Toronto UBF Bible Study : THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Bible Study Materials

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

by Daniel Massey 12/24/2023

Message

The Word became flesh

John 1:1-14

Key verse 1:14 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."
Merry Christmas my beloved; beloved highly favoured ones upon whom the favour of Jesus, the eternal Word made flesh rests.  Just as surely as the wise men, the shepherds, Mary, and Joseph; We have seen his glory!  This Christmas lets find out how to claim our rights.  The right to become children of God. Let’s consider Jesus, who came from the father full of Grace and truth.  Lets think about the God who is not far away but very near, who wants to make his dwelling among us, who wants to dwell within us, Tabernacling with us in our journey  until that day when in the promised land "the dwelling place of God will once again be found with mankind".

Part I  The Word was God

What would Christmas be without the angels, the shepherds, the manger, the baby, and Mary and Joseph ?  Well, It would be John chapter 1.  Look at verse 1 and 2, lets read together "In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning."  Jesus is the pre-existent Word, the eternal one who has always existed without beginning or end, the trinity of father son and Holy Spirit, one God manifested in three persons.  Jesus is the God of the bible who was "In the beginning."  Look at verse 3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."   Jesus is creator God.  He made everything.  Most importantly he made me, and he made you.  Look at verse 3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."   Here darkness refers primarily to ignorance, as it is written "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."  Romans 1:20-21 For since the creation of the world, Gods invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen , being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse, for although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God  nor gave thanks to him but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." It is our personal, loving  Gods great agony is that his beloved creation refuses to acknowledge him and give him his rightful place as Lord of our lives.  The phrase "then they will know that I am the Lord" is repeated 72 times in the bible.  everything God does is designed to get us to acknowledge him and crown him as Lord, not in a theoretical way but by offering ourselves as a living sacrifice, a sweet aroma pleasing to the Lord.  Even better than a Turkey dinner.  God made us in his image but instead people like to make God in their own image.  This God would never let anyone go to hell.  He will manifest all our desires simply by imagining what we want really earnestly.  He is an impersonal force that exists in all living things.  He is far too great and busy to be concerned with insignificant little people and their needs.  He is a kindly old man with a white beard who looks allot like Santa Klaus.  If a thief then this God does not mind stealing, if an adulterer its ok with this God of our own design.   This God is the God of "self."  They say The God of self aggrandizing narcissistic megalomania, which is the nature of the God of this world, Satan.  These days we see the God o fortresses and war, growing in prominance. Those who worship themselves say “my strength and beauty are m God.” Using alcohol and drugs aid in self worship and magnify the dillusion of power in self. Afterwards the are crippled and need to get more to carry on the dillusion of grandeur.

verse 10-12 "He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God-," Those who believed in his name.  .    Blessed are those who believe in his name, who believe Jesus the true light, who repent of their selfishness and fall broken before the cross of Christ washed in his blood and receive the true light which gives life to every person.   The bible is where we find the true revelation of God the Word.  It is the God of the bible whom we must study, worship, and proclaim.  Amen.

Part II    The right to become children of God

v12 "yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husbands will but born of God."  He gave the right to become children of God.

People are always fighting for their rights.  The suffrage movement mostly in England and the USA began to champion the cause of equal rights and voting privileges for women.  The civil rights movement in the Martin Luther King era in the USA fought for racial equality and ending segregation of black and white people in schools and public places and discrimination based on race.  Many women furiously defend their right to decide about having an abortion saying, "my body my choice."   In general people feel strongly about their rights and will fight to defend them.  When we invite people to bible study, they have the right to refuse, and say "Its my life, I have that right."  It is awkward for us to impose on their rights. .   verse 10-12 "He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God-," Jesus name gives us the right., gives us power, gives us authority to be children of God !  Jesus has the adoption papers all ready to adopt you.  Then you will inherit all things.  You will then bear the family likeness.  You will be loved and cherished eternally.  You will be protected and shielded even from death by your everlasting father.  Why then don’t people in general earnestly fight for this greatest right?  For the most part people think they have this right already saying "we are all children of God."  They are delusional. .   verse 10-12 "He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God-,” Many people say "I have always been a Christian and was born in a Christian home.  In Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, and other communities, infant baptism is practiced.  The Priest or pastor somehow thinks he has power through priestcraft to transform a baby into a child of God by sprinkling water on them.  It really only serves to ease the parents fears about their child in case they die young, that they will go to heaven  It gives people a false sense of security and freedom to live any way they choose without any repercussions.  How sad and how foolish.    You must be born again.  Some people believe the choice is unilaterally theirs to make saying "I’ve decided to be a Christian."   They desire a noble thing but still need to be adopted, You must be born again.  Others might say "I converted to Christianity when I married a Christian because my spouse wanted that."  Yes the influence of a Christian spouse is great but still , you must be born again.  God is the God of Abraham, of Issac and Jacob.  He is a personal God.  He is the God of Danielle not only Danielle's family.  He is the God of Abigail not only shepherd Ian’s family.  He is my God, my personal saviour Jesus Christ.  Is he your personal saviour? Adoption papers are ready What are ou waiting for?

Part III    The Word became flesh

Verse 10-12 "He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God-," Jesus is the one and only, there is no other name by which we might be saved.  Perhaps more than anyone else apostle John saw the glory of God in Jesus, the eternal Word who came down from heaven to be born as a humble baby in a manger in humility, in poverty to Tabernacle amongst us.  The Tabernacle was like a mobile home for God as the children of Israel wandered around in the wilderness after they came out from Egypt on the way to the promised land.  Likewise Jesus put on the tent of a human body and came into the world to show us exactly who he is and what he is like.  John says, "we have seen his glory."   Glory is revelation of the exact nature and character of God.   In the great I Am passages of Johns gospel we have seen his glory.  Jesus said before Abraham was born I AM to the Jews who thought being Abrahams human descendants made them children of God.   He said the truth will set you free.  Jesus said "I AM the Good shepherd, revealing his great love even willingness to lay down his life for the sheep.  Jesus said "I AM the bread of life" revealing that he is the only one who can supply all our needs and solve our bread problem by doing the work God required, to believe in the one he sent.  Jesus said I AM the resurrection and the Life revealing that those who live and believe in him will never die.  Jesus said "I AM the True vine" revealing that he is the source of life without whom we are powerless and can do nothing.  Jesus said "I Am the Light of the World” revealing that whoever follows him will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.!  Amen Amen Amen Glory Oh Glory to Jesus who came from the father full of grace and truth.  God is best described as Holy Love.  Truth and Grace are the manifestation of his divine nature.    There is no other, Jesus is the one and only.   When we struggle with the Word of God, the Word is made flesh within us.  we become the temple of the Holy Spirit and take on a family resemblance.  As the songwriter says "Heaven came down and glory filled my soul, when at the cross my saviour made me whole, my sins were washed away and my night was turned to day, heaven came down and glory filled my soul!

It is a wonderful true story and in fact the greatest story ever told of how, Immanuel Jesus, God with us, came down, the God who is very near not far off.  I beg you reach out to him today and receive the right to become children of God with all the standing and blessings that go along with it even everlasting life where the dwelling place of God is once again found with man. 

In the mean time what is our purpose ?  It is to live for Gods glory.  It is to live as witnesses who overcome the world by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.  v6 There came a man who was sent from God, his name was John.  he came as a witness to testify concerning that light so that through him all men might believe.  We are also sent by God  like the Baptist. We need a clear sense of who sends us and why.  It is through us that "all men might believe."  John is a great example of how to witness.  jn 1:29 "behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."  John never pointed to himself.  He pointed to Jesus saying "He must become greater, I must become less."  He diminished himself in self abnegation to glorify Jesus.  When we deeply acknowledge Jesus lordship he can live through us as apostle Paul said "not I but Christ liveth in me and the life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."  On Christmas there is a tradition of gift giving. Jesus is the very best gift we can give and the greatest treasure. V16 “from the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. The gift of grace is received one after another. Jesus just keeps on blessing us more and more. Sometimes I am singing Christian beautiful songs while hard at work and suddenly I am overwhelmed with tears and blessing of Grace. Sometimes I have difficulty speaking or singing when its time. It is not simply an emotional nature but flooding waves of Glory and grace one after another from Jesus. I cannot explain or describe this easily to anyone who has not experienced it. Usually when I preach the gospel people interpret that I am judging them or saying I am better than them, even though such thoughts are far from my mind and I just want them to share this inexpressible joy. I don’t like talking about myself or using myself as an example in sermon because I know how miserable and undeserving selfish and proud sinner I am, but this is truly my anguish. I prayed to as Jesus why ? He helped me understand that it is not me they are rejecting and misunderstanding but it is his Lordship the are rejecting. May Jesus grace and truth to be manifest in our thoughts and words which is Gods design and purpose for us. I wonder what the future holds but I expect and know it will hold one blessing after another.

Lord I acknowledge you, the true God of the bible, I truly believe in Jesus name, I accept you as Lord of my life, show me the glory of the one and only who came from the father full of grace and truth…. I will live as a witness like John the Baptist. So that all men might believe.

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