John 1:14-18 Sermon
The Gospel of John • Sermon • Submitted
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· 42 viewsJesus came in the flesh, full of grace and truth, so that He would be revealed.
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Main Idea: Jesus came in the flesh, full of grace and truth, so that He would be revealed.
Outline
Outline
1. The Incarnation of Jesus (v.14)
2. The Preexistence of Jesus (v.15)
3. The Fullness of Jesus (v.16-17)
4. The Revealing of Jesus (v.18)
1. The Incarnation of Jesus (v.14)
1. The Incarnation of Jesus (v.14)
Verse 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Verse 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Verse 14 contains in it the central theme in what is called a prologue.
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details of a main story.
John begins with details, namely, that Jesus is the Word who was with God in the beginning and is Himself God.
This is the context to all of the gospel of John.
The Word that became flesh establishes at the foundation of this gospel the truth about Jesus Christ.
Verse 14 is the highlight of the prologue in this gospel.
Verse 14a And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Verse 14a And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Verse 14 begins with the incarnation and how Jesus dwelt among people.
This is what is called the mystery of godliness!
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
This mystery, that was hidden or partially seen, was finally revealed in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
God the Son became a man and He dwelled among people.
God “tabernacled” among people in the incarnation.
The Word (Logos) became a man and manifested Himself to man.
This is foundational when reading this gospel.
Confirmation with true belief of this truth affirms genuine faith.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
Denial of this affirms one’s condemnation.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
The incarnation is a non-negotiable.
Examples of heresies that undermine understanding the truth of the incarnation.
Examples of heresies that undermine understanding the truth of the incarnation.
Adoptionism - God granted Jesus powers and then adopted him as a Son.
Reincarnation and two gods: one good and other evil.Apollinarianism - Jesus' divine will overshadowed and replaced the human.Arianism - Jesus was a lesser, created being.Docetism - Jesus was divine but only seemed to be human.Donatism - Validity of sacraments depends on character of the minister.Eutychianism - Jesus finite human nature is swallowed up in His infinite divine nature.Gnosticism - Dualism of good and bad and special knowledge for salvation.Kenosis - Jesus gave up some divine attributes while on earth.Marcionism - An evil God of the O.T., good God of the N.T. 11, books in the CanonModalism - God is one person in three modes.Monarchianism - God is one person.Monophysitism - Jesus had only one nature: divine.Nestorianism - Jesus was two persons.Patripassionism - The Father suffered on the cross.Pelagianism - Man is unaffected by the fall and can keep all of God's laws.Semi-Pelagianism - Man and God cooperate to achieve man's salvation.Socinianism - Denial of the Trinity. Jesus is a deified man.Subordinationism - The Son is lesser than the Father in essence and or attributes.Tritheism - The Trinity is really three separate gods.
Apollinarianism - Jesus' divine will overshadowed and replaced the human.
Reincarnation and two gods: one good and other evil.Apollinarianism - Jesus' divine will overshadowed and replaced the human.Arianism - Jesus was a lesser, created being.Docetism - Jesus was divine but only seemed to be human.Donatism - Validity of sacraments depends on character of the minister.Eutychianism - Jesus finite human nature is swallowed up in His infinite divine nature.Gnosticism - Dualism of good and bad and special knowledge for salvation.Kenosis - Jesus gave up some divine attributes while on earth.Marcionism - An evil God of the O.T., good God of the N.T. 11, books in the CanonModalism - God is one person in three modes.Monarchianism - God is one person.Monophysitism - Jesus had only one nature: divine.Nestorianism - Jesus was two persons.Patripassionism - The Father suffered on the cross.Pelagianism - Man is unaffected by the fall and can keep all of God's laws.Semi-Pelagianism - Man and God cooperate to achieve man's salvation.Socinianism - Denial of the Trinity. Jesus is a deified man.Subordinationism - The Son is lesser than the Father in essence and or attributes.Tritheism - The Trinity is really three separate gods.
Arianism - Jesus was a lesser, created being.
Docetism - Jesus was divine but only seemed to be human.
Donatism - Validity of sacraments depends on character of the minister.Eutychianism - Jesus finite human nature is swallowed up in His infinite divine nature.Gnosticism - Dualism of good and bad and special knowledge for salvation.Kenosis - Jesus gave up some divine attributes while on earth.Marcionism - An evil God of the O.T., good God of the N.T. 11, books in the CanonModalism - God is one person in three modes.Monarchianism - God is one person.Monophysitism - Jesus had only one nature: divine.Nestorianism - Jesus was two persons.Patripassionism - The Father suffered on the cross.Pelagianism - Man is unaffected by the fall and can keep all of God's laws.Semi-Pelagianism - Man and God cooperate to achieve man's salvation.Socinianism - Denial of the Trinity. Jesus is a deified man.Subordinationism - The Son is lesser than the Father in essence and or attributes.Tritheism - The Trinity is really three separate gods.
Eutychianism - Jesus finite human nature is swallowed up in His infinite divine nature.
Gnosticism - Dualism of good and bad and special knowledge for salvation.
Kenosis - Jesus gave up some divine attributes while on earth.
Marcionism - An evil God of the O.T., good God of the N.T. 11, books in the Canon
Modalism - God is one person in three modes.
Monarchianism - God is one person.
Monophysitism - Jesus had only one nature: divine.
Nestorianism - Jesus was two persons.
Patripassionism - The Father suffered on the cross.
Pelagianism - Man is unaffected by the fall and can keep all of God's laws.
Semi-Pelagianism - Man and God cooperate to achieve man's salvation.Socinianism - Denial of the Trinity. Jesus is a deified man.Subordinationism - The Son is lesser than the Father in essence and or attributes.Tritheism - The Trinity is really three separate gods.
Socinianism - Denial of the Trinity. Jesus is a deified man.
Subordinationism - The Son is lesser than the Father in essence and or attributes.
Tritheism - The Trinity is really three separate gods.
Concluding on these beliefs about the incarnation denies what the Holy Scriptures teach.
God became a man and He dwelled amongst people.
God became a man and He dwelled amongst people.
God dwelled among men.
The gospel of John is all about Jesus Christ dwelling among people. And it is an account that bears witness of Him.
And it is an account that bears witness of Him.
Read Verse 14b and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Read Verse 14b and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John speaks of seeing His glory.
In first John the same author tells us what He means here.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
John has seen Him and touched Him. During His earthly ministry and afterwards in the resurrection.
Then, John claims Jesus as the only Son from the Father.
Which is a point John wanted to make.
That Jesus is not an angel sent by God nor just a prophet. He is the Son. God the Son who was wit God in the beginning!
This highlights the importance of knowing Christ as greater.
Christ is greater than angels
Christ is greater than Moses
Christ is greater than prophets
Christ is greater than priests
Christ is greater than kings
Christ is greater than the manna eaten in the wilderness
Christ is greater than the Old Testament sacrifices
Christ is greater than the tabernacle because Christ would dwell in His people
Christ is greater than the patriarchs
Christ is greater than
Christ is greater than any human institution
Christ is greater than persecution
Christ is greater than any nation that tries to exalt itself above Him
Christ is greater
He is the only Son sent by the Father who was Himself God.
This is John’s point when speaking of Christ as the only Son from the Father.
The only Son from the Father who is full of grace and truth.
Question: What does it mean for Jesus to be full of grace and truth?
J.C Ryle Said this
"This constant undivided union of two perfect natures in Christ's Person is exactly that which gives infinite value to His mediation and qualifies Him to be the very Mediator that sinners need. Our Mediator is One who can sympathize with us, because He is very MAN. And yet, at the same time, He is One who can deal with the Father for us on equal terms, because He is very GOD."
What John was writing and bearing witness of is that Jesus was completely full of grace and truth because Jesus was God.
Jesus in the incarnation was fully God. Which means that Jesus in the incarnation revealed Himself as the source of grace and truth.
Jesus didn’t just have grace or truth. Jesus was Himself of grace and truth. Meaning the source of grace and truth.
grace n. — goodwill freely disseminated (by God); especially to the benefit of the recipient regardless of the benefit accrued to the disseminator.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
This is Jesus Christ!
Jesus in the incarnation is full of grace.
Meaning that Jesus Himself was the goodwill of God freely given to those who didn’t deserve Him.
In Christ we have the favor of perfectly displayed.
Jesus in the incarnation is full of truth.
In His fullness Jesus had no deceit in Him.
This is an affirmation of .
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Jesus said in
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is not just speaking truth. John would point out that in His fullness meaning, in His completeness as God, He is grace and truth. This is because He preexisted as God and is Himself God.
This is because He preexisted as God.
completeness ⇔ fullness n. — the state of having every necessary or normal part or component or step.
This is why John the Baptist affirmed Christ as ranking before Him.
Prophets spoke of grace and truth. But Jesus appeared as grace and truth! Which proves again that Jesus is God!
Which proves again that Jesus is God!
This is why John the Baptist affirmed Christ as ranking before Him.
2. The Preexistence of Jesus (v.15)
2. The Preexistence of Jesus (v.15)
Read Verse 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
Read Verse 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
Verse 15a John bore witness about him
Verse 15a John bore witness about him
In the gospel of John to bear witness means: to give a verbal account of something that is affirmed to be true.
John the Baptist gave a verbal account of Christ as existing before. This is what He cried out.
"This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”
"This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”
This is what John said after Jesus came to Him when he was baptizing.
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’
John knew that Jesus ranked before Him. Jesus existed before Him.
Question: Why is John putting so much emphasis on the incarnation in the beginning of his gospel?
Answer: Because this is where life comes from. Life comes from the fullness of who Jesus is! Grace and truth come from His very life because He is (as Ryle said) very God.
Life comes from the fulness of who Jesus is!
Question: Can you imagine, knowing what we know now about Jesus, our response if we were there to see Jesus while here on earth?
(Time on this question)
Conviction would set in.
Questions would arise.
Where have we found life?
Where have we found joy?
Where have we found truth?
Question: Does it come from the fullness of Christ?
The Christian finds their life, truth and joy in the person of Jesus Christ!
It comes from His fullness! When He appeared and also from faith in His appearing!
Meaning that we don’t have to be there to have the same joy and life. We have it be faith!
From His fullness as God being completely God Himself we can with confidence, rest and trust in Him!
3. The Fullness of Jesus (v.16-17)
3. The Fullness of Jesus (v.16-17)
Read Verse 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Read Verse 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Remember that when speaking of His fullness we are talking about His completeness as God.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Question: How does the fullness of God allow us to receive grace?
Gotquestions defined grace this way.
Grace is an essential part of God’s character. Grace is closely related to God’s benevolence, love, and mercy. Grace can be variously defined as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously.
Grace is the good
What is grace?
The catechisms many of us learned as children give us the answer: “Grace is the unmerited favor of God.” The first thing that we understand about grace is what it’s not—it’s not something we merit. In fact, if that is all we ever understand about grace, I’m sure God will rejoice that we know His grace is unmerited. So, here’s our working definition of grace—it is unmerit. Ligonier
Remember
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph
Grace is the gift of God.
Question: What was the greatest gift God has ever given to man?
Answer: His Son! His Son who was full of grace and truth was given to us!
Read Verse 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Read Verse 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John is revealing to us that Christ is greater!
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Note: We forget that Christ is the greatest of the Apostles. Being sent by the Father.
Moses was servant in God’s house.
For the law was given through Moses
For the law was given through Moses
But Christ was the Son! And the Son was God!
Moses gave the law that revealed the character of God to His people!
But Christ appeared and was Himself grace and truth. And He would come to fulfill the law.
Moses was servant in God’s house.
But Christ was the Son! And the Son was and is God!
Which is the stunning truth of what John is speaking of in this prologue.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among sinful people!
And He appeared. Full of grace. With every reason not to give us favor with the Father. But He came and He gave Himself as a sacrifice. Which by the way no prophet could do.
The gospel of John reveals to us who Jesus is. He was and is God in the flesh and He dwelt among men!
What a mystery! That a holy God would come as a man! Among godless people and give us His only Son to save us from His wrath! What a Savior!
This is why revealing Christ gives life to those who believe in His name! Because He is the very God who is Himself the source of all life!
4. The Revealing of Jesus (v.18)
4. The Revealing of Jesus (v.18)
Read Verse 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Read Verse 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
No one has ever seen God
No one has ever seen God
Speaks of God as dwelling in an unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see.
14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
God’s light is unapproachable. No one has ever seen God.
15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
But God the Father has made His Son known by sending Him to the world!
18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
The perfect explanation of God the Father is God the Son.
That is why no man comes to the Father but by Him.
Jesus is the source of life and those who come to saving faith have life in His name!
Which is why this book was written.
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The revealing of Jesus to us who have come to saving faith is a reminder to us to place our hope in Him.
Question: What are you going through?
Answer: Can it compare to the great gift that God the Father has given to you?
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Questions
Have you come to genuine saving faith in Christ?
Do you truly believe in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ?
Verse 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Verse 14a And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
Read Verse 14b and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Do you believe in the Preexistence of Jesus as God?
Read Verse 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
Verse 15a John bore witness about him
"This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”
Have you found life in the the Fullness of Jesus Christ?
Read Verse 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
If so then Jesus Christ has been revealed to you!
Read Verse 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The challenge to us and to me is to live out this amazing revelation in our lives!
To live as Christ has been revealed!
For the law was given through Moses
4. The Revealing of Jesus (v.18)
May God grant us grace to live out what He has revealed in Himself.
Read Verse 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
And may His truth be the anchor to our souls when troubled and tried!
No one has ever seen God
To God be the glory!