John 1:1-18
The Word Becomes Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Romans 10:5-21
Faith Comes from Hearing the Word
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Jesus was with God when the world was created...And our faith helps shape very much our views on creation...Our personal beliefs affect how we interpret the facts of creation, because everyone has the same set of facts to look at to decide if God created the earth and the universe around it....So facts are one thing and faith is another thing...But faith affects facts...Otherwise everyone would believe in creation, or everyone would not believe in it...So it is with your heart that you believe many things...And the Word of God affects our beliefs on creation and many different things...Since God created the universe, we can conclude that God and His Son have always existed...And that there never has been a time when nothing existed...Something, Somewhere has always existed...
St. John writes that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...The Disciples and others got to see His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son, who came from the Father, who is full of grace and truth...These are words about faith...And St. John begins his gospel with similar words of faith, by writing that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...He was with God in the beginning...Through Jesus all things are made; without Him nothing was made that has been made...In Him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind...The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...There was a man sent from God whose name was John...He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through him all might believe...He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light...The true Light that gives Light to everyone was coming into the world...He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him...He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him...Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God...These are more great words of faith by St. John...And we are allowed to be children of God, because of Jesus...
We learn from St. John that Jesus is divine in these verses...In these words St. John talks about the beginning...And that Jesus was always with God from the very beginning, and in the beginning...Jesus has always coexisted with God...And we also read that through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made...So Jesus was involved in creation and created and made all things...The Light of life, truth, reason, logic, and grace run through Him...He gives life and us purpose...
Jesus is the Logos the reason, the meaning, the Word of God...He is not only the Word of God, who gives us God's Word, but He is the True Word of God who somehow became flesh and lived on earth and made His dwelling among us...And St. John tells us that He came for the Jews, the Hebrew people, He came to those which was His own, but His own did not receive Him...Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God...And St. Paul writes that not all the people accepted the good news He had to give us...For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”...Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ...But I ask: Did they not hear?...Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”...Again I ask: Did Israel not understand?...First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”...And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.”...But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”...But when we declare, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved...For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved...As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”...For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same LORD is LORD of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”...
So Jesus was involved in creation...Through Him all things are made; without Him nothing was made that has been made...So when we read this and believe these words, we can see that creation is as much about what we believe in and our personal belief system than it is about the facts pertaining to creation...Creation is very much about our faith...If we trust God's Word, we believe in creation and that He sent His Son to us...And His Son was sent to us to talk about His Father, to teach us, and to save us...And these things, as in all the things He did and does, He did with precision and perfection...Jesus gave us great signs and mighty words, and He uttered the greatest words ever spoken...And our faith comes by hearing these words and God's Word and trusting in Him...So much of what we believe in is from God...