Audio Sermon File: John-1:3-5
Going Deeper: Study Guide
Unveiling The Life Giver
Recently the CBC opened up to Canadians the opportunity to nominate their picks for ‘The Seven Wonders of Canada.’ The result was that there were 25,000 nominations for a variety of things and places like - the Northern Lights, Cabot Trail, The Montreal bagel - just to name a few). The voting began on these nominations and there were over 1 million votes cast.
Here are the winners that the judges picked:
The canoe, the igloo, Niagara Falls, Old Quebec City, Pier 21 Halifax, Prairie skies, and the Rockies.
It is interesting to note that out of the 7 - there are 4 of the finalist that are made by man - and the rest a part of creation. Of the things that are made - they needed to come into existence by using materials already in existence, but not one of these persons in making something like the igloo - can create.
And that is how it is primarily in our world - that people can only take existing things - and then reformat them into new combinations; this is all they can do. Only God alone can create - something as spectacular as Niagara Falls.
And today as we continue in the Gospel according to the Apostle John - we will discover that God created all things through Jesus Christ, and He does so out of nothing. We will see that the Apostle John unveils to you - "The Life Giver." There is a popular saying - ‘I have good news and bad news….which one do want first.’ Today I going to give you the bad news first - we are all born sinners and are condemned to God’s wrath - because He is a Holy and just God - and hates sin.
Now here is the "good news" - that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and was raised from the dead on the third day - in order to save us from the penalty of our sins. Without the "good news" that salvation from sin is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ… we would utterly be eternally lost and condemned.
Only the Life giver Jesus Christ offers to give you life, eternal life - so that you may respond with a life saving decision to accept Him as your God and Saviour. Through our sermon series on John - we will benefit from the spiritual lessons of this Gospel - which will draw us closer to Christ in Worship. It will also play a unique role in our defense and proclamation of our faith, against secular and cultic influences. Last week, we began by Unveiling The Saviour - Jesus Christ from the first 2 verses of chapter 1. John is very clear in his Gospel that Jesus is no ordinary man. Jesus Christ is the WORD/Logos.
As the Word - Jesus is ETERNAL - he has no beginning or end. Christ has an active, critical, fundamental, and indivisible relationship with God, because the Word is GOD! Jesus Christ is God and was not created. Jesus Christ eternally existed and was in the beginning with God.
Therefore John clearly reveals the Deity of Christ which is an essential foundation to Christianity. Those who oppose Christ inevitably will attack this doctrinal truth. By doing so it is a foolish attempt to destroy the core of our faith; which is foolish because it is absolutely impossible to do - as evidenced by history and Scripture. The essence of orthodox teaching and belief is to, accept the reality that Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners, to provide salvation to an utterly depraved and lost humanity which is under God’s judgement.
John brings to the forefront of the gospel the importance of understanding who Jesus is. To correctly understand who Jesus is, is important - since if one were to believe that He were only a man, then his death would have no significance in terms of saving an utterly depraved and lost humanity. But, because Jesus is God Himself - possessing the nature of sinless perfection - Jesus’ death has paramount value. Does not the Bible declare - "He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21)
Therefore - the good news is that Jesus’ death is supremely effective to deal with the reality of our sinfulness. The affirmation that Christ is God is more than making the claim that He is "God-like" - Jesus Christ is God coming down to us, veiled in human flesh - it is God with us in a most meaningful way.
The Gospel of John starts off hard-hitting as we discovered last Sunday, and the gospel continues to confront us with its truths. Today we will discover that The Word, Jesus Christ - is "The Life Giver" offering eternal life to those who believe - having given us, the opportunity to make a life saving decision to believe upon Him, for salvation from the heavy and damning weight our sins.
John 1:1-5 -
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
Today’s sermon verses:
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Jesus Christ is the granter of eternal life, He is "The Life Giver." He is "The Life Giver," because of 3 essential and unchangeable realities:
1. Jesus Christ is used by God in creation (the agent of Creation) (v3)
2. Because Jesus Christ is God, He is the only Source of Life (v.4)
3. Jesus Christ is the real Light of the World (v.5)
What will you do with these facts as they are revealed? How will you respond to the truth presented by John today - as a person with Jesus as Lord and Saviour - and even those who are Christians?
JESUS CHRIST has the right to be "THE LIFE GIVER" because
1. Jesus Christ is the Agent of Creation - v. 3
Please look again at verse 3 - All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Beginning in verse 3 is a transition from the relationship between the Word and the Father found in vv.1-2; it now transitions, in verse 3, to the Word’s relationship to - and involvement in creation. What is being presented by John is that God is the Creator. And Jesus Christ as the Word of God - is the agent of creation. What this means is that anything that is created out of nothing is brought into existence through Jesus Christ. In creation both God the Father, and Jesus Christ the Son are working in unison as the Trinity. Therefore through Jesus Christ all things came into being - not one single thing was made apart from Christ - which is the literal meaning of the word nothing. The implications of John’s inspired statement is that even the smallest physical matter is created by Christ. It also expresses that Jesus Christ was not a created being as some cults believe.
If you follow the news and science news in particular - you may have recalled a recent story of the launch of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator complex in the world. It is buried 50-175m beneath the Fronco-Swiss border near Geneva Switzerland. It is contained in a circular tunnel 27km long. It’s construction was approved in 1995 - and it has taken about 13 years to complete at a unknown final cost - with estimates of upwards to 6.4 billion euros. On Sept. 10 - earlier this month the switch was turned on this massive machine - and they celebrated it as ‘Big Bang Day.’ It’s purpose is to investigate the smallest known particles - the fundamental building blocks of all things. They hope to re-create that conditions just after the ‘Big Bang’ - to figure out how the world was created. After all these years of hype and billions of dollars spent - ironically - a few days later the machine was shut down - in other words the LHC broke. It is slated for re-opening in the spring next year.
According to what we have here in the Gospel of John - "researchers will not have a much clearer idea as to how the fundamental events of Genesis occurred. I would say they will have a much more convoluted idea of how these fundamental events occurred - and pass it on as truth."
We didn’t come into existence by some BIB BANG as these scientist hope and theorize. Nor did we come into existence by the never to be proven theories of evolution - we came into existence because God created all things through the agent of creation - Jesus Christ - All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Jesus Christ made us, and all atoms, matter, anti-matter - and whatever new particles that scientist will discover with the LHC.
Here are some parallel Bible passages which affirm this powerful truth:
Ps 33:6 - By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
Col. 1:16 - For by Him all things were created, [both] in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Heb. 1:2-3 - in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.
By the testimony of Scripture we see that everything is created through Jesus Christ. If you will carefully notice - verse 3 is stated in the positive and the negative as the priority of Christ over creation is taught. There are implications for each one of us here this today… since Christ has priority over creation, and we are part of His creation - He has authority over us. Without JC we would not exist. Therefore - we see once again the assertion that Jesus Christ is Deity/God - for He is the source of everything coming - into being. The ultimate fact is that this world and everything in it is made not by some force, or an unknown power, but it is made by a Person, the Almighty God and through His Son Jesus Christ all things came into being - Jesus Christ is used by God in creation (JC is the agent of Creation).
This has immense implications for us. Since we are His creation, we didn’t come into existence by evolution - that we are a higher form of animal here to do good. I have had people tell me that is what they believe - that people think we are some kind of glorified monkeys. It is hard to understand how people could ever believe such a ridiculous thing. Yet this kind of false teaching is rampant in our society. By implication the Apostle John is saying in our text - that expressly and categorically - that we are not animals from evolution, but that we are created. As His creation, we are made in His image - Gen. 1:26-27: Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
"Jesus Christ is the Agent of Creation," and He created us in His image, not by means of the BIG BANG, and not by evolution - so we should realize that there is some significant purpose for our lives if we are found in Christ.
Not only is JC the "The Life Giver" because He is the agent of creation -
2. Jesus Christ is the Source of Life (v.4)
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The words ‘life’ and ‘light’ - are repeatedly used in the Gospel of John. ‘Light’ is used in the Gospel to describe physical life and spiritual life. The word ‘life’ - is used over 3 dozen times in this Gospel; just over one quarter of all references to ‘life’ in the NT are found in John’s Gospel.
"John’s Gospel constantly associates life with the Word of God, Jesus Christ….. you might want to WRITE DOWN the following REF’s - read them later on your own:
- JC died so that people might have everlasting life (3:16).
- Only those who come to Him have life (5:40).
- JC gave his flesh for the life of the world (6:51)
- JC came that people might have life and have it more abundantly (10:10).
- When JC gives life people perish no more (10:28).
- JC said that He has power to lay down his life and to take it again (10:18), and He did just that.
- As the Lord of life - He raised Lazarus from the dead (ch. 11).
- Twice JC said that He is ‘the life’ (11:25; 14:6).
The life of Christ is the light of men because it is a glorious revelation. JC shares the self existent life that belongs to the Creator as distinct from the creature - JC the Word could be termed "infinite." Or as we learned last Sunday from verses 1-2 that He is eternally pre-existent - because He has no beginning and no end and is beyond time and not constrained by time.
We as people, can be defined as being "finite" because we all will physically die, and possibly at any given moment.
Because JC eternally pre-exists - it is true, that only JC can impart life to you. Because all things exist in Him... because JC is the cause and source of all life... because He is the imparter and sustainer of your life, my life…and because JC is the life giver and the preserver of your life. In JC was life, and because HE is the SOURCE of life - continuing in v.4 - He is, the light of men. One person once stated that - "JC is an efficacious power like the sun, bestower of grace and faith; perfecter of our future glory."
What this conveys to us is that genuine Christ centered - spiritual change - floods in when we turn our lives over to Him, like the earth’s dark surface being lightened and illuminated by each morning’s rising sun. OR like when even the tiniest of candles is lit, it can fill a room full of darkness with its light.
In JC there is a special relationship to mankind, because we are the pinnacle of His creation, and because of this JC desires that many come to Him as our light. JC is our light, and He is not only interested in our knowledge of Him, in some general fashion, or as some inconsequential truth. But more specifically He desires that we know Him personally, deeply - intimately - through His salvation offered - through His death and resurrection. Jesus said Himself in John 17:3 - Now this is eternal life : that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
JC is the conveyor of life - and the light bearer - as He is our only hope of entering God’s righteous purposes.
We live in a generation that is rationalistic, answers to life are searched for in closed systems of science or logic - as evidenced by the building of the Large Hadron Collider. But John searches outside these boxes and goes to the ultimate reality and meaning in life found only in "The Life Giver." So here in verse 4, what we have is a picture of hope and ultimate victory in JC the Word. JC is the light of the World, and John in no uncertain terms expresses that JC is the SOURCE of life. The profound realization that we all should have as we understand this verse is this - What you decide about Jesus is absolutely crucial. What response are you going to make knowing that JC is "The Life Giver?" Does not the Bible declare - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Through Him all things were CREATED, and JC is "The Life Giver" because He is the only SOURCE of LIFE and….JC comes into our world - God veiled in human flesh, because…
3. Jesus Christ is The Light of the World (v.5)
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
In the same way that John links life with Christ, so he links light with Him also.
- Christ is ‘the light of the world’ (8:12; 9:5).
- He has ‘come into the world as a light’ (12:46).
- Anyone who follows him "will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (8:12).
- People can be urged to believe in the light (12:36), for "JC is the Light of the World."
- And just as "The Life Giver," gave life to the dead (Lazarus - ch.11), so JC who is the light of the world gave sight to the man born blind (ch. 9).
Did you realize that the first recorded words of God in the Bible - are ‘Let there be light’ (Gen. 1:3), and in this chapter - what we have being unveiled is the knowledge that the Word is the source of light. Jesus Christ - the Word - look back at verses 1 and 2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. Therefore it is the Word - who shines His light and takes away the spiritual darkness - for only JC can remove the darkness of evil and sin.
The tense of the word "shines" in Greek of verse 5 is in the Greek present tense. So what that tells us as we interpret this verse is that the light - is continually in action. Therefore this phrase clearly expresses that the light of men, who is eternally Jesus Christ - never ceases to shine. Without the continual light of Jesus Christ, our world would still be totally engulfed in condemning spiritual darkness.
If we look down at verse 5 of the NASB, the word "comprehend" (NIV - understood) is better translated as "overcome." Therefore we have - this translation - The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it . "Overcome" is a better translation because it reflects the very forceful Greek word used here (katelaben). A word which has the meaning in the NT of a designated attack of evil powers (cf Mk 9:18). It is like the evil that is referred to in 2 Peter 2:17 - These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
So it is - that this attack of evil would be upon the "light" - Jesus Christ…But even the invading darkness of sin could not - can not - and will never overcome the light. And that is the ‘good news.’
I think most of you have either watched a solar eclipse on TV or have even witnessed one live - the last one visible in Canada was Aug 1. Just in case you haven’t seen one - apparently the next total eclipse visible in Canada is scheduled for April 8, 2024. Here are some - Eclipse Facts:
The longest duration for a total solar eclipse is 7.5 minutes. There are at least two solar eclipses per year somewhere on Earth. Local temperatures often drop 20 degrees or more near totality.
Eclipse shadows travel at 1,100 miles per hour at the equator and up to 5,000 miles per hour near the poles. The width of the path caused at total darkness reaches a maximum of 167 miles wide.
By way of our illustration - Like the unstoppable bursts of light that shine forth behind the moon in a total eclipse - the darkness of sin and unbelief is cast out and "overcome," through the powerful illumination of JC the light.
Light and darkness are opposites, but not in terms of power, and the following Bible reading, is a preview of the triumph of light over darkness:
- 1 John 2:8-11 - On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment
to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is
passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who
says he is in the light and [yet] hates his brother is in the darkness
until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the light and
there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his
brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not
know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
This truth makes a huge difference in our outlook on life. If the Light triumphs - and He does - this reality will gives us a pure sense of victory, over sin if we are found in Christ’s salvation. Because darkness cannot overcome the light - and we as children of light will be successful in our earthly struggles. Sin cannot ever overpower the righteousness of Christ - nor those who believe in Him.
"The Life Giver" is the Word of God - Jesus Christ, who made all things and is supremely worthy to be trusted with our character and lives. Martin Luther - "If Christ is not true and natural God, born of the Father in eternity and Creator of all creatures, we are doomed ….we must have a Savior who is true God and Lord over sin, death, devil, and hell. If we permit the devil to topple this stronghold for us, so that we disbelieve [JC’s Deity], then His suffering, death, and resurrection profit us nothing."
Jesus Christ is the granter of eternal life, He is "The Life Giver." He is "The Life Giver," because: Jesus Christ has created you; Jesus Christ is the one who sustains you; Jesus Christ is your only hope of Light in this world. "Consider the infinite majesty of the Word who is Jesus Christ. We admire and worship the Word, who gave us true religion and revealed a God of greater goodness than the world had ever known, because the key-note of his life was sacrifice and its crown the cross" - Bib illus. p. 12 (C.Short, modified).
We live in a world of fashionable truths, but John presents the only truth. I will leave you with some Bible verses from Matthew 11:25-30:
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from [the] wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal [Him]. 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Is your faith placed solely in "The Life Giver" - Jesus Christ - or is your significance misplaced ?
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Exegetical Notes:
The book of John is known as a "Gospel" - The Greek term for "gospel" originally had pictured a messenger receiving a reward for delivering some type of good news, for example - the good news of victory in a battle which is delivered to a king. The word is euaggelion in the Greek, is formed by adding a prefix meaning "good" (eu) to the word messenger (angelos). Therefore the combined meaning developed out of this is the common term to express the "good news."
Today and even in the early church, Christians used "gospel" to refer to the good news of Christ’s salvation for man. In essence the Gospels are the account of the "good news" of the saving nature of Christ’s work demonstrated through His life, death, and resurrection - that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
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That Jesus Christ created everything (cf. Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2) offers two further proofs of His deity. First, the Creator of all things must Himself be uncreated, and only the eternal God is uncreated. The Greek text emphasizes the distinction between the uncreated Word and His creation, since a different verb is used here than the one used in verses 1 and 2. As noted in the previous point, John used a form of the verb eimi ('to be'), which denotes a state of being, to describe the Word in verses 1 and 2; here, speaking of the creation of the universe, he used form of the verb ginomai (came into being). That Jesus is the Creator also verifies His deity, because God is portrayed throughout the Bible as the Creator (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 102:25; Isa. 40:28; 42:5; 45:18; Mark 13:19; Rom. 1:25; Eph. 3:9; Rev. 4:11). ~ John MacArthur
(For a full explanation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - click here - http://www.doihaveeternallife.blogspot.com/)
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