What’s up with that post title?

Earlier today, I was pondering some of the unique idiosyncrasies that make me… me. I don’t look in the mirror and notice how good I look and tell myself I look good - no, I’m overly cynical and judgmental. Some of that comes with being an INTJ, but how much of that is ok from God’s perspective? I believe God caused me to compare myself to Him, and said out loud, to myself, “self, you are not like God”. This pricked me in my spirit enough that I decided, I need to study God.

I grew up in and/or around church. My dad went to seminary, although he never pastored… I’ve heard it preached, but not seen it lived out very well. This brought me to the title of this post - “Who is God?”. From an intellectual level, I can tell you a lot, and I believe most could - whether or not they’d ever been to church. Lot’s of people preach this/that. I want to really know Him.

So, yeah… Who is God? What does He like? What are His attributes? What does He not like? What’s something I’ve “known”, but not really known/understood, about God.

So, on my way home from work today I was listening to the Bible. First off… what an amazing blessing we have, to be able to play audio recordings of God’s Word from your Bible app. My children were involved in Bible Study, and I recall my children memorizing the book of John. Not sure I’ll be memorizing the book like they did, but I want to really read it, study it.. let it sink in.. ask myself how I feel about it… Ask God to help me really understand it and Him better before moving on, and finally.. I want to write my reaction to the Word down. I remembered enough about the kiddos studying John - I know it talks about God - so, I’m starting there. I prefer New King James Version, but it has an owner, where KJV is free public domain material:

John 1:1-2 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

  • God and the Word are one and the same

John 1:3 (KJV) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

  • God and the Word are a him, and he is the creator.

John 1:4-5 (KJV) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

  • In this entity that is a (Him/God/The Word). - is life, and the light of men.
  • This (Him/God/The Word/Life/Light of Men) - shines in darkness and the darkness didn’t comprehend

John 1:6-9 (KJV) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

  • John was sent by God to be a witness of (Him/God/The Word/Life/The true Light of Men).

John 1:10-11 (KJV) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

  • [He/Him, God, The Word, Life, The true Light of Men] was in the world

  • [He/Him, God, The Word, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator] made the world, but the world didn’t know it…

  • [He/Him, God, The Word, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator] came unto his own, and his own received Him not.

    • Who is God’s?
    • When did God come to His own and received Him not?
    • This is talking about Jesus.

  • [He/Him, God, The Word, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus] came unto his own, and his own received Him not.

John 1:12-13 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

  • This is talking about the start of the church age. Before Jesus, The Jews were under The Law/Torah, but now..
  • [He/Him, God, The Word, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus], witnessed by John, is giving whosever believes, the power to become the sons of God.

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

  • "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" - again, talking about Jesus. However, as identified earlier.. the Word is also: [He/Him, God, The Word was made flesh, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus]

John 1:29-34 (KJV) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 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 saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

  • John the Baptizer is preaching and baptizing, but sees Jesus coming, and introduces Him as “The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”
  • John states that God told him “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining - the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost”
  • John declares that Jesus is the Son of God
  • So.. adding to this: [He/Him, God, The Word was made flesh, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus, The Lamb of God, The Son of God, He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost]

John 1:41 (KJV) He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

  • Simon says “We have found the Messiah”, speaking of Jesus.
  • add more labels to this person: [He/Him, God, The Word was made flesh, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus, The Lamb of God, The Son of God, He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost, The Messiah, The Christ]

John 1:49 (KJV) Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

  • Nathanael calls Jesus The Son of God and The King of Israel
  • [He/Him, God, The Word was made flesh, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus, The Lamb of God, The Son of God, He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost, The Messiah, The Christ*, The King of Israel]*

John 1:51 (KJV) And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

  • Jesus calls himself The Son of man
  • [He/Him, God, The Word was made flesh, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus, The Lamb of God, Baptizes with the Holy Ghost, The Messiah, The Christ,The Son of God, The King of Israel, The Son of man]

Wrap up.. These notes don’t do John chapter 1. I need to add cross reference to these scriptures & my commentary on that, but it’s late.

In this post/chapter review. we see God has and goes by many titles: He/Him, God, The Word was made flesh, Life, The true Light of Men, The Creator, Jesus, The Lamb of God, Baptizes with the Holy Ghost, The Messiah, The Christ, The Son of God, The Son of man, The King of Israel

God is associated with light, and darkness does not comprehend the light. The Light lighteth every one that comes into the world. I believe it’s God’s will that all be saved.

God Bless.