The Omaha guide., 1947-01-04
THE WORD MADE FLESH

LESSON TEXT-John l:I-18.
MEMORY SELECTION-No man hath
seen God at n time: the only begotten
son: which Is in the bosom Of the Father,
ne nath declared him.John l:1s.
a new year always carries with
It a deep sense Of responsibility
and at the same time a thrill Of
expectancy.
mat Is why we need to begin this
new year-and continue tin the
study Of Gods Word, so that we may
know his will. You will find it to be
a JOY and blessing 70 you, not only
as you study it by yourself. but also
IN the fellowship Of those in the Sun.
day school and church.
Our lessons for the next three
months r of unusual interest. fol
they take up the Gospel of Johr
INCL was written, that We might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God; and that believing ye
might have life through his name"
John 20:3D.
Jesus Christ is here presented as
ne Word 0ogos). and he is indeed
he living Word come to reveal
God to us.
|. Tie Living Word Is the Light
Of Hen wv. l-5).
Men ask Questions about Christ.
They want to know whether he is
70 be regarded az a good mar and
a great leader. or must we recog-
ni7e him as being God?
Ehe answer is here. He twas"
IN the beginning Gen. I'D. which
r cans that he pre-ezisted from all
eternity. ard he was God" even
gs he was with God" This eter-
raL living. divine Word was the Tex
esS image Of God Heb. 1.3). and
Nh perfectly revealed the Father ".
Io.
ne Tvs ine Creator ". - and giver
Of Ifs Goth natural and spiritual.
This eternal Word became (as he
was' MI lt of men. He came to
shit he darkness of a sinful
we. .h the only light Of redemp-
ton We say again, This is the
Lord!'
II. The Living Word Is a Divider
Of Men wv. 6-13).
The darkness ef sin was 50 deep,
and still is 50 deep that the glorious
light Of God is not received with
gladaess, nor accepted at all. We
. hat in the close Of verse 5.
Now the question comes, Does it
make any difference how a man
regards Jesus Christ?
The answer is clear. You must
decide what you will d. with him.
You cannot avoid that decision or
evade that light which shircs. You
must either accept or reject, and a
failure TO accept is a rejection.
God has witnesses to the Light.
John was such a witness and he.
like al true witnesses for Christ.
directed attention to him. Johns
great testimony was just a lesser
light to point men to the true Light.
true Light is shed abroad for
all men ". 81.
As they face Christ, men diviSe
into two groups. His own people,
and his own creation rejected him
when he came ". 11). How utterly
tragic! And yet the same thing
goes on today. Men hear the Cos
pei, RI made acquainted with
Christ and his claims, yet fail tc
accept his proffered salvation. and
are eternally lost John 1913; Eph
2:D.
But, thank God, there are those
who receive him ". 12), and to
them he gives the power, the sight
or authority, to be the sons Of Goa.
This change is expressly declar ed
to be Cd not by reason of family
or heredity-'not Of blood: ~ not
BY natural instinct or development
not "of the will Of the ecsh"; and
(3) not by human volition or BY
mans viii power-not "of the will
Of man"
Ill. The Living Word Is a Re
vealer of God wv. 14-18).
The eternal Word, the Lord Jesus
laid aside his place Of honor
n heaven, came TO earth and took
lpcn himself L flesh that he might
-edeem Us from sin. What Infinite
condescansion, what unfathomable
.ovel
He dwelt among men and showed
the grace and truth Of God.
.or he was full Of these heavenly
attributes. But it was in his giving
If himself as Redeemer and Sa
7iour of mankind that he fully re-
7ealed God in all his gracious love
or. US.
Notice the %antithesis here. Law"
s set over against grace; Civ
stands in contrast with CAME"
and Moses" with Jesus Christ"
The law was a schoolmaster to
,ring US to Christ (Gal. 3:24). but
t could not save anyone; but grace
oh. It is by grace that we are
'aved (Eph. 2:8).
Moses was Gods honored servant,
'ut Jesus was the Son in the house.
lold tHeb. SIS. O.. II was this Son
4 God who came to reveal the Fa-
her and 10 declare bic grace IN sal
alton. L
The Law vas ssnt throusA I me-