JOHN 1:18 NKJV

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

JOHN 1:18 NKJV

John 1:18 No one has seen God: God is Spirit (4:24) and is invisible (Col. 1:15, 1 Tim. 1:17) unless God chooses to reveal Himself. Humans cannot look at God and live (Ex. 33:20). Abraham, the friend of God, did not see God. Even Moses, the lawgiver, could not look at God’s face (Ex. 33:22, 23). However, the Son is in intimate relationship with the Father, face-to-face with God (1:1; 6:46; 1 John. 1:2). God became visible to human eyes in the man Jesus. It is through seeing the Son that we see God. We cannot see Him today, but we know Him through His word. The bosom, or chest, is used here to designate a close and intimate relationship (13:23; Luke 16:23). The One who is the Father’s only begotten Son and who knows God intimately came to earth and declared Him. Begotten speaks of His unique relationship to the Father. Declared can also mean “explained.” Thus, Jesus Christ, who is of the essence of God (1:1), became a man (1:14) to explain God to us (1:18), especially the resolution of God’s mercy and judgment (grace and truth). One of the many blessings of grace (1:17) is knowledge of God (1:18). As we continuously behold His glory as revealed in Scripture, we are transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18). Imagine it! We who were created in the image of God but were defiled through sin now are restored by beholding Christ, the very essence of God. What better investment of time could there be than beholding Christ? It is the key to victory in the race (Heb. 12:2, 3).