{"id":1190,"date":"2020-01-05T14:37:54","date_gmt":"2020-01-05T22:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1190"},"modified":"2020-01-05T14:50:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-05T22:50:08","slug":"the-word-became-flesh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/05\/the-word-became-flesh\/","title":{"rendered":"The Word Became Flesh!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1190-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Christmas-2-01-05-20.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Christmas-2-01-05-20.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Christmas-2-01-05-20.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Second Sunday of Christmas<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">January 5, 2020<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">John 1:14-18<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Word Became Flesh<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt\">The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John testifies concerning him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He cries out, saying, &#8220;This was he of whom I said, &#8216;He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father&#8217;s side, has made him known.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear fellow worshipers of the Child of Bethlehem,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you familiar with a man by the name of Cerinthus?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Cerinthus appeared on the scene about 88 A.D. and is widely attributed with promoting a heresy called Docetism.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Docetism teaches that all matter is inherently evil and therefore Jesus did not and could not have had a physical body.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Cerinthus taught that Jesus\u2019 body was a hallucination or a phantasm.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He taught that Jesus had a \u201cspiritual\u201d body\u2014 not a body made up of flesh and blood.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you familiar with a man by the name of Paul of Samosata?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul of Samosata lived in the mid to late 200\u2019s and developed a heresy called Dynamic Monarchianism.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Dynamic Monarchianism teaches that there is an impersonal divine \u201cpower\u201d that was granted to Moses, to the prophets of old and has now been granted in the highest degree to Jesus of Nazareth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul of Samosata taught that over the course of time and by a proper use of this impersonal divine power Jesus of Nazareth was eventually \u201cadopted\u201d by the Father to be His Son.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you familiar with a man by the name of Arius?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Arius taught that Jesus was a \u201ccreation\u201d of the Father and the reason the Father \u201ccreated\u201d Jesus was so that through Jesus He could then create the world.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The heresy of Arius was causing so much trouble in the church that in 325 A.D. the Christian church convened a Council in the city of Nicea.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the Council of Nicea the church formally adopted the Nicene Creed that we confess to this very day\u2014 the creed which so beautifully emphasizes the divinity of Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you familiar with a man by the name of Nestorious?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nestorious was consecrated as the Bishop of Constantinople on April 10<sup>th<\/sup>, 428 A.D.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nestorious maintained that Mary did <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> give birth to the Son of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nestorious taught that Mary give birth to a man through whom the Son of God worked and in whom the Son of God dwelt as God might dwell in a temple.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">These four men\u2014 and sadly many more just like them\u2014 have at least one thing in common.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Each and every one of them tries to \u201cexplain\u201d the Incarnation of the Son of God in a way that makes logical sense to them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, their key problem\u2014 though not their only problem\u2014 lies in the fact that they strive to interpret the Bible instead of simply and faithfully proclaiming what the Bible says.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I am not here to \u201cinterpret\u201d what I \u201cthink\u201d the apostle John is trying to say to you here in our text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even though I do not completely understand the truths that John is teaching us here in our text, even though many of you could probably raise your hand and ask me a question about this text that would lead me to say \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d I will strive to the best of my ability to proclaim to you what John proclaims to us here in our text under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That proclamation centers on the truth concerning the Incarnation of the Son of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That proclamation centers on the truth that:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The Word Became Flesh.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Today, my friends, as we study at these glorious words we will focus our attention on three things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, let\u2019s see what the apostle John proclaims concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see what John the Baptist proclaims concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And finally, let\u2019s see what we are to proclaim concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What is the apostle John proclaiming to us today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at the opening verse of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us <\/i>(literally this says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u2018The Word became flesh and tented among us\u2019<\/i>). <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">If you are at all familiar with the Gospel of John then you know that this opening chapter of John\u2019s Gospel is dedicated to proclaiming the truth that Jesus <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">is<\/i><\/b> the Incarnate <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord of God.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And when we are willing to simply let Scripture speak for itself, when we are willing to put aside our own opinions, our own preconceived notions, our own limited logic there is no question, my friends, that when John talks about Jesus being the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> he is proclaiming that Jesus <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">is<\/i><\/b> the true eternal Son of the one and only Living God\u2014 absolutely equal to both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in every single way!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To help make that truth crystal clear all we have to do is look at John 1:1.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the NIV it reads, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A very literal translation of the Greek goes like this, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIn the beginning was the Word and the Word was beside God <\/i>or<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> in the presence of God and God was the Word.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While I can not fully comprehend these words I can by faith understand what John is proclaiming here!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now combine what John says in John 1:1 with what John says concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> in the first verse of our text, John 1:14.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWe have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do you remember when John saw the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory\u201d<\/i> of the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In Matthew 17 we are told that Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a high mountain where Jesus was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctransfigured before them.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We are told that Jesus\u2019 face <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 17:2).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On Easter Sunday when the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> physically rose from the dead He appeared to His disciples in a locked room and said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/i> (John 20:19).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John was there!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John was an eyewitness to the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cglory\u201d <\/i>of the resurrected Christ!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once again I may not completely comprehend what John is proclaiming but by the grace of God I believe it!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Very simply, my friends, the apostle John proclaims to us that the Child born in Bethlehem is indeed the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> of God who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ctented among us\u201d<\/i> for awhile.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cOne and Only.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>He is the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cOnly Begotten\u201d<\/i> Son who came <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cfrom the Father full of grace and truth.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now let\u2019s look at what John the Baptist proclaims concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 15 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We read, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJohn testifies concerning him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He cries out saying, \u2018This was he of whom I said, \u201cHe who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.\u201d\u2019\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">At first glance the message that John the Baptist proclaims concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> may sound a bit confusing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In reality, however, it is quite simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While John the Baptist was six months older than his cousin Jesus (See Luke 2:36) and while John the Baptist began his public ministry and gained a reputation for being a powerful preacher while Jesus was still working as a humble carpenter in a the little town of Nazareth John still proclaims concerning Jesus, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>John the Baptist realized and John the Baptist clearly proclaimed that his God-given role was to prepare people and to point people to Jesus the Christ, the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">eternal<\/i><\/b> Son of God, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> to take away the sins of the world!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">That leaves just one more question for us to address, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What are we to proclaim concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of trying to \u201cinterpret\u201d what the apostle John proclaims, instead of trying to \u201cinterpret\u201d what John the Baptist proclaims, instead of following in the false misleading footsteps of men such as Cerinthus or Paul of Samosata or Arius or Nestorious our goal is very simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We need to faithfully proclaim what Scripture reveals to us concerning Jesus\u2014 the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When that glorious proclamation is our focus then we will always have wonderful news to proclaim to the people around us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If nothing else, my friends, look at what John gives to us to proclaim to others concerning Jesus in verses 16-18 of our text!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFrom the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father\u2019s side, has made him known.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cFrom the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Think about what those words proclaim to us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through Jesus Christ, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh,\u201d<\/i> we have all received the gift of saving faith\u2014 a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cblessing\u201d<\/i> that we can now proclaim to others!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through Jesus Christ, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh,\u201d<\/i> we have all received the gift of the complete forgiveness of sins\u2014 a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cblessing\u201d<\/i> that we can now proclaim to others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through Jesus Christ, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh,\u201d<\/i> we have all received the gift of eternal life in heaven\u2014 a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cblessing\u201d<\/i> that we can now proclaim to others!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through Jesus Christ, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh,\u201d<\/i> we have all experienced first hand the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgrace and truth\u201d<\/i> of God\u2014 a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cblessing\u201d<\/i> that we can now proclaim to others.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through Jesus Christ, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh,\u201d<\/i> we know the One and Only true God\u2014 who He is and what He has done to save us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Surely, that is a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cblessing\u201d<\/i> that we will want to proclaim to as many people as we can!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">All too often, my friends, people will listen to what you and I believe concerning the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWord\u201d<\/i> who <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbecame flesh\u201d<\/i> and they will say\u2014 \u201cWell, that\u2019s just your interpretation.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Do not allow them to get away with making that false remark!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We do not strive to \u201cinterpret\u201d what the Bible Says.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>History has proven that as soon as we mortal sinful human beings try to impose our \u201cinterpretation\u201d on what God says in His holy Word we always end up teaching some kind of heresy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My goal and your goal needs to be exactly the same.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our goal is to faithfully proclaim what God has revealed on the pages of His holy Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Only by proclaiming the Truth of Scripture will we experience the wonder of the Truth that Scripture proclaims to us\u2014 including the Truth that:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThe Word became flesh\u201d<\/i> to save us from our sins!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><u><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"text-decoration:none\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/u><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Christmas-2-01-05-20.mp3\">Christmas-2-01-05-20.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Second Sunday of Christmas January 5, 2020 John 1:14-18 The Word Became Flesh &nbsp; The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.&nbsp; We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.&nbsp; John testifies concerning him.&nbsp; He cries out, saying, &#8220;This was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1190\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}