LIght Shine Through Darkness Everytime
WE Are Children Of The Light
3 (1:1–2) Jesus Christ, Person—Revelation—Word, The: Jesus Christ has revealed who He is, the Word of Life. This means two things:
⇒ First, Jesus Christ Himself is the Word. Remember what a word is: it is the expression of an idea, a thought, an image in the mind of a person. A word describes what is in the mind of a person. John is saying this: in the life of Jesus Christ, God was speaking to the world, speaking
a. Jesus Christ manifested or revealed the life to us (v. 2). That is, He came to earth and showed us the life that was in Him. He showed us what life is …
• that it is the very energy and force of living forever just as God Himself lives. Life never dies and never ceases to be
• that it is the very energy and force of living abundantly, of experiencing love, joy, and peace just as God experiences. Life never lacks and never ceases to experience the fullness of life to the ultimate
Thought 1. The point is this. Jesus Christ revealed who He was; He came to earth and showed us life—showed us that life is in God and in God alone. Therefore, if man wants to really live, he has to put his life into the hands of God, for life exists only in God. God alone can give man life.
b. But Jesus Christ did a second thing: He identified with man. He gave men the opportunity to see Him and the life which He was bringing to man. As covered in verse one, men heard, saw, looked upon, and touched Christ. He made Himself available to men, allowed them to use all their physical senses in order to prove that He was indeed the Son of God, the very embodiment of life eternal. He allowed men to use all their physical senses so they could have perfect proof and never be able to question that the Son of God had come to earth, not if they were honest and willing to study and know the truth.
Note the testimony of John: “we have seen and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us” (v. 2). There is compulsion here: the witnesses to the Son of God must proclaim the truth. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, has come to earth. He came to bring the glorious message of the Word of life. Men do not have to live in sin and the dread of corruption and death; men can live in the abundance of love, joy, and peace with God, both now and eternally.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:14–15).
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (Jn. 3:36).
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).
“And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn. 6:40).
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee” (Jn. 11:25–28).
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (Jn. 12:25).
“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Ro. 5:21).
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Ga. 6:8).
“But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Ti. 1:10).
The source of the believer’s joy is severalfold.
1. The fellowship of the Father and His Son brings joy (1 Jn. 1:3–4).
2. Victory over sin, death, and hell brings joy (Jn. 14:28; 16:20–22).
3. Repentance brings joy (Lu. 15:7, 10).
4. The hope of glory brings joy (Ro. 14:17; He. 12:2; 1 Pe. 4:13).
5. The Lord’s Word—the revelations, commandments, and promises which He made—brings joy (Jn. 15:11).
6. The commandments of Christ and the will of God bring joy. Obeying and doing a good job stirs joy within the believer’s heart (Jn. 15:11, 12; 17:13; Ac. 13:52).
7. Prayer brings joy (Jn. 16:24).
8. The presence and fellowship of believers brings joy (1 Jn. 1:3–4).
9. Converts bring joy (Lu. 15:5; Ph. 4:1; 1 Th. 2:19–20).
10. Hearing that others walk in the truth brings joy (3 Jn. 1:4).
11. Giving brings joy (2 Co. 8:2; He. 10:34).