Let's Start Before the Beginning, Part 1

Think about when did Jesus come into existence in Bethlehem than 2000 years ago. Earlier, when the world was created today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll presents a brand-new miniseries designed to prepare us for the Christmas celebration and in this first presentation will take us back to the very beginning of time. First, and right after Chuck finishes reading from the Bible with beautiful musical performance from the children of stone prior community church based on John chapter 1 will be singing the word was God Bible chapter 1. Once that's located, then go to Philippians chapter 2 John one. The first five verses along with verse 14 over two, three verses found in that wonderful section of Philippians 2 ties in beautifully to the story of our Savior's coming to earth. Once you find your place.

Please stand with one another for the reading of the Scriptures. I'm reading from the new living translation.

As we read the Scriptures this day. In the beginning. The word already existed.

The word was with God the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.

God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The word gave life to everything that was created in his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish verse 14. So the word became flesh and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faith and faithfulness and we have seen his glory, the glory of the father's one and only son now to Philippians 2.

I'll begin the reading in verse six, down through verse eight. Though he was God. He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges.

He took the humble position of the sleeve and was born as a human being when he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on the cross is interesting when you trace the Christmas story in the Scriptures.

It's different from tracing it on this earth in Christmas cards and in literature we read the Bible takes us back to a beginning, which really never had a beginning, as we shall see, and carries the story from infinity all the way to the Nativity ultimately to Calvary offering for us the love of the father who would send his son on our behalf. That's the story. Thanks to the children's choir is stone prior community church to set up today's message with the appropriate song word was God and I today's message from Chuck Swindoll. Let's start before the beginning furthers it all again this Christmas story ask the average individual in our country and I'm sure the person will say Bethlehem it was it was Mary's baby came and the shepherds arrived and then later the wise men came with their gifts and and the child grew it all began their but but it didn't that that wasn't the beginning and five in order to begin at the beginning we have to start where there is no beginning, so allow me to be your tour guide on this very unusual journey. We will take so unusual because I've never been to the destination and you haven't either. In fact, no one on this earth has ever been there, which adds to the fact that it is not only unusual it may seem a little here reading because, for we are going, there is no time, no sound vector silence is deafening. There is in fact nothing as we travel to infinity eternity past. Now, in order for us to take his tour together. I will have to take our vehicles and you have yours and I have mine will be the fuel that will drive the vehicle and will need to keep the fuel lines open so that we have enough to take us there and then back into time as we follow the instructions of the map. Interestingly, we all have the vehicle but we don't all have the same amount of fuel are vehicle that will travel in his mind, and the fuel is our imagination and some more equipment. Just naturally, with more imagination than another, so they could travel longer and farther than those with a limited amount of imagination. So I'll try to make the journey interesting enough, and short enough that we can take in enough of it for it to make sense. The challenging part of it all is that even if we have the vehicle and the fuel and even if we arrive at this eatery in unusual destination will not be able to take it all in it of is beyond us. The reason is because in this place, for there is no time or creature, or even met her. Everything we know on this earth is is absent so it's easy to be disoriented unless we focus on what was there and in the infinity eternity past, there is only the Trinity, the father the son and the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal coexistent. The focus of our attention is on the second member of the Trinity because he becomes the one who leaves the presence of the others and becomes the only member of the Trinity who has a body, a tangible, visible body, God the father is the spirit and no one has seen God at any time, God the spirit is such a God the son when he became a man, took upon himself human flesh, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I need to come back to this map, I mentioned in you.

You have your copy of it and I have mine and because it is a reliable map will look to it because let's face it, no Christmas card will ever be able to adequately portray infinity and no Christmas pageant could ever set forth the scene so we must rely on the map and because the directions in the map are limited to words will have to use are vehicle and engage the fuel to picture it as it transpired infinity past in eternity past the took place what theologians have come to call the Council of divine decrees, stay with me at this counselor divine decrees. A plan was arranged by the Trinity regarding life, not just life on this planet. But life as a whole and not just this galaxy, but all galaxies and every place for the Trinity determined there would be something then that was in the plan, including on this earth. A plan of salvation. So you see, you didn't not all begin at Bethlehem, it didn't begin, just when the angel said to Mary you are the chosen one incident began when she felt that first movement in the womb, the embryo becoming fetus and ultimately the baby though it goes all the way back into infinity, which is where John begins.

All of your life chances are good you got it all began in Genesis 1 in the beginning God created the heavens and the no no no that's when God created John one goes back before there was anything created.

I told you. The journey was going to be a bit taxing, so keep your mind engaged. Keep a few lines open and picture the scene as John records it in a beginning was the word. John's favorite name for Jesus is logged on us. I am for lack of a better term, I call it his nickname.

Lagos is too complicated for me to get into so willing to stay with the term word which is the translation of the Greek Lagos, but more importantly than that for a moment is that there is no definite article before beginning. In the original text is simply reads, and RK in a beginning and how Lagos in a beginning, which really never has a beginning eternally existed Lagos. There were definite article, we could have a point of time, like your beginning when you were implanted in your mother's womb, and you in fetal form or embryonic form grew into a fetus and finally a baby, but that's not for this begins removing into infinity where there isn't a beginning, there simply the immensity of space without limits upon a quick list together to try to get my head around it and stopped after I got beyond my ability to take it in. Listen to this. The immensity of limitless space absolute and perfect tranquility describing eternity past the absence of any and all conflict between good and evil.

The Godhead existing in uncreated perfection, harmony and love in this domain of of the divine words like before and after, don't apply. Those are time words. Words like early and late don't fit words like before and after receipt. Those are our words that orient us to time.

But when you are in infinity. There is no start or finish beginning or ending early or late before or after.

There is the ever present now for the coequal, coeternal coexistent Trinity existed in perfect sovereignty, self-sufficient, with a complete absence of frustration in the presence of limitless power. That's the seat of the counselor divine decrees.

The father determined that the sun would be the one who would come look at the way the map reads the word was with God the Word was God Leslie be confused. We will use the word deity.

Lagos was deity. There are many people who teach about Jesus, but they deny his deity to do so is to deny John 11 right out of the chute, we read that Lagos is deity. He existed in the beginning with God and that God created everything through him.

Most people don't know that we think of the father is the creator, but in fact it was the second member of the Trinity, who was given that responsibility in the counselor divine decrees, we read that he existed in the beginning and created everything.

In fact, to make clear. John goes on to say the universe. Three. Nothing was created except through him. There was no alien creation. There is no surprising event. All planned or carried out through the limitless power of the second member of the Trinity. Brand-new message from Chuck Swindoll.

It's the first in the holiday series designed to prepare us for the Christmas celebration right around the corner. Chuck titled this message. Let's start for the beginning to learn more about this ministry. Visit us online@insightworld.org we set aside several minutes. At the closing of today's insight for living to hear a personal comment from Chuck the first would like to give you a glimpse of Chuck's teaching schedule in the new year in January were pleased to tell you that Chuck will begin a comprehensive study through the magnificent gospel according to Matthew. This first book in the New Testament tells the story of our King from his arrival in Bethlehem to his ascension into heaven in order to prepare for this brand-new series, you may want to secure Swindoll's living insights commentary for Matthew comes into hardbound volumes and it's written in a style that's easy to understand and the format is simple to navigate. These are excellent reference books that belong in the library of anyone who is a student of the Bible to purchase Swindoll's living insights commentary for Matthew go to insight.org/store if you're listening in the United States and you prefer to call use this number 1-800-772-8888 well 2020 has presented all sorts of unexpected moments and check one of the surprises included the tragic loss of your sister every brother in this vast world would be fortunate to have a big sister like mine whose name was Lucy, just a few years my senior, and one in enormous inspiration.

She was to me.

Gratefully, most of my memories about my sis or filled with hilarious laughter.

One spontaneous story after another. Lucy would have our entire family doubled over laughing so hard. Our eyelids flipped out and the memory of those lighthearted moments helps us right now because is most of you know we lost Lucy just a few weeks ago.

Her three year decline and ended on 20 October when she left us and stepped into the gates of glory.

I share this personal sorrow with you because I know that you have suffered some losses in 2020 as well.

It may not of been the death of your sister, but perhaps you went through financial setback.

Maybe a layoff from your job or even the loss of your health. I want you to know that I see you I hear you and I share your sadness. More importantly, God does the prophet Isaiah described Jesus as a man of sorrows and acquainted with our deepest grief and so this month as we close the books on one of the most challenging years in human history we do so not in defeat, but in the anticipated joy of heaven's promise, and as we finished the last chapter of 2020 and open a brand-new page 2 2021, I invite you to join us in our all out effort to bring this joy, hope and comfort to a global audience of men and women just like you and me.

Many are confused by year of profound losses.

With all my heart. I've never felt stronger about bringing joy to the joyless hope to the hopeless and great comfort to you who heard and you could do that with me by financially supporting insight for living. You know, Lucy inherited a Swindoll trait, like me, she was, well, loud. She attended the church I pastor every Sunday morning and I knew exactly where she was sitting because of her booming contralto voice when we would sing those hymns and songs of praises.

There was such beauty and fullness in the music because of her voice as her brother and the preacher, I'll admit to you I found Solis and great delight in hearing Lucy take the harmony as I would usually take the melody and now it's your turn. This is your time of the year to harmonize with us.

We need your voice to insight for living is never missed a day of broadcasting in 2020 as long as God gives me breath. I'll be right here for you every single day of 2021.

Please follow God's lead was hear from you. Give whatever amount he is placed on your heart to do so soon together but still the world. You're not alone. God hears your voice.

Please take this occasion to let your voice be heard. Here's how to respond to Chuck Swindoll right now you're listening in the United States. Call 1-800-772-8888 also use our convenient mobile app or go directly to our website@insight.org for nonprofit ministries like insight for living there's no more important month in the calendar year in December give a year-end donation by calling us listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or give online@insight.for Dave Spike Chuck Swindoll's message titled, let's start before the beginning continues Tuesday on insight for living. The preceding message.

Let's start before the beginning was copyrighted in 2019 and 2020 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2001 by Charles are swindling. All rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited