The incarnation of Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of God's glory, characterized by grace and truth. This profound truth is not merely a theological concept but a living reality that is embodied in the person of Jesus. Through His incarnation, Jesus offers humanity a glimpse of divine glory, not as a display of power, but as an overflow of grace. This grace is central to the Gospel message, inviting individuals to experience salvation and transformation through the power of God's grace. To truly know God, one must look to Jesus, who is the full revelation of God's glory and grace. [02:20]
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, ESV)
Reflection: How does the reality of Jesus' incarnation change your understanding of God's grace in your life today?
Day 2: Becoming Children of God Through Faith
Becoming a child of God is not a natural birthright but a supernatural gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. This new birth is a work of divine grace, not human effort, and it opens our spiritual eyes to the truth and beauty of Christ. The misconception that all people are automatically children of God is addressed, clarifying that this status is granted through faith in Jesus and the new birth. This transformation is a profound work of grace that invites individuals to experience a new identity as children of God. [11:26]
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively embrace your identity as a child of God today, knowing it is a gift of grace?
Day 3: Seeing and Believing in the Glory of Jesus
The Gospel of John emphasizes the importance of seeing and believing in the glory of Jesus. This vision is not just for intellectual understanding but for a heart transformation that leads to eternal life. Believing in Jesus is more than acknowledging His historical existence; it is about experiencing His glory and allowing it to transform one's life. This transformation is a work of grace that opens the eyes of believers to the truth and beauty of Christ, leading to a deeper relationship with God. [10:48]
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper vision of Jesus' glory in your daily life, allowing it to transform your heart?
Day 4: Eternal Life as a Quality of Life
Eternal life is not merely about duration but about the quality of life in the presence of Jesus. It is the joy of seeing His glory and being transformed by it, both now and in the life to come. This understanding of eternal life invites believers to experience the fullness of joy in the presence of Christ, not just as a future hope but as a present reality. The transformative power of Jesus' glory is available to believers today, offering a foretaste of the eternal joy that awaits in His presence. [17:11]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to experience the quality of eternal life in your relationship with Jesus?
Day 5: The Ultimate Goal of the Gospel
The ultimate goal of the Gospel is for believers to see and enjoy the glory of Jesus Christ. This vision is both a present reality and a future hope, as believers anticipate the day when they will see Jesus face to face and be transformed by His glory. The Gospel invites individuals to experience the fullness of joy in the presence of Christ, both now and in eternity. This hope is not just a distant promise but a present reality that transforms the lives of believers as they live in anticipation of seeing Jesus' glory. [19:38]
"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: How does the hope of seeing Jesus' glory face to face shape your daily life and priorities today?
Sermon Summary
In this sermon, the focus is on the profound truth found in John 1:14-18, which reveals the glory of Jesus Christ as the embodiment of God's grace and truth. The Word became flesh, and through this incarnation, God dwelt among us, offering a glimpse of His divine glory. This glory is not just a display of power but is overflowing with grace, a grace that is central to the message of the Gospel. The sermon emphasizes that to truly know God, one must look to Jesus Christ, as He is the full revelation of God's glory and grace.
The sermon challenges listeners to see Jesus not just as a historical figure but as the living embodiment of God's grace. It is through seeing and believing in this glory that one is saved and becomes a child of God. This transformation is not a result of human effort but a work of divine grace, a new birth that opens our spiritual eyes to the truth and beauty of Christ. The sermon also addresses the misconception that all people are automatically children of God, clarifying that this status is granted through faith in Jesus and the new birth.
The ultimate goal of the Gospel, as highlighted in the sermon, is for believers to see and enjoy the glory of Jesus Christ. Eternal life is not merely about living forever but about experiencing the fullness of joy in the presence of Christ. This vision of glory is both a present reality and a future hope, as believers anticipate the day when they will see Jesus face to face and be transformed by His glory.
Key Takeaways
1. The incarnation of Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's glory, full of grace and truth. This grace is not just a concept but a living reality that overflows from the person of Jesus Christ. To see this glory is to experience salvation and the transformative power of God's grace. [02:20]
2. Becoming a child of God is not a natural birthright but a supernatural gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. This new birth is a work of grace, not human effort, and it opens our eyes to the truth and beauty of Christ. [11:26]
3. The Gospel of John emphasizes the importance of seeing and believing in the glory of Jesus. This vision is not just for intellectual understanding but for a heart transformation that leads to eternal life. [10:48]
4. Eternal life is not merely about duration but about the quality of life in the presence of Jesus. It is the joy of seeing His glory and being transformed by it, both now and in the life to come. [17:11]
5. The ultimate goal of the Gospel is for believers to see and enjoy the glory of Jesus Christ. This vision is both a present reality and a future hope, as believers anticipate the day when they will see Jesus face to face and be transformed by His glory. [19:38] ** [19:38]
Bible Reading: - John 1:14-18 - John 3:3 - John 8:41-47
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Observation Questions:
What does John 1:14 mean when it says "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"? How does this relate to the concept of Jesus being the embodiment of God's grace and truth? [02:20]
In the sermon, it was mentioned that the glory of Jesus is "full of grace and truth." How does the sermon describe the relationship between grace and truth in the context of Jesus' glory? [03:10]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "Grace upon Grace" in John 1:16? How does this phrase emphasize the centrality of grace in the Gospel? [04:11]
How does the sermon explain the concept of becoming a child of God? What role does faith in Jesus play in this transformation? [11:26]
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Interpretation Questions:
The sermon suggests that seeing the glory of Jesus is essential for salvation. How does this idea challenge the common perception that all people are automatically children of God? [14:23]
In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born again to see the kingdom of God. How does the sermon interpret this "new birth" in relation to seeing and believing in Jesus' glory? [16:00]
The sermon emphasizes that eternal life is not just about living forever but experiencing the fullness of joy in Jesus' presence. How does this understanding of eternal life differ from common cultural perceptions? [17:11]
How does the sermon address the misconception that Christianity is a decisionistic willpower religion? What does it mean for Christianity to be a supernatural religion according to the sermon? [16:00]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your current understanding of Jesus. Do you see Him as a historical figure or as the living embodiment of God's grace? How might this perspective affect your faith journey? [06:31]
The sermon challenges the idea that all people are children of God. How does this challenge your understanding of faith and what it means to be a child of God? [14:23]
Consider the concept of "Grace upon Grace" mentioned in the sermon. How have you experienced this overflowing grace in your own life, and how can you extend it to others? [04:11]
Eternal life is described as experiencing the fullness of joy in Jesus' presence. What steps can you take to cultivate a deeper joy in your relationship with Christ now, rather than waiting for the future? [17:11]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of seeing Jesus' glory for salvation. What practical ways can you focus on seeing and experiencing this glory in your daily life? [07:19]
Reflect on the idea that Christianity is a supernatural religion. How does this perspective influence your approach to sharing your faith with others? [16:00]
The sermon mentions that seeing Jesus' glory leads to transformation. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you desire transformation? How can you invite God's grace into that area? [15:20]
Sermon Clips
"and the word became flesh verse 14 the word became flesh and dwelt Among Us and we have seen his glory Glory as of the only son from the father full of Grace and Truth the word that became flesh is the word of verse 1. in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God so we are told that for 33 years roughly God was Among Us as the God man God dwelt Among Us" [00:37:48]
"you see that at the end of verse 14. this glory is full of grace truth and even though truth is mentioned Grace gets the accent as you can see in verse 16. from this fullness we have received Grace upon Grace he could have said we have received truth upon truth and he didn't his grace is overflowing this glory is overflowing with Grace and Truth and from this fullness we have received Grace upon Grace" [00:03:21]
"what John is saying in this 14 to 18 really in the whole book what John is saying is that if anybody wants to know God today if anybody wants to see God today if anybody wants to have any fellowship with God today what they should do is look at Jesus Christ and His glory with a very special attention to the fullness of that Glory namely Grace overflowing for sinners" [00:05:35]
"this is the great issue of all humankind do people see this to see it is to be saved to see it is to have eternal life to see it is to have been born again this is the great issue on this planet he lived 33 years God did on this planet everything orients on that everything before it was looking to it everything after it keys off of it" [00:07:10]
"and by grace Glory May shine and through that Glory the fullness of overflowing Grace May abound and our hearts may be quickened and we would see it as compellingly true and beautiful and be saved it's hard to exaggerate the importance of this book stupendous things are in this little Gospel of John" [00:08:31]
"by means of incarnation the word became flesh by means of incarnation God has visibly appeared among humankind we may immediately add the entire Gospel of John is proof of it proof of that abundant Glory a glory manifested before the eyes of all end quote that's amazing the entire Gospel of John is proof of it" [00:09:28]
"but to all who did receive him Christ the word the Son of God glorious full of grace to all who did receive him who believed in his name his name standing for all this reality about him that he's God that he's glorious that he's gracious he gave them the right to become children of God he gave them the right to become children of God who were born" [00:10:52]
"when you're born of God the second time not the first time born of mother and father born of God that's a work a free Grace a baby doesn't get himself born Grace gets us born that's a work of of Grace it happens consciously through our faith we experience that as faith let's think how stupendous this is" [00:11:38]
"the most religious people of Jesus day were not children of God and that's the condition we were all in and maybe some of you at this moment are are in not a child of God you need to hear about Jesus experience the new birth see the glory of Jesus believe and thus have the authority to be the children of God" [00:14:33]
"Christianity is a supernatural religion it is not a decisionistic willpower religion we don't make converts God makes converts we preach and pray and labor and long and give out gospels and bring people to church and agonize over them with every manner of good work to display the nature of Jesus and in the end we say oh God oh God open their eyes" [00:16:08]
"it would not be an overstatement to say that the ultimate goal of the Gospel of John is that people see and enjoy the glory of Jesus Christ now I know in chapter 20 verse 31 says these things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and have life eternal life in his name" [00:16:46]
"the goal of eternal life is to see Jesus behold what manner of love the father has shown to us that we should be called the children of God and so we are now it does not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when we see him we will be like him we're going to see him and that seeing will be so powerful we will be revolutionized" [00:19:34]