Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letters of Apostle John – The Gospel
An Intimate Review
Pt 1
By Lawrence DeMetrius

The Origin, Nature and Purpose of Christ the Word

In [Jn 1:1-5] Apostle John writes that the WORD existed in the BEGINNING with GOD THE FATHER. [vs 1a; Pro 8:22, 30; Jn 17:5; Col 1:12-17; Heb 1:10]

*Word Gk #3056 logos (log-os) it is…
1. something said including the thought
2. a topic or subject of discourse
3. a reasoning of the mental faculty
4. a motive or a computation, which is a making sense of a thing
5. the divine expression of GOD THE FATHER in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and spirit of every born-again believer.

*beginning Gk #746 arche (ar-khay) it is…
1. that which is chief in various applications of order, time, place, and rank
2. a commencement which means to begin and start

Apostle John states that the WORD was WITH Yahweh. The word WITH is not of the ancient Greek language in which the New Testament letters were written. [Jn 1:1b, 2; 17:5, 7, 24; I Jn 1:2] However, its definition does express Apostle John’s statement. Per the English language the word WITH means…

1. to be accompanying or accompanied by
2. by the use of, using or being used as a means or instrument
3. to be in comparison or correspondence to
4. to be in regard or in proportion to

Apostle John writes that Christ the Word WAS GOD which in the perception of many implies that Christ is literally GOD THE FATHER HIMSELF. [Jn 1:1c; 10:28-31; 12:44-50; 14:1-11; 16:27, 28] Since early Christendom defining the divinity and nature of Christ has been quite a challenge.
At the historic Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. it was agreed upon that Christ’s nature is CONSUBSTANTIAL meaning that He is of one and the same substance, essence, and nature of His FATHER. [See Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Complete and Unbridged, New Updated Edition translated by C.F. Cruse on pages 398, 399] This gives credence to the idea that Christ is the instrument by which Yahweh expresses HIS glory as HE is indeed an invisible BEING. Apostle John reiterates this repeatedly throughout his letters. In fact, he writes of Christ saying,

No man hath seen GOD at any time; the only begotten SON, which is in the bosom of the FATHER, He hath declared HIM.
[St Jn 1:18]

While Apostle John clearly expresses his personal perception of Christ’s divinity and nature, let one consider what Christ says about Himself in comparison to His FATHER.

• Per His response to the Rich Young Ruler when he addressed Christ as ‘GOOD MASTER’, Christ said,

Why callest thou Me GOOD? There is NONE good but ONE, that is, GOD;
[Mt 19:16, 17a]

• Per His statement regarding His flock Christ said,

My FATHER, which gave them Me, is GREATER than ALL: and no man is able to pluck them out of My FATHER’S hand.
[Jn 10:29]

• Per His dialogue with Mary Magdalene to whom He first revealed Himself after His resurrection Christ said,

Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My FATHER: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My FATHER, and your FATHER; and to MY GOD, and your GOD.
[Jn 20:17]

• The most profound evidence of Christ’s divinity is in a statement He made to His Disciples before His Passion. He said,

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the FATHER: FOR MY FATHER IS GREATER THAN I.
[Jn 14:28]

Throughout His earthly ministry the Lord Jesus placed much emphasis on people believing in Him as they believe in Yahweh. He stressed that He did not come with His Own doctrine and that He only spoke what His FATHER tells Him to. It is Yahweh WHO now requires all to receive Christ as they do HIMSELF, if they desire to be reconciled to HIM. In fact, Apostle Paul writes that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is actually the Gospel of GOD concerning HIS Son. [Rm 1:1, 2] Apostle John’s expression of the Word BEING GOD is likely his sincerest effort to describe Christ’s nature and divinity. Christ refers to Himself as having a CONSUBSTANTIAL nature per His response to Philip when Philip asked Him to ‘SHEW us the FATHER…’ Christ replied,

Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the FATHER; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the FATHER?
Believest thou not that I am in the FATHER, and the FATHER in Me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the FATHER that dwelleth in Me, HE doeth the works.
Believe Me that I am in the FATHER, and the FATHER in Me; or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.
[Jn 14:8-11]

In [Jn 1:3a] Apostle John writes that all things were MADE by the Word.

*made Gk 1096 ginomai (ghin-om-ahee) it means to cause to be, generate, become and come into being

In [Jn 1:4] Apostle John writes that the WORD contains LIFE that is the LIGHT of men.

*life Gk 2222 zoe (dzo-ay) it is literally and figuratively life, which is…

1. the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally

2. life is the animate existence and period of animate existence of any individual

3. life is a corresponding state, existence, and principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul

Yahweh is indeed the PRINCIPLE or SOURCE of LIFE for all creation, especially mortal beings. In HIM they all live, move, and have their being. [Gen 2:7; Acts 17:28]

4. life refers to the general or universal condition of human existence

Christ the Word has always delighted in the wellbeing of mortals per King Solomon. [Pro 8:17-36]

5. life is any specified period of animate existence

This is applicable to the mortal lifetime and the eternal lifetime of the mortal spirit. [Gen 6:3; Heb 9:27; Lk 20:34-36; Acts 17:30, 31; Rev 20:11-15]

*light Gk 5457 phos (foce) it is luminousness and to be luminous is to be…
1. radiating and reflecting light
2. shining, bright and lighted up
3. illuminated and well-lighted
4. enlightened and enlightening
5. clear, readily intelligible, and intellectually brilliant

Yahweh intended for mortals to practice critical thinking and common sense. HE did not create them to be simpletons, who are easily duped into wickedness and folly by agents of evil. [Gen 3:1-6; II Cor 4:7; 10:4, 5]
To reiterate, Christ the Word is the LUMINOUSNESS that Yahweh intended to exhume from within all mortal spirits. PHOS originates from the word PHAO (fah-o) which means to shine and make manifest, especially by rays. The prolific base of PHOS is the word PHAINO (fah-ee-no) Gk #5316 which means to lighten, shine and show. Another base of PHOS is the word PHEMI (fay-mee) Gk #5346 which means to show and make known one’s thoughts by speaking or saying, which Yahweh has certainly done in the Person of Christ the Word. The comparative word to PHEMI (fay-mee) is LEGO (leg-o) which means to systematically lie forth or relate in words or per a set discourse or lesson. These words and definitions thereof describe WHAT the Word IS, especially on behalf of mortal beings. When Christ the Word is not SHINING from within a person’s eye or mind, their entire being is filled with DARKNESS which is OBSCURITY. [Mt 6:22, 23] No matter how good one believes themself to be, without Christ their eye, mind or conscious is defiled before Yahweh. [Tit 1:15, 16; Rm 3:11, 23-26] Graciously, the FATHER permits divine enlightenment to be restored when one receives and abides in HIS Word. [Jn 8:31, 32, 36; 15:1-5; Mt 11:27-30] In [Jn 1:5] Apostle John writes that Christ the divine LIGHT SHINES in DARKNESS which cannot COMPREHEND Him.

*shineth Gk #5316 phaino (fah-ee-no) <base of PHOS> it means to lighten, shine, and show

*darkness Gk #4653 skotia (skot-ee-ah) it is dimness and obscurity

The word SKOTIA derives from the base word Gk #4639 SKIA (skee-ah) which is…
1. shade and is literally or figuratively a shadow
2. figuratively darkness of error and darkness that comes about as a result of adumbration, which is to…
o outline, sketch and produce a faint image or resemblance of
o overshadow, foreshadow, prefigure, darken and partially conceal

Thus, the purpose of SKOTIA or DARKNESS is to keep one from clearly recognizing what is before them or in their midst. However, when divine LIGHT is present, SKOTIA loses its ability to obscure because it cannot COMPREHEND the radiance of divine LIGHT.

*comprehend Gk #2638 katalambano (kat-al-am-ban-o) it to eagerly take, seize, and possess
To reiterate, DARKNESS does not have the ability to COMPREHEND the LIGHT of Christ, Who is Yahweh’s incarnate Word personified. It is Christ the Word Who destroys DARKNESS and its ability to weaken one’s spiritual capacity, to clearly discern the truth that Yahweh’s desires all mortals to know and obey. THE FATHER sent HIS Word to restore this knowledge and capacity in the eye or mind of all who are predestined to be HIS sons. [St Jn 1:11-13; Rm 8:28-30] These souls come to Christ and are in no wise casted out. [Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65] They are of the sheep of Yahweh’s flock that are given to Christ for this purpose. [Jn 10] Only they are liberated from the power of DARKNESS, so they might live again in the LIGHT of the WORD. [Col 1:12, 13] Those who choose to abide in DARKENESS remain slaves thereto, being subject to the works and consequences thereof. [Rm 6; 8:5-7] All mortals realize that they should receive and obey Christ, Yahweh’s Word. However, many choose not to because they have more pleasure in works of unrighteousness than in works of righteousness. [St Jn 3:19-22, 36; Rm 1:18, 19, 28; 7:7-25; 6:23; Eccl 3:16; 8:11; Pro 20:27; 24:12; Acts 17:26-31; Gal 6:7, 8; Jam 1:13-15]

The Call and Purpose of John the Baptist

In [St Jn 1:6-8, 15-42; 3:25-36; 5:32-36] Apostle John writes about the second most influential person to grace the earth, which is John the Baptist. Jesus Christ spoke of him saying,

Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath NOT risen a GREATER than John the Baptist:
[Mt 11:11a]

John the Baptist was the son of a righteous High Priest by the name of Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, who was the cousin of Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. So then, John the Baptist was biologically related to Jesus Christ as His cousin. [Lk 1:39-41] Although they were closely related, their spiritual offices were only validated by the Holy Ghost and by the ancient Prophets of Yahweh. [Isa 9:6, 7; 40:3; Mt 1:21-23; 11:14]




In reference to Jesus Christ John the Baptist said,

And I knew Him NOT but that He should be MADE MANIFEST TO ISRAEL, THEREFORE am I come baptizing with water.
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and IT abode upon Him.
And I knew Him NOT: but HE that sent me to baptize with water, THE SAME said unto me, Upon Whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
And I say, and bare record, that this is the Son of God.
[St Jn 1:31-34]

John the Baptist made it clear that he was the voice crying in the wilderness. He did so according to divine prophecy, and as the chief witness to the nation of Israel that Jesus was indeed the Christ. [St Jn 1:7, 19-34] Prior to divine revelation of his Cousin Jesus being the Christ, John did know that the Christ was the embodiment of Yahweh’s word. [St Jn 1:14] John the Baptist founded a movement that was then considered an occult known as The Way. The name of his movement coincided with his primary message which was,

Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.
[Mt 3:3]

Again, John the Baptist said he knew not the Christ but that He should be made manifest to Israel, which is why Yahweh sent him to baptize with water. [St Jn 1:31] Jesus Christ stated in His dialogue with the Syrophoenician Woman, who asked Him to heal her daughter of demonic oppression, that He was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel. [Mt 15:21-28] While Yahweh’s ultimate goal has always been the salvation of all nations, the initial mission for John the Baptist and Jesus Christ was the salvation of Israel. [Jn 3:16; 10:16; Rm 2:7-11] Although Jesus Christ picked up John’s message and carried it out as the manifested Way and incarnate Word of God, He rightly changed it to,

Repent: for the kingdom of heaven IS AT HAND.
[Mt 4:14-17]

John the Baptist then declared that he must decrease that Christ might increase. [St Jn 3:30] Therefore, upon fulfilling his mission of officially declaring to Israel that Jesus was the prophesied Christ, his popularity was surpassed by that of Christ’s. This caused a stir amongst John’s disciples. However, he defused it by assuring them that this shift of popularity was divine and proper, as he was only sent to be the Forerunner of Christ to Israel. He assured his disciples that the greater glory belonged to Christ because of Who He is and what He came to accomplish for the benefit of all nations. [St Jn 1:15-17] In [St Jn 1:10, 11] Apostle John writes that the WORD came unto His Own meaning His Own creation and His biological countryman but neither KNEW or RECEIVED Him.

*knew Gk #1097 ginosko (ghin-oce-ko) it means to know absolutely

*received (1) Gk #3880 paralambano (par-al-am-ban-o) which means to…
1. receive near and associate with oneself in any familiar or intimate act or relation
2. assume an office and to learn

In [St Jn 1:12, 13] Apostle John explains that everyone who RECEIVES Christ is given POWER to BECOME the SONS of Yahweh.

*received (2) Gk #2983 lambano (lam-ban-o) it is to take and get hold of

This is what the sons of God do in regard to Christ the Word.

*power Gk #1849 exousia (ex–oo-see-ah) it is…
1. privilege, force and capacity
2. competency, freedom, mastery and delegated influence

This is what Yahweh bestows upon those who BECOME HIS SONS.

*become Gk #1096 ginomai (ghin-om-ahee) it means to cause to be, generate, and come into being

This is the blessed BECOMING of everyone who comes to Yahweh through HIS Christ for eternal salvation. [St Jn 3:15-21, 36; Rm 3:21-26; II Cor 5:17-21; Heb 7:25]
*sons Gk #5043 teknon (tek-non) which is a child as produced

Those who BECOME the SONS of GOD were predestined to sonship with HIM long before they were born into the earth. [Rm 8:28-31] Yahweh anticipates their mortal lifetimes throughout every generation, and searches for them throughout the earth to show HIMSELF great on their behalf. [II Chr 16:9] They are the sheep of HIS flock who hear and obey the voice of HIS Christ. [Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65; 10] They are the ones who exclusively worship HIM through Christ. [Exo 20:3; Eccl 12:13; Isa 54:13; Jn 4:23, 24] Their names were written in The Book of Life from the foundation of the world. [Exo 32:30-33; Rev 20:11-15; 13:8; 17:8] While all souls belong to Yahweh, SONSHIP is only granted to those who are spiritually born again of HIS Word and Spirit. [St Jn 1:43-51] It has always been expected for one to found their belief in Jesus Christ upon the inspired words of Yahweh’s ancient prophets. This practice is increasingly important as the Final Day of Judgment draws near. Those who continue in the doctrine of Jesus Christ are promised revelation of divine and liberating truth. They also secure the crown of eternal life and sonship to Yahweh. [Dan 12:3, 10; Mt 11:30; Jn 8:31, 32, 36; Rev 3:7, 8, 10]

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