So what's it all about
Light, Love and love of God series • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 42:59
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Introduction
Introduction
A new start, a new series, a new look at the Epistles of John. May we bring our hearts, our bibles and our minds as we start this new series.
(Insert - Life picture here)
Life have you ever just wanted to know more? Do you still have the curiosity you did when you were a child? (expand)
Do you want to know what you believe is true, that you believe the truth and walk in the truth?
There are some things we can know from John bringing us into our expository look at 1-3Jn.
(Below scripture are not on the screen, just quote from your bible)
Jesus came to give life (Jn10:10)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Some versions say in abundance, to the full, or fullness. another says rich and satisfying.
I think we can agree we want to know about this abundant, rich, full, satisfying life what it is and what does it look like, and how can we know.
Jesus came to give eternal life (Jn20:30-31)
The gospel of John and the Epistle of John both have the same theme.
(Below not on screen)
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
Jesus came to give life from death (1Jn3:14)
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.
In this epistle John delves into the nature of the life given in greater detail. He does it purposefully so we can know, have assurance that we have it and that we can confidently walk in it.
(Transition) So, as we start this series, light, love and love of God I hope that we can learn and grow from it. Tonight we will do the groundwork for it.
The background
The structure/the aim
And, in times such as these
The Background
The Background
Just as we have done previously for every other expository series we have done, we need to do some background, foundational work so we can gain a better understanding of the scripture when we study it.
Author: John (common belief)
The author is not named but there is internal and external evidence that it is John, the apostle.
There is internal evidence: The gospel and the similarities with i
There is external evidence people like Polycarp (a disciple of John) and Irenaeus (student of Polycarp) who both reference John as the writer of the Epistles.
So, who is this John?
Son of Zebedee (Mt4:21) brother to James
21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.
Mother was Salome (Mk15:40)
Fisherman with Andrew, Peter and James (Mt4:18-21)
Present at transfiguration (Mt17:1-2)
1 Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
Present at crucifixion (Jn19:25-27)
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
He was called “the one Jesus loved” (Jn13:23, 21:20)
23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
(Other referenced Scriptures: Mt4:21; Mk15:10; Mt17:1-2; Jn19:25-27, 13:23, 21:20)
Recipients: Not named in scripture
But well known to John (1Jn2:20, 27)
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
and then
27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.
It is not a general letter it is specific to known people that he did not even need to identify. There is so much we can learn and apply in our lives today, hence why it was inspired to be written the way it is.
Date: Believed A.D. 95
Some give earlier dates as early as A.D. 60 prior to destruction of Jerusalem since no mention of it at all.
Most scholars go with the later date after his exile in Patmos
The purpose
So that you may be joy full (1Jn1:4)
Let me touch on the scriptures I will expand when we get to them in the series
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
So that you may not sin (1Jn2:1)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
So that you may have assurance of eternal life (1Jn5:13)
13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Oh how this goes hand in hand with Jn20:30-31. Blessed assurance, don’t we all claim it? But do we truly believe it and walk in it?
So that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God (1Jn5:13)
13 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion.
Just had to do it, we need to believe and continue to believe!
The problem: protecting against deceivers (1Jn2:26)
It clearly says these things written, oh wait, let me give you the scripture
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
It was going on at that time with the people John knows and know him. The same problem has continued through the centuries to today that there are many deceivers out there.
At that time it was the beginning of gnosticism and docetism that believed that Jesus did not really come in the flesh, just appeared that way
This can be evidenced by
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
Another faction at the time was the Cerinthus - their belief was that Jesus was real, but the Christ (the Anointed One) came upon baptism and left before his death
6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
They believe the Spirit, the Christ (the Anointed One) left before the death of Jesus.
Structure of the Letter
Chapters 1-2 = The light of God
Chapters 3-4 = The love of God
Chapter 5 = The life of God
or there is other who say it like
Chapter 1: Importance of word
Chapter 2: Importance of Christ
Chapter 3: Proof of Christ (in you)
Chapter 4: Testing things to the truth
Chapter 5: The truth and reality of life in Christ and who we are!
The aim:
1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
Concerns the “Word of life “ (1Jn1:1, 2:7, 13, 24, 3:11 and Jn1:1)
2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
Declaration of eternal life (1Jn1:2, 1Jn5:11-13)
Assurance, invitation for fellowship (1Jn1:3)
3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
Life full, joy full, complete (1Jn1:4; Jn10:10, 17:3)
4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
Back in (v.1) John could be referencing the creation of the world, or the beginning of the gospel
7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.
add to that
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
and one more
11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
So this word of life was
heard, it was seen by our eyes, it was looked upon, it was handled, it was real, it was in the flesh, and that could only be Jesus
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Then when looking at (v.2) the declaration that
which was with the Father , manifested to the apostles, seen and bear witness of. This declaration is for the eternal life that can be had and had only in Jesus, when you believe in the Son of God (ref 1Jn5:11-13)
Moving onto (v.3) so that you may have fellowship with us
With those who heard, seen, looked upon, handled the read, in the flesh.
and that fellowship is made possible through Jesus Christ, to be in fellowship, communion with one another In Christ. John wants the recipients and us today to have the same fellowship , to participate in the fellowship of the believers.
All this leading to the why found in (v.4)
So that you joy may be full, complete.
Jesus came to give life, and life full (Jn10:10)
Consider this
3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Through Jesus we may know the only true God! now if that is not eternally joy filling, complete than nothing is.
So, there you go, the start of a new series and the start of a look at some great truths we will look at over the following weeks as we study 1-3 John.
Today we got the background
Author: John
To unnamed recipients but known to John
Dated: believed about A.D. 95
Purpose: declarations about joy, sin, eternal life and continued belief
We looked at a brief outline of the book
Finally a look at (vv.1-4) where we see that fullness, completeness of joy comes only when we are in fellowship with the Father through and the Son.
The eternal life mentioned by Jesus (Jn10:10) is the eternal life Jesus gave (1Jn5:11-13)
If you want to read ahead next week we will be looking at (1Jn1:5-2:2)
Encouragement (Prayer) (Exit)