Verse of the Day 9/16

 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Reading this verse, I can't help but have the  images from Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God".  Both verses are foundational to our faith and our belief in God.  Our men's Bible study group's next study will be in the Gospel of John.  It is good to go back to those foundations or perhaps for some, for the first time to learn more of what we believe. 

 

In preparation for that I've been reading a couple of commentaries on the book, one from R.C. Sproul and another from F.F. Bruce.  They help me to take a closer look at God's Word, to dig deeper, and ultimately be awed by and inspired by His Word.

 

F.F. Bruce writes, "The Word of God is distinguished from God himself, and yet exists in a close personal relation with him; moreover, the Word shares the very nature of God, for the 'Word was God'....What is meant is that the Word shared the nature and being of God, (or to use a piece of modern jargon) was an expression of the personality of God.....  John intends that the whole of his gospel shall be read in the light of this verse.  The deeds and words of Jesus are the deeds and words of God;...

 

In studying His Word, we gain a better understanding of "the personality of God".  I can't think of a better book of the Bible to learn more about the personality of God than this one that was written by someone who was so close to Jesus, who was inspired by the Triune God. 

 

John 20:31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and by believing you may have life in His name. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)May we believe and "have life in His name".

Blessings,
Mike
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John 1:1-2The Message (MSG)

The Life-Light

1 ^1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
    God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
    in readiness for God from day one.