John 1:2 Bible Study -- revised!

John 1:2"He was in the beginning with God."

Last week, we discussed John 1:1. We discussed the concept of the Word and touched on to areas dealing with the Word as the expression of God. Specifically, we discovered that the scriptures say that the Word is instructive and effective. Psalm 19 further describes God's word. Of course, because we cannot separate God's Word from Himself, all things that apply to the Word apply to God Himself, and thus, Christ as well. Furthermore, the Word was with God intimately in eternity past.Contrary to what many teach, Jesus Christ is God.

He was pros ton theon or face-to-face with God in eternity past. Jesus is therefore no mere man. This is part of the mystery of the trinity. That was verse one.

In verse two, John reinforces this intimacy by simply saying the same was in the beginning with God. Again, that is no benign statement, for again, it uses the phrase that implies face to face intimacy and equality. There can be no mistake that John's intent is to underscore the deity of Christ.

In verse 3, in the Modern King James version, John writes "All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being." He thus establishes Jesus as the source of all things that have come into being, which is everything but God Himself, for Genesis 1:1 states that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth." It was Jesus Christ Who brought everything into existence. It was in the beginning of the 20^th century that science discovered the five categories in which all things fall: Time, force, energy, space and matter. He created it all. This flies in the face of many contemporary so-called scientists who, in an effort to give credibility to evolution, attempt to claim that everything came from a simple piece of matter. Life cannot come from non-living things. Only life produces life. That would seem to be simple enough to believe. But so dedicated to the denial of God are so many so-called scientists that they make the non-scientific claim that matter can be eternal. this violates the second law of thermodynamics, or the law of entropy, which basically says that everything wears out. Either that is true, or it isn't. And while none of us could name one thing in our lives that doesn't break down, need maintenance or blow up, there are those who would say that at one time, before everything we see came into being, there was a piece of matter that floated around for eternity. Of course, that assumes that space even existed...which is contrary to what the Scriptures tell us.

And while I can't remember the precise argument that says this,time came into being with the creation of energy and matter. But such is the silliness of men who seek to rule out God and His sovereign rule. But remember, it is scripture that tells us that all things were created. It is the scriptures that tell us that matter isn't eternal...and that was written long before modern science. So, Jesus was the One who created energy, space, time and matter. It has been said that he created all things while standing on nothing. Try to get your mind around that. Imagine that in the beginning, there was only God. There was nothing else at all. There was no space. There was no energy, there was no matter and no time. He created all things. He even created the space to put it all in. He created it all from nothing.

Psalm 33:6 says that 6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 102:25 says 25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Isaiah 45:12 says 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him...

Kind of puts everything in perspective, doesn't it? To think that Jesus Christ has control of all things, for the one who made them certainly controls them. He even created anything in the spiritual realm.

Paul says in Colossians 1:16 and 17 that

...all things were created by Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Did you get that?

...and by Him all things consist.It is by the word of His power that all things are held together (see Hebrews1:3...upholding all things by the word of His power...).

See, Jesus not only made everything, He holds it all together. Lee Chestnut, in an out of print book titled The Atom Speaks, discusses the impossibility of the universe's existence apart from God. His argument is that the scientific community cannot explain how anything continues to exist. This is because every atom everywhere shouldn't be able to hold together. It has to do with atomic particles having like charges. And this should result in universal nuclear fission. But it doesn't. They just can't explain this but they know that something somehow is holding or forcing everything to stay together. As those who believe God's Word, we know it is because Jesus holds all things together by the Word of His Power, just as the writer of Hebrews tells us. So Jesus was eternally with God in the beginning. He spoke everything into existence from absolutely nothing. Not only that, He put it together in a way that points to His Sovereign control. Not onlythat, He continues to hold it all together. But why does He do this?:

1. His mercy. It is his mercy. How many times have you heard someone say How is it that a loving God could send anyone to Hell? They say that as if love was the only attribute of God while there are many. The better statement is to say that man is sinful and God is just and there is no reason why God wouldn't be justified in sending everyone to Hell immediately. It is only His mercy that keeps him from doing that. But you know what? There is a time when his mercy will be exhausted.

We find this in 2 Peter 3: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...

This is an allusion to the reversal of God's restraining and upholding of the universe. Notice the phrase...the elements shall melt with fervent heat... If you read that to any nuclear scientist, he will tell you that is a reference to nuclear fission which is when an atom flies apart. Again, the scientific community is still trying to figure out why this isn't already happening on a literally universal scale.

2. His universal grace. It isn't just God's mercy. It is also his grace. Mercy is where God doesn't give us what we do deserve. Grace is where God gives us what we don't deserve. So, beyond his mercy which delays his immediate justice, he also gives us all things, of which we deserve none. He gave us a stewardship. But I did say this is just universal grace. In other words, he does this for all people everywhere, redeemed or not. Rain is a good thing and He gives it to the just and the unjust. He provides food for the inhabitants of the Earth, redeemed or not. He provides for everyone. Then of course is His redemptive grace which is shown to the elect, to whom He gives the gifts of repentance and faith.This is the God we worship. The Lord Jesus Christ, Who existed asco-equal with God in eternity past, Who created all things, Who instructs us and is effectual. By His Word, he was creator and is sustainer of all things visible and invisible. He continually upholds all things.

But one day that will all end. He will withhold his sustaining grace and let everything come to an end in judgment. Until then, he offers us repentance and faith in the finished work of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.In verse one, it is established that the Word or Logos is eternal, with God,and indeed is God, verse 2 begins with houtos which means this one/man or he.The gender is masculine. This gives emphasis to the fact that it is not an it, but a He. Also that the Word is equal to God reinforces this. Then a restatement of verse one is made, In Hebrew literature, this is a device that emphasizes a point, much like that is Psalms or Proverbs. You restate a phrase, or even change it some, and that makes it like you shouted on paper. He was in the beginning with God. From the larger context, we know that this He is Christ Jesus.(v. 15, 29-34)(John 1:2 NKJV) He was in the beginning with God.Jesus was with God before time existed he is eternal and at no point in time did he come into existence. This also proves that Jesus was divine and the second person of the trinity. It is amazing how many times throughout Gods word the smallest verses speak volumes. For a Bible believing Christian this is one of those verses that we can use to prove the trinity as well as his divinity.

John 1:2"The Same was in the beginning with God.""Houtos en en arche pros theos"The very same that we believe in the same, the Word, or the Logos. It is said again, to guard the doctrine and to prevent the possibility of a mistake. John had said that he existed before creation, and that he was with God and that he was God; but he had not said in the first verse"that the union with God existed in the beginning." He now expresses that idea, and assures us that that union was not one which was commenced "in time," and which might be, therefore, a mere union of "feeling", or a compact,like that between other beings, but was one which existed in eternity, and which was therefore a union of nature in essence.It also shows His eternal distinctness, in unity, from God -- the Father.Genesis 1:1"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."Psalm 102:25"Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and thy heavens are the work of thy hands."Acts 17:24"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands."Romans 1:20"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."Rev 4:11"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."This description of God creating heaven and earth is understood to be...1.) recent, i.e., thousands not millions of years ago.2.) ex nihilo, i.e., out of nothing; and3.) special, i.e., in 6 consecutive 24 hour periods called "days" and further distinguished as such by this phrase, "the evening and the morning."Scripture does not support a creation date earlier than about 10,000 years ago.- in the beginning -while God exists eternally (Psalm 90:2), this marked the beginning of the universe in time and space. In explaining Israels identity and purpose to her on the plains of Moab, God wanted His people to know about the origin of the world in which they found themselves.- the very same that we believe in -this is the Creator God who set out to redeem His creation -- this is the One whom we believe in.

The Same was in the beginning with God. John 1:2

John 1:2 Bible Study

John 1:2
"He was in the beginning with God."

Last week, we discussed John 1:1. We discussed the concept of
the Word and touched on to areas dealing with the Word as the
expression of God. Specifically, we discovered that the scriptures say that the
Word is instructive and effective. Psalm 19 further describes God's
Word. Of course, because we cannot separate God's Word from Himself, all
things that apply to the Word apply to God Himself, and thus, Christ as well.

Furthermore, the Word was with God intimately in eternity past.
Contrary to what many teach, Jesus Christ is God. He was pros ton
theon or face-to-face with God in eternity past. Jesus is
therefore no mere man. This is part of the mystery of the trinity.

That was verse one.

In verse two, John reinforces this intimacy by simply saying
the same was in the beginning with God. Again, that is no benign
statement, for again, it uses the phrase that implies face to face intimacy and
equality. There can be no mistake that John's intent is to
underscore the deity of Christ.

In verse 3, in the Modern King James version, John writes
All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing
came into being that has come into being. He thus establishes
Jesus as the source of all things that have come into being, which is
everything but God Himself, for Genesis 1:1 states that In the beginning
God created the heavens and the Earth.
It was Jesus Christ Who brought everything into existence. It was
in the beginning of the 20^th century that science discovered the five
categories in which all things fall: Time, force, energy, space
and matter. He created it all.

This flies in the face of many contemporary so-called scientists
who, in an effort to give credibility to evolution, attempt to claim that
everything came from a simple piece of matter. Life cannot come from non-living things. Only life produces
life. That would seem to be simple enough to believe. But so dedicated
to the denial of God are so many so-called scientists that they make the
non-scientific claim that matter can be eternal. this violates
the second law of thermodynamics, or the law of entropy, which
basically says that everything wears out. Either that is true, or it isn't.
And while none of us could name one thing in our lives that doesn't
break down, need maintenance or blow up, there are those who would say
that at one time, before everything we see came into being, there was a
piece of matter that floated around for eternity. Of course, that assumes that
space even existed...which is contrary to what the Scriptures
tell us.

And while I can't remember the precise argument that says this,
time came into being with the creation of energy and matter.

But such is the silliness of men who seek to rule out God and His
sovereign rule. But remember, it is scripture that tells us that
all things were created. It is the scriptures that tell us that
matter isn't eternal...and that was written long before modern science.

So, Jesus was the One who created energy, space, time and matter.
It has been said that he created all things while standing on nothing.
Try to get your mind around that. Imagine that in the beginning, there
was only God. There was nothing else at all. There was no space. There was
no energy, there was no matter and no time. He created all things.
He even created the space to put it all in. He created it all from
nothing.

Psalm 33:6 says that 6 By the word of the Lord were the
heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Psalm 102:25 says 25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation
of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Isaiah 45:12 says 12 I have made the earth, and created man
upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host
have I commanded.

Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him...

Kind of puts everything in perspective, doesn't it? To think that
Jesus Christ has control of all things, for the one who made them
certainly controls them. He even created anything in the spiritual realm.

Paul says in Colossians 1:16 and 17 that ...all things were
created by Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the
visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities
or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He
is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

Did you get that?
...and by Him all things consist.
It is by the word of His power that all things are held together (see Hebrews
1:3
...upholding all things by the word of his
power...).
See, Jesus not only made everything, He holds it all together.

Lee Chestnut, in an out of print book titled The Atom
Speaks, discusses the impossibility of the universe's existence apart
from God.
His argument is that the scientific community cannot explain how
anything continues to exist. This is because every atom
everywhere shouldn't be able to hold together. It has to do with atomic
particles having like charges. And this should result in universal nuclear
fission. But it doesn't. They just can't explain this but
they know that something somehow is holding or forcing
everything to stay together. As those who believe God's Word, we know it is because
Jesus holds all things together by the Word of His Power, just as the
writer of Hebrews tells us.

So Jesus was eternally with God in the beginning. He spoke
everything into existence from absolutely nothing. Not only that, He put it
together in a way that points to His Sovereign control. Not only
that, He continues to hold it all together.

But why does He do this?:

1. His mercy. It is his mercy. How many times have you heard someone
say How is it that a loving God could send anyone to
Hell? They say that as if love was the only attribute of God
while there are many. The better statement is to say that man is sinful and
God is just and there is no reason why God wouldn't be justified
in sending everyone to Hell immediately. It is only His mercy
that keeps him from doing that. But you know what? There is a time
when his mercy will be exhausted. We find this in 2 Peter 3: But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which
the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that
are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these
things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be
in all holy conversation and godliness... This is an
allusion to the reversal of God's restraining and upholding of the universe.
Notice the phrase...the elements shall melt with fervent
heat... If you read that to any nuclear scientist, he will
tell you that is a reference to nuclear fission which is when an atom
flies apart. Again, the scientific community is still trying to
figure out why this isn't already happening on a literally
universal scale.

2. His universal grace. It isn't just God's mercy. It is also his
grace. Mercy is where God doesn't give us what we do deserve.
Grace is where God gives us what we don't deserve. So, beyond his
mercy which delays his immediate justice, he also gives us all
things, of which we deserve none. He gave us a stewardship. But I
did say this is just universal grace. In other words,
he does this for all people everywhere, redeemed or not. Rain is a good
thing and He gives it to the just and the unjust. He provides
food for the inhabitants of the Earth, redeemed or not. He provides
for everyone. Then of course is His redemptive grace which is shown
to the elect, to whom He gives the gifts of repentance and faith.

This is the God we worship. The Lord Jesus Christ, Who existed as
co-equal with God in eternity past, Who created all things, Who
instructs us and is effectual. By His Word, he was creator and is
sustainer of all things visible and invisible. He continually
upholds all things.

But one day that will all end. He will withhold his sustaining
grace and let everything come to an end in judgment. Until then, he offers
us repentance and faith in the finished work of his Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ.

In verse one, it is established that the Word or Logos is eternal, with God,
and indeed is God, verse 2 begins with houtos which means this one/man or he.
The gender is masculine. This gives emphasis to the fact that it is not an it, but a He.
Also that the Word is equal to God reinforces this. Then a restatement of verse one is nade,
In Hebrew literature, this is a device that emphasizes a point, much like that is Psalms
or Proverbs.  You restate a phrase, or even change it some, and that makes
it like you shouted on paper. He was in the beginning with God.
From the larger context, we know that this He is Christ Jesus.
(v. 15, 29-34)

(John 1:2 NKJV)  He was in the beginning with God.
Jesus was with God before time existed he is eternal and at no
point in time did he come into existence. This also proves that Jesus
was divine and the second person of the trinity. It is amazing how many
times throughout Gods word the smallest verses speak volumes. For a
Bible believing Christian this is one of those verses that we can use
to prove the trinity as well as his divinity.

John 1:2
"The Same was in the beginning with God."
"Houtos en en arche pros theos"

The very same that we believe in
the same, the Word, or the Logos

It is said again, to guard the doctrine and to prevent the possibility of
a mistake.  John had said that he existed before creation, and that he was
with God and that he was God; but he had not said in the first verse
"that the union with God existed in the beginning."  He now expresses that
idea, and assures us that that union was not one which was commenced "in
time," and which might be, therefore, a mere union of "feeling", or a compact,
like that between other beings, but was one which existed in eternity, and
which was therefore a union of nature in essence.

It also shows His eternal distinctness, in unity, from God -- the Father.

Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Psalm 102:25
"Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and thy heavens are
the work of thy hands."
Acts 17:24
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of
heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands."
Romans 1:20
"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly
seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power
and Godhead; so that they are without excuse."
Rev 4:11
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour and power:  for Thou
hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

This description of God creating heaven and earth is understood to be...
1.) recent, i.e., thousands not millions of years ago.
2.) ex nihilo, i.e., out of nothing; and
3.) special, i.e., in 6 consecutive 24 hour periods called "days" and further
distinguished as such by this phrase, "the evening and the morning."
Scripture does not support a creation date earlier than about 10,000 years
ago.

- in the beginning -
while God exists eternally (Psalm 90:2), this marked the beginning of the
universe in time and space.  In explaining Israels identity and purpose to
her on the plains of Moab, God wanted His people to know about the origin
of the world in which they found themselves.

- the very same that we believe in -
this is the Creator God who set out to redeem His creation -- this is the
One whom we believe in.

The Same was in the beginning with God.  John 1:2

John 1:1 Bible Study Audio Sermon included!

John 1:1 Bible Study
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
UPDATED, AUDIO SERMON IS NOW ONLINE, CLICK ON LINK OR EMAIL ME FOR A COPY OF SERMON.

God and the Word are together and the same and have existed from the beginning of everything.

John 1:1 - In the beginning of everything, there was the word.

This word, logos in the greek, was a force or knowledge that was intertwined with either nature or God, depending on whom you read about. So, we start in the evident with the fact that there is this logos. Then this logos was with God. This establishes where the logos was in the beginning. Then the logos is God. So it was in the beginning with God and it is God. In the greek theos is before logos, and that gives emphasis to God. Logos is the subject of the sentence and with this construction it takes on the character of theos or God. Also the greek definition of logos is not only a word, but more the intentions of thoughts, and or reasoning. So here something that greeks know is related to and then is shown to be with God, and not only to be with Him, but to be Him. That thing you cannot describe, but know exists, that is God. Let me tell you about Him.

What does the Bible define as "the Word"? Notice the capitalized "Word".

In John 1:14 we see the following:

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Revelation 19:13 states:

"And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God." (referring to Christ on the white horse)

I John 5:7 states:

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."

While we can also say the Bible talks about the Word of God being the spoken and revealed Word of God (the Bible) in the context of the verses aforementioned, we can conclude that "the Word" is Jesus Christ. And every verse spoke directly about Christ. Jesus was there during Creation (thus proving that He existed before time), He has had an eternal, intimate relationship with the Father, and then He became God in the flesh.

Here are some notes from John MacArthur:

"the Word. John borrowed the use of the term 'Word' not only from the vocabulary of the OT, but also from Gr. philosophy, in which the term was essentially impersonal, signifying the rational principle of 'divine reason', 'mind,' or even 'wisdom.' John, however, imbued the term entirely with OT and Christian meaning (e.g., Gen. 1:3 where God's Word brought the world into being; Pss. 33:6; 107:20; Prov. 8:27 where God's Word is His powerful self-expression in creation, wisdom, revelation, and salvation) and made it refer to a person, i.e., Jesus Christ. Greek philosophical usage, therefore, is not the exclusive background of John's thought. Strategically, the term "Word" serves as a bridge-word to reach not only the Jews but also the unsaved Greeks. John chose this concept because both Jews and Greeks were familiar with it."

[WORD]

wurd: The commonest term in the Old Testament for "word" is dabhar (also "matter" "thing"); in the New Testament logos ("reason," "discourse," "speech"); but also frequently rhema. Rhema is a "word" in itself considered; logos is a spoken word, with reference generally to that which is in the speaker's mind. Some of the chief applications of the terms may thus be exhibited: (1) We have the word of Yahweh (or God; see below) (a) as the revelation to the patriarch, prophet, or inspired person (Ge 15:1; Ex 20:1; Nu 22:38, etc.); (b) as spoken forth by the prophet (Ex 4:30; 34:1; 2Ki 7:1; Isa 1:10, etc.). (2) The word is often a commandment, sometimes equivalent to "the Law" (Ex 32:28; Nu 20:24; De 6:6; Ps 105:8; 119:11,17; Isa 66:2, etc.). (3) As a promise and ground of hope (Ps 119:25,28,38, etc.; 130:5, etc.). (4) As creative, upholding, and preserving (Ps 33:6; compare Ge 1:3; Ps 147:15,18; Heb 1:3; 11:3; 2Pe 3:5,7). (5) As personified (in Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon 18:15; Ecclesiasticus 1:5, the Revised Version margin "omitted by the best authorities"). (6) As personal (Joh 1:1). Logos in Philo and Greek-Jewish philosophy meant both reason or thought and its utterance, "the whole contents of the divine world of thought resting in the Nous of God, synonymous with the inner life of God Himself and corresponding to the logos endiathetos of the human soul; on the other hand, it is the externalizing of this as revelation corresponding to the logos prophorikos in which man's thought finds expression (Schultz). Compare also the references to Creation by "the word of God" and its personifications; see LOGOS; incarnated in Jesus Christ (Joh 1:14; 1 Joh 1:1,2; Re 19:13, "His name is called, The Word of God," Ho Logos tou Theou). See PERSON OF CHRIST. (7) Cannot be broken, endureth forever (2Ki 10:10; Ps 119:89; Isa 40:8, etc.). (8) A designation of the gospel of Christ: sometimes simply "the word"; with Jesus "the word of the Kingdom" (Mt 13:19; Mr 2:2; Ac 4:4,29,31, etc.). In John's Gospel Jesus frequently speaks of His "word" and "works" as containing the divine revelation and requirements made through Him, which men are asked to believe in, cherish and obey (Joh 5:24; 6:63,68, etc.); "the words of God" (Joh 3:34; 8:47; 14:10; 17:8,14, etc.); His "word" (logos and rhema) is to be distinguished from lalia, speech (compare Mt 26:73; Mr 14:70), translated "saying," Joh 4:42 (4:41, "Many more believed because of his own word" (logos); 4:42, "not because of thy saying" (lalia), the Revised Version (British and American) "speaking"); in the only other occurrence of lalia in this Gospel (Joh 8:43) Jesus uses it to distinguish the outward expression from the inner meaning, "Why do ye not understand my speech?" (lalia), "Even because ye cannot hear my word" (logos). (9) "Words" are distinguished from "power" (1Co 4:20; 1Th 1:5); are contrasted with "deed" (Mal 2:17; 1Co 4:20; 1 Joh 3:18). (10) Paul refers to "unspeakable words" (arrheta rhemata) which he heard in Paradise (2Co 12:4), and to "words (logoi) .... which the Spirit teacheth" (1Co 2:13). For "word" the Revised Version (British and American) has "commandment" (Nu 4:45, etc.); for "words," "things" (Joh 7:9; 8:30; 9:22,40; 17:1), "sayings" (Joh 10:21; 12:47,48); for "enticing words," "persuasiveness of speech" (Col 2:4); conversely, "word" for "commandment" (Nu 24:13; 27:14; Jos 8:8, etc.), with numerous other changes. W. L. Walker

Lesson --

Contemporary Christianity has lost the meaning of worship. You don't have to listen very long to hear worship described as singing, for example, and while singing can be a part of worship, there is nothing intrinsically worshipful in singing, for a person can sing lyrics which are full of error.

The Apostle John, in the first verse of his gospel, returns us to the heart of worship, for worship involves the realization of who God is. Contemporary Christianity does not accomplish this, because it has surrendered theology, and theology will be at the center of true worship. We see this in the Gospels.

Matt 9:18 "While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live."

Matt 15:25 "Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me."

Matt 18:26 "The servant therefore fell down, and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all."

Matt 28:17 "And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted."

Jesus was approached by those who worshiped Him -- were they singing? No! The gospels tells us that they recited Truths about Christ -- who He is and what He has done.

So true worship involves theology -- more precisely, it involves truthful theology, for false theology is, by definition, idolatry.

So John starts his Gospel with worship -- a recounting of who Christ is, in truth, as God has revealed Himself to be. So we begin with John's description of Christ as the Word. He begins by saying the Word was -- the verb points to His eternal preexistence, for in the Beginning (a parallel of Genesis 1:1). He already was . Before time and space were created by Him, He already exists. In fact, He spoke them into existence.

This in itself runs contrary to modern thinking. People will use scientific Law in an effort to deny this. For example, the Second Law of Thermodynamics states that everything wears down. It's called entropy. And it basically means that nothing lasts -- things go down hill and wear out. This means that matter cannot be eternal, but must have had a point of creation. For the Christian, this is no problem at all, for we realize that matter is not eternal, but was created. It was created by God, who is the maker of all things, who Himself is eternal, spirit (John 4). And God who is spirit, seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

So, God is the eternal God who made all things out of nothing. Who is this God? John says he is "the Word." A "word" is the expression of something. In this case, the Word is God (was = eternal state), and was "with" God. The phrase "with God" is "pros theos" and has been translated as "face to face with God," which implies equality with God as was expressed by John when He says, "the Word was God."

We see references to "the Word" throughout Scripture. For example, take a look at Isaiah 55:11, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it." The whole chapter revolves around a call to know God. We know Him by His Word, in fact, it is His Word that calls people. Isaiah 55 begins with a call in verse one. In verse two, there is a call to listen carefully. In verse eleven, we are told His Word will accomplish everything God desires. So, God's Word is powerful and effectual, able to accomplish it's purpose.

Psalm 119:105 tells us His Word is an instructive Word. You recall verse 105 says, "Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." So, the Word is an instructive Word. In all these things, the Word is effectual and instructive -- or perhaps it is better to say "instructive and effectual," for one must hear the Word before they can respond to its effectual calling. Romans 10:14-15 says, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" The Word must be heard, which means it must be expressed.

And so, we return to John 1, and we see that God and the Word are inseparable.

But do we worship the Scriptures? No, while we cannot separate God from His Word, we worship Christ, not the Scriptures. The Pharisees did that -- Jesus rebuked them and told them "you search the Scriptures, thinking that in them you have life, but they are that which speak of me..." John 5:39

It is Christ whom we worship as the Word (the expression) of God. For as you can see in verse 14, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

Philippians 2:6-8 says, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

So, like the Scriptures, Christ, the Word Incarnate, is instructive and effectual. Just like Isaiah 55, there the written Word calls us, so Christ calls men to himself, and His Word is effectual, for all who He calls will come to Him, and He will raise them up on the last day.

So, we don't gather in church to sing praise choruses about how we are there to worship -- that is self worship. We are there to proclaim the truth about Christ -- his nature, character and attributes.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

UPDATE!

The quote of 1John 5:7. If you look to most, if not all commentaries, such as Barnes, Gill and Calvin, you will see that the Greek ends at the bear record or witness or testify part. The rest is just not there. Yes, this is in the KJV. It is not warranted, nor needed to defend the doctrine of the Trinity. Nor is it needed to defend that the Word in John is indeed the Lord Jesus Christ, all that is needed for that is context. (thank you for pointing this out Joseph, I will expand on it a little bit more here)

1 John 5:7-8
"in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit...
three that bear witness on earth."
These words are a direct reference to the Trinity and what they say is accurate. External manuscript
evidence, however, is against them being in the original epistle. They do not appear in any Greek
manuscripts dated before circa tenth century A.D. Only eight very late Greek manuscripts contain
the reading, and these contain the passage in what appears to be a translation from a late recension of the
Latin Vulgate. Furthermore, four of the eight manuscripts contain the passage as a variant reading written
in the margin as a later addition to the manuscript. No Greek or Latin Father, even those involved in
Trinitarian controversies, quotes them; no ancient version except the Latin records them (not the old Latin
in its early form or the Vulgate). Internal evidence also militates against their presence, since they
disrupt the sense of the writer's thoughts. Most likely, the words were added much later to the text. There
is no verse in Scripture which so explicitly states the obvious reality of the Trinity, although many
passages imply it strongly, such as 2 Corinthians 13:14 which says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.)

(next week we will be on John 1:2. Please email me your study by Friday, Feb 22 if you would like your comments included in the study. thanks to all the contributors who helped out!)

बाइबल स्तुद्य

looks like I need to make a change here!