College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
John 1:1-18
EXPOSITORY SERMON NO. 1
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST INTERPRETED
Introduction
I.
TELL BIRTH STORY BRIEFLY (Luke 2:1-52).
A.
John's Prologue gives the definition of Christmas.
B.
Especially consider John 1:14.
II.
WHO IS THIS CHILD BORN 2000 YEARS AGO IN A STABLE IN BETHLEHEM?
A.
Who is He, that men have celebrated His birth for 2000 years?
B.
Who is He of Whom thousands of books have been written?
C.
Who is He in Whom all of history centers, past and present?
III.
JOHN STATES THREE THINGS ABOUT THIS CHILD IN HIS PROLOGUE
A.
He is the eternal Word of God.
B.
He was made flesh to bring life to men.
C.
He is the complete and final opportunity for man's salvation.
LITTLE DID THE SHEPHERDS OR THE WISE MEN KNOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS CHILD. EVEN WE DO NOT REALIZE THE FULL SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS BIRTH BECAUSE MANY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE FINALITY OF HIS REVELATION!
Discussion
I.
HE IS THE ETERNAL WORD OF GOD
A.
Logos is defined as the thought, purpose and expression of the mind of God.
Just as our thoughts and purposes are made known when we communicate by words.
SO GOD'S AGELESS PURPOSES ARE MADE KNOWN THROUGH CHRIST (Ephesians 3:9).
B.
The Word was with Godthe Word was of the very essence and nature of God.
1.
2.
3.
GOD WAS, AND EVER SHALL BE, ALWAYS LIKE JESUS REVEALED HIMmerciful, graceful, loving, yet wrathful against sin and hypocrisy.
C.
The Word was an equal agent in creation (John 1:3).
1.
2.
JESUS IS THE GOD WHOM WE WORSHIP! HE WAS THE CREATOR COME IN THE FLESH!
a.
Let that knowledge burst afresh on our minds.
b.
We cannot deny the divinity of Jesus and still honor God (cf. John 5:23).
c.
WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE ALL RELIGIONS THAT BELIEVE JESUS TO BE A PROPHET. A GOOD MAN, BUT NOT DIVINE?
II.
HE BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US TO BRING LIFE AND LIGHT
A.
Blessed word!. He tabernacled among us.
1.
Our God is not aloof. not unsympathetic.
a.
Every heathen concept of gods is of unsympathetic gods always seeking to do harm and hurt to man.
2.
God could have sent Logos into world and then quickly withdrawn Him.
a.
BUT HE CAME. HE KNEW WEARINESS, THIRST, SADNESS, TEARS, TEMPTATION, PERSECUTION, YEADEATH.
b.
He is not a high priest that cannot be touched with our infirmities.
WE ARE DRAWN CLOSER TO HIM BECAUSE HE DID COME AND TARRY IN THE FLESH.
B.
In Him was life.
1.
It was necessary for Him to come in the flesh. in order to condemn sin in the flesh.
a.
MAN COULD NOT FULFIL THE LAW OF GOD. THUS THE LAW BECAME A CONDEMNATION TO MAN.
b.
THEREFORE, GOD SENT HIS SON. IN FLESH. TO CONQUER SIN AND SUFFER THE PENALTY OF SIN.
C.
Many rejected Him. and still do. BUT TO ALL WHO RECEIVE:
1.
HE GIVES THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD.
Notice that He giveswe do not earn.
2.
YET WE MUST ACCEPT HIS GIFT.
a.
This we do by being born of God (new birth).
b.
Compare John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-23, etc.
3.
Jesus gives both authority and power to live this new life. faith, hope, prayer and obedience.
III.
HE CAME AS A COMPLETE AND FINAL REVELATION OF GOD
A.
In times past God spoke partial revelations (Hebrews 1:1).
1.
But at the end of the ages, in the fulness of time He spoke to man in His Son (Hebrews 1:2).
a.
The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
B.
The Law was only a shadow of the reality of God's truth.
1.
It was all realized in Christ.
C.
He is the only opportunity for men forevermore.
1.
Except ye believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.
THIS MEANS THAT MEN WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD, AND THE WHOLE WEIGHT OF THE PENALTY FOR THEIR SIN WILL FALL UPON THEIR OWN SHOULDERS. THEY WILL PAY THIS PENALTY FOR ETERNITY.
2.
All men will eventually live eternallyeither in heaven or hell.
a.
But Jesus gives Life with a capital L. He brings life and immortality to light through His resurrection.
HIS BIRTH WOULD MEAN LITTLE WITHOUT HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION!
OUR HOPE AND FAITH AND POWER TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ALL BASED UPON HIS VICTORY OVER DEATH!
JESUS HAS COME. AND GOD IS LIKE JESUS. WE OUGHT TO SHOUT WITH THE MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST: GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
Conclusion
I
THUS WE SEE THAT THE BABE BORN 2000 YEARS AGO WAS:
A.
He who put the stars in the heavens;
He who created our delicate bodies from dust and breathed life into them;
He who upholds all creation by the word of His power.
B.
It means that:
We no longer need to fumble and miss the way; HE IS THE WAY.
We no longer need to grope for the truth; HE IS THE TRUTH.
We no longer need wonder how life ought to be lived; HE IS THE LIFE.
II
BUT WE ONLY BELIEVE THIS ON THE BASIS OF HIS RESURRECTION.
A.
IF THERE WERE NO KNOWLEDGE OF RESURRECTION TO INCORRUPTION, there would be very little sense to life on this earth. It would then be sensible to adopt Solomon's philosophy.
B.
Jesus has proved that there is an eternal life beyond the grave. Thus we see that all his statements about heaven and hell are true!
SOME MAY LAUGH AND SCOFF NOW, BUT WHEN DEATH COMES, WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THEIR HANDS AND LEAD THEM ACROSS THE DARK, BLACK CHASM WHERE NONE BUT HE HAS RETURNED TO TELL ABOUT?
SURRENDER AND TRUST HIM. JESUS WILL LEAD YOU ACROSS! THAT IS THE REASON WHY THE CHILD WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM 2000 YEARS AGO.