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One of the great tragedies of life is the inability or the neglect of a father to pass on to his children the benefits of his experience. Fathers must instruct, warn, and encourage their children. This series of messages is from John’s first epistle and is titled “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”
First John is the most intimate letter in the New Testament. Although John touched on many fundamental doctrines and truths, it was not his purpose to write a letter formally dealing with doctrine, as was most often true with the apostle Paul.
First John deals with family matters. The Christian family, the Church. We could compare it to a letter from a father to his children who need to be encouraged, perhaps reprimanded, and mostly to be reminded that God is love and that they are to show God’s love constantly through their lives.
In this message John tells us three things about Jesus;
You can see the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/G7LtSVL38hY
For an audio recording of the sermon only click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
First John is the most intimate letter in the New Testament. Although John touched on many fundamental doctrines and truths, it was not his purpose to write a letter formally dealing with doctrine, as was most often true with the apostle Paul.
First John deals with family matters. The Christian family, the Church. We could compare it to a letter from a father to his children who need to be encouraged, perhaps reprimanded, and mostly to be reminded that God is love and that they are to show God’s love constantly through their lives.
In this message John tells us three things about Jesus;
- That he’s the source of life;
- He’s the subject of the preaching of the gospel, and;
- Because of Who He is we share our faith
You can see the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/G7LtSVL38hY
For an audio recording of the sermon only click the YouTube link at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture Reading:
1 John 1:1-10 NIV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Text:
I John 1:3 NKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Introduction
First John is the most intimate letter in the New Testament. Although John touched on many fundamental doctrines and truths, it was not his purpose to write a letter formally dealing with doctrine, as was most often true with the apostle Paul.
First John deals with family matters. The Christian family, the Church. We could compare it to a letter from a father to his children who need to be encouraged, perhaps reprimanded, and mostly to be reminded that God is love and that they are to show God’s love constantly through their lives.
There was also an urgent reason why John wrote this letter when he did. A group of so-called Christians known as Gnostics were perpetrating a heresy within the church. We talked a lot about Gnostics in Bible Study when we studied the book of Collosians. The Gnostics were teaching that all matter is inherently evil, and God, being good, could have nothing to do with evil matter, and of course, humans are matter. Therefore they taught that God could not have been incarnate in the body of Jesus. They said that Jesus only appeared to have lived in the flesh, that he was nothing more than a phantom. To John this false teaching was taking the heart out of the Christian faith. So his letter is a public declaration, in that, it proclaims what was shown and proved in the life of Jesus Christ.
The introductory section to John’s letter is;
I John 1:1-4 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
In this section John told us three things about Jesus;
First John said that Jesus is the source of our life (1 John 1:1–2).
I John 1:1-2 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
John proclaims that Jesus is the source of life and at the same time he presents a series of proofs about Jesus’ humanity.
First, he said that he and his fellow disciples heard Jesus speak. The verb heard is in the perfect tense, which means they had heard Jesus not just one time, but repeatedly, and his words had been etched in their hearts.
Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Here's an example of His disciples remembering something that they heard Jesus say`
John 2:18-22 NKJV So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
First, John said that they had heard Jesus next he declared that they had seen Jesus.
The word John used for “seen” means more than having received a visual image on the retina of the eye. It means that he had understood, had perceived, had discerned.
Peter’s response to Jesus’ question “but who do you say that I am?” is an example of having seen Jesus the way that John means it here;
Matthew 16:16-17 NKJV Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
John said they had seen and then he said, “which we have looked upon.”
Here he used another word that means to gaze at with wonder, awe, or reverence.
There’s a praise song that has lyrics that include’
"Praise you Jesus, Magnify your name, your glory I proclaim, what a wonderful name”
That’s what John was talking about when he wrote; “which we have looked upon.”
Finally, John said that they had “handled” Jesus with his hands.
John uses the Greek word, handid, which is the same word as the one recorded in Luke, that Jesus used after his resurrection to prove to his disciples that he was not a spirit but that he had a body.
Luke 24:39 NKJV Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
Verse 2 of 1 John is an expansion of what John said in verse 1.
In verse one he wrote;
I John 1:1 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
Then he expanded on that by saying;
I John 1:2 NKJV the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
In essence he is saying that Jesus, the source of our life, has been demonstrated, and there is no way that his existence, death, or resurrection can be denied! Because they had heard Him, seen Him, and handled Him.
1 John 1:1-10 NIV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
Text:
I John 1:3 NKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Introduction
First John is the most intimate letter in the New Testament. Although John touched on many fundamental doctrines and truths, it was not his purpose to write a letter formally dealing with doctrine, as was most often true with the apostle Paul.
First John deals with family matters. The Christian family, the Church. We could compare it to a letter from a father to his children who need to be encouraged, perhaps reprimanded, and mostly to be reminded that God is love and that they are to show God’s love constantly through their lives.
There was also an urgent reason why John wrote this letter when he did. A group of so-called Christians known as Gnostics were perpetrating a heresy within the church. We talked a lot about Gnostics in Bible Study when we studied the book of Collosians. The Gnostics were teaching that all matter is inherently evil, and God, being good, could have nothing to do with evil matter, and of course, humans are matter. Therefore they taught that God could not have been incarnate in the body of Jesus. They said that Jesus only appeared to have lived in the flesh, that he was nothing more than a phantom. To John this false teaching was taking the heart out of the Christian faith. So his letter is a public declaration, in that, it proclaims what was shown and proved in the life of Jesus Christ.
The introductory section to John’s letter is;
I John 1:1-4 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
In this section John told us three things about Jesus;
- That he’s the source of life;
- He’s the subject of the preaching of the gospel, and;
- Because of Who He is we share our faith
First John said that Jesus is the source of our life (1 John 1:1–2).
I John 1:1-2 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
John proclaims that Jesus is the source of life and at the same time he presents a series of proofs about Jesus’ humanity.
First, he said that he and his fellow disciples heard Jesus speak. The verb heard is in the perfect tense, which means they had heard Jesus not just one time, but repeatedly, and his words had been etched in their hearts.
Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Here's an example of His disciples remembering something that they heard Jesus say`
John 2:18-22 NKJV So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
First, John said that they had heard Jesus next he declared that they had seen Jesus.
The word John used for “seen” means more than having received a visual image on the retina of the eye. It means that he had understood, had perceived, had discerned.
Peter’s response to Jesus’ question “but who do you say that I am?” is an example of having seen Jesus the way that John means it here;
Matthew 16:16-17 NKJV Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
John said they had seen and then he said, “which we have looked upon.”
Here he used another word that means to gaze at with wonder, awe, or reverence.
There’s a praise song that has lyrics that include’
"Praise you Jesus, Magnify your name, your glory I proclaim, what a wonderful name”
That’s what John was talking about when he wrote; “which we have looked upon.”
Finally, John said that they had “handled” Jesus with his hands.
John uses the Greek word, handid, which is the same word as the one recorded in Luke, that Jesus used after his resurrection to prove to his disciples that he was not a spirit but that he had a body.
Luke 24:39 NKJV Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
Verse 2 of 1 John is an expansion of what John said in verse 1.
In verse one he wrote;
I John 1:1 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
Then he expanded on that by saying;
I John 1:2 NKJV the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
In essence he is saying that Jesus, the source of our life, has been demonstrated, and there is no way that his existence, death, or resurrection can be denied! Because they had heard Him, seen Him, and handled Him.
John said that Jesus is the subject of the preaching of the gospel (1 John 1:3).
In verse 1 John spoke of the “Word of life.”
I John 1:1 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
John identifies the Word of life as Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
This wasn’t the first time that John identifies Jesus as the Word of life;
John 1:1-7 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
He is saying in his letter that this same Christ, the Word, is the One they heard, saw and handled.
Next John said something very very shocking.
I John 1:3 NKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
He said, “Our fellowship is with the Father.” How dare a sinful creature presume that he can fellowship with the almighty God of creation!
Well the secret to that is in the blessed intercessor, Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:34 NKJV Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
That’s how a sinful creature can have fellowship with the almighty God of creation.
Jesus introduced people to God as “the Father.” Our fellowship with God as heavenly Father comes through our relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 14:8-10 NKJV Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
Therefore Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the subject of the preaching of the gospel.
Then John wrote that we share our faith because of Who Jesus is (1 John 1:4).
Let's go back to;
I John 1:3-4 NKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Notice the order in these verses with regard to joy.
John says that real joy comes after our fellowship with God, and His Son has been established; "we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."
This unique relationship is what enables us to experience true joy.
Jesus wanted his followers have joy
Never in the Bible are Christians instructed to be depressed or pessimistic.
John 16:33 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
One of the goals Jesus had in mind as he taught his disciples was for them to experience joy.
John 15:11 NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Now I want you to go to;
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What was the joy?
It was the completion of our salvation. Likewise, our joy is based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Salvation and joy are inseparable. This contagious joy is why we share our faith.
I Peter 1:6-9 NKJV In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Conclusion
This is the Christ we serve. He is the source of our life, the subject of our preaching. Because of who he is, we share our faith so that others may know this inexpressible and glorious joy!
I John 1:1-4 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
In verse 1 John spoke of the “Word of life.”
I John 1:1 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
John identifies the Word of life as Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
This wasn’t the first time that John identifies Jesus as the Word of life;
John 1:1-7 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
He is saying in his letter that this same Christ, the Word, is the One they heard, saw and handled.
Next John said something very very shocking.
I John 1:3 NKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
He said, “Our fellowship is with the Father.” How dare a sinful creature presume that he can fellowship with the almighty God of creation!
Well the secret to that is in the blessed intercessor, Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:34 NKJV Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
That’s how a sinful creature can have fellowship with the almighty God of creation.
Jesus introduced people to God as “the Father.” Our fellowship with God as heavenly Father comes through our relationship with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 14:8-10 NKJV Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
Therefore Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the subject of the preaching of the gospel.
Then John wrote that we share our faith because of Who Jesus is (1 John 1:4).
Let's go back to;
I John 1:3-4 NKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Notice the order in these verses with regard to joy.
John says that real joy comes after our fellowship with God, and His Son has been established; "we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."
This unique relationship is what enables us to experience true joy.
Jesus wanted his followers have joy
Never in the Bible are Christians instructed to be depressed or pessimistic.
John 16:33 NKJV These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
One of the goals Jesus had in mind as he taught his disciples was for them to experience joy.
John 15:11 NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Now I want you to go to;
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What was the joy?
It was the completion of our salvation. Likewise, our joy is based on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Salvation and joy are inseparable. This contagious joy is why we share our faith.
I Peter 1:6-9 NKJV In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Conclusion
This is the Christ we serve. He is the source of our life, the subject of our preaching. Because of who he is, we share our faith so that others may know this inexpressible and glorious joy!
I John 1:1-4 NKJV That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
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