"...the Word was God." John 1:1

"The Word was God."  These four words at the end of the first verse in the gospel of John are the clearest and most direct declaration of the deity of the Christ to be found anywhere in Scripture.  This is one of the first things that John wanted us to know of the claims Jesus made concerning Himself.  Jesus Christ is God.  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  As God, Jesus enjoyed full, face to face communion with God the Father from eternity past.

One of the most pointed statements Christ makes is found in John 8:24, "...unless you believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."  The pronoun "He" does not appear in the Greek text.  When Jesus said that you must believe that "I am", Jesus applied to Himself the name of God that was so sacred that the Jews refused to pronounce it.

Your eternity began the moment you were born.  My friend, the person who rejects that Jesus Christ is God cannot be saved and will spend eternity separated from Him, in eternal punishment.  (Mt. 25:46) 

This is the full, biblical revelation of Christ.

He is...

• the eternal second person of the Trinity
• He entered time and space as God in the flesh, sent by God the Father
  
• He was born of a virgin
• He lived a sinless life
• His death on the cross is the only sufficient sacrifice for the sins of those who believe in Him
• He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father in heaven
  
• He now intercedes for His redeemed people
• He will return again in glory for His redeemed people who will then enjoy full, face to face communion with Him for the rest of eternity.
  

To reject these truths about the Lord Jesus Christ is to be led astray.

John 5:24 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

John 12:48 - "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke will judge him on the last day."

My prayer for you this Christmas is that if you haven't already, you will come to know Jesus, who came to earth as God in the flesh just over two thousand years ago, as your Savior and Lord.

Romans 10:9-11 - "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."