Thanksgiving Eve 2023
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1 John 1
1 John 1
Pray
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
What was from the beginning?
John is referring to the promise of Salvation from before the creation of the world.
Paul tells us in his letter to the church in Ephesus, that we have been predestined to obtain the inheritance of eternal life through the person of Jesus Christ.
This was preordained before the creation of the world.
From the very beginning, God’s will is to reveal Salvation to the Lost.
His will is to stir in the hearts of humanity to be reconciled and Redeemed through His promises.
John is testifying to this purpose.
John goes on to say about the promise of Jesus, we have heard.
Meaning, that he and others have heard with their own ears the teachings of Jesus.
John says we have seen with our own eyes.
John personally walked, talked and beheld Jesus with his own eyes.
John looked upon the manifestation of God’s promises.
John then says he touched Jesus.
With his own hands.
John writes these things to dispel any argument against the reality of Jesus.
What John is essentially saying is that the promise of Salvation ordained by God from the very beginning is found in Jesus.
John goes on to say in verse 2, that he has touched, walked with, listened to and looked upon with his very own eyes the fulfilment of the Word of Life.
The Word of Life is Jesus.
His name Jesus is the Name of Salvation.
John is declaring this so that others may have fellowship.
John proclaims this truth so that others may call upon the Name Jesus to find reconciliation.
There is only One Name.
Jesus is the only way to be Redeemed of God and receive a promised inheritance in His Kingdom.
These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
Why is John writing these things?
Why is John declaring these truths?
So that joy can be made complete.
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that our Savior endured the cross for joy.
For the joy set before Him did He endure the cross.
We are His joy.
We are His joy because we have recieved the Word of Life.
John cannot help himself but declare this joy and he wants to share the joy.
Call upon the Name of Jesus.
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
Where has John recieved this message?
From Jesus.
Directly from the source.
The message that John is proclaiming given directly from Jesus is that God is Light.
In God there is no darkness.
There is only Light, and hope and truth and peace.
In Jesus we can find this hope.
We can find joy even in the difficulties of this world.
We can find joy and hope because we can receive the promise.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
In these verses John offers us correction.
He is saying don’t claim to know Jesus but continue to walk in darkness.
Don’t claim to be a person of faith but refuse to practice the truth.
What does it mean to practice something?
We are supposed to put our faith in action. We are to walk out our faith in our everyday lives.
We are all sinners.
We all suffer temptation at times.
John is reminding us to pay attention to our lives.
Pay attention to our walk.
Don’t continue to practice sin and claim that you know Jesus.
Rely on Him to help you repent and turn.
Turn to Jesus because He is the Light.
Turn to Jesus and cry out to Him to help you walk in His Light.
To receive forgiveness and be equipped with hope.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
John again is instructing us to repent.
John tells us that if we claim to be without sin, we are lying.
He is instructing us to be honest with ourselves.
To look at the fruit that our life is producing. Is it fruit in keeping with His Spirit?
Or is it the fruit of the flesh?
To turn from sin and run to our Savior.
We should examine ourselves, confessing our sins.
Turning from sin and temptations.
In our repentance, Jesus is faithful to forgive.
Under His covering of righteousness are we made clean.
In this we can be indescribably thankful.
What more is there to be thankful about than the fact that we have a Savior who loves us.
We have a Savior who came to this place to rescue us.
Be Thankful.
Be Thankful that you can claim the Name of your Savior and King.