The Gospel of New Creation (1 Jn 1:1)

1 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—

1 John 1:1 ESV

1 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—

I have children with DHH

trampoline “hua-po ween”

Struggled so much to get what they were saying

Celebrated when we got it right

What they originally intended to say came out different

Let’s just start with John’s first assertion, “That which was from the beginning,” in this sermon. Clearly John is re-telling the original creation story (cf. , esp v. 1) with a sharper focus on the Divine. This begs the question, “Why the Parallel?”

Why does John begin his letter by bringing us back to the Genesis creation account?

New Creation - like the originally intended man but present now!

To ascribe to Jesus certain things that are ascribed to God in the account:

Jesus is God just as much as the Father is

Baker New Testament Commentary: James and the Epistles of John A. From the Beginning (1:1)

In the clause “that which was from the beginning,” John points not to the proclamation that Jesus came in the flesh but to the divine revelation—disclosed in history and recorded in the Old Testament—that teaches the eternal existence of the Son of God. The message which is proclaimed is that Jesus, who “made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14), is eternal. John specifies and proceeds to inform the readers about the message he has heard.

Jesus also represents a new “original man” or Adam - the human that was always intended, but able to resist all the evils that cause us to fall in a variety of ways.

God got Dirty

Athanasius: On the Incarnation of the Word of God Introduction

The real being of a thing is not in itself, but in that ideal or conception in the mind of God which causes it to be what it is. Thus, the Son of God is eternally the ideal Man, and He became the phenomenal Man through the Incarnation, because that which He took of Mary was a perfect exposition, in the sphere of creation, of Himself, the uncreated Ideal of humanity. Thus in man there is the manifestation of God, and in God the Ideal of man. From this point of view Creation is seen to be not a ‘paroxysm of initiation,’ but a continuous act of the will of God (John 5:7).

Jesus, as God, reduced himself to become a part of his own creation in order to redeem it.

This whole letter’s single aim is to spread the message and meaning of the life and death of Jesus, Son of God.

The Genesis account climaxes in the creation of man; now we have a very climactic “new man” on the scene, who will later be referred to as “the word of life,” who was “with the Father” and is the “[Father’s] son” through v. 3.

He represents a new “original man” or Adam

Jesus lived the life YHWH himself would live if he were human

He represents a new “original man” or Adam

Athanasius: On the Incarnation of the Word of God Introduction

God is immanent in the kosmos, and yet transcends it, and the Word of God is even now its principle of consistency and its ultimate end (Col. 1:16). Hence the Word is termed ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ (Rev. 3:14), the ideal after which all things were created, and especially man. The real being of a thing is not in itself, but in that ideal or conception in the mind of God which causes it to be what it is. Thus, the Son of God is eternally the ideal Man, and He became the phenomenal Man through the Incarnation, because that which He took of Mary was a perfect exposition, in the sphere of creation, of Himself, the uncreated Ideal of humanity. Thus in man there is the manifestation of God, and in God the Ideal of man. From this point of view Creation is seen to be not a ‘paroxysm of initiation,’ but a continuous act of the will of God (John 5:7).

Where Adam went wrong with, Jesus remained perfect (without blemish) to God ()

A Redeemed Model for Human Striving

There’s a new sheriff in town

Romans 5:12–17 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the human that was always intended, while resisting all the evils that cause us to fall in a variety of ways.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin

And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”