1 John 1:1-4

Introduction

The Description of Jesus

1 John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.”

Eternality - That which was from the beginning

“was” - imperfect tense - no time frame in mind.

In the beginning, as creation commenced, Jesus already existed.

Humanity

We have heard with our ears, seen with our eyes, and touched with our hands

Wuest: “Robertson mentions the view of Westcott, that John wrote his Gospel to prove the deity of our Lord, assuming His humanity, whereas he wrote his first epistle to prove His humanity, assuming His deity.”

Word of Life

David Guzik: “The idea of the Logos - of the Word - was important for John and for the Greek and Jewish worlds of his day. For the Jew, God was often referred to as the Word because they knew God perfectly revealed Himself in His Word. For the Greek, their philosophers had spoken for centuries about the Logos - the basis for organization and intelligence in the universe, the Ultimate Reason which controls all things.”

The word that you have talked about for centuries has come!

Garner-Howes: “Jesus Christ is the audible, visible, touchable Word of Life, who cam e as God’s only begotten Son to show fallen men that God is real, touchable, compassionate, lovable, cares for all men.”

The Revelation of Jesus

1 John 1:2–3 “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you…”

God the Father

God the Father manifested the Word of Life.

“Manifest” - To make known

Garner-Howes: “Made to shine or break forth.”

After 400 years of silence God broke forth the Life and Light through the darkness of depravity

The disciples - bear witness - Keys to bearing witness

See

Testify

Share - A. T. Robertson - “The public proclamation of great news.”

Assurance - they only spoke of what they saw and heard.

They did not allow their imagination or preconceived notions influence their testimony

The Participation with Jesus

1 John 1:3–4 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

Fellowship - Partnership and participation

Communion - 1 Corinthians 10:16: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”

Contribution - Romans 15:26: “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”

Communication - Philemon 6: “that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

Corporate

Fellowship with us

Fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ

Joy

These things are the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ

Four times he says these things have I written unto you

1 John 1:4 “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

1 John 2:26 “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” `

Joy - full

“Full” - is translated more often than not as “fulfilled”

Matthew 1:22 “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,”

Jesus fulfills a person’s joy