Sermon Outline:
1. Jesus’ Humility (v. 14)
2. Jesus’ Glory (v. 14)
3. Jesus’ Mercy (v. 14)
4. Jesus’ Excellency (v. 15)
5. Jesus’ Sufficiency (v. 16)
6. Jesus’ Supremacy (v. 17)
7. Jesus’ Deity (v. 18)
8. Jesus’ Ministry (v. 18)
Sermon Text:
John 1:14-18
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, [1] who is at the Father’s side, [2] he has made him known.
Sermon Notes
“The gospel message can expressed in three words: ‘adoption through propitiation’” –J.I. Packer. The Apostle Paul says, “The gospel is the power of God unto salvation…” It must be the gospel proclaimed – unadulterated and unfettered – to bring Christ to men.
The Offer of Salvation:
“The old gospel makes an offer of salvation to all people; calling all to repent of their sin, follow Jesus, be reconciled to God, and believe solely on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. The old gospel has no room for the cheap sentimentalizing which turns God’s mercy to sinners into a constitutional softheartedness; nor will it countenance the degrading presentation of Christ as the baffled Savior; nor will it indulge in maudlin appeals to the unconverted to let Christ save them. The pitiable, sappy Savior and the pathetic God of modern pulpits are unknown to the old gospel.” (John Owen paraphrased)
God’s Sovereignty in Salvation:
The gospel of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ humbles itself to no one. The central issue of the gospel is not how do we get sinful men to a holy God; but rather how does a holy God come to sinful men without violating His holiness and His justice. Behold the cross where mercy and justice kiss; saving grace triumphs over wrath; His unfailing love conquers our enmity; holy God is satisfied; and depraved men are justified.
Be humbled at the love of God come through the propitiatory work of the Son. Be awed at the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit. Be rejoicing at a risen, reigning, glorious Lord Jesus whose name is above every name. And be confident in the power of the Word of God to pierce and convict men’s hearts, to bring them to their knees in repentance, which God alone can grant. Be offended by those who seek to picture God as a frustrated lover begging on one knee for any sinner to take His engagement ring, where He is proposing as a nervous suitor to His girlfriend; and then waiting as an impotent Divine who can only observe what man may decide to do.
The Hound of Heaven is on the move and He is seeking to save that which is lost. Such is the great theme of our text this morning – the final verses of the prologue of the Evangelist’s gospel. Today we look at the Incarnation and Glory of Christ culminating in communion at the table of grace of our Lord. May our hearts be humbled, strengthened, hopeful, encouraged, cleansed and healed. Worthy is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Praise God!
