1. John 1:1-5. Joy may be complete.

Intro: What? 1. John. Who? The author does not reveal himself, but it is believed to be John the beloved disciple. (Short about the structure of the bible, headlines, numbers are added later and are not part of the original writings). When… well, that is a good question and the smart people are saying early to late first century. Why? Some say the letter is more like a sermon that a letter, it is to make Joy complete, and it would seem to combat false teaching along with encouraging the readers. (Could be more than one church). PPT.

Sermon series in 1. John. (True love, real love, “the true definition of love”.)

Someone once said about when reading the letters in the new testament, to observe how the writer, shares what Jesus taut. As you read 1. John, you will see many similarities to the gospel of John, in writing and how Jesus taut John and the disciples.

John uses contrasts: Light/ darkness, Evil /good, Child of the devil /child of God. Life and eternal life/ no life death. Sin not obeying the commandment/ love obey Jesus’s commandment, Little children /John old,

The true definition of love.We love because God loved us first…

Eternal life – life in Jesus. Persists in sin, not of God,

Not confessing Jesus as Messiah/ believing in Jesus as the Messiah,

Loved by God = Loving his children

Lie, hate, = no love for God.

Sermon.

In today’s text we will read about life fellowship and joy.

That (Jesus) From the beginning, we have heard, seen with our eyes looked upon, touched with our hands, (Thomas) (Like in Like john 1.1 and Genesis 1.1 John uses in the beginning, he shares that Jesus is eternal, with God, and is the the word of God that took on flesh and dwelled among us. John is wanting to encourage the believers and correct false teaching about Jesus, in the introduction, there is a lot of focus on Jesus coming in the flesh, to be see, to be heard to be touched, and in verse 1. (Flesh and the body is not evil – it is what we do in the body, that makes it bad, the physical is not evil, )

(What is good about Jesus being with God and being eternal?)

Jesus is the word of life, the life that was made (obvious) revealed /made clear to us.

That is what the writer wants to proclaim and testify about, what they had seen and heard to tell others, about eternal life Jesus, who God let them see and hear, and proclaim to others,

that they too may have fellowship with them, and with them the Father and his Son Jesus Christ.

The reason, so joy may become complete. = Knowing Jesus as life, knowing he’s life death, resurrection can bring us in to fellowship (Koinonia) with God and one another.

And Joy becomes complete as we share that great news. If we struggle with Joy, are we proclaiming and sharing the good news about Jesus, are we trusting in Jesus as life? And for eternal life? Do we marvel at eternal life with God, in Jesus? Do I?

What islife what is the purpose of life, why am I here in this world? True life, the word of life, and eternal life is in Jesus, (see, heard, touched) made visible, his teaching heard, his body real a person that could be touched, God made manifest to people, he is the image of God. I don’t think John is asking the people to find out what their life is about, or why they are here and make up their own meaning, I will for fill my life this way or that way, no he points to Jesus to find and understand life. That God showed us in Jesus that true life is only found in Jesus. (Dose that create relief or frustration?). Knowing that only true life can be found in Jesus, frees us up to put our faith and trust in him, seeking his will and to know him more. We don’t have to run, travel try all things in the world to see if they give life, or truth or purpose. No, it is found in Jesus. Apart form me you can do nothing, Jesus said in John’s gospel. (But more specific, please Kristian what is my poupous in life, what does God have for me, that is a great question, and that is one of the joys of fellowship with Jesus is to explore what gifts, and talents you have to serve Jesus and his people, and who do you complete your joy everyday by sharing with others Jesus as true life). (Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.) How that is found in the scriptures, finding out who God is and rejoicing in God. Will lead to life in Jesus and joy, and love for other people. (No, life no true joy, Jesus life eternal now, and love for God and others). Are we growing in that?

Fellowship (koinonia) with other believers is made possible by the fellowship with the father and his son Jesus Christ. Then we can’t really be in true fellowship with one another apart for faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and the father. But if we have that fellowship, we do have fellowship with all his people. (And should love them), As our understanding of Jesus as life, eternal and joy in God grows, our love for Gods people will also grow, John will address they one that say he is a believer and hates his brother is walking in darkness and is blind, you can´t love God you have not seen and hate your brother that see right in front of you. What about in your life has that been true? As your understanding and love for God has grown has it grown for his people also? (For me yes, not always so much, but there are times, and even I feel a greater love for Jesus people that some in my family that does not know Jesus). I/we should let our love for Jesus extend to all people, but true fellowship/ koinonia is with God and Jesus and his people. Have you experienced that? And have you extended that?

Complete Joy is found in living this out and inviting people to know Jesus, - that is how Joy can be made complete. John is writing that there joy may be complete, then Joy is completed as we understand that true life is found in Jesus eternal life now, knowing we have fellowship with Jesus and the father and therefore also his people, all that Joy leads up to share and reshare, encourage people to get to know Jesus, as true life.

Then first 5 verses of 1. John is an invitation to life, true life in Jesus, have you accepted that invitation, if you have does it and has it created joy in you to have true life in Jesus?

Invitation to fellowship with God and Jesus and his people, have you done that?

Invitation to complete joy to share your joy in Jesus, fellowship with him with other people.

Come to Jesus for joy eternal.