Sermon

God Among Us

February 19, 2023 Sewee Bay Baptist Church Sermons

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Please open up your Bibles to the Gospel according to John.
We're still working our way through John's prologue to his Gospel this morning,
and so we'll read from verses 14 through 18 of chapter 1 this morning.
If you're using the pew Bibles there in front of you, you can find this on page 833,
if you're using those Bibles, but I do encourage you to have a Bible open and read these as God's Word as I preach.
Follow along with me as I read John 1, 14 through 18.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John bore witness about him and cried out,
This is he of whom I said,
He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.
For from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only God who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
This is God's holy, inspired, perfect Word.
Would you please bow and pray with me?
Lord, Father, we ask again that you would do a miracle among us right now as your Word is sent forth.
We pray that it would go forth in power to save,
in power to convict,
in power to sanctify,
in power to transform,
in power to encourage.
Lord, would you send forth your Word
and accomplish the purposes for which you sinned.
We pray in Christ's name.
Amen.
Amen.
Every Sunday I come home from church.
I go home and catch my breath for a minute.
I sit down.
I thank God for all that he's done in the morning service.
I go to eat some lunch.
And then I prepare myself to do something incredibly risky.
I ask each one of my children what they heard in the morning worship service.
It's a dangerous thing to do, as you might imagine.
Last week, the passage was John chapter 1, verses 6 through 13.

John 1:6–13
It was titled, I Saw the Light.
And we saw from John 1, 6 through 13,
how John the Baptist bore witness to the light.
He was not the light, but he bore witness to the light.
The true light which was coming into the world
was the one that enlightens everyone.
And we had a choice put before us, didn't we?
Everyone on the planet has responded to the light in one of two ways.
We have either rejected the light and live in darkness,
or we have received the light and become children of God.
That was last week.
And so we sat down for lunch, and I went around the table,
asked my boys one by one what they heard in church today,
and one who shall remain nameless.
He said, Dad, you just said the word light like a million times.
And in my defense,
my job is to preach what the word says,
what the passage says.
And John seemed to be fixated on that word, light,
and so that's what came out last week.
It was about the light,
and so I took that as a compliment,
that I was doing my job on the right track.
Well, this morning, I'm afraid that we might have a similar situation,
except it's not the word light that we're going to be fixated on.
It's the word grace.
Every occurrence of the word grace in the Gospel of John,
actually every occurrence of the word grace in all the Gospels,
occurs right here in these five verses.
John says,
We have seen His glory, that is Jesus' glory,
full of grace and truth.
From His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace.
The law was given through Moses,
but grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.
I don't think you have to be a biblical scholar
to be able to understand and see that
John is trying to communicate to us
something about God's grace here in these verses.
Now, I've heard a lot of definitions of God's grace over the years.
Some good and some not so good.
Most would agree that grace is unmerited favor.
It is undeserved blessing.
And that's good and that's true,
but I love how R. Kent Hughes,
he gets a little bit more specific here.
Listen to these definitions of God's grace.
He says,
Grace is God reaching out to us in our sin.
He goes on.
He says,
Grace is the pipeline through which
we receive all of God's tremendous benefits,
the greatness of Christ comes by grace.
The greatness of His love comes by grace.
The greatness of the gospel comes by grace.
Now listen to this last one.
He says,
Grace is God's love coming to sinners.
And when you put it like that,
it's no wonder why John wants us to associate
the extravagant grace of God
with the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.
The coming of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God into the world,
is a spectacular extension
of the grace of God to sinners.
And so if you're a sinner in the room this morning,
I have good news for you.
God's grace is extended to you this morning
in Christ Jesus.
So what we'll see this morning is three ways
Jesus extends God's grace to sinners.
This is going to be our outline this morning.
If you're taking notes,
I encourage you to do so.
That'll help you to follow along.
We'll see three ways
God's grace is extended to sinners.
Three ways Jesus extends God's grace to sinners.
First,
in Jesus,
God draws near to sinners.
In Jesus,
God draws near to sinners.
John's aim in these introductory verses
we've seen in verse 1 through 18
is to show us who Jesus is.
And you remember his whole purpose,
his mission statement for the book of John
from chapter 20,
verse 31.
He said,
These are written so that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God,
and that by believing,
you may have life in His name.
That's why John wrote this book.
And so,
one of the ways that he is highlighting
the glory and the worth of Christ
is by expanding our understanding
of the Old Testament
in light of who Jesus is.
So he wants us to know that
this man,
Jesus,
who he's introducing us to
is not just another man.
He's not just another teacher,
not just another prophet.
He is what the Old Testament
has been pushing us towards all along,
has been telling us about all along,
has been pointing us to all along.
So you remember from verses 1 through 4,
at the beginning,
he connected the dots for us
from this man, Jesus,
to the book of Genesis.
You remember this.
John 1 begins by saying,
In the beginning was the Word.
And the Word was with God.
And the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
And of course,
as you hear this,
your mind ought to be going back
towards the beginning of the Bible.
Genesis chapter 1,

Genesis 1 chapter mention
in the beginning.
That link,
that connection
that John is making here
is telling us
that Jesus is not just another creature,
he is the creator.
But in our passage today,
he's making another connection for us,
starting here in verse 14.
Look there with me.
Starting in verse 14,
John connects the dots for us
from this man, Jesus,
to the book of Exodus.
John says in 14,
look there,
The Word became flesh
and dwelt among us.
This should astound us.
The eternal Word of God,
the one through whom
all things were created,
became flesh
and dwelt among us.
He says,
although he is
in a different category from us,
he is totally distinct from creation,
yet he willingly chooses
not to be distant from creation.
He chooses to step into it
to draw near to sinners.
That should astound us.
But if you know your Old Testament,
this image becomes even more astounding
because literally what this says
in the original language here,
what it says is that
the Word became flesh
and pitched a tent.
or the Word became flesh
and tabernacled among us.
See, John is connecting the dots for us
between Jesus,
this man that he's introducing us to,
and the tabernacle of the Old Testament.
A couple years ago,
we were serving at a church up the road
in North Myrtle Beach,
and our church was preaching
through the book of Exodus,
and we realized pretty quickly
that the first half of Exodus
preaches a little bit differently
than the second half of Exodus.
So you have all the stories
of deliverance and the plagues
and all the excitement
and all the action in the first half,
and then you get to the second half
and you have the law,
the instructions,
the details,
the procedures in the second half.
The first half reads
kind of like a Hollywood script,
and the second half
kind of reads like an instruction manual.
That's just how it is.
Now, all Scripture is God-breathed,
so let the record show.
Don't get me wrong.
It's all God's Word,
but we'll just be honest.
Most of us are naturally drawn
towards the narrative
more than we are to the instruction.
It's just our nature.
Some passages of Scripture
are more easily digested than others,
and some passages of Scripture
are more easily preached than others.
Well, as we laid out our preaching plan,
my turn to preach came,
and we realized that my text
was going to be Exodus chapter 25

Exodus 25 chapter mention
and 26 and 27.
Three chapters worth of instructions
and details and procedures
for the sanctuary,
for the ark,
for the table of bread,
for the golden lampstand,
for the bronze altar,
for the oil,
for the lamp,
for the curtain,
and for the tabernacle.
And I'll be honest.
At first, I was overwhelmed,
and I didn't know
what in the world
would I have to preach
about from three chapters
of tedious instruction.
But as I dug in,
here's what I learned.
For one,
God cares about the details.
You know, that should be obvious.
I mean, my goodness,
every little detail
was described,
and in order,
from the dimensions
to the materials
to the arrangement
to the colors
to the number of loops
on the edge of the curtains,
everything had to be
exactly as God prescribed
because all of it
was a visible lesson
for the Israelites
about the holiness of God
and the sinfulness of man.
So this tabernacle,
this tent in the wilderness,
was where sinful man
came to meet with a holy God.
And they had to be shown visibly
that this was no casual task.
So every detail was there
to condescend
and to communicate
to our senses
the reverence
that we ought to have
when we enter
into the presence
of God.
Of course, you know,
inside the tabernacle
behind the curtain
was the most holy place
where the Ark of the Covenant
was kept,
and it was there
that God's presence
dwelled in a tent.
God wanted His people
to know
that there was a clear division
between them
and their sinfulness
and God
and His holiness.
But you know what else
I learned from the tabernacle?
Despite this great distance,
God wants to draw near
to sinners.
God wants to draw near
to sinners.
This whole elaborate system
with all the procedures
and details,
it wasn't just
to give the Israelites
something to do
and to be overly complicated
for the sake
of being complicated.
No, this was God's way
to dwell with man.
And it was His initiative.
God didn't have to manifest
His presence among them.
He didn't have to receive
their sacrifices
and their worship.
He didn't have to allow them
even the smallest sense
of His presence
and holiness,
but He did
because He wanted
to draw near
to sinners.
So He says
in Exodus 25,

Exodus 25:8
verse 8,
He says,
Let them make me
a sanctuary.
Here's the purpose.
That I may dwell
in their midst.
Consider the heart of God
for a moment.
The Lord saw
the plight
of His people
suffering,
wandering
in the wilderness,
homeless,
poor,
weak,
undeserving.
And you know what He says?
Y'all build me a tent
so I can go be with you
wherever you go.
And this was God-initiated grace.
And John says
that is exactly
what is happening here
in the coming of Jesus Christ
into the world.
Jesus Christ
is the fulfillment,
the full realization
of everything
that the tabernacle
was supposed to be.
Jesus Christ,
He is where God
and man meet together.
He is where God
comes down to earth
to be known
and to be worshipped.
The beauty of His character,
the beauty of His words,
the beauty of His actions,
they communicate to us
who God is.
Jesus,
He is where sacrifice
is offered
that's pleasing to God.
He is where
the presence of God
can be known
not just by a few
but by any
who come to Him
in faith.
Oh,
the humility
of the Son of God,
the humility
and the grace
of Jesus Christ
to leave
the glory of heaven
and to become human,
to willingly
choose
to dwell
in this
tattered tent
of a body
that can be
ripped
and broken
and beaten
and stained
and drugged
through the mud
not because
we're worthy of it
but because
He is full
of grace
towards sinners
and He wants
to dwell
with us.
Second,
John shows us
another way
that Christ
extends the grace
of God
to sinners.
Second,
in Jesus
sinners
see the glory
of God.
In Jesus
sinners
see the glory
of God.
John continues
verse 14,
look there,
the word
became flesh
and dwelt
among us
and we have
seen His glory
glory as of
the only Son
from the Father
full of grace
and truth.
In Christ
we have
seen
the glory
of God
and again
this should
just astound us
especially if we know
our Old Testament.
As you know
throughout the Old Testament
the glory of God
we see glimpses
of His glory
He manifest His glory
as a pillar of cloud
by day
a pillar of fire
by night
you know how
Moses went to go
speak with God
on top of the mountain
and He came down
and His face was radiant
from spending time
in the glory of God
but even these
were just partial
manifestations
of the glory of God
they were
limited
that God
restrained
He held back
the fullness
of His glory
because
sinners like us
cannot see Him
and live
isn't that what we read
in our scripture reading
this morning
Sean read
from Exodus 33
Moses asked the Lord
to show me
your glory
how did God respond?
He said
I will show you
my goodness
I will proclaim
to you my name
I will proclaim
my steadfast love
and my faithfulness
I will place you
safely
in the cleft
of the rock
I will cover you
with my hand
but you cannot
see my face
for man shall not
see me
and live
no one
can see the fullness
of God's glory
and live
that request
show me your glory
that's a bold
and dangerous
request
for sinners
to make
there's a Jewish
tradition
that says
that
when the high priest
would go into
the holy of holies
inside the tabernacle
on the day of atonement
he was the only one
allowed to go in
he would enter in
with a rope
tied around his foot
and bells tied
around his waist
why?
because he was a sinner
entering into
the presence
of God
and in the event
that his sins
were not properly
atoned for
when he went
into the presence
of God
since he was
the only one
allowed to go
into the room
if he were
struck down
in the presence
of the glory
of God
they would hear
the bells jingle
and be able to
by the rope
pull his body
out of
the room
the glory
of God
is too much
it's too holy
for sinners
like us
to be able
to take in
it's a danger
for sinners
like us
to be in
the presence
of God
but John
says
this man
Jesus
has come
onto the scene
and we have
in him
seen
the glory
of God
more clearly
than a pillar
of cloud
more clearly
than a pillar
of fire
God's glory
has come
down to us
wrapped himself
up in human
flesh
in a way
that can be
seen
and touched
Jesus came
that in him
unworthy
sinners
from every
tribe
tongue
and nation
might see
the glory
of God
I wonder
if you
see him
I wonder
if you see
the glory
of God
you know
one of the
atheists
favorite arguments
against the glory
against the existence
of God
is that we have
never seen him
Yuri Gagarin
he's the very
he's the first
Russian cosmonaut
launched into space
in 1961
he famously said
well I don't see
any God
out here
we read
in our men's
group this week
a story about
Saint Augustine
a pagan man
brought
Saint Augustine
an idol
one of his idols
he held it
in his hands
he showed it
to Augustine
and said
see here is
my God
where is yours
and Augustine
replied I cannot
show you
my God
not because
there's no God
to show you
but because
you have no
eyes
to see him
we can't
see God
with physical
eyes
we have to
have spiritual
eyes
to see him
no one has
ever seen
God
we would agree
John says
in verse 18
no one
has ever
seen God
our physical
eyes cannot
see him
that's correct
but
Christians
are those
who by
the grace
of God
have been
given eyes
to see
the second
half of the
verse
no one
has ever
seen God
but
the only
God
who is
at the
father's
side
he has
made him
known
church
if you want
to see
the glory
of God
you must
be given
eyes
to see
you know
one way
that
he might
just open
up our
eyes
to see
his glory
is by
witnesses
to his
glory
there's
the witness
of nature
the heavens
declare
what
the glory
of God
the skies
above
proclaim
his
handiwork
day to
day
pours out
speech
night to
night
reveals
knowledge
there is
no speech
nor are
there words
whose voice
is not
heard
in other
words
everyone
in creation
has had
the witness
testify to
them
of the
creator
their voice
goes out
through all
the earth
their words
to the end
of the world
saying God
is there
there's the
witness of
scripture
this authoritative
God breathed
perfect witness
66 different
books written
by different
authors in
different times
in different
places and
under different
circumstances
that all
holds together
as one
testimony
to God's
glory in
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ from
beginning to
end
there's the
witness of
thousands upon
thousands upon
thousands of
Christians throughout
the world
throughout the
history of the
church who
say like John
the Baptist
here in this
passage and
they point
upwards with
their lives
and their
words towards
the Messiah
and say
behold the
Lamb of
God
Christians
who have
had their
eyes open
have been
given eyes
to see
him
and are
willing even
to the
point of
death
to testify
to what
they have
seen
by the
grace of
God
but you
know the
most
powerful
the most
clear
the most
compelling
appearing
of the
glory of
God
is the
coming of
the Son
of God
Jesus
Christ
Christ
this is
what
John
is
telling
us
we
have
seen
his
glory
commentators
they
they go
back and
forth
they argue
over whether
or not
he's
he's
talking
about
the
transfiguration
here
where
Jesus
went up
on the
mountain
his
appearance
was
changed
and he
revealed
his
glory
it says
his face
shone
like the
sun
and his
clothes
became
white
as
light
and of
course
he's
talking
about
that
but not
just
that
no one
no one
ever spoke
like this
man
just a
carpenter
but
with
understanding
and wisdom
and authority
that no
one could
explain
so that
Peter would
later say
Lord you
have the
words of
eternal
life
where else
can we
go
we have
believed
and come
to know
that you
are the
holy
one
of God
no one
ever did
the things
that Jesus
could do
calming
storms
healing
the sick
casting
out
demons
forgiving
sins
performing
all sorts
of miracles
and signs
that we'll see
throughout this
book
foretelling
his own
death
and his
own
resurrection
and then
dying
and rising
exactly
as he
claimed
and then
appearing
to more
than 500
witnesses
among whom
is John
who wrote
this book
to say
that if you
want to see
the glory
of God
you must
look
to
Jesus
do you
ever just
wish you
could get
a better
vision
for
who God
is
for the
glory
of God
do you
ever pray
that prayer
Lord
show me
your glory
if you
do
let me
just
challenge
you
for a
moment
to do
something
very practical
even this
week
would you
set some
time
aside
and open
up your
Bible
maybe read
through one
of the
gospels
gospel of
Mark
16 chapters
it's the
shortest one
you could
probably handle
that in
one sitting
maybe two
just read
through one
of the
gospels
and pray
and ask
the Lord
Lord would
you show
me your
glory
as I
fix my
eyes
on Christ
show me
who you
are
as I
look
to Jesus
show me
your glory
in the way
that this
man lived
and walked
and taught
give me
eyes to
see your
glory
in the
word
God
extends
his
grace
to sinners
in Jesus
by sending
forth his
glory in a
way that
can be
seen
and known
but not
just that
he extended
his grace
that it
might be
received
this is the
third way
Jesus extends
God's grace
to sinners
third
in Jesus
sinners
receive
the grace
of God
see God's
grace
is not just
meant to be
observed
and seen
passively
no
it must
be received
actively
by faith
look there
to verse
16
John says
and from
his fullness
we have
all received
grace
upon grace
for the law
was given
through Moses
grace
and truth
came
through Jesus
Christ
we saw
the contrast
last week
didn't we
those who
reject
the light
are
separated
from God
left in
the darkness
of their
sin
but
to all
who did
receive him
who believe
in his
name
he gives
this
unbelievable
right
to become
children
of God
who were
born not
of blood
nor of the
will of the
flesh
nor of the
will of man
but of
God
it's all
of grace
if you're
born into
it naturally
by blood
it is not
of grace
if you work
for it
by the labor
of your hands
by your flesh
by your effort
it is not
of grace
if you
if you will
it into
existence
by your
desiring
by your
choosing
it is not
of grace
and it has
always been
this way
look there
to what he says
in verse 17
we need to
understand this
he says
the law
was given
through Moses
grace and
truth came
through Jesus
Christ
we need to
understand this
because some
take this
as as a
contrast
as if he's
saying
before Jesus
there was
no grace
no truth
but now that
Jesus has come
we have grace
and truth
I don't think
that's what he's
saying here
the law
was a
grace
of God
the law
was a
gift
of God's
grace
I don't think
you can read
through the
Psalms
and come
to the
conclusion
that the
law was
not a
gift
of God's
grace
Psalm 19
says
the law
of the Lord
is perfect
reviving
the soul
the testimony
of the Lord
is sure
making wise
the simple
the precepts
of the Lord
are right
rejoicing
the heart
the commandment
of the Lord
is pure
enlightening
the eyes
the fear
of the Lord
is clean
enduring
forever
the rules
of the Lord
are true
and righteous
all together
more to be
desired are they
than gold
even much
fine gold
sweeter also
than honey
and drippings
of the honeycomb
moreover
by them
as your servant
worn
and in keeping
them
there is
great
reward
is that
not
a gift
of God's
grace
the law
is
truth
of God
it is
God's
word
graciously
delivered
God's
word
come
down
to us
written
in black
and white
where we
can read
it
and hold
it
and see
the heart
of God
it communicates
the holiness
of God
it communicates
the sinfulness
of man
that is
God's
grace
but John
is showing
us again
once again
as good
as that was
something better
has come
Jesus Christ
has come
in Christ
grace has come
to us
in a much
fuller
more lasting
more permanent
more effective
way
Jesus Christ
is the word
of God
made flesh
the word
of God
come
down
to us
full
of grace
and truth
in the
tabernacle
God drew
near
in part
but in
Christ
now
he has
come
in full
to dwell
with
sinners
God
manifested
his glory
for the
Old Testament
saints
like
like rays
off of
the sun
but
now
in Christ
the sun
himself
has come
to dwell
with us
and we
have seen
his glory
and God
graciously
delivered his
word
but now
in Christ
the word
was made
flesh
and dwelt
among us
full
of grace
and truth
that he
might be
received
and that we
might be
transformed
you all
have probably
heard me
quote this
poem from
John Bunyan
before
not Paul
Bunyan
John Bunyan
run
John run
the law
demands
but gives
us neither
feet nor
hands
far better
news the
gospel brings
which bids
us fly
and gives
us
wings
see the
law
graciously
reveals God's
will to us
it makes
demands
but it
does not
give us
the ability
to obey
it
none of
us are
able to
keep it
and when
sinners see
the law
when we
come face
to face
with that
holy law
of God
all it
does is
expose
our sin
all it
does is
show us
how far
we fall
short
from the
glory of
God
even if
we try
to obey
it in
our own
flesh
the way
we go
about
obeying
the law
is
sinful
we need
something
better
we need
the saving
grace of
God to
come to
us in
fullness
we need
God's grace
to come in
power to
declare us
innocent not
because of our
obedience but
because of the
obedience of
another one who
who came down
from heaven to
perfectly obey the
law in our
place
we need
the grace
of God
to come
and to
change us
from the
inside out
so that we
we're made
new
we're made
capable
of obeying
so that we
want to
obey the
law of
God
so that we
we can
obey the
law of
God
by his
grace
we need
the grace
of God
to give
us
new
hearts
that love
the Lord
with all
our heart
mind
soul
and strength
and love
our neighbor
as ourself
we don't
just need
a little bit
of grace
church
we need
fullness
of grace
and truth
John tells
us that
that is what
Jesus extends
to sinners
this morning
are you
drinking
from the
fountain
of the
grace
of God
not just
once
but over
and over
and over
and over
and over
again
Martin
Luther
he says
this spring
he's talking
about the
spring of
God's
grace
this spring
is
inexhaustible
it is full
of grace
and truth
from God
it never
loses
anything
no matter
how much
we draw
but remains
an infinite
fountain
of all
grace
and truth
the more
you draw
from it
the more
abundantly
it gives
of the water
that springs
into eternal
life
just as the
sun is not
darkened
by the whole
world enjoying
its light
and could
indeed light
up ten
worlds
just as
one hundred
thousand
lights might
be lit
from one
light
and not
detract
from it
just as
one learned
man is able
to make
a thousand
others
learned
and the
more he
gives
the more
he has
so is
Christ
our Lord
an infinite
source
of all
grace
so that if
the whole
world would
draw enough
grace and
truth from
it to make
the world
all angels
yet it would
not lose
a drop
the fountain
always runs
over
full
of grace
I'll ask
you again
are you
drinking
from the
fountain
of God's
grace
in Christ
I want
our church
to be
marked
by grace
not just
saved by
grace
but transformed
by his
grace
let me tell
you
what that
might look
like
as we
close
it might
look like
a group
of people
whose
burdens
are
lifted
we no
longer
have to
labor
and to
strive
by our
own effort
to earn
anything
before God
it's been
given to
us by
his
infinite
grace
in
Christ
that might
look like
joy
and peace
and happiness
and contentment
might look like
hope
hope
overflowing
it might
look like
humility
as we
imitate
Christ
who
emptied
himself
considered
equality
with God
not a
thing
to be
grasped
but took
the form
of a
servant
became
obedient
to the
point of
death
even death
on a
cross
it might
look like
us growing
to reflect
the glory
of God
as we
let grace
transform
us
into
his
image
and it
might look
like
grace
extended
through
us
to the
world
around
us
you know
this
grace
is not
just
meant
to be
received
and kept
to
ourselves
if you
have
tasted
of the
grace
of God
share
it
share
it
with others
around
you
that
all
might
taste
and see
that
the
Lord
is
good
amen
let's
pray
Lord we
ask that
you would
make us
a people
marked by
your
grace
and we
praise you
that the
grace
of God
has come
in fullness
in the
person of
Christ
Lord so
that if
any
sinner
would turn
and believe
and trust
in him
his sins
would be
wiped
away
not only
that he
would be
made
like you
further and
further conformed
into your
image
and so we
pray
Father that
this church
would be
marked by
your grace
we pray
that others
would come
to know
you
as we
extend
your grace
to others
we pray
this in
Christ's
name
amen
to
him
you