Understanding Jesus Christ <GOD> the Word

[John Zain]

To understand the Scriptures, we must understand …
what is said,
who (or what) it was said about,
when it was said, and
the time period it was referring to.
The Lord wants us to believe …
NOT what someone taught us,
but what the Scriptures say!

BEFORE the Incarnation

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God (the Father),
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God (the Father).” (John 1:1-2)
In the beginning … God the Word was actually the Second Person of the Trinity.

DURING the Incarnation

First: God the Holy Spirit performed a miracle in the virgin Mary’s womb …
producing the fetus who would be Jesus Christ/Messiah (Matthew 1:18,20; Luke 1:35).
IMO, Jesus inherited Mary’s sin nature … so He was “fully man”,
but because He also was “fully God” He was able to overcome His sin nature.

Next: God the Word came down from heaven and became flesh-human-Jesus.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …” (John 1:14)
The Word “became” Jesus (when?) … so, Jesus actually was God the Word.

AFTER the Incarnation

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard … seen …
concerning the Word of life –- the life was manifested … that eternal life
which was with (God) the Father (in the beginning) and was manifested to us …” (1 John 1:1-2)
The Word (God) was manifested to the world as the God-Man, Jesus Christ.
And so, “… His (Jesus’) name is called The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13)
“And now, O Father, glorify Me (Jesus) together with Yourself,
with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5)
Jesus is speaking here as the One who He knew He really was (God the Word).

“… that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent …” (John 17:3)
Yes, Jesus Christ was sent, but NOT sent from heaven …
He was sent into the world as the God-man.

“Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” (John 4:2)
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not
confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” (2 John 7)
Here John is equating Jesus with God the Word …
who came in the flesh as the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

 

[Wrangler]

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God (the Father),
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God (the Father).” (John 1:1-2)

The word OF God is not the Being whose mind created the words. It has authority as any legal words do. Words are not a WHO but a WHAT.

‘He’ is Houtos, which means the preposition ‘this’ in v2, not the pronoun ‘he.’ This does not even reference Jesus. If it did, it would be in John’s purpose statement 20:31.

 

[CadyandZoe]

BEFORE the Incarnation

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God (the Father),
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God (the Father).” (John 1:1-2)
In the beginning … God the Word was actually the Second Person of the Trinity.

John is not telling us about a person called "the Word". He is telling us that God made a promise. (word = promise) He promised that God would be among Israel and rule over them.

“Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” (John 4:2)
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not
confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” (2 John 7)
Here John is equating Jesus with God the Word …
who came in the flesh as the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

This passage is often misunderstood. Some people interpret this passage to say, "Those who confess that Jesus has come in the flesh . . ." as if John is concerned with a confession that Jesus came as a man.

Instead, John is concerned with a confession that Jesus is the Christ, having come as a man. That was the big issue of John's time. He, like Paul is arguing with the Jewish teachers who claimed that the Messiah couldn't be a man. He was going to be an angel or a theophany instead. The Apostles argue that Jesus, being a man, did not disqualify him from being the messiah.

Many Trinitarians ostensibly believe that Jesus is a man but are in danger of denying Jesus' manhood. How?

Ask a Trinitarian whether Jesus could be tempted and why he was sinless. Some Trinitarians will answer, "he was sinless and couldn't be tempted because he was God -- denying his human nature.

 

[LoveYeshua]

In the opening verses of the Gospel of John, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). The Word (Logos) is presented as existing from the very beginning, not as a created being but as eternal, both with God and was God. This establishes the divine nature of the Word, indicating that it is not just with God but is fully and completely God Himself. The passage continues, "He was with God in the beginning" (John 1:2), emphasizing the personal nature of the Word, identifying Him with a pronoun—He. The Word is not only a concept but a person, preexisting and in intimate relationship with God from all eternity.

John reveals the role of the Word in creation: "Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3). This statement highlights that the Word is the active agent through whom all of creation came into being, affirming that nothing exists apart from Him. The passage underscores the Word's authority and power as the Creator, confirming that He is not a creature but the Creator Himself.

The Gospel also reveals the spiritual significance of the Word, saying, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). Here, the Word is described as the source of both physical and spiritual life, with the life being the light of humanity. This light symbolizes divine truth and revelation, offering guidance to those in spiritual darkness. The light that emanates from the Word is the life-giving force that reveals God's truth to humanity.

Finally, John declares, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). Despite the world's spiritual darkness, the light of the Word, which represents Christ’s truth and salvation, shines brightly and cannot be extinguished or overcome by the forces of evil. This affirms that the Word, as the Light, has ultimate victory over the darkness of sin and death, establishing the triumph of Christ’s redemptive work.

In these verses, the Word is not just a theological abstraction but is fully revealed as Jesus Christ, the eternal, divine Creator, the giver of life, and the light that overcomes the darkness of sin.

Blessings

 

[John Zain]

In these verses (John 1), the Word is not just a theological abstraction but is fully revealed as Jesus Christ

Would you be willing to share some of what you're drinkin', or smokin', or injectin'?

 

[Hobie]

In the opening verses of the Gospel of John, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). The Word (Logos) is presented as existing from the very beginning, not as a created being but as eternal, both with God and was God. This establishes the divine nature of the Word, indicating that it is not just with God but is fully and completely God Himself. The passage continues, "He was with God in the beginning" (John 1:2), emphasizing the personal nature of the Word, identifying Him with a pronoun—He. The Word is not only a concept but a person, preexisting and in intimate relationship with God from all eternity.

John reveals the role of the Word in creation: "Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made" (John 1:3). This statement highlights that the Word is the active agent through whom all of creation came into being, affirming that nothing exists apart from Him. The passage underscores the Word's authority and power as the Creator, confirming that He is not a creature but the Creator Himself.

The Gospel also reveals the spiritual significance of the Word, saying, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). Here, the Word is described as the source of both physical and spiritual life, with the life being the light of humanity. This light symbolizes divine truth and revelation, offering guidance to those in spiritual darkness. The light that emanates from the Word is the life-giving force that reveals God's truth to humanity.

Finally, John declares, "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5). Despite the world's spiritual darkness, the light of the Word, which represents Christ’s truth and salvation, shines brightly and cannot be extinguished or overcome by the forces of evil. This affirms that the Word, as the Light, has ultimate victory over the darkness of sin and death, establishing the triumph of Christ’s redemptive work.

In these verses, the Word is not just a theological abstraction but is fully revealed as Jesus Christ, the eternal, divine Creator, the giver of life, and the light that overcomes the darkness of sin.

Blessings

Very true..