Sermon Tone Analysis

God with us

God with us (Mt1:23).

How do you put into words about God with us?

John tasks himself with a great opportunity and responsibility to reveal to us God with us and the outcome of believing in God with us.

There is so much to try to grasp, it can be overwhelming when we try to consider the magnitude of the gospel of John, so tonight I will try to give us an introduction, background, some key verses, etc. and start more in depth to the gospel next week.

So tonight, sit back as we start to unfold the “gospel of decision” as many call it.

God with us (Jn1:1-2, 14, 17; Mt1:23)

Then we need definition

and a name to go with the definition

God with us, now may we look into the back ground.

Purpose: So that you may believe (Jn20:30-31)

jn20:30-31

Purpose to produce believe

Through belief may have eternal life

The Person (author) John

Let me start with this is not John the Baptist; This is John: the one Jesus loved and more.

We do find John the Baptist mentioned starting here in Chapter one and will get into that in near future, but he is not the author

The one Jesus loved (Jn21:7 13:23)

jn21:7 “7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”

So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.”

Jn13:23 “23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

Was part of the circle of seven (Jn21:2)

jn21:2 “2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.”

Part of the inner three (Mt17:1, 26:37)

Mt17:1 “1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.”

and add to that

Mt26:37 “37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed.”

He was an eyewitness (Jn19:35; 21:24; 1Jn1:1-4)

jn19:35 “35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.”

You can look up 1John, we have recently studied the book so no need to give it all to you, there is still much to cover tonight in our introduction.

John is not directly named as the author, but neither are Matthew, Mark or Luke, there are inferences and deductions to be made so you can know, but unlike some of the epistles it is not direct.

When: About AD 90 From Ephesus

This is the most common belief after his release from Patmos, after the destruction of temple and Jerusalem, belief in Jesus and eternal life in His name was vital for man to understand.

Interesting fact that in about AD150 a fraction of a copy of the Gospel was found, proving that it was written prior to that, some believe that parts were added after the fact by other people, but the literary style and the content seem to be the same.

To whom: Unbelievers (Jn20:31) and believers

Unbelievers so that they may believe

Believers that through your may have eternal life

Important themes

Signs/Miracles

There are fewer noted in John than the other gospels, they are intentional to line up with the purpose

First, water to wine (2:9-11)

Second, the Nobleman’s son (4:46-54)

The paralytic man at pool of Bethesda (5:5-9)

Feeding 5000 (6:1-14); walking on water (6:19-21)

Blind man from birth (9:1ff)

Resurrection of Lazarus (11:1ff)

Jesus!

The man

The Christ

The Son of God

Belief

Term used 98 times in gospel; and in believing you may have eternal life

Life

Eternal life in Him (3:14; 3:36)

Hears and believes has life in him (5:24)

Eternal life is belief in him and you will know and have the Father (17:3)

Simple outline

Public Ministry (Chapters 1-12)

Private Ministry (Chapters 13-17)

Passion Ministry (Chapters 18-21)

(Transition) so, now having done the background of this awe inspiring book it would be good for us to start at the beginning, and there is the prologue that goes from (vv.1-18) but I want us to focus on even a smaller chuck just in (vv.1-5) the topic of the pre-existence of Christ.

The Pre-existence of Christ

The Text (Jn1:1-5)

The evidence (survey)

The significance (survey)

The Text

There are so many scriptures that point to the pre-existence of Christ, some of the most significant are in our text.

Gleaning from the text:

What was from the beginning (v.1)?

The word; God

Who was in the beginning (v.2)?

He was, and was with God

Keep in mind we do not have a name of who He is yet.

What is the fact stated in (v.3-4)?

There was life in Him, and Light

What was the promise and the problem in (vv.4-5)?

He was light that shines in the darkness

Darkness did not comprehend it

The evidence of pre-existence

As mentioned before there are many passages that speak of the pre-existence of the Christ.

Many are prophesy, some are affirmations and declarations as well as some illustrations, but too many for us to get into depth tonight.

We will only survey some, I suggest take and look up some of these scriptures on your own, be a good Berean (Act17:11)

Foretold by the prophets

Micah on the Messiah to come (Mic5:2)

Isaiah on the King, everlasting Father (Isa9:6-7)

isa9:6-7 “6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”

Zechariah the Messiahs own promise to come (Zec2:10-11)

I am coming

I will dwell among them

You will be My people

Affirmed by Jesus Himself

That He existed in Abrahams day (Jn8:56-58)

Before Abraham was born, I AM

In His prayers to the Father (Jn17:4-5)

Glorify Me as I have glorified You!

In His revelation to John (Rev22:13)

Declared by the Apostles

By John (Jn1:1-4; 1Jn2:14)