
God
and
they
argue
and try
to mess
with the
scriptures
and don't
get very
far
with it
I want
you to
understand
that
here
in the
very
opening
verse
of
John
chapter
one
the
apostle
nails
the
issue
of
Jesus
absolute
relationship
and equality
with the
father
he says
Jesus
is
God
Jesus
Christ
is
God
I
love
the way
in which
John's
gospel
will back
up that
opening
declaration
of the
deity
of Christ
with one
miracle
after another
in fact
as we
are working
our way
through the
book of
John
one of the
things you're
going to
recognize
is that
after every
one of the
incidents or
pictures that
we're going
to see
of Christ
the underlying
question is
yeah and
who is he
and guess what
the answer is
in every case
that Jesus
is God
I shared
with you last
week that
the week
previous I
ended up in a
conversation with
a young lady
that was
interested in
having her
wedding performed
here and as I
was going
through the
process of
what it
meant to
have a
Christian
wedding
I ended
up sharing
the gospel
with her
and talking
to her
about the
Lord Jesus
and I
shared in
that context
I said
listen one
of the things
I want you
to do
is I want
you to read
the gospel
of John
by the way
I happen
to have
a little
copy of
the gospel
of John
I want
you to know
that Pastor
Saul has
ordered
100 of
them
and they
fit in
your pocket
like this
pardon
yes he
will order
some more
why do
we want
you to
carry a
copy of
John
it is
not to
stop a
bullet
I want
you to
carry
the gospel
of John
in your
pocket
prayerfully
so that
you
prayerfully
looking for
opportunities
to talk
to people
about the
sweet truth
of who
the Lord
Jesus
is
when you
end up
in one
of those
conversations
as the
conversation
kind of
develops
you can
say
hey
why don't
you read
don't have
to read
the whole
Bible
66 books
just do
John
and
surprise
I have
a little
copy
right here
in fact
I'll share
it with you
you can
have it
now the
copies of
John
that we
have
these are
pretty
slick
these little
gospel
copies
have all
different
kinds
of
fronts
you're
involved
in the
medical
field
there's
one
for
doctors
or nurses
you're
involved
in
trucking
there's
one
for
truckers
they're
involved
in
HVAC
there's
one
for
Bob
we'll
figure
it
out
okay
and
in fact
Jack
McEverican
is the
one
that came
to me
and he
had one
for
golfing
I'm not
doing
that
but
you know
they have
ones
for
hunters
and the
idea
is that
here you
are
you're
talking
with people
about the
Lord Jesus
and you
say I
want you
to read
this little
book
and as
you're
reading it
I want
you to
keep on
asking
yourself
the question
who is
Jesus
who is
Jesus
and
every
one
of the
stories
that the
apostle
relates
to the
reader
put
people
on the
spot
of
either
confessing
that
Jesus
is the
Christ
and the
savior
of the
world
or they
put them
on the
spot
of
refusing
to
believe
the
evidence
and denying
his
deity
and his
ministry
and so
as we
are
working
our way
through
the
gospel
of
John
one
of the
things
that you
are
going
to
find
is
over
and
over
again
there's
going
to be
evidence
this
is
God
who
has
come
to
be
our
savior
let me
step
outside
of the
book
of
John
just
for a
moment
to give
you a
couple
illustrations
of
where
Jesus
did
things
and people
said
wow
look at
that
must
be
God
turn
in your
Bible
you're
in
John
so turn
back
if you
will
to
Luke
chapter
5
verse
23
Luke
chapter
5
verse
23
in
this
case
Jesus
heals
a man
who
is
paralyzed
and
you'll
remember
the
story
that
after
the
man
who
had
been
brought
on
the
bed
is
brought
into
Jesus
presence
instead
of
healing
the
man
of
his
physical
affliction
what's
the
first
thing
that
Jesus
does
he
says
hey
I'll
forgive
your
sins
and
that
really
rattles
the
chain
of
the
Pharisees
because
who
can
forgive
sins
only
God
I
want
you
to
know
that
nobody
has
ever
come
to
me
and
said
pastor
will
you
please
forgive
me
for
the
sins
I've
committed
I
would
never
suppose
that I
have any
place
and authority
of forgiving
anybody's
sins
only
God
can
forgive
sins
and
so
as
you
look
in
this
passage
in
Luke
chapter
5
verse
23
we
find
Jesus
forgiving
the
man
for
his
sins
and
then
while
the
Pharisees
are
over
there
kind
of
biting
their
tongue
he
says
hey
let's
try
this
one
which
is
easier
to
forgive
sins
or
heal
this
man
and
what
does
Jesus
do
he
does
a
slam
dunk
!
he
try
the
healing
part
and
undeniable
evidence
this
is
God
let me
have
you
look
at
another
illustration
turn
over
back
actually
to
Mark
chapter
4
verse
39
through
41
in
Mark
chapter
4
we
find
Jesus
out
on
the
sea
of
Galilee
in
the
boat
with
his
disciples
and
amazingly
enough
he
is
sleeping
my
wife
awakened
the
other
morning
and
said
man
did
you
hear
that
storm
you
know
what
no
I
mean
it
was
booming
and
clattering
and
there
were
bits
and
things
of
trees
all
over
my
neighbor's
lawn
didn't
hear
it
here's
Jesus
asleep
I
love
what
happens
verse
38
and
when he
was in
the
stern
asleep
on
the
cushion
and
they
woke
him
and
said
to
him
master
do
you
not
care
that
we
are
perishing
now
in
that
statement
what
were
they
admitting
they
thought
about
Jesus
they
thought
he
could
do
something
about
it
do
you
follow
that
and
he
awoke
and he
rebuked
the wind
and said
to the sea
hey
quiet
out
something
like
that
you know
it's
like
peace
be
still
and
the
wind
ceased
and there
was
great
calm
and he
said
to
them
why
are you
!
have you
still
no
faith
and they
were
filled
with
what
great
fear
and said
one to
another
who
then
is
this
that
even
the wind
and the
sea
obey
him
do you
know
what
the
question
is
who
is
this
Jesus
he
is
God
he
is
God
the
son
and
he
has
complete
power
and so
as we
work
our
way
through
John
from
the
opening
text
on
we
are
going
to
find
one
illustration
after
another
that
calls
us
to
either
believe
the
facts
and
evidence
that
Jesus
is
the
Christ
and
the
savior
of
the
world
or
to
deny
it
and
refuse
and
turn
away
into
eternal
condemnation
I
want
you
to
recognize
that
as
John
works
his
way
through
the
opening
sentence
he
is
telling
us
that
Jesus
is
our
eternal
God
and
savior
he
is
telling
us
also
that
Jesus
is
in
complete
and
perfect
union
with
the
father
and
he
is
telling
us
that
Jesus
is
fully
divine
and
so
you
cannot
read
these
opening
statements
without
getting
a
sense
of
John's
passion
and
his
desire
that
the
reader
looking
at
these
facts
gets
his
hands
around
the
truth
this
Jesus
is
the
savior
of the
world
and
he
is
the
only
one
in
whom
I
may
have
hope
and
confidence
of
my
eternal
destiny
so
I
want
you
to
understand
this
morning
as
you
look
at
the
gospel
of
John
in
this
opening
passage
I
want
you
to
come
to
grips
with
the
fact
that
it
is
only
Jesus
Christ
who
alone
he
himself
is
the
one
who
can
save
you
from
your
sin
and
make
all
the
difference
in
the
you
the
question
is
this
do
you
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
as
your
savior
not
just
the
fact
that
he
came
but
is
he
your
savior
and
do
you
have
a
personal
genuine
relationship
with
him
when
we
open
up
the
book
when
we
come
to
grips
with
the
fact
that
Jesus
is
indeed
God
and
savior
then
it
becomes
incumbent
upon
you
who
sit
here
this
morning
to
have
your
life
affected
by
that
reality
and
to
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
or
to
consciously
and
deliberately
refuse
to
confess
him
as
Lord
and
savior
and
then
wait
for
the
judgment
when
you
will
stand
before
God
and
pay
the
penalty
for
your
rejection
and
your
hardness
and
so
I
want
to
appeal
to
you
this
morning
I
want
to
appeal
to
you
if
you're
here
and
you
do
not
know
Christ
as
your
savior
this
morning
where
you
sit
I
want
to
plead
with
you
that
you
believe
the
reality
of
number
one
that
your
heart
is
dark
and
hard
and
marked
by
sin
and
there
is
no
remedy
for
sin
apart
from
what
Jesus
Christ
did
in
dying
on
the
cross
to
satisfy
the
judgment
of
God
and
offer
you
salvation
through
his
blood
can
I
tell
you
something
to
turn
your
back
from
the
free
gift
of
God
in
the
face
of
the
convicting
power
of
the
spirit
that
says
you're
a
sinner
and
you
need
Christ
is
to
magnify
the
consequences
in
eternity
for
that
rejection
do
you
understand
that
here's
what
the
Bible
says
unto
whom
much
is
given
much
is
required
and
so
if
you
are
here
this
morning
and
you've
never
come
to
grips
with
the
reality
that
Christ
Jesus
came
into
the
world
to
save
sinners
and
you
are
one
of
them
I
would
plead
with
you
this
morning
to
trust
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
confess
him
as
your
Lord
and
Savior
and
find
deliverance
from
the
burden
of
your
life
let's
close
our
eyes
bow
our
heads
and
come
to
Christ
our
Father
God
this
morning
as
we
consider
the
reality
of
what
the
scripture
tell
us
we
understand
that
the
Lord
Jesus
came
into
the
world
to
save
sinners
we
are
thankful
that
he
indeed
is
God
and
that
he
is
the
Savior
of
the
world
and
this
morning
as
we
ponder
that
reality
in
our
lives
it
means
one
of
two
things
we
either
know
him
and
rejoice
at
the
blessing
we
have
of
having
complete
forgiveness
through
the
Lord
Jesus
or
we
stand
and
sit
today
under
the
burden
of
our
sin
and
the
scriptures
make
it
clear
that
if
your
spirit
is
prompting
us
that
we
may
cry
out
and
say
I
need
Jesus
to
be
my
Savior
and
if
that
is
our
prayer
this
morning
Father
we
are
thankful
that
you
promise
that
whosoever
calls
upon
the
name
of
the
Lord
shall
be
saved
and
we
pray
Lord
that
today
you
would
work
to
draw
those
who
are
in
our
fellowship
that
need
Christ
to
the
Savior
we
ask
this
in
Jesus
name
amen
let's
stand
together
as
John
leads
us
in
our
closing
song
and
as
we
are
singing
this