Introduction:

·         There is no greeting in this epistle, John gets right to the point.

·         God is not living far off in outer space someplace, but is near and wants fellowship with us.

·         God has proven his love for us – Romans 5:8

·         God’s son has come to the earth!

The Eternal Existence of Jesus Christ—v.1

“That which was from the beginning.”                    V.1

This refers to the time Christ came into the world at Bethlehem.

1.       “In the beginning was the Word” – John 1:1

a.       Before anything exists, it has to pre-exist in a thought

b.       The chair you are sitting in pre-existed in a thought.

1)       A craftsman had that chair in his mind, & drew the design on paper first.

2)       This was the expression of his thought

1)       Illustration: Have a Jr. Higher draw a tree on the black board.  Explain that in order to draw that tree he first had to think.  That tree, therefore, is an expression of his or her thought.

2.       “In the beginning God created” – Genesis 1:1

a.       The Bible takes us back one step further.

1)       It is said, if there was a thought, then there had to be a thinker, because you cannot have a thought without a thinker.

2)       This goes back even before the thought.

3)       You have the existence of the One Who thought, the existence of God.

b.       The Argument from design

1)       “What if you saw a painting of the solar system on the ceiling of a classroom, would you say that the painting exploded into existence?

2)       The Sun  is 93 million miles from the earth, thus producing the right climate for life to exist, if the earth was 1 mile closer to the sun we would burn up, if the earth was one mile farther away, we would freeze.

a)      The Sun – gives off 500 million, million billion horsepower.

b)      The Sun – burns up 4 billion tons of matter in each second.

3)       The Moon is 240,000 miles from the earth and provides the tides at proper levels.

4)       The Earth is tilted on its axis and provides the seasons.

a)       Our planet alone is 25,000 miles in circumference.

b)       It weighs 6 septillion, 588 sextillion tons and hangs in space – “He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.” (Job 26:7 NKJV)

c)       It spins at 1,000 miles per hour with perfect precision to the split second.

d)       It travels through space around the sun at 1,000 miles per second in an orbit of 580 million miles.

REASONING WITH THE JEHOVHA’S WITNESSES

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” – Revelation 1:8; 22:12-13; 22:20

1.       In describing His eternal nature, God declares that He is the Alpha and Omega.

a.       This is the Greek for A & Z – the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet—This represents totality or entirety.

2.       Revelation 1:7-8 says that someone is coming.  Who is coming?

b.       V.7 says it is someone who was pierced – Who was it when he was nailed up to die?  Jesus!

c.        V.8 says it is Jehovah God who is coming.  Could it be that there are two coming?  Verse 8 refers to “the one who… is coming.”

d.       Revelation 22:12-13 cf. Who is coming quickly in 22:20?  Lord Jesus!

e.        Who is speaking in 2:8?  `These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: Who was dead & came to life?  Jesus!

3.       Isaiah 44:6…Isaiah 48:12-13—Christ’ use of this title in Revelation 22:12,13 is to be taken as Jehovah God.

4.       The Conclusion

a.       Since Jesus is clearly claiming to be the “first and the last” – Revelation 22:12-13

b.       Since Isaiah 44:6 records Jehovah-God as saying, “I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God”

c.        What must we conclude about the true identity of Jesus?

“That Eternal Life which was with the Father”                     V.2b

1.       Prophecy of Micah 5:2, “ Whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting”

2.       John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was, ‘I AM.’

3.       John 17:5…John 16:28

Lessons to be learned

1.       What Christians believe is not from our imaginations, but historical tangible (real) evidence.

2.       Jesus Christ is the “Living Word” who gives life.

a.       God is Spirit – John 4:24

b.       God gives spiritual, eternal life to those who believe in His Son

1)       1 Corinthians 2:10-15

2)       John 3:15, 16; 3:36

The Humanity of Jesus Christ—v.2

“The Word was God: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”                              John 1:1, 14

1.       Jesus set His glory aside & took on the limitations of man when He came to earth as Man.

a.       Philippians 2:5-8 cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9

2.       God (Jesus Christ) was manifested in the flesh—1 Timothy 3:16

a.       Jesus Christ identified with man perfectly by becoming man

1)       Hebrews 2:16-18

2)       Hebrews 4:15-16

b.       Jesus Christ became Man to take way the sins of men & destroy the works of the Devil.

1)       1 Peter 2:24

2)       1 John 3:5

3)       1 John 3:8

c.        Jesus Christ became Man in order to destroy him who had the power of death, Satan

1)       Hebrews 2:14-15

d.       The incarnation is indisputable

1)       John 1:14

2)       2Corinthians 5:19

3)       Hebrews 10:5

4)       1 John 1:1-2

The Disciples walked with Him, talked, seen, looked upon, heard Him, and touched Him.                         V.1

1.       John was looking back on what actually happened.

a.       When they heard Jesus speak, they heard the voice of God!

b.       When they saw Jesus, they were looking at God!

c.        When they touched Jesus, they were touching God!

d.       When they looked upon Jesus, they studied His life to understand Him.

2.       Through Jesus Christ, men hear the voice of God.

Which we have heard

a.       Hebrews 1:1-2 – God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by [His] Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

b.       John 14:10 –   "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own [authority]; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

THIS IS THE GREATEST NEED OF MAN TODAY—A WORD FROM GOD!

1)       Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.  "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or [whether] I speak on My own [authority].  (John 7:16-17 NKJV).

2)       Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32 NKJV).

3.       Through Jesus Christ, men can see God.                 “eyewitnesses as well as ear-witnesses”

Which we have seen with our eyes.

a.       From Johns baptism to His resurrection—Acts 1:21-22

b.       They were witnesses of His majesty and they declare the truth—2 Peter 1:16

a.       Jesus said “He who has seen Me has seen the Father—John 14:8-9

Which we have looked upon.

Looked upon—The Greek means “to gaze and look upon for a long time in order to study and grasp; to look intensely and earnestly; to grasp the meaning and significance of a person

TODAY we cannot see Jesus with our physical eyes, but we can see Him with the eye of faith.

a.       Peter told us, “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see [Him], yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory – 1 Peter 1:8

b.       John 20:26-29 – Jesus said to Thomas, who would not believe He had been resurrected until he could see and handle Him.

We need to, not just look, but gaze intensely & study the life of Christ in order to be like Him!

4.       Through Jesus Christ, man can touch God.

Our hands have handled

This means “to handle in order to examine closely,” this is the same word Jesus used to prove that he was not a spirit after His resurrection.

a.       Jesus speaking to His own said, "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet – Luke 24:39-40

God Himself bridged the infinite gap that was between God & Man!

a.       Religions are the useless attempt of finite man to reach the infinite God.

1)       Having no boundaries or limits

b.       Christianity is the infinite God reaching finite man.

1)       Having boundaries, being limited.

Lessons to be learned.

Jesus Christ came into this world voluntarily all for our sake!

1.       Jesus Christ is God’s life for believers, the life – John 14:6

2.       Jesus came to save sinners

a.       This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—1 Timothy 1:15

b.       "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins”—Matthew 1:21

3.       Jesus Christ came from God

a.       "But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish----the very works that I do----bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me—John 5:36

b.       Therefore, we have two distinct personalities but one God

4.       Jesus Christ was “God with us”

a.       "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us"—Matthew 1:23

5.       The Lord Jesus Christ appeared too many witnesses.

a.       This is made clear by the plural of the verbs “we have seen;” “we declare to you.”

The Purpose of Christianity – To Bring Man Into Fellowship with God—v.3b-4

“Fellowship with us”                   V.3

1.       Believers can have a close, intimate communion with each other.

a.       This is bound together in His love.

b.       We share together His goodness.

c.        This is the greatest fellowship of all, “the Family of God”

2.       This fellowship is made possible only through Jesus Christ.

a.       Acts 4:12…John 14:6…

b.       After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10 NKJV)

“Our Fellowship is with the Father & His Son, Jesus Christ”                               V.3

1.       He who follows Christ hears His voice, & obeys.

a.       "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me—John 10:27

b.       Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice"—John 18:37

c.        "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God"—John 8:47 NKJV)

2.       He who follows Christ shall not walk in darkness

a.       John 8:12—Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

3.       We must walk in the light.

a.       1 John 1:6-7

b.       "I have come [as] a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness—John 12:46

These things were written that our joy may be full                               V.4

IT IS A CHEERFUL HEART THAT LEADS TO CHEERFUL BEHAVIOR

• Joy is divine.  It is possessed and given only by God, not in earthly or material things.

John 15:11… Acts 13:52… Romans 14:17… Galatians 5:22… 1 Thessalonians 1:6

• Joy does not depend on circumstances or happiness.

Ps. 5:11… 2 Corinthians 6:10; 7:4

• Joy springs from faith.

Romans 15:13… Philippians 1:25… 2 Timothy 1:4… Matthew 2:10

• Joy of future reward makes and keeps one faithful.

Matthew 25:21, 21… Acts 20:24… Hebrews 12:2

THE SOURCE OF THE BELIEVERS JOY

• The fellowship of the Father & His Son bring joy—Along with the presence & fellowship with other believers.

1 John 1:3-4

• Victory over sin & death.

John 14:28… 16:20-22

• Repentance.

Luke 15:7-10

• Hope of glory.

Romans 14:17… Hebrews 12:2… 1 Peter 4:13

• The Lord’s Word-revelations-commandments, and promises which He made

John 15:11

• The commandments of Christ & the will of God.  Obeying and doing a good job brings joy in the believer’s heart.

John 15:11, 32; 17:13… Acts 13:52

• Prayer.

John 16:24

• Converts.

Luke 15:1-7… Philippians 4:1… 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

• Hearing that others walk in the truth.

3 John 1:4

• Giving.

2 Corinthians 8:2…Hebrews 10:34

THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED

• God created man to have joy, but this joy was lost through Adam’s sin and was replaced by fear.

1.       Genesis 3:8-10—And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.  Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where [are] you?"  So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

• This joy is regained through mans reconciliation with God by believing in Christ which is eternal life.

1.       Luke 2:10—Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

2.       Romans 15:13—Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• A believer’s joy is continually fulfilled by the..

1.       Relationship with God & His Son

2.       Prayer, reading, studying, & obedience of the Scriptures