INTRODUCTION TO GOD
The ONE and ONLY
John 1:1-18
• In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was
God. 2 He was with God in the
beginning.
• 3 Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has
been made. 4 In him was life, and that
life was the light of men. 5 The light
shines in the darkness, but the darkness
has not understood

it.
• 6 There came a man who was sent
from God; his name was John. 7 He
came as a witness to testify
concerning that light, so that through
him all men might believe. 8 He
himself was not the light; he came
only as a witness to the light. 9 The
true light that gives light to every
man was coming into the world.
•
10 He
was in the world, and though the
world was made through him, the world
did not recognize him. 11 He came to
that which was his own, but his own did
not receive him. 12 Yet to all who
received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become
children of God— 13 children born not
of natural descent,

nor of human
decision or a husband’s will, but born of
God.
14 The
Word became flesh and made his
dwelling among us. We have seen his
glory, the glory of the One and Only,

who came from the Father, full of grace
and truth.
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries
out, saying, “This was he of whom I said,
‘He who comes after me has surpassed
me because he was before me.’ ”
16 From
the fullness of his grace we
have all received one blessing after
another. 17 For the law was given
through Moses; grace and truth came
through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has
ever seen God, but God the One and
Only,

who is at the Father’s side, has
made him known. --John 1:1-18
Fascinating truths in the detail.
1st
The noun “God” (theos) has no
article in the Greek. [verse 1]
• He is not “the God”
– Thus God is presented in his nature
of being rather than as a person.
– “Deity,” the essence of which no
human has ever seen.
2nd
At the Father’s side [verse 18]
• …substantially the same expression as
that used in Jn 13:23 concerning the
disciple whom Jesus loved...reclining
next to him.
– It is the picture of intimate association.
– So this presupposes close fellowship.
3rd
The phrase made him known (exegesato)
[verse 18]
• comes from the verb from which
“exegesis” is derived, which means to
“explain,” “interpret” or “reveal.”
– The being and nature of God, which
cannot be perceived directly by ordinary
senses, has been adequately presented to
us by the Incarnation.
– We are introduced to Him as Jesus.
4th
It matters WHO Jesus is:
• But the Bible never attempts to prove that
God exists nor that Jesus is God.
– The very act of debating the issue would imply
the possibility that He does not exist.
– So the Bible only reveals truth -- it does not
debate it.
• In keeping with that, John gives us a
glimpse of who Jesus is:
PRE-EXISTENT
There never was a time when the
Father existed without the Son
• God has always been like Jesus.
• The Father & the Son have always
enjoyed an intimate relationship.
• Jesus is God -- not "ho theos", but
"theos".
CO-CREATOR
Involved in every detail and each event
• He made us, thus understands us perfectly.
• This is God's World, He has a right to
reclaim & redeem it.
• Not just man, the moral creature…
• But all of nature -- "But in keeping with his
promise we are looking forward to a [new heaven]
and a new earth, the home of righteousness." -2 Pet 3:13 (also Rev 21:1).
The SOURCE OF LIFE AND LIGHT
Repeatedly in John's Gospel we hear
Jesus tell us:
• You diligently study the Scriptures because
you think that by them you possess eternal
life. These are the Scriptures that testify
about me, yet you refuse to come to me to
have life. -- John 5:39-40
• I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; no one can snatch them out of my
hand. -- John 10:28
• Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me." -- John 14:6
• But these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that by believing you may have life in his
name. -- Jn 20:31
In contrast and opposition
•into our world of needless
–heartache,
–destruction,
–condemnation,
–death.
The light shines in the darkness, but the
darkness has not understood it. (v 5)
• Man skillfully debates the pros & cons of
sin at all levels.
• The Courts of our land are affirming and
defending our right to sin if we choose.
• But into our sin darkened understanding and
lives comes LIGHT!
THE PROMISED REDEEMER
WHO HAS COME
We are invited to simply Receive
Him & Believe on His name
• Accept Him for who He is.
• Accept His commands as absolute.
• Allow it to involve all three dimensions of
your being:
– Mind
SPIRIT
– Emotion
MAN
– Will
• This is how we stop existing and begin
living! Alive in spirit Empowered by God’s Spirit
• We enter into a special
relationship with the living God.
• The Word becomes a "being" and
takes up His abode in our being.
– It means to tabernacle with us
much like God tabernacled with
Israel.
– His presence is marked with glory,
blessing, honor.
Now Then…
I cannot prove to you that JESUS is
who he said he was
• I can show you the evidence.
• Take a long hard look at it for yourself
In Israel, the distinction between
“religious” and “a believer” is marked.
• What a privilege to step from darkness
into Light by simply believing on His
name.
• What a privilege to cross over from
"worthlessness" to the privileged of being
a “Kings kid".