Beginning and Ending
Greek: "arche" (ar-khay)

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - (Revelation 1:8)

Jesus is the beginning of everything. John says that nothing that was made was made except by him. Before the earth was fully created Jesus spoke the world into existence. By his word the worlds were made, the stars were put into place, planets began to march around the sun, and the universe came into existence in a moment. He is the initiator of all that we know and have ever experienced. In fact, John says he has life and is the author of all life. (John 1:1-2) As the Father has life in himself so the Son has life in himself and to whomever he gives it. (John 5:26) Everything that exists, tangible or intangible, living or inanimate was made by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)

He is the beginning.
He is the starting place. He jump started everything in the universe. Nothing happens without him initiating it. He knows the end from the beginning and everything in between. He is like a perfect circle, having neither beginning or ending, but yet it has a beginning and a place to end. Everything starts with him and ends with him.

Both John and Paul say our life began when Jesus came in. John says, "You must be born again" that means we must be born from above. (John 3:3) We all are dead ending to eternal death until we get a new start. Jesus is the place of new beginnings. We are born again by the living Word of God, Jesus, the word of God that lives and abides forever. (1 Peter 1:23) John says in 1 John 5:12, "He that has the son has life and he that has not the Son of God has not life." That puts it pretty clearly. Life begins with Jesus.

The Apostle Paul says He (Jesus) makes everything new. He makes us new creatures, new people with a new heart and life. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) He also includes wonderful faith-filled promises from thing "Do-Over King." "He that began a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ." (Philip. 1:6)

Do you need a new beginning?
Do you need a fresh start? Ask Jesus. He came to give you a new beginning. He spoke the world into existence without anything else. He can and will speak the word and call your new life into existence too. "Oh, you say, I have a new life in Christ but I've messed it up. I've ruined that new life." Now wait a minute. Let's go back to the beginning in Genesis 1:1. What do we find there? "The earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep." Now, there is a fine mess! The world, the earth, was in chaos and darkness and total useless ruin. What did Jesus do? He spoke the word and brought order to chaos. He can do it for you just as easily. Call upon him. He will make you over anew.

As you consider taking the name of the Lord into the next year consider him who is the beginning of all good things and the ending of all the bad and carry him with you into this coming year. He is the Lord of new beginnings. Begin anew with him.

Use in Scripture

• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
• Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
• Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
• Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
• Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
• Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
• Jude 1:24 -25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Look into the Book

New life is in the Son of God. Eternal life has a beginning but no ending.
• John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
• Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
• 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abides for ever.

Questions to Discuss

1. Jesus is the starting place for all new things. Consider together all the people Jesus encountered, how many of them had new beginnings out of bad starts? (Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, Matthew, etc.)
2. Share your personal testimony of a new start with Jesus.
3. Share some personal experience of failure when God gave you a new start, a do-over.

Songs:

From the Inside Out - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j7ZdKtGcSo

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

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