Understanding the Divine Identity of Jesus Christ
Summary
In the Gospel of John, we find a profound revelation of who Jesus Christ is. This Gospel, written by the Apostle John, is a testament to the deity and identity of Jesus, and it is with this understanding that we can truly grasp the essence of our faith. As we delve into the first chapter of John, we are presented with five key truths about Jesus that are foundational to our belief.
Firstly, Jesus is eternal. He was not created at a point in time but has always existed with God the Father, co-equal and co-eternal. This is evidenced by Jesus Himself in John 17:5, where He speaks of the glory He shared with the Father before the world began.
Secondly, Jesus is the Word of God. The term 'Word' (logos in Greek) is rich with meaning, signifying Jesus as the Divine expression of God. He is the manifestation of God's thoughts and intentions, the Divine reason that became flesh and dwelt among us. This concept of logos was well understood in the first-century Greek-speaking world and carries significant weight in understanding Jesus as the revelation of God personified.
Thirdly, Jesus is God. John makes it unequivocally clear that Jesus is not just with God but is God Himself. This is a mystery that challenges our human understanding, as we grapple with the concept of the Trinity—one God revealed in three persons. Yet, it is this very nature of Jesus that is crucial to our salvation.
Fourthly, Jesus is Creator. The Scriptures tell us that all things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made. Jesus, as part of the Godhead, was the agent of creation, bringing the universe into existence and sustaining it by His power.
Lastly, Jesus became human to dwell among us and die for us. He came to reveal God to us and to provide the means for our redemption. Through His sinless life and sacrificial death, Jesus made the Great Exchange—His righteousness for our sinfulness—so that by believing in Him, we might have life in His name.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus's eternality assures us that He is not a mere figure of history but the timeless Lord who holds all creation together. His existence before time affirms His sovereignty over all things, inviting us to trust in His unchanging nature. [49:33]
- The concept of Jesus as the Word of God emphasizes that He is the ultimate communication of God's love and truth to humanity. In Jesus, we see the heart of God revealed, calling us to a relationship with Him that is both personal and transformative.
- Understanding Jesus as God Himself is not just a theological point but the bedrock of our faith. It is in recognizing Jesus's divinity that we find the fullness of grace and truth, leading us to worship Him with awe and reverence.
- Jesus's role as Creator intertwines with His sustaining power in our lives. As we acknowledge Him as the source of all things, we are reminded of His continuous provision and care for His creation, which includes each one of us.
- The incarnation of Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of God's love. His willingness to become human and to die for our sins is the central message of the Gospel, offering hope and salvation to all who believe.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 1:1-17
2. John 17:5
3. Colossians 1:15-17
#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 1:1-3, what are the three key truths about Jesus mentioned in these verses?
2. How does John 17:5 support the idea of Jesus's eternality?
3. In Colossians 1:15-17, what roles does Jesus play in creation and sustaining the universe?
4. What does John 1:14 mean when it says, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus is described as eternal in John 1:1-2? How does this affect our understanding of His nature? [16:47]
2. What does it mean for Jesus to be the "Word" (logos) of God, and how does this concept deepen our understanding of His role in the Trinity? [17:31]
3. How does recognizing Jesus as both God and Creator influence our view of His authority and power in our lives? [26:15]
4. What are the implications of Jesus becoming human and dwelling among us, as described in John 1:14? How does this demonstrate God's love for humanity? [28:37]
#### Application Questions
1. Jesus's eternality assures us of His unchanging nature. How can this truth provide comfort and stability in your current life circumstances? [16:47]
2. The concept of Jesus as the Word of God emphasizes His role as the ultimate communication of God's love and truth. How can you cultivate a more personal and transformative relationship with Jesus this week? [17:31]
3. Understanding Jesus as God Himself is foundational to our faith. How does this understanding impact your daily worship and reverence for Him? [21:11]
4. Jesus's role as Creator reminds us of His continuous provision and care. In what ways can you acknowledge and rely on Jesus's sustaining power in your daily life? [26:15]
5. The incarnation of Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of God's love. How can you reflect this sacrificial love in your interactions with others this week? [28:37]
6. Reflect on a time when you struggled to understand the concept of the Trinity. How did you reconcile this mystery with your faith, and how can you help others who might be struggling with the same issue? [23:14]
7. Jesus's willingness to become human and die for our sins offers hope and salvation. How can you share this message of hope with someone in your life who may not yet believe? [30:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, the Eternal Sovereign
Jesus Christ's eternality is a cornerstone of our faith, assuring us that He transcends time and history. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, who has been present before creation and will remain forevermore. This eternal nature of Jesus is not just a fact of His existence but a testament to His sovereignty over all things. As the timeless Lord, He holds all creation together, and His unchanging nature is a source of comfort and trust for believers. In a world of constant change and uncertainty, the eternality of Jesus is a promise that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His plans and purposes are not bound by the constraints of time, and His promises are as relevant now as they were at the dawn of creation. This understanding invites us to rest in His eternal power and to trust in His divine providence, knowing that our lives are held securely in His hands. [49:33]
"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" - Isaiah 57:15
Reflection: How does the understanding of Jesus as eternal influence your perspective on current struggles or fears you are facing?
Day 2: The Word Revealed in Flesh
The concept of Jesus as the Word of God is profound, emphasizing that He is the ultimate expression of God's love and truth to humanity. In Jesus, the heart of God is revealed, and through Him, we are invited into a personal and transformative relationship with the Creator. The Word made flesh is a concept that bridges the divine and the human, allowing us to encounter God in a way that is both accessible and relatable. As the Divine Logos, Jesus embodies the wisdom, reason, and purpose of God, communicating His intentions and character to us. This revelation calls us to delve deeper into the mystery of God's love, to seek understanding through Jesus, and to let His life and teachings shape our own lives. The Word of God is not just a set of doctrines but a person to be known, loved, and followed. [49:33]
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." - John 1:1-2
Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to understand and embody the character and teachings of Jesus, the Word of God, in your daily life?
Day 3: Worshiping Jesus, God Himself
Recognizing Jesus as God Himself is the bedrock of Christian faith. It is in His divinity that we find the fullness of grace and truth, leading us to worship Him with awe and reverence. This mystery of the Trinity—one God in three persons—challenges our human understanding but is essential for our salvation. Jesus's divine nature assures us that He has the authority to forgive sins and the power to overcome death. It is through His divinity that we are offered a relationship with God that is restored and renewed. As we come to terms with Jesus as God, we are called to respond in worship, to acknowledge His lordship over our lives, and to align our hearts and actions with His will. This recognition is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative realization that shapes our identity and purpose. [49:33]
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." - Colossians 1:15-16
Reflection: How does acknowledging Jesus as God shape the way you approach worship and the priorities you set in your life?
Day 4: Creator and Sustainer of Life
Jesus's role as Creator is intertwined with His sustaining power in our lives. Acknowledging Him as the source of all things reminds us of His continuous provision and care for His creation. As the agent of creation, Jesus brought the universe into existence and sustains it by His power. This truth has practical implications for how we view our world and our place in it. It calls us to stewardship, to recognize the value of all creation, and to live in a way that honors the Creator. Furthermore, it assures us that the same power that brought forth the cosmos is at work in our lives, providing, guiding, and upholding us through every circumstance. As we reflect on Jesus as Creator, we are reminded of His intimate involvement in our lives and the world around us. [49:33]
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." - Colossians 1:16
Reflection: How does recognizing Jesus as Creator and Sustainer change the way you view your relationship with the environment and your responsibilities within it?
Day 5: Incarnation, the Ultimate Act of Love
The incarnation of Jesus is the ultimate demonstration of God's love. His willingness to become human and to die for our sins is the central message of the Gospel, offering hope and salvation to all who believe. This act of love is not just a historical event but a present reality that offers us a new identity and a new way of living. Through His sinless life and sacrificial death, Jesus made the Great Exchange—His righteousness for our sinfulness—so that we might have life in His name. The incarnation invites us to embrace the love of God fully, to live in the freedom of forgiveness, and to extend that love to others. It is a call to live out the implications of the Gospel in every aspect of our lives, reflecting the love of Christ to the world. [49:33]
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." - Philippians 2:5-7
Reflection: How can you more fully embrace and reflect the sacrificial love of Jesus in your interactions with others today?
Quotes
- "Jesus is the Divine expression of God that Jesus has pre-existed has always been but was made manifest in these days." [19:49] (Download | )
- "The Bible is the revelation of God transcribed, Jesus is the revelation of God personified." [20:30] (Download | )
- "In the beginning was and is the word and the Word was and is with God and the Word was and is and will always be God." [23:14] (Download | )
- "Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, the imprint of God's nature." [23:14] (Download | )
- "All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made. Jesus is creator." [26:15] (Download | )
- "The reason our universe is still held together is because the Creator Jesus is holding everything together." [27:29] (Download | )
- "Jesus became human to dwell Among Us and die for us... God came to dwell Among Us for the purpose of Dying For Us." [29:23] (Download | )
- "Jesus is eternal... co-equal co-eternal with God and Jesus even says as much about himself later on in John's gospel chapter 17 verse 5." [16:47] (Download | )
- "Jesus is the word of God... in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." [17:31] (Download | )
- "The whole premise on the identity and deity of Jesus... that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." [04:36] (Download | )
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