## Jesus: The Incarnate Word Of God

## John 1:14

Christianity specifically and uniquely proclaims that Jesus is the only way to God and heaven. It claims that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and that no one comes to God but by acceptance of Him as the only Savior and His atoning work on their behalf. Christianity's claim of Christ's incarnation through virgin birth as well as His death, burial, and bodily resurrection makes it an "all or nothing" belief system.

How can Christianity claim to be the only belief system that can take one to heaven? Many think this way of thinking should be a hate crime in America. Their logic is that if you claim to be right and someone else wrong, then you are setting yourself up as better than the other person and therefore think you are superior to them. Of course, Christianity is actually both inclusive and exclusive. It is inclusive in its provision, offer, and application of salvation. Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16); For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). But it is also exclusive in that no one can come to God except through Jesus Christ.

All other religions are based on moral teaching and good works. But Christianity is based on whether or not God became a man.

The true message of Christmas is not about peace, love, and joy. But it is all about Jesus. In his opening chapter of his Gospel, John paints a picture of Jesus as "The Incarnate Word Of God".

(John 1:14) 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.

I. And the Word...

A. The subject of the sentence has been John's subject from verse one.

(John 1:1-3) 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 any thing made that was made.

B. Throughout eternity He existed with God.

1. I came into existence 56 years ago, but He was preexistent because He was eternal.

2. He was born into this world as we know in the manger…but He did not come into existence then!

3. As the prophet Micah declared His goings forth have been from old, from everlasting!

C. The Word was God!

1. God the Father…

2. God the Holy Spirit…

3. God the Son…

(1 John 5:7) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

II. Became Flesh…

A. Incarnation = in flesh

1. Without the Incarnation we would have no Savior.

2. Sin requires death for its payment.

a. God does not die.

b. So the Savior must be human in order to be able to die.

c. But the death of an ordinary man would not pay for sin eternally, so the Savior must also be God.

d. We must have a God-Man Savior and we do in our Lord

3. How could God become a man?

a. The answer to this question lies in the mind of God alone.

b. While Jesus himself had existed from all eternities past, He took up on Himself a robe of flesh there in Bethlehem.

III. And Dwelt Among Us…

A. Dwelt = to tent or encamp

1. It literally means that Jesus pitched His tent here among mortals.

2. He lived among us, worked among us, prayed among us, suffered among us and died among us.

a. God walked upon the earth and was unrecognized by many who came into close contact with Him.

b. What a tragedy that men came in contact with the Savior and still failed to recognize Him.

B. It's not that the humanity itself was a temporary tabernacle.

1. Christ had a body after His resurrection too, one fit for the next life.

2. We also temporarily have flesh fit for this life.

3. Paul reminds us that our human bodies are only temporary.

(1 Corinthians 15:53-54) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

4. It was given to Him for the purpose of dying!

(Hebrews 10:10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

IV. And We Beheld His Glory…

A. The Majesty Of His Incarnation.

1. Now and then His followers caught a glimpse of the body to come!

2. John mentions here a time when he actually saw the glory of Jesus.

3. Peter also records witnessing this event.

a. In Matthew 17, John, along with James and Peter accompanied Jesus upon a mountainside.

b. It is called the Transfiguration, because Jesus literally changed before them to reveal His glory.

(Matthew 17:2) And [Jesus] was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

4. But His greatest glory was revealed the day He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross and died for us.

(Rom 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

V. The Glory as of the only begotten of the Father Full of Grace and Truth

A. The Only Begotten

1. A unique descriptive term that John uses to describe Jesus.

2. It means 'an un-originated relationship'

3. Prior to Jesus there was never another like Him…and there will never be another like Him in the future.

4. He is the One and Only Son of God.

B. Full of Grace and Truth.

1. Literally, He abounds with Grace and Truth.

2. Plenty of Grace … enough for all!

3. How do we embrace and receive this grace and truth?

4. By receiving and embracing the One and Only Son of God…Jesus.

(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

The question this morning is this…have you by simple faith received Him? If not, the invitation is for you to come today and fully trust in Him.

It truly is an 'all or nothing' invitation. To fail to receive Him is to reject Him. What will be your choice today?