In these words John gives us an important perspective on the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a simple statement that in a concise and precise way describes that remarkable event. There are many areas of experience in life where it is easy to speak carelessly and confidently about matters that we understand little of. We all have met the person who wants to convince us they are an expert in a certain field but we become aware their knowledge is seriously deficient. Just so, it is possible to speak of the birth of Christ in vague pious terms that never really get to the heart of the issue at all. Until we understand the doctrine that John states simply here we have not understood who Christ is or what He came to do. I THE THEOLOGY OF THIS TEXT. II AS THE INCARNATE GOD HE DWELT AMONG MEN. III A MIRACLE OF GRACE IMPLIED.