“In the beginning,” What does this phrase mean?
– John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Answer: “In the beginning” refers to the point in “time”, as we think of it, when there was God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit and THEY ALONE began to create all things including time, space, the universe and all the creatures and beings. It was at this newly created feature of eternity called TIME that God brought all into existence.
The Bible tells us that each part of the Godhead, Father, Son and Spirit, had a role in Creation.
The Bible also further explains that Creation was the Father’s will and that the actual physical creative effort was given to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
The Bible further explains that God the Son, in the obedient power of the Holy Spirit, came to earth and was named Jesus. Jesus was born of a virgin thus was truly God and truly Man.
Jesus came for the necessary purpose of redeeming and reconciling lost sinful humanity back to the Father as members of His eternal family.
Jesus, though eternal, added perfect humanity to His perfect deity and experienced all the common life temptations and experiences of His human creatures. Jesus offered Himself in death as the substitute for paying the Death Penalty justly due sinful men and women. Thus, Jesus not only is the Creator of the universe, earth and humanity, but will also become the Redeemer and Savior of lost humanity, those who TRUST, BELIEVE, and LOVE Him, back to God.
Jesus will one day create a completely new universe where sin will never again destroy His perfect creation.
Jesus, Creator of all things is called the Word in our passage for today.
- John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
What did Jesus create? Answer: Everything, all things!
- Colossians 1:16,17 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
- John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
How did Jesus create the universe? “God spoke!” God communicated His will and the universe leapt into existence by the Word of God.
- Genesis 1:3-5 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
Is Jesus still creating Light today in the lives of His human creation? Answer: Yes!
- John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Jesus, the creating Agent of the Godhead: Father, Son and Spirit created mankind in their likeness.
- Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”
Mankind was given Eternity, Emotions, Creative ability and power to Rule with a limited Free- Will under God’s Sovereign unlimited Free-Will.
- Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
When God created men and women did He give them eternal life? Answer: Yes!
How does God create a new life in a person today? Answer: Born of God’s Spirit.
- John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
To be born again, one must trust in the life and finished work of Jesus who died for the sins of the world.
- John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
- John 3:14-17 [Jesus said] “ . . even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [crucified],
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
This “eternity” in the hearts of mankind, causes them to want to worship. It is a designed gift from God that acts as a “hole-in-the-emotional-heart”.
This void in the heart draws people to want to be united with and serve their Creator in loving obedience. With man’s free-will choice they decide to embrace or reject this call.
Man, in the sinful fallen state only has in himself, the VOLITIONAL and “free-will” ability to attempt to fill the void-in-the-heart with SOMETHING OTHER THAN HOLY GOD! He attempts to fill this hole-in-the-heart with physical things like money, pride, position, education, relationships and impure sexual relationships. He is characterized by the PURSUIT of Pleasure and FLEEING Pain.
When Adam + Eve sinned, this pure and wonderful “compulsion to worship” was CORRUPTED and fell into a tragic desire to “become their own god and to worship THEMSELVES”.
- Psalm 51:10 The psalmist said after he had sinned, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. ” That is what God needs to do with His fallen, sinful creation.
The Light of God was extinguished in mankind upon the sin of our original parents, Adam and Eve. All men live lives separated from God-consciousness, determined to only exist on earth as their own “gods” becoming totally self-centered. UNLESS BORN AGAIN IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, men continually violate God’s two most important commandments:
- Mark 12:30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Now do you see why what you believe to be true about Jesus is the most important thought you will ever have?
Deliverance from sin, bondage, guilt and fear all depends solely upon Jesus Christ. His saving love only comes through the experience of an individual that has exercised his voluntary free will to BELIEVE and TRUST in Jesus Christ.
Will you respond to Jesus’ communication of His word and will for you to believe and love?
To help, we have prepared and attached a simple “roadmap” which some have declared has served to help them clearly understand these life-changing truths.
No Other Name https://vimeo.com/924125840
[PDF] I Believe! https://wasitforme.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/I-Believe.pdf
If these truths have touched your heart today. If you have chosen to respond to Jesus’ communicated will to rise up and walk in the newness of life and liberty, would you please be so kind as to encourage us by writing and telling us your desire to believe and follow Jesus?
We have prayed for you as we sent this to you. If you would like us to continue to pray for you, please write us back and tell us so.
All our love to All, in Christ –
Jon + Philis + Friends @ WasItForMe.com
