Learning to Understand God

E-mail: devotionals@anewmeinchrist.com

1^st John 1: 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life;

John is being very clear that what he is writing is not hearsay but an account of what He and the other disciples of Jesus were eye witnesses to.

What was from the beginning?

St. John 1: 1
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

God has always been and always will be. He existed before time and is the creator of time. He set time in motion when He created the world. (See Genesis 1- 2: 3)   

God created all things

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.

The manifestation of God

St. John 4: 24
God is a Spirit

Genesis 1: 2
In the beginning, before there was order in the universe, God’s Spirit moved upon the face of the waters

After creation was completed and man went contrary to God’s instructions, God manifested Himself in human flesh in order to restore the relationship that was broken because of man’s disobedience. (Man’s disobedience Genesis 2: 15- 3: 6)

St. John 1: 14
And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The mere fact that John said “we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” tells us that God was manifested in the flesh, as His Son Jesus Christ.

The Mystery of Godliness

1^st Timothy 3: 16a
And great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.

1^st John 1: 2-3
For the life was manifested and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us.
(verse 2)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
(verse 3)

Hebrews 1: 1- 3
God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets
(verse 1)

Hath in the  last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds
(verse 2)

Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person...
(verse 3)

John 14: 9 (Jesus is speaking to Philip)
...He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father….

Observation

Even though most of us do not go to great depths of the ocean, we believe what we hear, see and read from others who did. Even though only a few persons have gone into outer space, we believe the reports that they have given about outer space. Even though we were not alive 200 yrs ago, we believe what we are taught in the history books. If we can so easily believe the reports given to us by man, why can’t we believe the reports given to us by God in His word – the Holy Bible and why isn’t the evidence that we see all around us everyday sufficient for us to acknowledge Him?  For those who do not believe in God I simply ask that you look around and see Him in all of His creation.

Romans 1: 20
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead: so that they are without excuse.

Writer: Velyn Cooper

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