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The Incarnate Word
The opening of John’s Gospel declares to us that “the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Then later in verse 14 we’re told that this same Word “became flesh and dwelt among us.” So why did John refer to Jesus as “the Word,” and what Old Testament themes and concepts was he alluding to? Over the next few programs we’ll be summarizing many of the important issues that we’ve addressed in our year-long series through the Gospel of John. On this program, we’ll be focusing on Jesus’ identity as the incarnate Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
…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 1:1-4, 14)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3)
Show Quote:
Adriel Sanchez: …You go back to Isaiah, chapter 40, “Comfort my people,” says the Lord. “Cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” I mean, this is what was promised—that God is going to reveal his glory. He’s going to forgive our sins. And so, for John to say, “And the word became flesh and we beheld his glory,” that is a confirmation of the deity of Jesus Christ, but it’s in fulfillment to all these prophecies that you see in the Old Testament, particularly there in Isaiah 40.
Term to Learn:
“Preservation of the Word of God”
By giving His Word to the Church, God constituted the Church the keeper of the precious deposit of the truth. While hostile forces are pitted against it and the power of error is everywhere apparent, the Church must see to it that the truth does not perish from the earth, that the inspired volume in which it is embodied is to be kept pure and unmutilated, in order that its purpose may not be defeated, and that it be handed on faithfully from generation to generation. It has the great and responsible task of maintaining and defending the truth against all the forces of unbelief and error (1 Tim. 1:3, 4; 2 Tim. 1:13; Tit. 1:9-11). (Adapted from Louis Berkhof’s Systematic Theology)
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