John’s Gospel is unique in that it follows a different pattern than the Synoptic Gospels (the first three). There are some extremely significant teachings in this chapter alone, and if Christians would focus on them, they could avoid all kinds of errors and heresies. In this study we will examine verses 1-33 (which are reformatted with sub-titles to clarify the teachings).
CHRIST THE CREATOR IS THE ETERNAL WORD OF GOD (GOD THE WORD)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
[Note: While the Godhead was involved in creation, the Word was designated as Creator]
GOD BECAME MAN AND JESUS ALWAYS RADIATED GRACE AND TRUTH
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. 15 John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. 16 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
[Note: Grace and Truth are inseparable, therefore Bible doctrine is important for Christians]
JESUS IS THE REVEALER OF GOD THE FATHER WHO IS INVISIBLE
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
[Note: “declared” means revealed and presented. The glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ]
CHRIST IS ETERNAL LIFE AND DIVINE LIGHT
4 In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not... 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
[Note: All human beings have the light of conscience even when unregenerate]
JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TOOK AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD
29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a Man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. 31And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
[Note: Animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant could not take away sins, just cover them. And Christ is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world, not just the elect]
JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD WHO BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY GHOST
33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
[Note: Those who are baptized with the Holy Ghost are also regenerated by Him]
THE NEW BIRTH IS A RESULT OF BELIEVING ON AND RECEIVING CHRIST
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: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
[Note: No one is regenerated before they repent and believe]
THE WORLD AND ISRAEL FAILED TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS CREATOR AND GOD
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. 11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
[Note: Christ humbled Himself in order to become obedient unto death, but Israel was looking for a conquering Messiah]
JOHN THE BAPTIZER WAS SENT BY GOD TO BE A WITNESS TO CHRIST
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
[Note: God wants ALL MEN to believe on Christ, not just the so-called elect]
JOHN WAS THE FORERUNNER OF CHRIST, SENT TO PREPARE HEARTS IN ISRAEL
23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
[Note: All those who receive the gift of the Holy Spirit are baptized with the Spirit by Christ, but all do not speak in tongues as some mistakenly teach]
JOHN WAS ADAMANT THAT HE WAS NEITHER THE CHRIST NOR ELIJAH
19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? [Elijah] And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
[Note: John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, but Elijah will come during the Tribulation but before the Day of the LORD (the Great Tribulation)]
CHRIST THE CREATOR IS THE ETERNAL WORD OF GOD (GOD THE WORD)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
[Note: While the Godhead was involved in creation, the Word was designated as Creator]
GOD BECAME MAN AND JESUS ALWAYS RADIATED GRACE AND TRUTH
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. 15 John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me. 16 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
[Note: Grace and Truth are inseparable, therefore Bible doctrine is important for Christians]
JESUS IS THE REVEALER OF GOD THE FATHER WHO IS INVISIBLE
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
[Note: “declared” means revealed and presented. The glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ]
CHRIST IS ETERNAL LIFE AND DIVINE LIGHT
4 In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not... 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
[Note: All human beings have the light of conscience even when unregenerate]
JESUS IS THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TOOK AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD
29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a Man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. 31And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
[Note: Animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant could not take away sins, just cover them. And Christ is the Propitiation for the sins of the whole world, not just the elect]
JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD WHO BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY GHOST
33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
[Note: Those who are baptized with the Holy Ghost are also regenerated by Him]
THE NEW BIRTH IS A RESULT OF BELIEVING ON AND RECEIVING CHRIST
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: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
[Note: No one is regenerated before they repent and believe]
THE WORLD AND ISRAEL FAILED TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS CREATOR AND GOD
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. 11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
[Note: Christ humbled Himself in order to become obedient unto death, but Israel was looking for a conquering Messiah]
JOHN THE BAPTIZER WAS SENT BY GOD TO BE A WITNESS TO CHRIST
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
[Note: God wants ALL MEN to believe on Christ, not just the so-called elect]
JOHN WAS THE FORERUNNER OF CHRIST, SENT TO PREPARE HEARTS IN ISRAEL
23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
[Note: All those who receive the gift of the Holy Spirit are baptized with the Spirit by Christ, but all do not speak in tongues as some mistakenly teach]
JOHN WAS ADAMANT THAT HE WAS NEITHER THE CHRIST NOR ELIJAH
19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? [Elijah] And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
[Note: John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, but Elijah will come during the Tribulation but before the Day of the LORD (the Great Tribulation)]
