TUESDAY
1 John 1:1–4 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— 2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — 3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Today we are beginning the last week of our campaign—The Life Revealed. This text worked out nicely as an Advent campaign because we ended with the final topic being relatively short for Christmas Eve service. It’s a tough task to keep the little one’s attention through a full expositional sermon. So this week we are focusing on verse 4.
Last week we said the first of John’s two applications that he gives in this opening section. First, he is declaring to his audience what he has experience of the life revealed, so that they will have fellowship together with those who believe in the gospel and therefore have fellowship with the Father and the Son. Secondly, John says he is writing this whole letter so that our joy may be complete.
We will go through this throughout the week but today I want to focus on the value of this letter being written.
In Galatians 4:4 Paul writes that Jesus appeared in the fullness of time. God’s sovereignty is revealed in the timing of Jesus’ appearance. Jesus appeared during the Pax Romana so there was relative peace in the Roman empire. This also meant there was a common language in most of the known world—Greek. This allowed the gospel writers to write and disseminate their letters to the churches in a language that everyone understood.
Writing is a major theme in John’s letter. The word for write occurs 13x in this small letter. This verse and 5:13 “I have written these things to you…” form the bookends of the letter. This was likely a letter sent by a currier that was intended to be read to a local church or a collection of local churches. It’s worth reflecting on the significance of this letter, and all the letters of the New Testament being written so that we have access to what they wrote even today—2,000 years later. These words, superintended by the Holy Spirit in their writing, are God’s words. Words he wanted to communicate to his people. This means that we have direct access to the words of God! These words reveal truth. They convict and challenge us. They encourage us and strengthen us. Ultimately they reveal the gospel—the word of life—God’s plan of redemption from the beginning. In this story we can know God, know how we are made right with God, and how to live a life that glorifies God. What a blessed gift of grace the Scripture is.
Because these words have been written, preserved and passed down to us we don’t have to rely on the fallible traditions of the church to guide our understanding of the Scripture. There is great wisdom to be had there, but in times of corruption the church must have a foundation to fall back on. The gospel revealed in Scripture is the truth we must build all of our life upon. In times of debate and doubt we must always return to the truth of God’s Word to be our guide.
Additional Content
Reflection
Appreciate and cherish the written of God in the Scriptures.