Concerning the Word of Life
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
John, the apostle, author of 5 books in the New Testament. He penned the second most separate books that make up our New Testament Canon.
John was known as the beloved disciple. Scholars consider him to have been in the inner circle with Jesus along with James and Peter.
As we willl discuss in a few, he was the only disciple not matyred for his faith. He died of old age after being exiled to Patmos in about 90 AD or so.
John wrote this letter while still in Ephesus as a church leader there. Likely addressing the churches later addressed in Revelation 2 and 3 or to Jewish believers who had been expelled from the synagogues.
The Evidence
The Evidence
The first thing that I notice when reading 1 John is the similarities between this letter and the Gospel of John.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
These similarities likely indicate the same audience, or at least a dialed in audience from the original audience. So John knows that the audience is familiar with his writings. This means that the audience is also familiar with John’s experience and history.
Let’s kind of work backwards through verse 1. “concerning the word of life” The Word of Life is a reference to the Gospel of Jesus like John wrote about in John 1. Jesus came to save the lost!
I love that John uses this terminology “word of life” because also in the Gospel of John we see Jesus describe himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6). Jesus is the only way to truly have life!
The word of life is this: that Jesus the perfect Son of God left heaven, came to this world, lived a perfect life, died a pefect death, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and then on the third day of being in the tomb, he came back to life! Now he didn’t just start breathing and walking like a zombie. He resurrected into a perfected heavenly body that had no capacity to be effected by sin. By this, Jesus defeated the grave. We have no need to fear death. We have no need to fear sin. We have no need to fear hell. Jesus paid our way to LIFE!
That’s the word of life that John is referencing. That Jesus gave us life! And not only is John telling this to the audience, he’s bearing witness. Meaning he saw it!
So now we can move back up to the top,
“That which was from the beginning...”
John was reiterating the fact that this wasn’t some new concept. The prophets and the rest of the OT have been pointing to the Gospel for thousands of years. You should recognize this concept!
Not only was it from the beginning, but it was also something that we witnessed! We heard it, we saw it, we touched it!
The Effect
The Effect
But why is John so worried about sharing these things? By this point he had seen or at least heard about all of his friends/fellow apostles being killed for sharing these things!
James was killed by King Herod for his faith.
Andrew went to the region which is now Russia and preached the Gospel until he was crucified.
Thomas headed east, likely as far as India, preaching the Gospel until he was pierced through with the spears of four soldiers.
Philip had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation, the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.
Matthew was staked and speared while preaching in Ethiopia.
Bartholomew traveled all over preaching the Gospel until he was eventually martyred by being skinned and crucified.
The other James was preaching thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple at Jerusalem, then stoned and head bashed in with club.
Jude was martyred by being beaten with a club then crucified while preaching in Turkey.
Matthias went to Syria with Andrew and was burned to death.
Simon was crucified while preaching in Britain. Later sawn in half.
Mark was dragged to death.
Luke was hanged on an olive tree
James (Jesus’ brother) was thrown some 100 feet off a wall - done to him after he repeatedly refused to deny his faith in Jesus. He survived the fall and was beat him to death with clubs.
Peter was crucified upside down under the order of Nero.
Paul was beheaded under the order of Nero.
Surely by this point he would learn to keep his mouth shut! But HE DIDN’T. Instead...
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Some manuscripts have this as “your” joy. I think both are accurate. We continue to share the Gospel because that is where our JOY is found. In the GOSPEL.
Not only should we embrace the Gospel for our own sake and salvation, but for the salvation and joy of the world! Every Christmas we love to sing about “joy to the world” but how do we deliver that joy???
By continuing to be a witness for Jesus Christ!
So church, when you’re feeling down or discouraged and need some joy in your life, think about what Jesus has done for you and go tell someone! There is no greater feeling than watching someone come to faith in Jesus.
So get out and share Jesus with this lost and dying world!