The Right to Become Children of God

Sermon

Sunday Worship
Word of the Lord: John 1:6-18
Pastor: Isaac H. Kim

Key Phrase: "The Right to become Children of God" (12)

* Existence of God:

God reveals himself through the people commonly known as the Jews. Not all people believe in the existence of God. A lot of scientists do not believe in God's existence. Not all Jews believe in God either. Charles Darwin is an example. Yet, in the history of the Israelites God revealed himself, even as Jesus himself said of God, "God is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob". In order to get rid of God, you need to get rid of the Jews as a race. Dictators tried to do that. Haman in the 5 century before Christ tried to destroy but failed. Adolph Hitler wanted to destroy the Jews but failed. God is living and he has spoken through his servants. 

* Words of promise from God to mankind:

V. 6 reads, "There was a man sent from God whose name was John." This John is not the Apostle John but John the Baptist. His father was Zechariah, mother Elizabeth. Luke describes the story on the birth of John the Baptist, for he was born six months ahead of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. 

John's mission was to testify concerning the light, so that through Jesus, the Son of God, all might believe. John the Baptist was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world, testified John. 

What does 'everyone' mean? Everyone means everyone. 

As John testified, Jesus the true light indeed came. He was in the world (John 1:1-5), and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 

Jesus came to that which was his own, that is, the land of the Jews, as Jesus said to one of the Samaritan women, "Salvation comes from the Jews." John 4:22 But his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. This morning before worship my wife took a look at herself in the mirror. I said to her, "Do not look at yourself too long. You are not in your teens!" Our bodies are weak. Yesterday since the weather report says it is going to rain tomorrow, I went out and did a yard work. I also split the roots of a few flower, and transplanted them. Then my finger grew numb. Flesh is indeed weak and fragile. 

Jesus, the Word who became flesh made his dwelling among us. Being in the flesh he also grew hungry. After a long journey through the Bible belt, he grew tired and thirsty, so he needed to take a break, sat down at the Jacob's well. On seeing a lady coming to draw water at the well, he asked the lady for a favor, "Will you give me a drink?" 

 

While in a body, a few disciples followed Jesus closely. John was one of them, not John the Baptist but the Apostle John. The Apostle John the author of the John's gospel used to follow John the Baptist as his mentor. But on hearing his mentor speaking of Jesus, the Son of God, "Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" John left him and followed Jesus. 

Along with John there were a few others such as Peter, James, Andrew, etc. 

Following Jesus they have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John the Baptist testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, "This  is the one I spoke about when I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"

Out of Jesus' fullness we all received grace upon grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul later explained, "The law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, e\neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:24-29

The Apostle John's testimony continues: Out of Jesus' 
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in close relationship with the Father, has made him known. 

Later, two followers, Thomas and Philip asked Jesus about the Father, whereupon Jesus stated, "Those who have seen me have seen the Father." John 14:9

Hymn: This is my Father's world (by Maltbie Babcock 1901) based on Psalm 24:1

1. This is my Father’s world,
   And to my list’ning ears
   All nature sings, and round me rings
   The music of the spheres.
   This is my Father’s world:
   I rest me in the thought
   Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
   His hand the wonders wrought.
2. This is my Father’s world:
   The birds their carols raise,
   The morning light, the lily white,
   Declare their Maker’s praise.
   This is my Father’s world:
   He shines in all that’s fair;
   In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
   He speaks to me everywhere.
3. This is my Father’s world:
   Oh, let me ne’er forget
   That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
   God is the ruler yet.
   This is my Father’s world,
   The battle is not done:
   Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
   And earth and Heav’n be one.