But the word “beginning” in this passage indicates originator or pro ducer, the One by whom creation came into being, and who put the wofk of creation into action, its Be ginner. Thus, instead of contradict ing the truth that Jesus is an un created Being, this verse only cor roborates it. 3. “The same came for a witness" (v. 7).. The word witness occurs three times in verses 7 and 8 and once in verse 15. It expresses John’s responsibility in relation to Christ. The Greek word is that from which is derived the word martyr. Christians are called to be living martyrs for their Lord, those who would rather die than be untrue to Him. Just be fore His ascension, Christ told His disciples what was their responsibil ity and privilege: “Ye shall be wit nesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). They are to tell what they know about Him. 4. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (▼. 14). Liter ally, the word dwelt means tented or tabernacled. The reference is to the Old Testament tabernacle. Christ was the fulfillment of that wonderful structure. In olden days, as the taber nacle with all of its meaning and significance was situ a ted in the midst of the camp and was the center of Israel’s worship, and was the place where God’s glory was supremely manifested, so now Christ is God’s tabernacle of glory, and He is the One through whom God must be wor shiped. Study the tabernacle in all of its details and then see how it is all fulfilled in Christ. In Him God has expressed Himself in infinite grace. 3. “He hath declared him" (v. 18). The word declared comes from a Greek word which means “to lead out.” Christ by His incarnation has led the Father forth from behind the veil of His invisibility and has shown His true character to the world. In John 14:9, Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” He is the only true exegesis or explanation of God.
LESSON FOR JANUARY S The Word Made Flesh LESSON MATERIAL: John 1:1-18. GOLDEN T EX T : “ No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath de clared him“ (John 1:18). Outline and Exposition I T h e E t e r n a l W ord (vs. 1-10) “In the beginning”—refers to the dateless, timeless, eternity. This is not “the beginning” of Genesis 1:1 or “the beginning” of 1 John 1:1. Here is re vealed Christ’s separate personality, His unity with God, and His eternal pre-existence. The Word was God, never became God; He ever was, is, and ever shall be, essential and ever lasting Deity (vs. 1, 2). Here is taught His creatorship: “all things were made by him.” Christ alone is the source of life and light, but the darkness comprehended neither (vs. 3-5). John witnessed to the true light, calling attention to it in a world of darkness, and making known the truth that aside from Him there was no spiritual life or light. John’s testimony was unimpeachable (vs. 6-10). II T h e R eg en era tin g W ord (vs. 11-13) "He came to his own, and they that were his own received hinj not” (v. 11 R.V.). The masses rejected Him. But the Word was received by cer tain individuals, and these were given the right to become the children of God (v. 12). They believed "on his name.” To thus believe is to trust in, to commit unto, to receive, and to act upon what is accepted. These who received Him were born, not of blood, or through their human ancestry; not by the will of the flesh, or self-effort; not by the will of man, or organized society; but bom “of God” (v. 13). III T h e I n c a r n a te W ord (vs. 14-18) “The Word was made flesh.” No one but Christ ever came into this world as the result of His own volition. He
Lesson material is based upon outlines of International Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education; used by permission. deliberately decided to take upon Him self our humanity and to live upon this earth. It was not the creation of a new personality, but a personality already existing who entered a new sphere. In Him grace and truth came together. Grace and truth are revealed in the Old Testament, but always separate from each other. They are brought to gether only in the Word made flesh. In nature God is above us, in provi dence He is beyond us, in law He is against our sin, but in the Word made flesh He is with us, for us, and in us, by simple faith. Points and Problems 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (▼. 1). Three great facts concerning the Lord Jesus Christ are set forth in these words: (1) His pre-existence or eternal nature: (2) His distinction of personality. He was "with God” showing two personalities; and (3) His deity. This is also a def inite statement to the effect that Christ is God. These three facts are in complete harmony with the rest of Scripture. Any lower estimate of Christ than this is insufficient and untrue. Only such a Christ can avail as man’s Saviour. 2. “All things were made by him" (v. 3). Hence, Christ is the Creator and not in any sense the object of creation. This is borne out in such passages as Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2. Christ, the Second Per son of the Trinity, is the agent of creation. Scripture nowhere presents Him as a created being, as many of the enemies of the Christian faith would have us believe. They point to such a passage as Revelation 3:14 where He is spoken of as “the be ginning of the creation of God” as proof that He is a created being.
Outline and Exposition B. B. S u t c l if f e
Points and Problems H omer A . K e n t
For the Children A llison A rrowood
31
DECEMBER, 1946
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