Sermon Tone Analysis

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

John is credited with writing 5 books of the Bible.

The gospel of John written to convert sinners; he wrote the epistles of John to confirm the saints; and he wrote the book of Revelation to the coronation of the Savior.

Johns purpose for writing is found in John 20:31

John further gives his reason for writing at the beginning of Revelation 1:19

1 John has four keys that are scattered throughout the five chapters and 105 verses that help us to unlock this letter.

1 John 1:4 John says: “he wrote to promote full joy in the family of God.

In 2:1 he says “he wrote to prevent sin in the family of God.”

And in 5:13 he says, “his purpose was to provide assurance of salvation in the family of God.

INTRODUCTION

The author begins his letter by establishing himself as an eyewitness to Jesus, the “word of life.”

Look at the tenses of the “we” verbs in the first three verses that vary indiscriminately between the perfect aorist, and present.

There are 10 of these verbs:

Heard; seen; looked upon; saw; testify; proclaim; and are writing.

What Would it Take for A Humanist to Believe in God?

Douglas Murray is a prolific humanist writer and social critic who has authored two bestselling books.

He finds himself in the odd position of being a self-professed non-believer who nevertheless has great respect for Christianity and the positive role it has played in building Western civilization--to the point of calling himself a “Christian atheist.”

On an episode of the Unbelievable podcast, Murray was asked, “Why don’t you just believe in God?” His response has always been that he genuinely finds it difficult to accept certain aspects of the Christian argument.

Belief in God, he noted, cannot be faked or forced.

Esther O’Reilly, also a guest on the program, noted that if men are rational animals, then God must deal with them as such.

Therefore, there can be evidence that fully satisfies man’s search for these truths, both intellectually and spiritually, as opposed to requiring a blind leap of faith.

The historical reliability of the New Testament, for instance, is one such piece of evidence, since it attests to the truth of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

This evidence is available to all who wish to judge it, point by point.

The host of the program, Justin Brierley, asked Murray what it would take for him to make a return to faith in God and Christianity.

Murray said “I think I’d need to hear a voice.”

Brierley asked “Literally a voice from beyond?” “Oh yes,” he replied, “I mean it literally.”

He admitted to being fascinated by the lack of such experiences in the West when compared to places like the Middle East or Africa.

He also cited the utter incredulity with which Christians in the West treat individuals who claim to have had such experiences.

He said, “this has historically been one of the ways in which religion has thrived, in visions.”

What John wants us to know is that God has given us evidence for belief in him

through creation (Psa.

19:1-6 “The heavens declare the very glory of God, the sky above proclaim his handiwork; Rom 1:4),

through fulfilled prophecy (Isa.

7:14; Micah 5:2), and

through the resurrection of Christ (John 20:1-9; Rom.

1:4) to name a few.

But there are many who simply choose not to believe

What is clear from this array of language is a claim to authority.

This is a testimony of works of experience.

The writer is making it clear of the prerequisite of speaking out on the subject of Jesus Christ.

Note: “The word of Life,” and “Life” (v.1 and 2), plus fellowship twice (v.3).

So, the authority that John claims to have comes from that which was “from the beginning” which results in “life” and produces “fellowship.”

Big Idea: The word of life fills the void of our joy.

3 Questions we must ask to experience this Real Life

1. Do you have a passion for Knowing this Life?

Note: Notice that 1 John begins his letter by establishing himself as an eyewitness to Jesus, the “word of life.”

That which was from the beginning… So, this life fills the void before the Civil War, before the Roman Empire, before creation.

From the beginning it has existed in the person of Jesus Christ.

The second thing we notice in verse two is that this life is eternal.

Therefore, once you have experienced it, it will last forever.

*CHRIST IS OUR LIFE

Note: What do we mean when we say “Christ is our Life?”

Notice that Christ is simply called “the life”.

“The life was made manifest.”

It was Christ who was made manifest.

Christ appeared in human form.

But as 1 John 5:11-12 says, “God gave us eternal life, and this life was in his Son.

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life.”

So the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is our life.

When we have fellowship with him, we share in that life.

This Life is From the Beginning

John 1:1-18 Gives us the qualities of this word of life from the beginning.

All things are made through Him

In Him was life

This life is the light of men

The Light shines in the darkness but, it has not overcome it.

The true light gives light to everyone

To those who believe in him he gave the right to become children of God.

The children of God are born not of flesh but of God (spirit)

WHY IS GOD IN FLESH SO PARAMOUNT TO OUR THEOLOGY

Our life has eternally existed with the Father.

“That which was from the beginning” means, Christ our life was there when creation began.

He is eternal.

He had no beginning.

He will have no ending.

He is not part of creation.

In the beginning he is the very source of creation.

“All things were created through him and for him.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

(Colossians 1:17-18)

John clearly makes the claim to have touched what was from the beginning, the ancient of days, namely, the manifestation of eternal life.

This means he must appear in flesh.

Notice how Jesus freely walked among the people allowing people to physically touch him.

When Jesus appeared to Thomas and the other disciples he encouraged them to touch him to receive the proof of his resurrection.

People in general are willing to believe in Christ as long as you keep him some spiritual reality.

However, when you preach that Christ became a particular man, born at a particular time, from a particular virgin, and died our death for us on a particular cross exposing the particular sins and then dying on a particular cross it ceases to be acceptable for people to believe.

Note: The greatest stumbling block throughout history for people submitting their lives to Christ is the doctrine of the incarnation.

God became a man and walked among us.

People have stumbled over this from the day’s of John until our own time.

Why is this such a big stumbling block for the world?

In John 10:30 Jesus says, “The Father and I are one.”

And in John 14:9 He told Philip, “The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

This life is the life of undiminished deity in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth.

John Piper - calls it the stumbling block of the incarnation (Eternal Life).

John makes four declarations of this “Word of Life”

1.

We have heard Him with our ears.

We must be careful that to what and whom we are listening to for our theology.

Theology: is the study of God, his character, nature, and his relationship to the world.

2. We saw Him with our eyes.

Note: John states this three times in the text for emphasis.