That Your Joy May Be Full
Introduction:
Read I John 1:1-4. “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, concerning
the Word of life – 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and
bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with
the Father and was manifested to us – 3 that which we have seen and
heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us;
and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be
full.” NKJV These verses are the basis of the entire letter.
Christianity is based upon historical fact that is verified by key
witnesses’ testimony. (II Peter 1:16) “For we did not follow
cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His
majesty.” NKJV Let’s examine our text more closely.
Body:
I. That Which Was from the Beginning (I
John 1:1)
· “Beginning” Recall John 1:1. “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.” NKJV This phrase refers to the Son’s eternal existence. He
did not have a beginning, but was there at the beginning of the
world. See I John 2:13-14. “I write to you, fathers, Because you
have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young
men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you,
little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written
to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the
beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are
strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the
wicked one.” NKJV
· “Heard, Seen, Looked Upon, Handled” “We”
refers to the apostles multiple witnesses. (I Corinthians 15:3-5)
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that
He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.”
NKJV
Three senses are appealed to: hearing, sight,
touch. Some in the first century denied that Jesus came in the
flesh. John says that he and the other apostles are proof that He
did.
(John 20:24-28) “Now Thomas, called the twin, one
of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other
disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he
said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His
side, I will not believe.’ And after eight days His disciples were
again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being
shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He
said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and
reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be
unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him.
‘My Lord and my God!’ ” NKJV The phrase “looked upon” involves not
just seeing, but a perceiving as well, especially in a moral and
spiritual sense. (John 1:14) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth.” NKJV
· “Word of Life” Jesus is the Incarnate
Word who came to declare the Father. (John 1:18) “No one has seen
God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the
Father, He has declared Him.” NKJV Jesus is the Life, the source of
eternal life. (John 1:4) “In Him was life, and the life was the
light of men.” NKJV Jesus provides for man’s deepest needs.
II. The Life Was Manifested (I John 1:2)
· “Manifested” Made visible implies Jesus’
incarnation was an historical fact. Note the use of the same word
in Hebrews 9:26. “He then would have had to suffer often since the
foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He
has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” NKJV
· John declares that the apostles are
qualified to testify [bear witness]. They had personally seen and
heard Jesus and were openly declaring these things.
· “Eternal life” Eternal is without
beginning or end, that which always has been and always will be.
(Romans 16:26) “but now made manifest, and by the prophetic
Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment
of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith” – NKJV
· “Was with the Father” The word translated
“way” expresses continuous timeless existence. (John 1:1) “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.” NKJV
· “Manifested to us” The apostles
interacted with Jesus on a daily basis. They knew He had come in
the flesh. Note I John 4:1-3. “Beloved, do not believe every
spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many
false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the
Spirit of God; Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has
come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is
the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and
is now already in the world.” NKJV
III. We Declare to You (I John 1:3)
· “Declare” Announce proclaim. What the
apostles had seen and heard of the Word of Life, they were declaring
to all who would listen.
· They were doing this so the readers could
have fellowship with them. “Fellowship” Association, communion,
close relationship, sharing, this fellowship is a common
participation in the grace of God. This fellowship was for all who
accepted the witness of the apostle.
· This fellowship of the apostles is with
the Father and the Son. Those who reject the testimony of the
apostles have no fellowship with the Father and the Son. (I John
4:15) “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in
him, and he in God.” NKJV (I John 1:7) “Brethren, I write no new
commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from
the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from
the beginning.” NKJV
IV. We Write to You (I John 1:4)
· “These things” This would include the
entire New Testament.
· The ultimate purpose of these writings
concerning the Word of Life is a fullness of joy. (Isaiah 51:11)
“So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with
singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy
and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” NKJV
Conclusion:
The Christian faith is based upon that which is
historical. It is verifiable. Christianity is a religion of facts
which is based upon the most reliable historic testimony.
Jesus, the Word of Life, spoke words of spirit and
life. He came to bring eternal life to all who believe and obey.
[Thanks to Brother Rush for his helpful insights
into this text.]
Bobby Stafford July 16, 2017
The
church of Christ
