INTERESTING FACTS : Noah Webster, born October 16, 1758, West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. died May 28, 1843, New Haven, Connecticut, American lexicographer known for his American Spelling Book (1783) and his American Dictionary of the English Language, 2 vol. (1828; 2nd ed., 1840). Webster was instrumental in giving American English a dignity and vitality of its own. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage should be based upon the living, spoken language rather than on artificial rules. He also made useful contributions as a teacher, grammarian, journalist, essayist, lecturer, and lobbyist.[1]

 

"In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate - look to his character. . . . When a citizen gives his suffrage to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country. "[2]

 

Daily Reading : JOHN 1 - 2, 3 - 4

 

TEXT : John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.  1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

THEME : The Deity of Christ

 

John 1 

 

The scope and design of this chapter is to confirm our faith in Christ as the eternal Son of God, and the true Messiah and Saviour of the world, that we may be brought to receive him, and rely upon him, as our Prophet, Priest, and King, and to give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. In order to this, we have here,  I. An account given of him by the inspired penman himself, fairly laying down, in the beginning, what he designed his whole book should be the proof of (Joh_1:1-5); and again (Joh_1:10-14); and again, (Joh_1:16-18).  II. The testimony of John Baptist concerning him (Joh_1:6-9, and Joh_1:15); but most fully and particularly (v. 19-37).  III. His own manifestation of himself to Andrew and Peter (Joh_1:38-42), to Philip and Nathanael (Joh_1:43-51).  (Matthew Henry)[3]

 

John 2 

 

In the close of the foregoing chapter we had an account of the first disciples whom Jesus called, Andrew and Peter, Philip and Nathanael. These were the first-fruits to Godand to the Lamb, Rev_14:4. Now, in this chapter, we have,  I. The account of the first miracle which Jesus wrought - turning water into wine, at Cana of Galilee (Joh_2:1-11), and his appearing at Capernaum (Joh_2:12).  II. The account of the first passover he kept at Jerusalem after he began his public ministry; his driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple (Joh_2:13-17); and the sign he gave to those who quarrelled with him for it (Joh_2:18-22), with an account of some almost believers, that followed him, thereupon, for some time (Joh_2:23-25), but he knew them too well to put any confidence in them.  (Matthew Henry)[4]

 

John 3 

 

In this chapter we have,  I. Christ's discourse with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, concerning the great mysteries of the gospel, in which he here privately instructs him (v. 1-21).  II. John Baptist's discourse with his disciples concerning Christ, upon occasion of his coming into the neighbourhood where John was (Joh_3:22-36), in which he fairly and faithfully resigns all his honour and interest to him.  (Matthew Henry) [4]

 

John 4 

 

It was, more than any thing else, the glory of the land of Israel, that it was Emmanuel's land (Isa_8:8), not only the place of his birth, but the scene of his preaching and miracles. This land in our Saviour's time was divided into three parts: Judea in the south, Galilee in the north, and Samaria lying between them. Now, in this chapter, we have Christ in each of these three parts of that land.  I. Departing out of Judea (Joh_4:1-3).  II. Passing through Samaria, which, though a visit in transitu, here takes up most room.  1. His coming into Samaria (Joh_4:4-6).  2. His discourse with the Samaritan woman at a well (v. 7-26).  3. The notice which the woman gave of him to the city (Joh_4:27-30).  4. Christ's talk with his disciples in the meantime (Joh_4:31-38).  5. The good effect of this among the Samaritans (Joh_4:39-42).  III. We find him residing for some time in Galilee (Joh_4:43-46), and his curing a nobleman's son there, that was at death's door (Joh_4:46-54).  (Matthew Henry)[4]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "CHRIST IS GOD COME IN THE FLESH."

 

The unique nature of Jesus Christ is that he is fully God and fully man.  You will not see this quality or trait in any other human being.  That is, that Jesus of Nazareth - who was obviously a man, was also God.  It is not that he simply had a Godlike nature, but rather that he is God.  Therefore, in speaking of religion, Jesus is exceptional and beyond comparison.  No other religious leader was like him for the obvious reason of his being fully God.

 

For this reason, his name is Emmanuel -"God with us." That designation of Jesus of Nazareth is not just saying Jesus is "somewhat like God" but it is stating that he is God.  If you really think about it, this claim of the New Testament sounds absurd to the average intellect.  How can the Immutable, the Eternal, All- Knowing, All-Powerful God could be a man?  The fact that God told his people in the Old Testament that the heavens cannot contain him much less the temple they had built, should be enough evidence, and reason to believe that Almighty God- who is beyond human comprehension, is not able to fit in a human body.  At least, that would be one way to reason Jesus of Nazareth could not be fully God.

 

However, the Scriptures - inspired by the same God who said he could not fit in a temple, also states he came to earth as a man.  Moreover, Jesus would refer to his physical body as a "temple." Therefore, we must refer to the Holy Scriptures as our reference and foundation for the claim that Jesus, whom we call the Christ, is also God.

 

At an early Church council in a place called Nicaea[7], the Church fathers wrote a creed.  Many creeds have been written through the years of the Church's existence.  The purpose of these creeds has always been the same - to organize and elucidate the beliefs of the Church.  In Nicaea, one of the issues they were resolving and attempting to arrange was the doctrine of the deity of Jesus of Nazareth.  Understanding the seeming absurdity of such a claim that a man could be God, yet, with the revelation of the Scriptures stating that Jesus was God come in the flesh they wrote -

 

"We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made;"[8]

 

The belief in understanding that the man Jesus of Nazareth was God in the flesh comes primarily from the revelation of the Holy Scriptures.  This means, the doctrine of Biblical inspiration and preservation is vital to what you and I believe.  Without the knowledge that God the Holy Spirit wrote the Holy Scriptures we have no rational basis or reasonable foundation on which to state, not only that Jesus Christ is God, but also of all the essential doctrines of Christianity found in the New Testament.  (This would include the virgin birth, Jesus' death on the cross being an atonement, his miracles, his resurrection, and certainly his second coming to judge the living and the dead.) Therefore, the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures is the foundational doctrine of the Church.

 

In the Gospel according to John, he opens his Gospel with the claim that Jesus Christ the man was "The Word." He states further that Jesus of Nazareth was both with God and indeed was God.  This first verse of John states that Jesus is the Creator of all things.  This is he that that you read of in Genesis chapter one -"in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This is quite a statement.

 

In Genesis chapter one you see God (the Hebrew word there is "elohim"-  a generic name for "god" sometimes translated in the Old Testament as "gods" a plural noun, yet always with singular meaning when  referring to the One True God - Jehovah) as Creator making all things that are out of nothing.  This is Jesus.   Jesus, that is, as the second Person of the Trinity.  Remember, the One True God is a Triune being.  He is Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  

 

1Jn_5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1Jn_5:8  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

 

Indeed, it is a great mystery that God became a man.  However, it is still true that he did.   The reference to Jesus being "The Word" refers to the Greek understanding of the infinite God contained in the word "Logos." The Encyclopedia Britannica explains the significance of the Greek word "Logos."

 

"In Greek philosophy and theology, the divine reason implicit in the cosmos, ordering it and giving it form and meaning. Though the concept defined by the term logos is found in Greek, Indian, Egyptian, and Persian philosophical and theological systems, it became particularly significant in Christian writings and doctrines to describe or define the role of Jesus Christ as the principle of God active in the creation and the continuous structuring of the cosmos and in revealing the divine plan of salvation to man. It thus underlies the basic Christian doctrine of the preexistence of Jesus."[9]

 

Christ therefore as God, is not only preexistent but he is eternal.  He always was and always will be God.  It is he, God himself that died on the cross for your sins.  Also, it is God that raised Jesus (the man) from the dead.  And of course, it will be God in the person of Jesus Christ coming again to judge the living and the dead.  As stated, this is a great mystery.  Yet, it is true.  We know this because "All scripture is given by inspiration of God."

 

2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

 

Until the early 20th century, it was universally assumed that the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (the more accurate term) was an enlarged version of the Creed of Nicaea, which was promulgated at the Council of Nicaea (325). It was further assumed that this enlargement had been carried out at the Council of Constantinople (381) with the object of bringing the Creed of Nicaea up to date in regard to heresies about the Incarnation and the Holy Spirit that had risen since the Council of Nicaea.; "Nicene Creed,"

 

Encyclopedia Brittanica, Deluxe Edition. Chicago: Encyclopedia, 2011, 2011.

[8] Nicene Creed -

 

"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, Godfrom God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.

 

Through him all things were made.

 

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

 

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father.

 

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

 

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

 

He has spoken through the Prophets.

 

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

 

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

 

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."; "Nicene Creed,"  Encyclopedia Brittanica, Deluxe Edition. Chicago: Encyclopedia, 2011, 2011.

[9] "Logos," Encyclopedia Brittanica, Deluxe Edition. Chicago: Encyclopedia, 2011, 2011.