[Sunday, September 7, 2025] In the Beginning Was the Word | John 1:1-3
Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch)
2025. 9. 7. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 01
본문: 요한복음 1:1-3
제목: 태초에 말씀이 계시니라
설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)
Up until now, we have shared together in Sunday worship through Romans and Ephesians, but starting today, we will share from the Gospel of John. Among the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which one was written first and which one was written last?
The four Gospels are divided into two categories: the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels, meaning they share the same viewpoint, that is, they have much in common. On the other hand, the Gospel of John is classified differently because its perspective and differences stand apart from these three.
The Gospel written last is the Gospel of John. The Synoptic Gospels are considered to have been written around AD 70, the time when Jerusalem fell—when the city and temple were burned down under the Roman Empire. The Gospel of John is believed to have been written about 20 years later, as early as AD 90, or according to some scholars, as late as AD 110. Then, which Gospel was written first? The Gospel of Mark, thought to have been written around AD 65–70. Then, which book of the New Testament was written first? Paul’s letters were written before the Gospels. Among them, 1 Thessalonians is most widely agreed to have been written around AD 50.
Why was the Gospel of John written? At that time, Jewish Christians were completely rejected by the Jews. They were expelled from the synagogues and treated like Gentiles. Thus, Jewish Christians faced a crisis of national identity as Jews. Therefore, John wrote this Gospel to proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish, that He came to this earth as the Messiah of the Jews, but was handed over by them to the Gentiles to be killed, and that He is truly the Son of God.
Another crisis the church faced at that time was the infiltration of Gnosticism. Gnostics believed that the spirit was good but the flesh was evil, and therefore they denied that Jesus was God who came in the flesh, and they denied the resurrection of the body. To protect the church from this false teaching about Jesus, the apostle John emphasized that Jesus, who came to this earth in the flesh, is the God who came down from heaven. That is the Gospel of John.
Today, for our first session, we read John 1:1-3. Today’s passage is a great proclamation about Jesus Christ, and I want us to share it together.
First, let us read verse 1 together.
[Verse 1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The apostle John begins the Gospel of John with the phrase “In the beginning.” Why did John use this phrase at the very beginning? There are two books in the Bible among the 66 that begin with “In the beginning.” One is the Gospel of John. What is the other? Yes, those reading John’s Gospel would think the same. Especially the Jews would immediately think of Genesis 1:1.
[Gen. 1:1] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
In Hebrew, the original word is “Bereshit” (בּראשׂית). In Greek, the Gospel of John begins with “En Arche” (Ἐν ἀρχῇ). In English, both are the same: “In the beginning.”
Therefore, the Gospel of John is sometimes called “the Genesis of the New Testament.” Genesis 1:1 proclaims how the heavens and the earth and all creation came into being. It clearly declares that everything did not come about by chance, but that God created them. It proclaims that God is the Creator.
Do you believe this? If you do, that itself is proof that you have received God’s grace. I could not believe Genesis 1:1, so I could not move on. “In the beginning”—Bereshit—means there was a beginning of this world, the time when God created the universe. I could not believe this until I was 33, when I finally came to acknowledge God’s existence, and I came to believe in the “beginning,” the Bereshit, when God created.
But do you know that the “In the beginning”—En Arche—in John 1:1 is different in meaning from the “In the beginning”—Bereshit—of Genesis 1:1? The beginning in Genesis refers to the time when the universe was created. But the beginning in John refers to something far earlier: the eternal existence of God. Do not misunderstand—this does not mean there was a moment when God came into being. God is the Creator, not a created being. He is self-existent, from everlasting to everlasting. Therefore, the “beginning” in John refers to the eternal, beginningless beginning before creation.
It refers to the beginning of eternity, which we cannot understand with our concept of time. The philosopher Plato once said, “Time is the moving image of eternity.” What does this mean? Humans are born and die within time, but God is not bound by time. So when we ask, “Since when has God existed?” that very question already reveals the limitation of humans bound by time.
Why does John begin his Gospel with “In the beginning”—En Arche? It is to explain who Jesus is—the one we believe in.
1. Jesus is God who existed from all eternity.
The declaration, “In the beginning was the Word,” shows that Jesus did not begin to exist when He was born of Mary. He had no beginning. Jesus is the Word of God who existed from all eternity—He is God Himself.
People often think of Jesus as just a great teacher or a good leader. Which religion believes this? When we evangelize and speak to Muslims about Jesus, they say they believe in Him too. But they recognize Him only as one of the prophets sent by God, as recorded in the Qur’an. Interestingly, the Qur’an calls Jesus by the name “Isa,” and it mentions Him 25 times. It refers to Him as “Isa ibn Maryam”—Jesus, son of Mary. But it mistakenly identifies this Mary as the sister of Aaron. Who was Aaron’s sister? Miriam. Miriam lived around 1400 BC, while Mary of the New Testament lived 1400 years later. Why did this mistake happen? The Qur’an was dictated around AD 600 by Muhammad, who was illiterate and could not read the Bible. He had only heard stories from Jews and Christians but misunderstood, confusing Miriam with Mary. Many scholars believe this is why the Qur’an makes this error.
Not only Muslims, but many today regard Jesus as simply one of the world’s great religious figures. But Scripture makes it clear: Jesus existed from eternity, He lives now, and He will live forever. C.S. Lewis said, “Christ is not merely a figure of the past, but the eternal one who is above all time.”
[Application] Do I know Jesus only as a historical figure, or do I believe Him as the eternal God who knows and rules every moment of my life?
2. Jesus is the Word who is living and active today.
Looking again at John 1:1, it says that in the beginning was “the Word.” What is this Word? In Greek, it is “Logos.” Logos means word, principle, reason, or order. Many English words contain this Greek root: dialogue (dia + logos), monologue (monos + logos), prologue (pro + logos), epilogue (epi + logos). Biology (bios + logos), psychology (psyche + logos), theology (theos + logos).
Thus, logos is the principle and foundation of all things. In Genesis 1, when God created the heavens and the earth, the Word of God was present. What was the world like before creation?
[Gen. 1:2] Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Before creation, the world was formless, empty, and dark. Our lives can be like this too—formless, meaningless, and hopeless, with only darkness ahead. A few years ago, I had a panic attack in the middle of the night. At that moment, I thought, “This must be hell.” My soul was filled with darkness, despair, and hopelessness so deep I could not breathe and wished my life would end. I thought, “This must be the state of formlessness, emptiness, and darkness.”
But then what happened?
[Gen. 1:3-4] And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.
In the midst of formlessness, emptiness, and darkness, light appeared. Darkness fled, emptiness was filled, and order came. How did this happen? “God said”—through His Word. The Word brought light, fullness, and order. Creation happened through the Word.
[Heb. 4:12] For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
God’s Word is not just text. It is not like a novel or essay that we can choose to read or not. Last week, as we concluded Ephesians, we spoke about spiritual warfare. Without the Word of God, we cannot win in spiritual battle. The Word is the sword of the Spirit that defeats the devil. The Word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword, penetrating and transforming us.
Do you want to be changed into the person God wants you to be? Do you want to live a life that pleases God? Do you want to resist temptation and live in obedience to the Lord? It is the living and active Word of God that makes such transformation possible.
Repeat after me: “The Word of God is living and powerful.” “The Word can change me.”
When I was in that dark night of panic, how did I survive? My body could not move, I could not breathe, yet suddenly a Scripture came to mind. Though I could not speak, I rolled myself off the bed and lay on the floor, whispering in tongues, proclaiming God’s Word in my heart. After an hour, suddenly, the heavy cloud of darkness vanished, the deep sorrow lifted, and my soul was filled with light. I breathed again and said, “I am alive.”
Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus we believe in is the Word of God. To love Jesus is to love His Word. How can we say we love Him if we do not read, meditate, study, or memorize the Bible? The most basic spiritual discipline for a believer is to draw near to God’s Word and to pray.
[1 Tim. 4:5] For it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
Do you want to be like Jesus? This is not optional. Our life purpose is to become like Jesus, to grow in holiness. This happens through God’s Word and prayer.
[Application] Have I ever experienced the living Jesus through His Word? Am I experiencing Him now?
3. Jesus is the Creator of all things.
[Verse 3] Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.
All things created in the beginning were made through Jesus. Believe that Jesus is the Creator God. Why were all things created? Colossians 1:16 explains:
[Col. 1:16] For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.
For whom were all things created? For our Lord Jesus. Not only humanity but all things on earth were created by Jesus and for Jesus. Then our reason for existence becomes clear. Why do we exist? For Jesus. Do you believe this?
Let us proclaim together:
“I was born for Jesus.”
“My reason for existence is Jesus.”
“My life’s purpose is Jesus.”
We are not accidental beings. We exist in the plan and intention of the Creator Jesus. Therefore, let us worship Him daily and grow to resemble Him through His Word and prayer.
[Application] What habits or attitudes hinder me from worshiping and becoming like my Creator, the Lord Jesus?
John 1:1-3 clearly proclaims who Jesus is.
Jesus is the eternal God.
Jesus is the Word who is alive and active today.
Jesus is the Creator of all things.
Let us remember that we were created by Him and for Him, and may we, day by day, grow in holiness by resembling our Lord Jesus Christ through His Word and prayer.
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.