{let’s Pray:
Father God, I worship and praise Your holy name for Your wonderful plan of salvation. I thank You and praise You for sending Jesus, the Word, who was with the You Lord, before the world began. Jesus in human flesh, so that a sinner such as I may be redeemed by His precious blood. I thank You and praise You for Your forgiveness of sins and that You give us the freedom to walk and do right. I hope this message touches someone’s heart and mine. I thank You, in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
First John. Author and Date. It was probably written from Ephesus, 80 or 85 A. D. though some put it as early as A. D.69, while others put it as late as A. D.95. The author nowhere indicates his name, but through all the centuries it has been attributed to John, the beloved disciple. For information concerning him.
The beginning of Genesis 1:1 is simple: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The beginning of John 1:1 is profound: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John takes us back to this time in eternity past, to meet this One which was from the beginning.
John used this concept of logos or “word” as a divine reference to introduce Jesus as divine. The view that Jesus is divine as the Word is explained in many ways in John Ch 1:1. In the first verse, Jesus is called God with the phrase “and the word was God.”. In verse 2, John notes, “He was in the beginning with God.”. (John 1:36) Christ Jesus, as the sacrificial lamb, is significant. The blood of the Lamb of God brings us back into fellowship with God the Father. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. The spotless lamb, Jesus was fully God and fully man and did not sin. God made a way for the sacrifice required to forgive sin to be atoned for eternally.
Let’s read John 1:1-51:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lights every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, this was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, why baptizes thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again, the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, what seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first finds his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, we have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and finds Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, whence knows thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, before that Philip called thee, when thou were under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believes thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
What happiness for those whose guilt is forgiven? What joys when sins are covered over. What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.
Psalm 32:1-2
{Let’s Pray:
Father God, there are many times when I have failed to listen to Your voice, gone my own way, and fallen flat on my face! I thank You and praise You that I can confess my faults to You, and that You are faithful and just to forgive all my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Assist me to grow in grace, mature in the faith, and draw ever closer to You. Keep me alert to your instructions so I can stay in righteousness, show me the path I should go, and guide me with Your eye and Your light. How awesome to know that You have scheduled every day of my life for my unique benefit. I believe I will never stray from Your perfect path, and may my life be a godly witness to others and a blessing to You always. Thank You so much for second chances and turning to You always. I thank You, praise You and give You all the glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
"Only Life Changes" 