Grace Bible Church
Pastor/Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
July 15, 2008
Basic Training in Doctrine
John 1:1-5 “The Creator in human form”
“En arche en…” = In a beginning which was not a beginning was [imperfect of eimi = always was].
Ps 138:2
I will bow down toward Thy holy temple,
And give thanks to Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth;
For Thou hast magnified Thy word according to all Thy name.
Acts 17:23-24
“For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth,
John’s use of this title for Christ heralds both Jews and Gentiles.
The word Logos goes way beyond the words themselves. Both Jews and Gentiles alike perceived logos as the controlling force in the universe and as God’s medium of expression.
John through the HS chose Logos because it is a title for a person, a person who has THE WISDOM of all ages and who has revealed Himself through men such as John and others by His family member, the HS, to keep for all time the thoughts that make up His entire being.
The word, Ho Logos has four meanings:
1) Revelation J.C. is the revealer of God, visible God
2) Intelligence, to express thought
3) Order, putting and bringing order and design
4) Communication, the word “word” means to transmit ideas and concepts.
REV 19:13
And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God.
with = pros plus the accusative of theon [God] should be translated face to face.
“and the word was (imperfect of eimi again = eternal) God”
But the Greek word order says “and God was the word (Logos).”
1 Tim 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
He is our life apart form Him you may exist but you have no life in you.
In the beginning [which was not a beginning] was the Word, and the Word was with [face to face with] God, and God was the Word.
Verse 2 begins with “houtos” which means “the same one”
So to further emphasise His essence. “The same one kept on existing [the same imperfect of eimi] in the beginning [en arche = in eternity] face to face [pros] with God.”
COL 1:16
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him.
“All things were made” – this is a constative aorist of ginomai which looks at creative activity as one event.
This brings us to the doctrine of creation: the Father planned it – 1 Corinthians 8:6; the Son created every original creation – Colossians 1:16; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:10. But whenever something is restored it is the Spirit who restores it, as per Genesis 1:2.
Always remember that we are related to J.C. when we believe at salvation, 1CO 12:13; JOH 1:4.
The Father didn’t just give us a plan, He gave us a person. And, you are to be related to this person, occupied with this person, share the same happiness and blessings with this person.
God used dust to form man’s body. What gives man value, PSA 139:14, is that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, which is because of the lives (soul and spirit) breathed into us, GEN 2:7.
Just because you are alive doesn’t mean you know how to live.
JER 29:13
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
But thanks be to God for 1CO 1:27, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
But then He turned to those who had believed and said, now you are the light of the world, MAT 5:14. In His absence, as He sits at the right hand of God, we are to reflect the love of the hypostatic union.
Matt 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
We are to be JOH 5:35 Christians, a burning and shinning lamp.
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The world is blinded by darkness but all men are accountable because of their conscience.
The light gives us a purpose and direction, for without light there is no vision, no view, hence no reality.
Jesus Christ is eternal life – 1 John 5:11.When we believe in Christ we enter into union with Him and His life becomes our life.
Darkness in the Bible denotes ignorance, guilt, misery, it represents corrupted humanity and angels.
Light is pure and cannot be defiled
Light is gentle as the Lord is full of mercy
Light is transparent and pervasive
Light reveals the Jesus Christ that we can see.
Comprehended – receive; to seize; to overcome; to admit. Darkness and light cannot dwell together or co-exist. If one exists the other must be displaced.
John 12:35
Jesus therefore said to them, “For a little while longer the light is among you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
The darkness also represents the cosmic diabolicos which never understands Christ and hates Him.
Those who live in the world system controlled by Satan are:
1) Haters of God, JOH 15:23
2) Enemies of the cross, PHI 3:18
3) Enemies of God, JAM 4:4
4) Double minded, JAM 4:2
5) Anti-Christ, 1JO 2:18-23
God uses people. All believers today are in full time Christian service.
“sent from God” – para means immediate source. In God’s plan God can take imperfect man, unstable man, man who has an old sin nature and who is oriented to cosmos diabolicus, oriented to the thinking of this world, to human viewpoint, and use him in His plan;
It is not the man; it is the message. It isn’t his personality; it is the content of his message.
Matt 11:11
“Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John 3:30
“He must increase, but I must decrease.