1 John 1:1-4

1 John 1:1-4 I. The epistle begins with a declaration of the apostolic witness of Jesus Christ, the Word of life. A. John begins this epistle as he began his gospel by setting forth Jesus Christ as the Word. JOH 1:1-3. B. The Word is the name of Jesus Christ’s divine nature as God. 1JO 5:7; REV 19:13. C. The apostles were especially chosen witnesses of Jesus Christ. MAR 3:14; JOH 15:27; ACT 10:40-41. D. The Word became flesh and thus made Himself manifest to the senses of hearing, sight, and touch. JOH 1:14. E. The perception of the Word by the senses is spoken of in the present perfect tense. 1. This tense indicates action that took place in the past. 2. If the real presence of Christ is in the bread and wine of communion, then we would be continually seeing, looking upon, and handling of the Word of life! 3. In the context of someone having touched Jesus, He said: “...but me ye have NOT always” (JOH 12:8). 4. Today we believe in and love Him Whom we have not seen and do not see. 1PE 1:8. F. Our faith is based upon the testimony of eyewitnesses who were so convinced of what they heard, saw, and felt that they were willing to suffer and die for it. 1. They were not obedient unto death for cunningly devised fables. 2PE 1:16. 2. To reject the gospel is to reject the testimony of the senses! G. Since the Word is God, the apostles heard, saw, and handled Almighty God. 1. They personally witnessed the man Christ Jesus doing what only God can do. 2. Jesus, as God, healed all diseases. MAT 4:24 c/w PSA 103:1-3. 3. Jesus walked on the sea as does God. MAT 14:24-26 c/w JOB 9:8. 4. The stormy wind obeyed Jesus as it obeys God. MAR 4:37-41 c/w PSA 148:8; 107:29. 5. Jesus changed water into the fruit of the vine just as God does every year. JOH 2:1-11 c/w PSA 104:13-15. 6. Jesus raised the dead as does God. JOH 11:38-44 c/w 1SAM 2:6; JOH 5:21. H. Christ is called here the Word of life. 1. He is the living Word of God in Whom is life. HEB 4:12; JOH 1:4. 2. He is the living Word that imparts life. 1PE 1:23; JOH 5:25-26. 3. Unlike the idolaters, Christians place their faith in the living God! JER 10:14 c/w 1TI 4:10; 6:17. 4. Christ especially manifested Himself to the apostles' senses after His resurrection. JOH 20:24-29; ACT 10:41. a. The resurrection and its proofs especially convinced them. ACT 1:1-3. b. Any doubt they had that Jesus was the Son of God was cured by the resurrection. ROM 1:4. c. John lays particular emphasis on the fact that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. 1JO 2:22-23; 4:15; 5:5, 10, 13, 20. I. The manifestation of the Word in flesh was the manifestation of eternal life. 1. Eternal life is in Him. 1JO 5:11. 2. He has the power to give eternal life. JOH 17:2. II. The apostles declared and wrote what they saw and heard so that God’s children could have fellowship with them. v. 3. 1 John 1:1-4 Page 1 of 2 A. fellowship: Partnership; membership of a society; participation, sharing (in an action, condition, etc.); something in common, community of interest, sentiment, nature, etc. B. This apostolic fellowship is the church fellowship to which we are added at baptism. ACT 2:40-42. 1. The fellowship of the apostles is a fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 2. The church of Jesus Christ is that of the living God. 1TI 3:15. C. This fellowship is symbolized in the Lord’s Supper. 1CO 10:16. D. Recall that John is writing to the children of God. 1JO 2:12-14. E. The purpose of declaring the gospel is to lead the children of God into fellowship with the church, and with God and His Son (Locate, Stimulate, Educate, Separate and Congregate the Regenerate). H. This fellowship is through the Holy Spirit. PHIL 2:1; 2CO 13:14. 1. The Holy Ghost dwelling in us is the indwelling of the Father and of Christ. JOH 14:15-23. 2. It is the Holy Spirit that takes the things of Christ and shows them unto us. JOH 16:14-15. H. It is by means of apostolic doctrine that we come into apostolic fellowship with the Father and His Son. I. 1 John sets forth the conditions for maintaining this fellowship. III. The apostles wrote what they saw and heard so God’s children could have fulness of joy. v. 4. A. The New Testament Scriptures come from the apostles. B. It is through the testimony of the apostles that we believe on Christ today. JOH 17:20. C. Faith in the testimony of the apostles leads to fulness of joy. ACT 13:48, 52; ROM 15:13; 1PE 1:8. 1. Faith in one’s own righteousness does not. PHIL 3:3, 9. 2. Faith in the testimony of false apostles does not. 2CO 11:13, 19-20. 3. Faith in men’s perversions of the apostles’ testimony does not. 4. Faith in the delusional lies of Mohammed, Joseph Smith, Charles T. Russell et.al. does not. 5. Faith in the apostles’ testimony of a Living Savior Who accomplished redemption for His elect and will certainly return for them — this ONLY leads to fulness of joy. 1TH 1:4-10. 1 John 1:1-4 Page 2 of 2