Bible Study: John 1:4 ~ In Him was Life

[Note: Bible Studies here at Faith Reviewed are compiled simply with prayer, the Word of God, and a keyboard. They tend to be based primarily on the King James Version only because it is familiar and in the public domain in the USA, which means no copyright issues regardless of how much of the text is quoted. Feel free to use your favorite translation as we study God's Word together.]

  Bible Study:  John 1:4 - The Light and the Life  

       <Recommended Reading: John Chapter 1>        

John 1 verse 4

In him was life and the life was the light of men...

As we noted in a previous study on the first 3 verses of this chapter, Jesus is revealed as The Word, who was with God in the beginning, who is God and who created all things.

First John established Jesus' authority, now we get a glimpse of His mission and purpose in coming to earth. 

When John said, In him was life, he wasn't referring to the fact that Jesus was living and breathing here on earth. He was speaking of a much deeper concept of life. 

Jesus Himself spoke of this life, saying, 

I am come that they might have life, 

and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

What is this abundant life He came to give us?  Jesus had a lot to say about this life He came to impart to us. 

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, 

and giveth life unto the world.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and 

believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and 

shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

(John 6:33, 5:24, 6:63)

If you notice in the verses above, Jesus speaks of 2 methods by which He brings life. The first is Himself; He giveth life unto the world.

The second, He said, is His spoken Words - they are spirit, and they are life.

Later in the book of John, we learn more about this life as the apostle records Jesus' words for us.

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, 

though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25)

 Yes, in Jesus is life. And, also, He is life. The life He desires to give to us through Himself and His Word is His own life. 

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, 

the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 14:6)

In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares, 

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, 

but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live

in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.

What is this life Jesus came to bring us? His own life both given for upon the cross and lived out through us. 


Over 100 years ago, Daniel Whittle penned these beautiful words that would become a treasured, faith affirming hymn: 

Christ liveth in me, Christ liveth in me 

Oh! what a salvation this, That Christ liveth in me.

Man could not dream of such wondrous truth. Jesus, the One who gave His life for me, a unworthy sinner, chooses to live in me!  




(Note: This is not intended to be an exhaustive study by any means. There is definitely much more that can be said on the subject of Christ giving His life for us, being Life and living within us. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. In the next study, we will look at the rest of John 1:4 and also examine verse 5 : "...and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.")