A Proclamation From an Apostle for the Purpose of Fellowship
1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Over the next couple of months we will be going through the first epistle of John. While most scholars agree that this is a letter, it does not have the typical contents of a letter which generally include who is writing the letter, who the letter is being sent to, and a word of praise or thanksgiving. However, verse four makes an indication that these things are being written which is true of all scripture. There are aspects throughout the book that seem to deal with specific areas of the life of a Christian and issues in a particular church.
We will notice that John highlights the main point of His writing in verse three: to give opportunity for fellowship. But I want to walk through these verses and see exactly how this takes place.
First, John establishes
Credibility From the Eyewitnesses of Jesus
Credibility From the Eyewitnesses of Jesus
The theme of this book centers around the incarnation of Jesus and the fellowship, joy, and eternal life that is enjoyed by those who follow Him. The first verse here seems a bit vague as to what John is referring to but then He wrote, “concerning the word of life.” You’ll remember that the Gospel begins identifying Jesus in the same was. “In the beginning was the word…”
As a witness on the stand in court would do, John provides information to those who are reading that what he is saying is true based on his own experience. While Jesus had died and rose from the tomb only around 50 years before, there was already a strong group of people who opposed the idea that Jesus was God and that He did what John and other apostles were saying that He did. John uses the three strongest of our five senses to back up what He will say throughout the book about Jesus.
What comes next regarding Jesus is legitimate because John heard the words of Jesus. He heard Jesus when He said “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” He heard Jesus when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John heard His Lord rebuke the Pharisees when they attempted to entangle Him in lies. John knew the voice of Jesus. He heard His voice as they walked
He also saw the miracles that Jesus performed. He saw Jesus walk on water. He saw the way that He treated the vulnerable and poor. More than all of that, John and the other eleven saw Jesus after He had risen from the grave!
Finally, John touched Jesus. This point might go unnoticed but we must remember that many of those who doubted Jesus and the testimony of those who witnessed His earthly ministry either thought that He was not divine or that He was not a man. In this case, the recognition of touching Jesus supports the fact that He was a human being. And this comes after John has already supported His divinity based on the fact that He was seen performing miracles, heard making professing that He was the Christ, seen dying on the cross, and seen risen from the tomb.
All of these things support what will be said about Jesus in the remainder of this letter. If we look to apply this to our own lives, we have seen God work in our lives in the forgiveness of sins made possible by the finishing work of Jesus on the cross. His word has been revealed to us and we have heard it. And our lives have been touched in a mighty and powerful way. No, we are not apostles in the true sense of the term, but it can be said that we have experienced Jesus through our senses.
Thus far, only His credibility through the senses has been established. So what is being communicated about Jesus exactly? Next we see
Facts About Jesus from the Eyewitness
Facts About Jesus from the Eyewitness
Verse 5 is actually more of a parenthetical statement about what comes before, the word of life, meant to clarify what is being said. There are five facts included.
Jesus' life was manifested. In other words, it was spoken of previously through prophecy. We speak often of the prophecies that were fulfilled by His life, death, and resurrection. However, beyond that we must remember that Jesus is the final Adam. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49. “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”
He came to redeem all that was spoiled by the original sin that has been passed down from Adam to all people. Just as Adam was the first man, Christ was the first to be raised to new life and it is because of His resurrection that all men are able to be raised.
The life of Jesus was witnessed. This is clear based on the fact that John has already stated what He witnessed Himself about our Lord. It is a fact that Jesus was a man that walked here on earth. It cannot be denied and is supported by historians. Once it was witnessed,
Jesus’ life was proclaimed. The first time this takes place is in Matthew 28. Mary and Mary quickly departed from the tomb to tell the disciples that He had risen! This is a tradition that has continued from when it first happened until this very day. The proclamation of the risen Christ is happening here before your very eye!
The life of Jesus, which was proclaimed, is also eternal. John begins with this in verse one by saying that it was from the beginning but continues on to say that Jesus has always been and will always be. Because He is fully God, He defies all bounds of time.
Finally, Jesus is present with the Father. Acts 2:33 tells us that He has been exalted to the right hand of God and sits on the throne. This speaks to His location but also His role. Because of His location, we are reminded in Romans 8:34 that He is interceding for us or on our behalf!
Folks, this is the gospel. We live within the reality that there is a Savior whose life was seen and heard and touched. His life was proclaimed and is eternal and He is now in heaven, our reward, awaiting the day when we are called to be with Him there! If that doesn’t get you excited right there, I’m not sure what will!
Finally, John provides the goal of the book, his reason for writing.
What Was Heard is Now Proclaimed for Fellowship
What Was Heard is Now Proclaimed for Fellowship
This word fellowship is important. It is a word that we use fairly often that means to have in common or to share. It described the infant church in Acts 2 and other churches throughout the New Testament. The goal of writing these things down is that those who read it would be in fellowship with other believers such as John and the other apostles. However, that is not the only fellowship. John also expresses a desire for those that read to have fellowship with the Father and Jesus. In proclaiming more than just simple truths about Jesus, John has established that Jesus Christ was more than just a man and was more than just a spirit. On this earth, He was God in flesh, a flesh that was broken for us that we might live.
So, I tell you this morning that too is my goal in preaching this message: that we might have a stronger bond together because of what Christ has done in our lives and be drawn closer to the Father because of what was completed on the cross by Jesus, as has been revealed to us through the inspired word of God and the Holy Spirit. Such a bond is one that cannot be broken. It is a mighty thing that God has supplied.