Mike Ratliff wrote in his recent blog about John 1:

The first and foremost is that the purpose of Christ and Christianity is not primarily the Church, but the glory of God.

I am convinced that most churches have become too self-focused and too much involved in keeping themselves afloat rather than just being about a place where the sheep can rest beside still waters finding rest for their souls.

On that first point, it should be obvious if we just read our old catechisms ….

WSC Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

WLC Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

If you search you can find copies with the scripture proofs also.

The chief and highest end is God’s Glory in everything.

On Mike’s comment about the church. I agree. Too much focus on ourselves this can be easily missed, we can even think we are worshiping God using false means. I made a comment about that in an earlier of his posts:

The part about keeping themselves afloat is also true…much compromise in the church is justified as being seeker friendly so as not to drive people away, larger congregations (even Mega-churches/Multi-site churches) are glorified. Many become entertainment centers, and have huge budgets that must be supported by constantly calling on generous giving. I do appreciate the small Reformed Church I became connected with through our friends Art and Lori over a decade ago, it’s a simple worship and directed to God’s Glory. The Pastor of 30 years is not focused on the modern church growth ideas…is biblically solid and very pastoral with his flock. I do a weekly Bible study via zoom with a few of his connected people from various places around the US and Canada.

There is another side of the modern church that I’ve frequently seen. It takes the form of a constant preaching on service. Now servicing our neighbors is a good thing. But I’ve seen at times that the slider is set all the way over making it the hallmark of the church. Connected with this is the lack of teaching of doctrine or the many other truths in the Bible. Anyway I may have more thoughts on that later.

On Mike’s overall quoting of John 1, I did look up the Geneva Bible Notes on a few verses.

The John 1:11 verse is sad here at the beginning….and many times I’ve referred to a like verse John 6:66 read in that great sixth chapter.

John 6:66

6:66 {15} From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

(15) Such is the malice of men, that they bring about their own destruction, even in hearing the very doctrine of salvation, but there are a few who believe through the singular gift of God.

And Paul seems to comment on what John wrote about our adoption with these words in his letter to Ephesians. It just confirms the heart of the reformed teaches of our faith.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

You can read the John 1 Geneva notes here:

John 1:11

1:11 He came {r} unto his own, and his own received him not.

(r) The Word showed himself again when he came in the flesh.

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John 1:12

1:12 {6} But as many as received him, to them gave he {s} power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

(6) The Son being shut out by the majority of his people, and acknowledged but by a few, regenerates those few by his own strength and power, and receives them into that honour which is common to all the children of God, that is, to be the sons of God.

(s) He condescended to give them this power to take them to be his children.

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John 1:13

1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the {t} will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(t) Of that shameful and corrupt nature of man, which is throughout the scriptures described as an enemy of the spirit.

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John 1:14

1:14 {7} And the Word was made {u} flesh, and {x} dwelt among us, (and we beheld his {y} glory, the glory {z} as of the only begotten of the Father,) {a} full of grace and truth.

(7) That Son who is God from everlasting took upon himself man’s nature, so that one and the selfsame might be both God and man, who manifestly appeared to many witnesses that saw him, amongst whom he was conversant and unto whom by sure and undoubted arguments he showed both of his natures.

(u) That is, man: so that, by the figure of speech synecdoche, the part is taken for the whole: for he took upon himself our entire nature, that is to say, a true body, and a true soul.

(x) For a time, and when that was ended, he went up into heaven: for the word which he uses is used with reference to tents: and yet nonetheless he is always present with us, though not in flesh, but by the power of his spirit.

(y) The glory which he speaks of here is that manifestation of Christ’s majesty, which was as it were openly placed before our eyes when the Son of God appeared in the flesh.

(z) This word “as” does not indicate here a likeness, but rather the truth of the matter, for his meaning is this, that we saw such a glory which suited and was proper for the true and only begotten Son of God, who is Lord and King over all the world.

(a) He was not only a partaker of grace and truth, but was full of the very substance of grace and truth.

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