62-02 True Christianity

1 John 1:1-4

Attempts have been made since the resurrection of Jesus to discredit, disprove, disregard the evidence of the truthfulness of Christianity-since beginning:

Matt 28:11-15

We could mention the overwhelming evidence in favor of Christianity-we'd be here for a long time.

One of the greatest evidences for Christianity is changed lives. When a person comes to faith in Christ, a transformation begins that is noticeable to others.

This change was noticed in John as the Lord instructed him and changed him from a self-centered, intolerant, bigoted, hothead to the apostle of love. The love of Christ had an amazing impact on him-John 13. The change that took place in John's life resembles the change that happens in ours when we come to know Jesus as Savior.

This change validates our faith and gives us encouragement that what we believe about God & Christ is absolute truth.

We live in an age where truth is not only compromised but absolute truth is flat out denied. The writers of Scripture never had the problem of questioning whether what they wrote was

truth.

They all wrote with clarity and conviction about the message of salvation. That type of boldness had drawn the criticism and condemnation of the unbelieving world.

John is one who is so committed to truth that he avoids that common manner of writing a letter (no name, no recipients).

He moves right into the subject of his letter and in doing so, gives us 4 encouraging reasons why Christianity is true.

I. The Proclamation is True (vs 1)

The influential false teachers who were invading the fellowship of church were denying the person and nature of Jesus Christ. They believed that the gospel of Jesus was mystical, and required secret insight that only the elite could perceive. But for John, the message was elementary that even the young of faith could understand the complexities of the proclamation concerning the "Word of Life."

Connection to GJohn logos was supremely the revelation of God to man. God's ultimate self-disclosure came in the person of Jesus is who no less than God Himself.

John 1:1,14

"Word of life" is not only the truth about the person of J.C.including the incarnation of God in human flesh, but also the proclamation of that truth-"the Christian message which was incarnate in Jesus" (Marshall). "what…what"

"from the beginning" :

1) eternity past, 2) period of creation, 3) ministry of J.C

John 1:1-clear that it means from eternity past-Jesus is eternal. Here the context lends to #3-heard, seen, touched. A time when an eyewitness would be possible.

One of the evidences that author is John is eyewitness. Notice 4 personal interactions that John had with the Word of Life.

These made him more than adequate to bear witness.

A. We heard (apostles who were present with Jesus)

"to consider, perceive, understand what has been said." John says "we heard" (perfect tense-hearing was past action with continuing results). In other words, what John heard some 60 years ago still had impact on him (vivid to him).

B. We Saw with our eyes

ὁράω Perfect tense again-what John saw 60 years before still lingered in his mind's eye. Adding “with our eye" indicates the reality behind what they saw-not a figment of imagination-they truly saw Jesus and that image was engraved on the heart.

C. We beheld him "looked at, looked upon"

This term (θεάομαι) indicates more than just the act of physical sight. Carries the idea of "careful and deliberate vision which interprets." They literally "saw" Jesus with eyes but until they beheld Him, they did not appreciate the significance of what they were looking at.

Same word in John 1:14 "beheld His glory." More than just a passing glance but a gazing search to understand.

These personal interactions would not distinguish the truth about Jesus from those who taught that Christ only seemed to be a man-didn't have a physical body. To those John adds one more:

D. We touched Him

"our hands handled" means to feel or grope, as a blind man might feel his way around.

Following resurrection He invited them: Lk 24:39

John in upper room leaned on Jesus bosom (Jn 13:23, 25)

Thomas was invited: Jn 20:27

John is saying "we know Jesus is a real man, He had a physical body, we touched it, we examined it, He is indeed “flesh and bones."

II. The Person is Real (vs 2)

"the life was manifested" moves from logos-revealing of God to the "life" of God. Aseity

Jesus says-John 5:26,39-40; 6:37-40

Jesus is self-existent-He depends on no one but Himself for the eternal life which He has. Because He has life, He is the one who grants eternal life to those who believe in Him.

John strengthens his own testimony by saying this life was manifested— "to reveal, make visible what was hidden." God had never shown Himself in human flesh before the birth of Jesus. It was at that moment, and thru the ministry on earth that the life of God was revealed and made visible to mankind.

You begin to see John's passion for the reality of Christianity and more importantly the reality of the person of Jesus. "we have seen ... "

Now as an eyewitness, God gave the apostles the responsibility and divine mandate to testify (bear witness), of the truth and to proclaim the message of eternal life to those who had never seen Jesus.

John was a credible witness-He was there from the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, had a close, intimate relationship with the Lord. He was bound by that relationship to make known the eternal life.

Continuing to reinforce the eternality of the life-who is Jesus, he was with the Father-in a face-to-face, active, intimate relationship with God the Father, before the incarnation as well as after. John is saying Jesus is God. He is not the Father in identity but He did exist eternally with the Father.

John is saying "the Person on whom all Christianity hangs, Jesus Christ, the eternal God, is real. I'm an eyewitness and it is my mandate to proclaim it."

Those of us who have experienced the life of Christ have a similar mandate to proclaim the truth with authority. It's not just the responsibility of pastors and leaders-everyone.

III. The Participation is Genuine

The goal of proclaiming the eternal life (in order that) is that those who hear the message might experience the fellowship we have.

Fellowship—koinonia from root "common"

Speaks of an authentic partnership, mutual participation in a common cause or shared life.

It is much more than just a partnership in common beliefs but koinonia signifies the life and love that those have who are of one spirit.

John emphasizes the reality of the fellowship that exists between us and everyone who comes to believe in the life.

But there is another level of fellowship that exists

With God and His Son JC.

2 Peter 1 :4 Xians become partakers of the divine nature- don't become little gods (wrong interpretation) but we become participants in a personal relationship with God Himself.

The true goal of preaching the gospel is produce faith that rests in Christ alone. When that happens, there is genuine fellowship with the Trinity. 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 13:14

When we sin, we forfeit the joy of our fellowship with God but we cannot forfeit the eternal life we have from Him and which belongs to us because of our union with Christ.

The reality of the new birth produces new life-causing us to be regenerated into everlasting fellowship with the triune God.

IV. The Personal Joy is Indisputable

KJV-"your joy" NIV NASB "our joy" dif. 1 letter in Gk Easy to see how scribe could make the error-the more difficult reading is "our."

Proclaiming the gospel to others, partaking of the gospel in faith and the consummate fellowship that begins produces indisputable joy in the life of believers.

John "joy ... made complete" lit "filled-full."

The dictionary defines joy as "the emotion evoked by wellbeing, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires." This is inadequate for Christian Joy.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones "we must bear in mind, in any definition we may give of NT joy, is that we do not go to a dictionary' we go to the NT instead. This is something quite particular which cannot be explained; it is a quality which belong to the Christian life in its essence, so that in our definition of joy we must be careful that it conforms to what we see in our Lord. The world has never seen anyone who knew joy as our Lord knew it, and yet he was a 'man of sorrows and acquainted with grief'. So our definition of joy must somehow correspond to that…Joy is something very deep and profound, something that affects the whole and entire personality. In other words it comes to this; there is only one thing that can give true joy and that is a contemplation of the LJC. He satisfies my mind; He satisfies my emotions; He satisfies my every desire. He and His great salvation include the whole personality and nothing less, and in Him I am complete. Joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the LJC."

Again when we sin, we forfeit joy-David prays "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation" (Ps 51:12).

Christianity is true. Do you believe it?

God the Son came from heaven, took upon Himself the human form and died to pay the penalty for the sin by which we have offended the most holy God. He rose 3 days later, victorious over death and is now exalted at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

Have you surrendered your heart to Christ?

The proclamation is true. If you have, what are the priorities in your life as a believer? What are your goals, pursuits, thoughts, aspirations, desires?

The person is real-do you trust Him?

The fellowship is genuine-are you living it, are you growing in holiness, love and faithfulness, participating?

The joy is indisputable-when you share your faith, you will find joy beyond what words can express.