Lesson 17:  In the Beginning; John 1:1

INTRODUCTION: The Gospel according to Saint John is loved by many as the gospel that records (i) The origin of Jesus Christ John 1:1,14, (ii) The doctrine of the new birth John 3:13,
(iii) The great and the universal love of God John 3:16, and (iv) Many speeches of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we begin to dig deep into the first chapter of this wonderful book, may the Almighty Himself quicken our understanding as we open our hearts to the Light of His word. Amen.

1. Is the beginning of John 1:1, the same as that of Genesis 1:1? Give reasons fro your answers. To which two events do the passages refer? Genesis 1:9-11, 12, 20 and Genesis 1:16-21, Proverbs 8:22-30. The beginning of John 1:1 is earlier than the beginning of Genesis 1:1. One refers to the origin of God, the other to the origin of man.

2. (a) Has God a beginning? – Hebrew 7:1-3
(b) Has He an end? – Isaiah 9:6 and Malachi 3:6, Hebrew 13:8
God is eternal, without beginning or end.

3. (a) What other things are eternal? – Eccl. 12:7, Psalms 102:26, Proverbs 27:20
(b) What is your origin? – Genesis 2:7
Some of the things eternal are you, the generation of the righteous, heaven and of course hell. You originated from God.

4. Can we know some of the things that happened in the beginning? What of those that happened in the beginning of the beginning?

(a) Hebrew 1:10, Psalms 102:25, Job 38:4-7
(b) Romans 16:25-26, Ephesians 3:1-6, Ephesians 3:8, Colossians 1:25,26. In the Beginning God drew the plans and laid the foundation of the world and there was great rejoicing in heaven.
In the beginning of the beginning God arranged a mysterious thing and kept it hidden for ages. The mystery being that (i) There will be Jews and Gentiles, (ii) Gentiles (i.e. you) can be heirs of God, (iii) to have Christ is to be unspeakably rich and (iv) only those who have Christ shall be glorified.

5. How many beginning are there? John 3:3-6, Acts 2:14, Isaiah 65:17-25. There are many beginnings among which are when you are born, when you are saved, when the Church of God was born and when Christ returns.

CONCLUSION:The return of Christ beginnings a new era of unsurpassed and peace for the Christians. Unfortunately not all will be in His kingdom for many are called but few chosen. Will you be among the chosen few or will His return be the beginning of sorrow for you? Talk to the Lord about it now.