September 10, 2023
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 (NRSV)
Last week we looked at the power of our words. This week we will look at “The WORD” in the Gospel of John. What did John mean when he penned in John chapter 1 verse 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In the Greek language the term translated “Word” is Logos. It is the Greek term translated as “word,” “speech,” “principle,” or “thought.” In Greek philosophy, it also referred to a universal, divine reason or the mind of God. The Hebrews often referred to God in terms of His powerful Word as noted in Psalm 33:6; and 107:20.
John uses The “Word” (Logos) here as an unmistakable reference to Jesus Christ. With a few simple statements, John declares that Jesus, like His heavenly Father, has always existed since the beginning of time. Jesus was with God in the beginning because He is God, and He always has been.
Reflecting of the word Logos, one of the most valuable investments I made as a seminary student was the purchase of the Bible software program “Logos Bible Study” nearly 20 years ago, came to mind. As you may know, it is an invaluable Bible study program for comprehensive and hermeneutical study.
Looking at the gospel of John chapter 1, the writer opens with “The Word” as one of the highest and most profound titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. He introduces the Lord Jesus Christ with three power-packed statements:
“In the beginning was the Word,”
“And the Word was with God,”
“And the Word was God.”
These opening verses of John’s gospel are perhaps the most spiritually and theologically packed writings in all the Bible! John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” “The WORD” is one of the highest and most profound titles of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle John expresses the foundation for his entire gospel, which was written to prove that Jesus Christ is God’s incarnate Son. His oneness with God the Father is inseparable! Simply Amazing! Because 1 John 5:20 says, And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and gives us eternal life. (NRSV)
It is clear to me why new believers in Christ are recommended to read/study the Gospel of John. It is considered the primer containing the basis of Christianity, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is clearly exemplified as deity, and life eternal which begins with Jesus Christ.
I believe the Gospel of John is to the new Believer in Christ what the Psalms was when I needed comfort from the Word of God when my husband unexpectedly passed away. For the new Believer in Christ, John is a refuge for hope, inspiration, comfort, and security in Christ.
Have you wondered why God directed four different men to write the story of the life of Jesus. In essence, the Apostle John said, I have written this gospel, this account, so that you may realize that Jesus is the Son of God, He is very God, of very God, He is not only true humanity, but also the undiminished deity. All he has written has led up to this conclusion I have written this so that you will realize that Jesus is God! He calls us to think through the concepts of eternal life, light, world, truth, belief, and love.
How do we know Bible is the Word of God?
Beyond the evidence for the Bible’s correctness (manuscript evidence) and its historicity (archeological evidence), the most important evidence is that of its inspiration. The real determination of the Bible’s claim to absolute inspired truth is in its supernatural evidence, including prophecy. God used prophets to speak and write down His Word and God uses miracles like fulfilled prophecy to authenticate His messengers.
The doctrine of inspiration is the supernatural act of God. He directed human authors of Scripture without destroying their individual literary style or personality, recorded without error or contradiction. Each and every word was supernaturally recorded and preserved resulted in an infallible document. Divine inspiration is God’s method of communicating His truth in such a way that humans receive it and record it accurately.
The Bible can withstand any amount of questioning.
Below are three reasons to trust that the Bible, God’s WORD is true:
- It is proven in history. The Bible and references verify historical and geographical details like the names of nations, cities, battles, and kings. The Bible’s claims have always proven accurate when checked against evidence.
- It proves reliable when compared with other historically recognized books. For example, looking at Aristotle’s a well-known historical philosopher only 49 copies of his writings actually exist and only 210 copies of his teacher Plato’s work exist and all of these copies were made more than 1200 years after they were written. In the New Testament of the Bible, there are more than 5800 Greek manuscripts exist today the earliest made within decades of the original. In fact the Bible is considered so reliable that even non-religious scholars reference it as a historical account to everything ties together. The Bible contains 66 books written by 40 different human authors over 1500 years in three different languages and on three different continents, yet it remains consistent in its message because God is the one true author of the Bible, He chose people to write and record His thoughts and words guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The prophecies came true. Only God can accurately predict the future centuries before Jesus was born. Biblical prophecies foretold the coming of the Messiah and included specific details about His divine identity and ministry. The odds of Jesus fulfilling just eight of these prophecies are calculated to be one in 100 million. Jesus ‘s birth death life and resurrection was fulfilled. More than 300 prophecies were fulfilled and it’s statistically impossible for anyone, but God. So can you trust that the Bible is true the evidence certainly suggests you can trust the Bible’s authority which has been questioned in every generation and yet it remains timeless, and the true God has given us His word as a way to encounter Him in our daily lives. You can discover how trustworthy the Bible truly is by reading it yourself!
HEART CHALLENGE:
Putting the Word of God first in your life, you will have something to sing about! Spontaneously, you will find yourself singing God’s Word and turning statutes into songs.
Psalms 119:54, “Your statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home.” (NRSV)
When your heart delights in God’s law, your lips must declare God’s praise!
Psalms 119:171-175. “My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.” (NRSV)
Matthew 12:34 “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (NRSV)
After all, you talk about the things that you love. When God’s Word fills your heart, the right words will come out of your mouth!
Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” (NRSV)
Colossians 4:6. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.” (NRSV)
AN INFORMED 
HEART: The Word of God will change your life if you allow it to work in your life. It is never too late to discover what you must do with God’s Word. You must do more than simply read it, although that is necessary – you should also love it, treasure it, learn it, memorize it, meditate on it, believe it and practice it. The way you treat your Bible is the way you treat the Lord, Jesus Christ. Is His Word to your heart?
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your Word that teaches us how to live and glorify You! Thank You for “The WORD” that gives us hope, inspires us, saves us and heals us, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!