The Christlikeness of God

“No man hath seen God at any time;
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,
He hath declared Him.”
John 1:18

Ever wonder what God looks like? No one has ever seen God, and indeed, since He is Spirit, we cannot see Him. However, John says that God has revealed Himself fully and completely in the person of Jesus Christ. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, is eternally and completely God. He created the world and gave life to every human being, all of whom rejected Him. If they wanted to know God, they could have looked at Jesus Christ. As Jesus Himself said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). If we want to know what God looks like, John tells us: He looks like Jesus Christ. If you ever wonder how God acts, observe the works of Jesus. If you wonder how God speaks, hear the words of Jesus. Jesus is God.
Second, John says that the ministry of Jesus was essentially one of revealing God. Jesus Himself said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Jesus did not come to be a superstar or make a name for Himself; He came to reveal God. And He has explained the Father in a way that no one else could, because He is God.
If anyone knows God, it would be God’s only Son, Jesus. Jesus enjoys a special place of eternal fellowship with the Father (cf. 1:1). He has always been with God and has always been God. He is God’s special and unique Son. Any religion or belief that denies the deity of Jesus Christ has also denied God the Father. Again John’s words ring out clearly, “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” (1 John 2:23). We must believe in Jesus Christ.

A Gracious Ministry

“And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:16–17

Jesus of Nazareth is eternal God who has always existed as God. Although He created the world and gave life to every human being., he was rejected when He came to that world bringing life. However, God will make those who believe in His Son His children. This gift of God to all who believe in Jesus is a most gracious gift. In fact, the entire ministry of Jesus was one of grace.
Grace is a gift, something we do not deserve. Sinful human beings who have rebelled against their Creator do not have any right to enjoy a relationship with that Creator. But John says that God will graciously bestow that privilege on all who believe in Jesus. That’s grace! The work of Jesus Christ was one of undeserved kindness to us. God’s Son left heaven and humbled himself and lived with us as a poor man—that’s grace! He demonstrated kindness, love, and compassion on people around Him, most of whom rejected Him—that’s grace! He was abused, insulted, and ultimately killed by people He created—that’s grace! Jesus’ ministry was one gracious act after another: grace upon grace.
That graciousness culminated in His death and resurrection, which fulfilled and brought to an end the Mosaic Law. In the words of Galatians, “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4–5). Jesus’ ministry of grace made us God’s children, freeing us from the bondage of the Law to obey and please God. The life Jesus brings is one of grace and truth.