The Word of Life
1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsThe disciples experienced the Word of life as the lived and interacted with Him. We man not be able to engage with Christ bodily, but we must also have an experiential knowledge of the Word of Life.
Notes
Transcript
This is a new sermon series.
This will be different.
Topical
Prayer
God’s Word
Financial Stewardship
Topical - Deeply Theological Concepts
Covenants and Feasts
Great Controversy
Textual
Minor Prophets
Parables
Narrative Preaching
Book of Acts
Gospels
Prophetic Preaching
Personal Witness
Christian Standards
Evangelism
Almost no...
expository
exegetical.
Truthfully
I don’t like it.
It’s hard.
It’s boring.
I like sermons that are
practical
motivational
personal
end with a calling!
In my experience
sermon that are:
too theoretical
too theological
too abstract
hard to digest.
Problem:
Much abstract writing
in the Bible.
We must practice
exposure to processing
abstract thoughts.
Without further ado
I introduce you to
new series on
Book of 1 John.
Key passage:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Very abstract
but we will work
make it practical.
Beginning
Beginning
Let’s focus on
first phrase
That which was from the beginning...
John uses this concept 3 other times.
Let’s examine:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
What was
“in the beginning?”
Christ.
The Word (logos)
was with God
was God
created everything.
See verse 14:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
What else did
the word do?
dwelt among us.
Clearly Christ (incarnation).
In the beginning was:
God
Christ
Creator.
By the way,
this is a powerful truth.
Modern, Adventist, Anti-trinitarians
Say that Jesus did not always exist.
Whare this quote:
The Faith I Live By February—The Three Dignitaries of Heaven
Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God.… In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there
Jesus was always there.
John uses this word
“Beginning”
2 other times in
our key book
1 John.
Back to back verses:
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Who do the fathers know?
him who is from the beginning
Who is that?
God
Christ.
John starts 1 John
exactly same as
gospel of John.
He talks about
the One who is, was, will be
the One from the Beginning.
Illustration about eternal God.
What else can we learn
about this mysterious God?
Experience Christ
Experience Christ
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands...
John talks about this
amazing God
the Word
Logos
Creator
who existed before anything.
It all seems so
ethereal
abstract
theoretical.
But John immediately jumps
from that to praxis.
... which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands...
John get
practical
physical.
This God...
I touched Him!!!
He says,
I didn’t just
eat too much
have weird dreams.
lack of sleep
have hallucinations.
It wasn’t just a vision.
He says:
We we have seen with our eyes.
He says:
I saw.
I heard.
I touched.
This pre-existent God.
Dwelling in inapproachable light.
Came to earth
as a human.
John was there.
I touched him.
Nay,
not just touched
“touched with our hands.”
He continues to emphasize it.
Next verse:
the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it...
again, verse 3:
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you...
What is Jon trying to say?
This is
not a fable!
not a allegory!
not a legend!
not a fairy tale!
Like:
Greek Gods.
Zeus and Hermes.
Santa
Elf on the shelf.
he is establishing the
veracity of
everything else
that will come
later in the book.
What does all this
mean for us?
Application?
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
John had a
deep
personal
experience with Christ.
The Word of life.
We also must
have experiential knowledge
of God.
John’s experience is not
mystical
just physical
but
relational.
Too many Christians have
little true knowledge of God.
Intellectual
Academic
Abstract.
I’m not into cars that much any more. But if I was, I guess my favorite would be some super care like a Bugatti Chiron, or something.
In High School I used to imagine driving cars like that.
As most of you konw, I drive like a grandpa now. So even if I had such a car, I wouldn't likely drive it because it doesn't fit who I am or how I live my life.
But, let's Image for a moment that, at last, I bought the car anyway and had it sitting in my garage, and that every day I went out and sat in the car and daily took a chamois cloth and wiped all the dust off its shiny surface.
Imagine also that I studied the owner's manual and could quote sections of it from memory. And, that I went so far as to order the blueprints and schematics so I could study every detail of my Bugatti.
Then, that I joined a Bugatti club and attended conventions, and even once traveled to the place the where factory stands. And, imagine that I so loved the car that I talked about it all the time.
I'm sure you would think it quite odd if I had a car I loved that much but never actually took out for a drive.
In many ways,
this is modern Christianity.
“We love Jesus.”
got to church
memorize verse
know the songs
understand concepts
traveled to Israel
no abiding experience.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
We must live in Christ.
John was Jesus’ personal friend!
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
John is speaking of
himself in this passage.
He calls himself
the disciple that
jesus loved.
Big title but
seems to be true.
As jesus is dying
gives final will.
Who will care
for his dependents.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
He knew his mom
would need care.
(He had brothers...)
Raluca and I made will.
Had to decide
who would take our kids.
We chose Magda.
It appears
Jesus’ closest friend
on the earth
was John.
John didn’t just
“know about” Jesus.
He “knew” Jesus.
Later in 1 John
talks about “knowing” god.
this word:
γινώσκω.
Could mean
general information.
Frequently means
deeper knowledge.
OT the word “know”
is used in
marital context.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
Again,
when lot talks about
daughters being virgins he says
“they never knew a man”.
To know is not
casual knowledge.
That's why,
in our key passage
John says:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
Who or what
did John see and tough?
Word of life...
What does knowledge
of Jesus,
(the word)
bring?
It bring life!
The the gospel
John tells tory of
Woman at the well.
She tells people in city
about Jesus:
They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Saints.
I must ask today,
have you just
heard from others?
Or do you know personally
Jesus is your Savior?
Knowing God academically
will not suffice.
Demon’s know that much.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Our faith and knowledge
must be more
than demons.
We want life saving knowledge.
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Do you want eternal life?
We must have
experiential knowledge
of Jesus.
Dear Lord,
So far today God, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped; I haven’t lost my temper; I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or over indulgent.
I am really glad about that!
But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then on I’m probably going to need a lot of help.
Amen
We cannot experience
Jesus physically,
as John in 1st century.
Jesus is “Word of Life”
(logos).
That word: logos
appears 329 times
in the NT.
God - 1354
Jesus - 983
Lord - 712
Christ - 555
Word (logos)- 330
Faith - 243
How do we get to
know jesus today?
Through the “Word”.
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
We can build
deep relationship
with Jesus though.
“hearing His word.”
“and keeping it”
His word is the Bible!
Spend time in the word!
live like you believe it.
In the 1800s, George Müller ran an orphanage in Bristol, England. But not just any orphanage. This place ran without fundraisers. Without appeals. Without government support.
Müller had a conviction: he wanted to prove that God still answered prayer in the modern age. So he made a vow—he would never ask anyone for money. Not once. He would tell his needs to God alone.
And then he started receiving orphans. First a dozen. Then hundreds. Over time, more than 10,000 children would pass through his care.
One morning, the housemother of the orphanage came to him and said, “The children are dressed and ready for school. But there’s no food for breakfast.”
Müller said, “Take them into the dining room and have them sit down.”
And so, in an empty room with empty plates and no food, 300 children sat quietly.
Then Müller prayed. Moments later, there was a knock at the door. It was the baker. “Mr. Müller,” he said, “I couldn’t sleep last night. I felt God was telling me you’d need bread this morning. So I got up early and baked three batches. Can I bring them in?”
As he unloaded the bread, another knock. This time, it was the milkman. His cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage. “It’ll spoil by the time I fix the wheel,” he said. “Could the children use some fresh milk?”
That morning, 300 children ate—full bellies and faith strengthened.
Then what?
God back to key passage?
the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
One John experience
the word of life
he was compelled to
TESTIFY!
PROCLAIM!
Let’s study these words
a little more thoroughly.
Testify
Testify
Testify means:
to confirm or attest to something on the basis of personal knowledge or belief, bear witness, be a witness.
Most people thought it couldn’t be done. Flight—human flight—was a fantasy. People believed it was impossible, even dangerous to try. Engineers and scholars had tried and failed. Newspapers mocked anyone who believed otherwise.
But two brothers in Dayton, Ohio—Orville and Wilbur Wright—believed it was possible. Not because they had massive funding. Not because they had advanced degrees. They didn’t. They ran a bicycle shop.
But they had something far more powerful: faith in the unseen laws of aerodynamics. Faith in the power of perseverance. Faith that failure wasn’t final.
They studied birds. They had seen birds fly! They were witness to something and knew we could fly too.
They sketched. They built gliders. They tested. They failed—and rebuilt. They spent their own money. Traveled to the windswept dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Crashed again. Tweaked again. Believed again.
And on December 17, 1903, in the freezing cold, Wilbur ran alongside a wooden craft barely larger than a couch as Orville climbed aboard. The engine sputtered to life. The plane lurched forward—and lifted. Twelve seconds. One hundred twenty feet. The world was never the same.
While others dismissed, doubted, and delayed, the Wright brothers stepped forward in faith—faith in what they could not yet prove, but deeply believed was possible.
And that’s the kind of faith God often calls us to: not faith in what is, but faith in what could be. Not in what we’ve seen before, but in the promise of what He can do next.
When you testify,
you just tell about
your personal experience.
John had experience
meaningful friendship with
jesus Christ.
He just couldn’t help but testify.
Amazing Grace Helping Others, October 24
No sooner does one come to Christ, than there is born in his heart a desire to make known to others what a precious friend he has found in Jesus....
This is simple.
if you really
get to know Jesus
you would want all
you friends to know Him too.
In fact,
this can be also
stated in the negative.
If you have no desire
to introduce other to Jesus
it is because you
don’t really know Him.
Everyone loves to talk
bout the things that
mean the most to them.
Talking to someone
going nowhere.
Suddenly,
they share interest.
If you engage their interest
conversation become
passionate/ engaging.
People love to talk
about their interests.
If you love Jesus
and have a living
relationship with Him...
You can’t help but testify.
Next step:
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
So we not only testify
(tell our story)
but also Proclaim.
Proclaim
Proclaim
As I looked at
the Greek word
ἀπαγγέλλω
ἀπαγγέλλω
Means:
proclaim
report
I began to notice
interesting similarities
other common words:
εὐαγγέλιον
εὐαγγέλιον
Gospel, good news
εὐαγγελίζω
εὐαγγελίζω
Evangelize, preach proclaim
Notice they have
differing prefix
and suffix
root is same.
γγελ
γγελ
gamma, gamma, epsilon, lambda
Comes from the
this word:
ἄγγελος
ἄγγελος
Angel
“Messenger”
When we love Jesus
When we really know Jesus.
we ἀπαγγέλλω
proclaim.
What do we proclaim?
We proclaim the εὐαγγέλιον.
the gospel!
The good new about Jesus!
How do we do it?
We εὐαγγελίζω
We evangelize!
We do evangelism!
Evangelism is just
Proclaiming the good new
about Jesus!
Why do we do all this?
Because we are ἄγγελος.
We are messengers.
We have the message of Good New!
To summarize again,
if you have a deep
relationship with Jesus
We will
share the gospel
preaching
proclaiming
evangelizing.
There’s a fascinating phenomenon in medicine that still puzzles scientists today. It’s called the placebo effect.
Here’s how it works: a patient is given a pill, but it has no active ingredients. It’s just sugar or a saline solution. But the patient doesn’t know that. They believe it’s real medicine.
And what happens next is astonishing. In many cases, the patient actually improves. Their pain decreases. Their symptoms fade. Sometimes, even their brain scans change. All because of belief.
Think about that. No actual medicine. Just the power of the mind to believe healing is happening—and the body starts to follow.
Researchers have even found that the more elaborate the placebo, the more powerful the result. A red pill works better than a blue one. An injection works better than a pill. A brand-name placebo works better than a generic. Why? Because belief grows stronger—and the stronger the belief, the more powerful the effect.
If we believe that God is the best thing that has ever happened to us. We will live it and share it.
Back to key passage:
Why do we want
to share this good new?
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
The word translated here as
“so that”
have great meaning.
The Greek word is:
ἵνα.
It is a subordinating conjunction.
Introduces “clause of purpose”.
What does that mean?
it is explain why the verb
is completed.
The verb in the sentence
is the word declare.
Why do we want to declare:
“so that”...
So that what?
So that other
can have fellowship.
Fellowship
Fellowship
Twice it talks about
fellowship in the same verse.
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Those who receive the
gospel about Jesu
get 2 types of
fellowship!
Fellowship with believers
Fellowship with God.
Fellowshipping is clear
It means that we have
a shared experience
a bonding experience together.
If you want to have
a deeper bond with
your friends and family
introduce them to Christ.
There is not deeper bond
than spiritual connection.
That is why Jesus said:
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Spiritual unity
deeper thatn blood
family members.
That is the power of fellowship.
In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn't know you don't travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture. The first evening she found a room in the mountains near a summit and asked for a 5 A.M. wakeup call so she could get an early start. She couldn't understand why the clerk looked surprised at that request, but as she awoke to early- morning fog shrouding the mountain tops, she understood. Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast. Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged. "Where are you headed?" one of the truckers asked. 'Whitehorse'
"In that little Civic? No way! This pass is dangerous in weather like this." "Well, I'm determined to try," was Linda's gutsy, if not very informed, response. "Then I guess we're just going to have to hug you," the trucker suggested. Linda drew back. "There's no way I'm going to let you touch me!"
"Not like THAT!" the truckers chuckled. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. In that way, we'll get you through the mountains." All that foggy morning Linda followed the two red dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains. Caught in the fog in our dangerous passage through life, we need to be "hugged." With fellow Christians who know the way and can lead safely ahead of us, and with others behind, gently encouraging us along, we, too, can pass safely.
Summarize
first 3 verses:
We need deep experience with Jesus.
When we do that, we want to share it with others.
Then we experience fellowship together.
One last part.
Let’s finish our last verse.
Key passage:
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Why do we share Jesus?
to bring Joy!
Joy
Joy
Who gets joy?
Read ESV again
Now ready NKJV:
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Who gets joy?
OUR Joy
YOUR joy.
In English we may call these
possessive pronouns.
possessive determiner.
(It is an adjective).
The point is?
Everyone wants joy.
Do you want o have joy?
Do you want to give joy?
Share Christ.
Appeal
Appeal
Do you want o have joy?
Do you want to give joy?
Share Christ.
Really get to know Christ
share that love with others.
