GOD IN MAN’S IMAGE
#181 GOD IN MAN’S IMAGE
Scripture John 1:1-18 NIV Orig. Date 2/27/1963
Rewr. Dates 9/20/1989
Passage: 1 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 all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all 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 everyone 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 did receive 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 Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Purpose: Beginning a series from John’s Gospel, here teaching of God’s revelation of Himself in the form of a man.
Keywords: Bible Study, John Humanity of God Christ as Man Incarnation Revival
Timeline/Series: Gospel of John
Introduction
A little six-year-old was going to her first Sunday School Christmas party. Her mother wanted it to be a special time for her so she tried to explain in more detail the meaning of Christmas, and of the birth of Jesus. She explained that Christmas was Jesus’ birthday, and that she and the other children would be helping to celebrate the happy day.
She had on a new dress and shoes, and her mother gave her money to give for the class mission gift. Well, the little girl was unduly impressed and excited about what lay ahead. Her ride picked her up and off she went. When she returned home a few hours later, her mother asked her about the party. She replied, “It was a nice party, and we had a good time, but Jesus never showed up.”
The essence of the incarnation is that Jesus did show up. There may be people about who cast aspersions in regard to who He was, but everybody knows He was here. John describes His coming in a special way. The Book of Genesis opens with “man created in the image of God.” (Lockyer)
Five things are shared this morning of “God in Man’s Image.”
- God in Man’s Image is Unfolded.
- God in Man’s Image is Unfathomed.
- God in Man’s Image is Unfeigned.
- God in Man’s Image is Unfettered.
- God in Man’s Image is Unfinished
I. God in Man’s Image is Unfolded. V1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He is called the Word. It is logos, sublime principle (Plato). In Hebrew, “word, principle” of God. John gives this “logos” personality. Gospels accord different genealogical contexts. Matthew—Abraham; Luke—Adam; John—prior. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God.”
The final phrase has no definite article with “God,” placing emphasis on the deity of Christ. Not a reference to Father God. Not the concreteness of all God is. One has come revealing God. The limitations are ours not His.
He is called the light. V5, v9. All of life hangs in the sun’s balance: When it burns out, when its shield is destroyed, should man’s self-exposure cause warfare. The incarnate one is that spiritual presence. In Him was life light.
That light is the essence of good. John goes on in v17 to name Him Jesus Christ. Lest there be some doubt in reference, It is noteworthy that John shares an intimacy with Christ seen in no other. He unfolds as Christ UNFOLDS.
II. God in Man’s Image is Unfathomed. V5 “And the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not.” There is a second way to interpret this. Clearly, darkness doesn’t “comprehend” light. It doesn’t try to, or want to. It can’t. More correctly, however, is that this darkness can’t expel, overcome, light.
It is in such darkness that God has made Himself known. In the perfection of this Light: Jesus. Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of Righteousness arise.”
But believers of every age are to be brought into the process. John the apostle tells his story. John the baptizer (v8) sent to “bear witness to the light.” “He was not that light.” Some of our contemporaries forgot that they were dispensable. A Bernice pastor (myself) needs to remember, and FBC members, teachers, deacons.
III. God in Man’s Image is Unfeigned. (Genuine) V9 “That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
The early church struggled with concepts and suggested “adoption.” They borrowed from Peter (Acts 2:36) “Let all the House of Israel know, that God hath made . . . this Jesus . . . both Lord and Christ.” Paul helped with this also. Romans 1:3f “and declared to be the Son of God with power.” They borrowed from Luke borrowing from Psalms (Acts 13:33) “You are my son, today I have begotten you.” But we must know now that Jesus was not the adopted son of God.
Then scholars came up with a concept called “kenosis:” emptying. Philippians 2:7 “Made Himself of no reputation, but Himself emptied, the form of a slave taking.” That means surrendering His deity. Kenosis begins above: God became man. Adoption begins below: man became God.
A third, a travesty, called “docetism.” It means “to seem.” He seemed to be God. No, they claimed deity, humanity. Too many of us act like we believe less. That He only seems to be God, so we are less than accountable. He is genuine, are we? Docetism was part of the Gnostic error.
All three of the above are in error. He was not adopted, He is the Son. He did not “surrender” His deity, we have been visited by God. (See 1:10-11). He was ever so much more than one “who seemed” whether to be divine or human. I John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes . . . and our hands have handled of the word of life.” The INCARNATE CHRIST, GOD come in flesh.
IV. God in Man’s Image is Unfettered. V12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God.” He was pre-existent, unfettered by coming into the world. “He was in the world” says v10. The world came to Him. John often used “world” for humanity consciously against God. “He came (also) to his own, (the Jews), and they refused.” But those who would look on Him in faith became God’s people.
But none were unaffected by His being. In that sense He is called Light. Everyone in this room is equally affected by the light that is here. For some it must be enhanced. For all it must be acknowledged. We are, of course, free to deny it, falling all over each other. But the problem is not with the light, but with us.
V. Finally, God in Man’s Image is Unfinished. V18 “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” Thus, Christ appears for the purpose of touching our lives: All who, prior to His appearance, believed that God was such a God; all who, hearing of Him, open eyes of faith to His light; all who believe in such a God as this though their culture has denied them knowledge of Jesus. I have no proof-text for this. I will continue to preach that people need Christ. [It is] one of heaven’s surprises.
Christ came to touch lives [and enable] those touched by Him to touch other lives. John tells of One in the “bosom” of the Father. 13:23 tells of this disciple leaning on the “bosom” of Jesus.
The starting place for meaningful faith is such intimacy with Jesus. When we really care about others around, we continue the incarnation.
God in man’s image is great, good news.