The Pre- incarnate Christ
John 1: 1-2
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.
I. In the beginning was the Word.
A. In- carries the idea of:
1. Presence- as in the stadium.
2. Activity- as in the game.
3. Both are seen in verse 3 where it is stated that “all things were made by him”. Thus he had to be present and active.
B. Beginning- carries us back to: Genesis 1:1“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
C. Word- root= to lay, to arrange, to gather, to say. The idea is of the intelligent expression of thought: Hebrews 1:2 “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”
II. And the Word was with God.
1. In the Greek text the definite article the, precedes the word God. The presence of the article identifies. Thus John is stating the Word was present with the God of Genesis 1:1.
III. And the Word was God.
A. Here the definite article the does not proceed the word God.
1. The absence of the definite article in the Greek qualifies. Thus John is speaking of character or essence.
2. John uses the rules of the language to point out that while they are one as to their character or essence they are separate as to there being.
3. Because we do not use the article in the same way in English we may miss what John is emphasizing.
4. We can certainly find the same truth revealed elsewhere as in: 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:”
And Hebrews 1:2: see 1.C. above.
Conclusion:
These passages Genesis 1:1 and John 1: 1-2 are some of the most important in all the Bible. Christianity hinges on these truths. If there is no God who created, then man is just an animal with a little more intelligence than others and it really does not matter how he lives. There is no absolute right or wrong, all is dependent on the whims of the individual person. But, if God did create man in his own image, man is responsible to God as a moral agent and his eternal destiny and happiness is tied up in his response to his creator. If the Word, which was with God, became man as our next lesson will show, then there must be a reason why and we are responsible for knowing that reason.
Why did he come?
Why must he come?
How are we to respond to that coming?
Do you know the answer to these questions? Your eternal destiny depends on it.