The Gospel of John – The Word Became Flesh

What we believe about Jesus is as important as believing in Jesus.

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Background of the Gospel of John:

Author: The Apostle John

Date of writing: 85-95 AD

Place of Writing: City of Ephesus (present day Turkey)

Audience:

The book of John was written to any person who has an interest in learning more about Jesus.

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Purpose Statement:

John 20:31

³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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Recap from last week:

1. Jesus is .

John 1:1-2

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.

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1. Jesus is the of creation (John 1:3)

³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

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1. Jesus is the of all life and light. (John 2:4-5)

John 1:4-5

⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.

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John the Baptist had one mission and one purpose: to point people to Jesus.

We have one mission and one purpose: to point people to Jesus.

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John 1:6-7

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Matthew 28:18-20

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John 1:7

⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

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A witness represents; a testimony declares.

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John the Baptist had one mission, one purpose, to point people to Jesus.

We have one mission, one purpose, to point people to Jesus.

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John 1:8

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Don’t let an earthly witness get in the way of the Heavenly light.

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John 1:9

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Three Responses to Jesus (John 1:10–13)

1. Those who do not recognize who Jesus is
2. Those who recognize Him but refuse to receive Him
3. Those who receive Him and believe in His name

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1. Those who do not recognize who Jesus is

John 1:10

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1. Those who recognize Him but refuse to receive Him

John 1:11

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“Instead of welcoming Jesus, they drove Him from their door and even banished Him from the earth.” A. Pink

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1. Those who receive Him and believe in His name

John 1:12-13

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Receive Jesus. Believe in His Name. Become a Child of God

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John 3:5-6

⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

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How a Person Comes to Faith in Jesus (John 1:12–13)

1. They hear and learn who Jesus is.
2. They receive Him and believe in His name.
3. They are born of God (spiritually reborn).
4. They become children of God and receive eternal life.

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When did you receive Jesus, believe in His name, and become a child of God?

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What we believe about Jesus is as important as believing in Jesus.

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John 1:14

¹⁴ The Word became flesh…

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John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14

The word became flesh…

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“The Word, who existed co-equal with God, before anything came into being, became flesh: He became a human being. Jesus did not just appear to be a man; He became one. Yet He maintained His full deity.” Dr. Constable

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“The One born at Bethlehem was the divine eternal Word…He became what He was not previously, though He never ceased to be all He was before. The baby of Bethlehem was Immanuel, God with us.” A. Pink

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The Trinity:

We believe that God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of one essence and being.

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The Incarnation:

We believe that God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, took on human flesh and became fully man while remaining fully God.

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John 1:14

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

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John 1:14 cont.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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Gleanings:

• We have one mission and one purpose: to point people to Jesus. – John 1:6-7
• Don’t let an earthly witness get in the way of the Heavenly light. – John 1:8
• Receive Jesus. Believe in His Name. Become a Child of God – John 1:12-13
• Jesus signed up for the full human experience and moved into our neighborhood. – John 1:14

Personal Notes