He Has Declared Him John 1:18c

Jesus Is The Last Word,
Period—Part 3
John 1:18
The Greatest Sermon Ever Lived
He has declared Him."

Introductory Thoughts

- As a race, we were created to know God, to be spiritually alive beings able to relate to God, but our parents fell, and with the fall, our natural spiritual ability to relate to God died.

1 Cor 2:14 "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

- Therefore, we live in a world that does not know God, nor much about Him.

-- The orthodox, Biblical view of God:

“Eternal, Invisible, God Only Wise, in Light inaccessible, hid from our eyes; most Gracious, most Glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, Victorious, Thy Great Name We Praise…”

--- The all-powerful, all-knowing, Sovereign, Holy, loving, eternal Jehovah God of Glory, who saves, keeps, and delivers

- The difficulty of speaking accurately about God’s nature.

-- Our minds are too weak to fully comprehend God.

-- The Scriptures are clear and true, but of necessity, they are not complete—we could not comprehend complete revelation, human words could not express it.

-- Our problem is that we not only need to know about God, we need a relationship with Him, we need mediation, redemption, salvation.

-- God has provided all of these and more, in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God and God the Son.

-- Into this world that does not know God, God has sent His Son, and He has made the Father known.

- We have looked at the invisibility of God, and at the Holy relationship between Father and Son. Now we will look at one of the little-appreciated aspects of the Person and Work of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: The Revelation of God.

- John 1:18- No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."


1. Christ Has Declared God— He has declared Him."

a. Declared—exegeomai: to consider out (aloud), i.e. rehearse, unfold.--declare, tell.

Luke 24:35 "And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread."

Acts 15:14 ""Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name."

(1) This is the same thing that is done in Biblical preaching, what we call exegesis, or exposition.

(2) Neh 8:8 "So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading."

b. What is required for exegesis.

(1) Head Knowledge—This is essential. You cannot unfold, explain, bring out, develop, apply, and declare Truth unless you know it.

(a) For Christ, this required no study. Since He was in very nature God (Phil 2:6), He had no need to study.

(b) For the preacher, the preacher must study. A man of God who is not a man of the book dedicated to study is a contradiction. You cannot faithfully fulfill the position of teaching pastor unless you study and know.

(2) Heart Knowledge—Head knowledge is not enough. There must be real, experiential knowledge, or there can be no true exposition. An unsaved, un-spiritual preacher is no preacher at all.

(a) Again, Christ is the source of spiritual life—He is the Fountain of Life, the Light of Life; His heart knowledge is equal to His head knowledge, which is to say, infinite.

(b) But for the pastor-teacher, he must be a man twice called: once to salvation and once to service. Without both calls, a man is not fit to preach. There must be real, experiential knowledge, or there can be no true exposition. An unsaved, un-spiritual preacher is no preacher at all; a saved but un-called man is no preacher at all.

c. What Happens in Exegesis—four ways that Christ has revealed the Person of the Father.

(1) Verbal Declaration— Neh 8:8 "So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; In declaration, the Word is read plainly, clearly, and in context. In declaration, the obvious and main Truths are stated clearly.

(a) Christ verbally declared the Person of the Father hundreds of times. There are 158 references alone of Christ referring to His heavenly Father in teaching, and many more indirect references.

John 3:35 ""The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand."

John 5:17-23 "But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 "that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."

John 5:26 ""For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,"

John 5:36-37 ""But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish; the very works that I do; bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 "And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form."

John 6:27 ""Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.""

John 6:32 "Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven."

John 6:37 ""All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."

John 6:39 ""This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day."


(2) Explanation—and they gave the sense, In explanation, we systematically lay out the meaning, organize and tie together the doctrine, deal with questions that arise, and in general make an organized presentation of Truth.

Mat 11:25-27 "At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

John 6:44-46 ""No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 "Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father."

(3) Illustration— and helped them to understand the reading."
(a) Illustration involves techniques of verbal, mental, or physical illustration to help people understand fully the meaning of doctrine which is taught.

(b) Jesus told parable after parable to illustrate Truth.

(c) Jesus Lived the Supreme Illustration of the Truth

(4) Application—Application explains the “do” which is required by the doctrine taught.

(a) In the case of the people of Nehemiah’s day, they realized from what they were taught that the sacred feasts and assemblies required by the Law were not being observed, and they obeyed the teaching immediately.

Neh 8:16-18 "Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. 17 So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner."

(5) In the Person of Christ, His life is an illustration and application of the Person of the Father.

2. The Revelation of God in Christ

a. Christ Declared the Father Before, in Christopanies

(1) The Man who came to see Abraham at Mamre
(2) The Burning Bush
(3) The Angel of the LORD
(4) The Man in the fiery furnace.

b. Christ Declared The Father During His Earthly Ministry

(1) Declaration— In ministry, in Word
(2) Explanation—In teaching and preaching
(3) Illustration—By His life example and by many parables.
(4) Application—

c. In personal holiness—the perfect Lamb

(1) He showed us that the Father is morally incorruptible.

(2) He showed us that the Father is truly lawful—

(a) The Law as it is, not man’s interpretation.

(b) The Law in all its fullness, not selective

d. In power

(1) He demonstrated power over the elements.

(2) He demonstrated power over disease

(3) He demonstrated power over demon spirits

(4) He demonstrated power over life and death.

e. In Sacrifice

(1) He showed us the Father’s hatred of Sin.

(2) He showed us the Father’s love for man.

(3) He showed us the Father’s Sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence, as the Plan was brought to fruition.

f. In Resurrection

(1) He showed us the Father’s absolute power over life and death.

(2) He showed us the Father’s faithfulness.

g. In Ascension

h. In Illumination (inspiration of the Scriptures through the Holy Spirit.

(1) He showed us the Father’s commitment to Truth.

(2) He showed us the Father’s desire to reveal what we need.

i. Christ Declares God in Intercession

(1) His intercession is authoritative—Rom 8: 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

(2) His intercession is effective—Heb 7:25 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him,

(3) His intercession is eternal—since He always lives to make intercession for them."

(4) His intercession is personal—Heb 7:25 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

3. Christ Will Declare God in Ultimate Victory

a. Christ is Returning

(i) The second coming of Christ is a cornerstone of Biblical doctrine.

(ii) It is not possible to be considered orthodox and evangelical unless you believe Jesus is coming back.

(iii) Our Lord promised it, the apostles confirmed it, and the entire book of Revelation celebrates it. Below are just a few examples of the verses that establish this fact.

Acts 1:11 "who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.""

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Th 4:16-18 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

b. The Doctrine of His Return
(1) The return of Christ will be visible. He will not come in secret; He will not come "mystically," or only to those with eyes to see Him. All humanity will witness His coming, and those who do not belong to Him will be terrified. Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(2) The Second Coming of Christ will be Bodily. He will not come "spiritually," He will return in His Body. He has a body now, a glorious body, witnessed by the apostle John (Rev 1:12-16), and when He comes in clouds of glory, it will be in that glorious body.


(3) He will come in Power and Glory--unlike His first coming, His true nature will not be concealed. He will come at the head of a heavenly army, as the conquering Sovereign that He is.

c. Every Knee Will Bow

Phil 2:9-11 "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."