WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:06.459 So starting our new summer series in 1 John is called Certain, Secure, Illuminated. 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:09.500 I hope that's how we're going to feel at the end of it. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:12.419 And it's all about knowing that we know God. 00:00:13.540 --> 00:00:17.940 But can I just say, I think 1 John should come with a health warning. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:20.620 It is not an easy book. 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:24.440 It is not something that we're just going to be able to dip in and out of. 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:29.080 It's something that's going to take some rigorous study, some serious gray cells. 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:34.079 We're going to remember to take our thinking caps every time we open it. 00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:39.659 I don't think I have wrestled with a book ever as much as I have 1 John. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.039 It is tricky. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:45.179 But we're going to find great things in it. 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:48.579 I think it's hard for two reasons. 00:00:49.519 --> 00:00:53.920 Firstly, that John, who writes this book, is not the Apostle Paul. 00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:58.079 So we read Paul and it's very logical. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:04.259 He says things like, this means this, and then this means that, and then this means the next thing. 00:01:04.620 --> 00:01:08.700 And then he goes on at the end of his arguments to always say, therefore do this. 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:10.560 Live like this. 00:01:10.679 --> 00:01:11.599 Walk like this. 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:12.879 Behave like this. 00:01:12.980 --> 00:01:14.039 Think this. 00:01:14.179 --> 00:01:15.280 Do that. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:15.900 John. 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:18.400 Some of what he says is very complicated. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:22.000 But we can see there is logic behind it. 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:22.939 There's a structure. 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:31.159 John, on the other hand, seems at many times to be quite structureless, quite confused. 00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:36.079 Sometimes it seems like he's just vomiting words onto the page. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:39.319 Sometimes it seems contradictory. 00:01:40.759 --> 00:01:45.939 And sometimes we're going to think, oh, well, you're just repeating yourself to fill up space. 00:01:46.459 --> 00:01:53.259 So we find John hard because it doesn't quite meet with our Greco-Roman way of doing argument. 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:55.700 Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da equals this. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:58.060 So we're going to have to watch out for that. 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:08.439 Secondly, and I think more confusingly, 1 John seems to do almost the opposite of what he says it's meant to do. 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:13.939 So the big theme sentence that he gives us is in 1 John 5 verse 13. 00:02:14.080 --> 00:02:23.500 He says, I write these things to you that believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:29.419 So in other words, he's saying, I'm writing this book so that your confidence level goes up. 00:02:30.020 --> 00:02:37.020 I'm writing this to you who believe so that you may know for definite that you have eternal life. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:38.560 That's why he's writing. 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:40.039 But then we read things like this. 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:44.699 And you know that he appeared in order to take away sins. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:46.599 And in him there is no sin. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:48.860 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:52.039 No one who sins has either seen him or knows him. 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:57.400 As a result of reading that verse, do you feel more confident that you know God or less confident? 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:05.139 Because I certainly feel less confident as someone so aware of one who keeps on sinning. 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:06.359 Or what about this verse? 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:11.939 We know that we have passed from death to life if we love each other. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:15.539 Anyone who does not love remains in death. 00:03:16.299 --> 00:03:20.239 Again, having read that verse, do you feel more confident or less confident? 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:25.439 And so it seems that John says, I'm writing this book so you might have real confidence. 00:03:26.480 --> 00:03:30.980 But as we read it, rather than our confidence getting bigger, it seems to shrink away. 00:03:32.140 --> 00:03:38.920 And so we're going to have to do some real work if we're going to get what this book is about. 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:46.319 However, though at first reading this book is tricky, it's like wrestling a jelly, it easily slips out of your fingers. 00:03:47.259 --> 00:03:50.259 It is a letter that is of great importance. 00:03:51.819 --> 00:03:54.679 It's very profitable to spend time in. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:04:03.960 I also think it's a very timely letter that has lots to teach us about the state of our church and our lives in the 21st century. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:08.240 So having gone nine rounds with it over the last couple of months, 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:14.280 I hope that I can pass on some of the great lessons that I've been learning from this book. 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:18.160 One more introductory comment and then we'll dive in. 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:22.699 I promise if I haven't put you off already, well done for staying here. 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:26.240 1 John is an occasional letter. 00:04:26.839 --> 00:04:33.420 That means John writes it to a particular group of people facing a specific problem. 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:37.079 It is a letter that is written on an occasion. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:42.340 He's addressing a particular problem amidst a specific group of people. 00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:51.479 And we've got to keep this in mind if we're going to squeeze out every bit of truth and all the lessons that God is trying to teach us. 00:04:51.919 --> 00:04:58.679 And the big clue to what this problem is, is found in 1 John chapter 2 verses 18 and 19. 00:04:58.799 --> 00:05:00.500 Let me read it for you. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:03.159 He says, 00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:05.379 Dear children, this is the last hour. 00:05:05.979 --> 00:05:11.879 And as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have come. 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:14.679 This is how we know it is the last hour. 00:05:15.119 --> 00:05:20.019 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. 00:05:20.619 --> 00:05:24.439 For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. 00:05:25.479 --> 00:05:30.159 But their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:33.620 Now don't let that word Antichrist confuse you. 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:38.799 We're not talking about people in dark hoodies with 666 tattoos who drink goat's blood for breakfast. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:40.680 That's not what we're talking about. 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:42.840 We're talking about instead of Christ people. 00:05:43.939 --> 00:05:46.240 We're talking the instead of Jesus group. 00:05:46.579 --> 00:05:52.139 The people who are trying to have a Christianity that detracts away from Jesus Christ. 00:05:53.580 --> 00:05:58.439 And what it seems is that there's a group of people within a local church who have left. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:01.980 They've left the congregation. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:09.939 And they've left the church because they think that the church they were at was like a spiritual kindergarten. 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:18.420 And they viewed themselves as on a much higher plane, much more spiritual, much more powerful, much more impressive. 00:06:18.420 --> 00:06:25.759 That they've got a much clearer insight into who God is and what it means to live for him. 00:06:26.120 --> 00:06:28.640 They claim to be on a special higher plane. 00:06:29.080 --> 00:06:31.520 And they said to the congregation, we can't be with you anymore. 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:32.879 It's like babysitting. 00:06:34.840 --> 00:06:41.759 And so reading between the lines in the letter, they claim things like they've got a superior knowledge of God. 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:45.860 If you read the letter, the word no comes up again and again and again. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:50.500 They're saying we're the ones that really know God and you don't. 00:06:51.340 --> 00:06:57.100 They claim a better anointing, a more fuller anointing from the spirit. 00:06:57.240 --> 00:06:58.639 We're far more spiritual. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:05.220 God has poured out the spirit into our lives in a far greater way than he has in yours. 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:09.860 You'll see the word anointing comes up again and again in this book. 00:07:11.620 --> 00:07:13.939 He also says we've got greater purity. 00:07:13.939 --> 00:07:15.680 We're going to see this particularly next week. 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:20.259 That they're claiming we're leading sinless lives on this earth right now. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:22.300 We're far more pure. 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:26.819 We have far more control over sin in our lives. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:31.139 And finally, they claim a greater victory over the devil in this life. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:33.660 That we've utterly defeated him. 00:07:33.780 --> 00:07:40.000 And so as you read through, you're going to read the word overcome again and again and again. 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:45.019 Well, just imagine you are in the church that John is writing to. 00:07:46.019 --> 00:07:52.959 You're quite a tight church and you've got a good history together and suddenly people start saying, well, you haven't got it at all. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.500 We're much more spiritual than you. 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:59.720 Well, if that's a new person who's come in, you'd say, well, don't let the door hit you on the way out, wouldn't you? 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:05.560 But what if it's a few core families in the church? 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.280 What if it's the Baxters and the Greens and the Whites? 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:14.900 And Mr. Baxter's a lawyer, so he must be well clever and know lots of great things. 00:08:14.960 --> 00:08:16.780 And Mrs. Green, she's taught Sunday school forever. 00:08:16.779 --> 00:08:23.559 Well, and the Whites, their daughters babysat your children for months and months and months. 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:24.519 What are you going to feel? 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:28.419 If they're the ones saying that everything you're doing is not right. 00:08:29.159 --> 00:08:31.859 And we need to leave because we're going to do it properly right now. 00:08:33.220 --> 00:08:35.319 Well, you'd feel very, very unsettled, wouldn't you? 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.720 You'd start to question, have we really got this? 00:08:40.179 --> 00:08:44.120 Are we really living some sub-Christian experience down here? 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:55.060 Is there any truth in their claims to know God better, to have greater spiritual power, to have greater purity, and final victory over the devil? 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:09.700 What if these people left your church saying your gospel is incomplete, your worship is too babious, your spirituality is stunted, your experience is underwhelming, and your view of the Bible too restrictive? 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:11.539 How would you feel? 00:09:11.539 --> 00:09:11.679 How would you feel? 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:15.759 You'd feel quite unsettled if you were one who remained. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:22.519 If this church that John is writing to met them next Sunday, how would they feel? 00:09:25.539 --> 00:09:35.539 And so John writes to this group of believers unsettled by the departed to give them real confidence that they're not living some sub-Christian experience. 00:09:37.199 --> 00:09:38.439 They've got the real deal. 00:09:38.439 --> 00:09:38.539 They're not. 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:51.719 Do you see how comforting that would be if John, who knows he was one of the founding members, called to be a disciple and then apostle by Jesus Christ. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:10:04.500 If he says you've really got it, and that comes with real authority and real weight, that comes with real gravitas, that's going to be a real shot of confidence in the arm of your church. 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:18.480 So John writes this letter with the dual purpose of reassuring those that remain that they've really got it and unmasking those who have departed, saying what they're really like. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:26.940 If we keep all that in mind, then we can dive into one John with real confidence, ready to learn great things from God. 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:33.960 So why don't I read for us, please, one John, and we're going to read the first five verses. 00:10:33.960 --> 00:11:03.940 This is what John writes. 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:33.940 We write this to make our joy complete. 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:35.340 At all. 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:40.080 This is God's word, and we pray that he would bless it to us. 00:11:40.580 --> 00:11:44.940 Today's sermon is called Witness, and hopefully as we read that, you will see why. 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:49.800 And so I want to tell you about the big idea. 00:11:50.400 --> 00:11:57.360 The big idea of this passage, first up, is the light of God's revelation shines supremely through the apostolic witness. 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:04.600 The light of God's revelation shines supremely through the apostolic witness. 00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:09.560 This is former PC, Keith Wallace. 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:14.120 And he was jailed for 12 months. 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:16.259 Why was he jailed? 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:22.220 Because of this, the pleb gates to Gandalf, involving the chief Tory whip, Andrew Mitchell. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:24.299 And why was he in prison? 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:27.960 Well, he said he was there, and he heard what Andrew Mitchell said. 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:33.100 But then, rather embarrassingly, the CCTV footage came out. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:39.940 And it turned out he wasn't even anywhere near the main street on Downing Street. 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:43.300 He was a false witness. 00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:47.540 He claimed an eyewitness account, but he wasn't even there. 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:58.420 And then there's this woman, Tanya Head, who after the 9-11 World Trade Center attack, recounted her incredible survivor story. 00:12:58.940 --> 00:13:06.100 Having escaped from the 78th floor of the South Tower, where she was an employee of Merrill Lynch. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:14.300 Shortly after, she became the president of the World Trade Center Survivors Network, and gained celebrity status. 00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:16.840 There she is, meeting Mayor Bloomberg. 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:25.879 However, in 2007, it transpired that Tanya Head, real name Alicia Head, wasn't even in New York on 9-11. 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:32.920 But 4,000 miles away, in Barcelona, attending classes at a business school. 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:43.899 Though both these people, Keith Wallace and Tanya Head, claimed to have first-hand experience, and yet it was a complete fabrication and lie. 00:13:45.019 --> 00:13:52.199 And so, in contrast to both Tanya and Keith, John writes to us, and he says, I was really there. 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:57.019 He was really an eyewitness to Jesus Christ. 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:00.000 What he's saying comes with real weight. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:10.480 It's survived 2,000 years of being scrutinized, and comes to us as verifiable, substantiated evidence. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:16.740 And that's exactly how John starts this letter to this group of unsettled believers. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:26.440 John starts his letter staking his claim as a bona fide apostle, a chosen disciple, a member of Jesus in a circle. 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:30.640 Therefore, John's words come to us as one who knows. 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:34.800 Who knows it all, because he was there for it all. 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:43.900 He has a real experience of the incarnate, risen Lord Jesus. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.120 And so I want to show you three things from this passage, and here's the first. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.520 John lays out his apostolic credentials. 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:54.879 Just look at those first five verses again. 00:14:56.059 --> 00:15:01.299 See how relentless John is in using personal pronouns. 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:05.100 The personal pronouns we, our, and us. 00:15:05.319 --> 00:15:11.019 See how many times he says, we saw, we heard, we touched. 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:13.860 Our hands. 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:17.579 Revealed to us. 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:19.480 He is relentless. 00:15:20.400 --> 00:15:26.700 In fact, 15 times in just five verses, he refers to himself as we, us, and our. 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.560 And what does he mean by this we? 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.759 Well, he's not talking about we Christians. 00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:37.900 He's not even talking about we as in the apostle John and his readers. 00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:38.700 Not that way. 00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:42.100 He's talking in the apostolic we. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:48.100 The we who saw, the we who touched, the we who heard, the we who are proclaiming. 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:53.820 John is saying we apostles are the ones who beheld Jesus. 00:15:55.879 --> 00:16:00.080 Who is described in these five verses as the one who was from the beginning. 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:02.060 The eternal God. 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:07.379 Echoing one John 1 that Thane read for us earlier. 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:09.279 He's described as the word of life. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:11.079 He's described as the life. 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:14.439 And he's described as the eternal life. 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:18.339 And see how sensory the language is. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:23.559 He's saying we heard and we saw and we touched and we looked upon. 00:16:25.059 --> 00:16:28.220 John is saying I really know the truth because I was really there. 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:30.279 I touched God. 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:30.839 God. 00:16:32.459 --> 00:16:39.419 This second member of the eternal trinity who came down to earth and lived amongst us. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.959 I was really there. 00:16:42.059 --> 00:16:45.480 And I think he's not just talking about the incarnate life of Jesus. 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:48.019 But he's talking about the resurrected life of Jesus. 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:53.199 Because as we read in John 20, that's the complete record that John is writing. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:58.500 That all the time Jesus is saying look and see and touch. 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.360 That encounter with Thomas. 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:03.520 Look and see and touch and believe. 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:05.620 John is saying I was there. 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:09.559 I walked around for three years with Jesus. 00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:11.940 And we thought it was over. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:15.120 And then he came to us risen and ascended. 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:20.179 We saw him and we touched him and we know that it's true. 00:17:22.459 --> 00:17:29.239 John is slapping his apostolic credentials on the desk and saying to his readers I know it all. 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.599 Because I saw it all. 00:17:31.699 --> 00:17:33.239 John who writes a gospel. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:38.059 Who was called by Jesus whilst fishing on the lake of Galilee. 00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:43.219 Who helped distribute 5,000 to 5,000 people bread and fish. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:47.259 Who freaked out in a storm on the sea. 00:17:48.160 --> 00:17:52.579 Who helped move the stone from Lazarus' tomb. 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:57.339 Who walked beside Jesus while he was on a donkey entering Jerusalem. 00:17:58.380 --> 00:18:01.900 Who made preparations for the Passover with Peter. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:08.460 Who was out there at the Last Supper literally reclining next to Jesus while they ate. 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:12.880 Who was in the garden when Jesus was betrayed and arrested. 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:18.860 Who was tasked for caring for Jesus' mother as Jesus hung dying on the cross. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:23.920 Jesus whom John met in the upper room after his resurrection. 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:28.740 Who was in the boat after the miraculous catch of fish when Peter goes fishing. 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.360 In John 20. 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:35.860 Who did 40 days of intense Bible study with Jesus about the kingdom of God. 00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:37.980 Before Jesus is ascended. 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:43.700 Do you see how comforting this would be to a group of unsettled believers? 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:47.360 That John says, I know. 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.299 What I know I proclaim to you. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:52.620 And if you understand what I proclaim to you, you've got it all. 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:55.559 So these people saying there's more than Jesus. 00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.779 There's better than Jesus. 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:58.700 There's more power than there is in the gospel. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:18:59.559 Nonsense. 00:18:59.559 --> 00:18:59.919 Nonsense. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.119 Because I know. 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:04.440 And I was there. 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:06.599 John writes reassuring words. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.399 To an unsettled congregation saying, I saw firsthand. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.899 You've got the whole thing. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.379 Secondly. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:16.740 He talks about his apostolic testimony. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:22.039 See how many times in these five verses John uses communication words. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:25.159 It's not just that he was there. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.440 But that he's communicated it. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.019 Verse 1, 2 and 3. 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:30.339 He used the word proclaim. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.460 Verse 2. 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.879 He uses the word testify. 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.639 Verse 5. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.240 Declare. 00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:35.980 Verse 4. 00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:36.819 Write. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:41.579 In every verse John speaks not about just the gathering of information. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.000 But the communication of that information. 00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:48.619 The transmittal of what he saw and heard. 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:52.219 This is significant when we know John. 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:56.739 Because in John's gospel, lots of people testify to a lot of things. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:59.399 John the Baptist testifies to Jesus. 00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:02.279 Jesus testifies about himself. 00:20:02.979 --> 00:20:06.239 The Samaritan woman testifies about Jesus when she says, 00:20:06.659 --> 00:20:10.279 Come and meet a man who told me everything about myself. 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.539 God the Father testifies to Jesus. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:18.839 The crowds testify to Jesus as the one who raised Lazarus from the dead. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.519 The spirit testifies to Jesus. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:27.279 In fact, it seems if you read John's gospel that everyone testifies about Jesus except one group of people. 00:20:28.399 --> 00:20:29.460 The disciples. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:33.619 In John's gospel, they never testify about Jesus. 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:36.039 But Jesus promises that they will. 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:42.359 When the advocate, the Holy Spirit comes, who might send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth. 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:44.379 He will testify about me. 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:47.279 And you also will testify. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.899 For you have been with me from the beginning. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.940 That's what John writes. 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:56.180 And here we have in John's first letter, 00:20:56.740 --> 00:21:03.159 one indwelt by the Spirit who's now testifying, witnessing to the truth about Jesus. 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:08.580 John is saying this and only this. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:14.180 The testimony of the apostles about Jesus is the authoritative truth. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:20.220 About who Jesus is, what Jesus did, and what that means for us. 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:24.640 There's not a minority report out there giving a different version of events. 00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:28.240 John is saying there's no alternate endings of how this went down. 00:21:28.540 --> 00:21:31.040 There's no director's cut giving you more insight. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:33.259 There's not a DVD of extras. 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:36.200 This isn't Jesus season one the apostles are giving us. 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.599 This is the complete box set. 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.259 From beginning to end. 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:45.319 The official bona fide truth about Jesus. 00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:49.019 That they received and now they proclaim to us. 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.240 Verse 5 is remarkable. 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:53.279 God is light. 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:55.899 And in him there is no darkness at all. 00:21:55.900 --> 00:22:00.320 And from that John is saying this is full disclosure. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.160 God is light. 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.460 There's no grey areas. 00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:06.320 There's no hidden bits. 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:11.900 It's not like the dark side of the moon that we're not quite sure what's going on there so we make up sci-fi. 00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:15.960 God is saying, John is saying God is light. 00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:17.460 He's fully disclosed himself. 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:20.880 He's put himself on full display with absolute clarity. 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.920 There's no small print. 00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:27.220 It's not like when you're on iTunes and they change the things and you just click agree without reading it all. 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.920 And you don't know what's hidden in there. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.560 Whether they're going to repossess your house. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.180 Or give you an apple tattoo. 00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:36.560 John says there's no small print. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:40.440 God has made himself known fully. 00:22:42.399 --> 00:22:45.399 Isn't that what Philip's talking about in the upper room? 00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:48.419 Jesus, show us the Father. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:52.559 Jesus says, well, Philip, if you've seen me. 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.379 You've seen the Father. 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:57.419 John 1.18 00:22:57.419 --> 00:22:59.839 No one has seen the Father but God. 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:03.519 The one and only Son has made him known. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:12.299 It is the apostolic gospel that is the legitimate, unique, authoritative revelation of what God is like. 00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:17.460 Jesus not only came, lived, died, rose and ascended. 00:23:17.879 --> 00:23:25.519 But his grace to us is seen in him employing and empowering reliable witnesses to testify to it. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.379 To give us an authoritative account. 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:32.460 So important, we can't play jazz with Jesus. 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:39.059 We can't just make it up as we go along because there's one record given to us and it's complete and full and enough. 00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:46.359 So John is saying we have apostolic credentials. 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:49.000 And this is the apostolic testimony. 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:53.019 And lastly, an apostolic offer. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.819 Look at verse 3. 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.859 It is remarkable. 00:23:54.859 --> 00:24:14.479 John is saying if you believe what we say, you have fellowship with us. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:19.579 You might think big deal, but look what comes next in 3B. 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:25.460 And our fellowship is with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:33.420 Through the apostolic gospel, we're brought into a fellowship with all Christians everywhere, including the apostles. 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:39.759 And that apostolic fellowship is with God the Father and God the Son. 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:45.460 John is saying that the way to fellowship with God the Father is through the apostolic gospel. 00:24:45.620 --> 00:24:46.140 That simple. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.980 There's no bypass. 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.180 There's no work around. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.120 There's no diversion. 00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:52.759 How do we have fellowship with God? 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.060 Through his word. 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:57.700 His written and authoritative word. 00:24:57.700 --> 00:25:00.779 And look what this fellowship is marked by. 00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:08.620 Eternal life, light, joy, reconciliation with God, which has been our problem since Genesis 1. 00:25:09.080 --> 00:25:10.720 Truth and forever. 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:13.500 It's the kind of fellowship we like. 00:25:14.519 --> 00:25:18.220 Light, joy, life, truth, forever. 00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:22.140 And therefore John lays out his apostolic credentials. 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:25.120 I know I was there, he says. 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:27.539 He lays out his apostolic testimony. 00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:29.239 I saw and I proclaim it to you. 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:32.959 As one who was empowered and employed for that job. 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:35.079 And I hold out this apostolic offer. 00:25:35.179 --> 00:25:36.579 If you believe what I say. 00:25:37.419 --> 00:25:40.439 The truth about Jesus, you're welcomed into fellowship with us. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:45.000 But not just us, but with God the Father and the Son. 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:48.719 Let me just tell you four things that we need to know from this passage. 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.000 Number one. 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:54.799 Our Bibles is the only reliable information we have about God. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:59.319 The only absolutely reliable information we have about God. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.359 There's lots of books out there. 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.579 Some of them are great. 00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.759 Some of them are trash. 00:26:04.719 --> 00:26:06.959 But none of them are as reliable as this. 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.779 So let's make this our source document. 00:26:09.939 --> 00:26:14.899 And from it learn wonderful things about the God who has made himself fully known. 00:26:15.959 --> 00:26:16.599 Number two. 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:19.879 It is a mediated message. 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:22.060 This is the triangle. 00:26:22.280 --> 00:26:24.580 God, the apostles, us. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:26.440 This is how we learn truth about God. 00:26:26.760 --> 00:26:30.140 It comes from God to the apostles and the apostles to us. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:34.700 God is not revealing fresh things about himself directly to people. 00:26:35.600 --> 00:26:41.280 He is obviously emphasizing and applying things to people's lives directly. 00:26:41.540 --> 00:26:43.040 But there's no fresh stuff. 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:44.780 God has made himself fully known. 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:52.319 So be very careful when people say, oh, I learned this about God, but it doesn't involve the words. 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:55.019 Because that's what John is saying. 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:59.980 God revealed it to us and we made it known to you. 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:02.940 It's not an unmediated message. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.980 Can't play jazz with God's revelation. 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.400 It's clear. 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:11.019 And explicitly clear. 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:14.799 It is these scriptures that are able to make us wise for salvation. 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:18.319 They've got a complete monopoly on that. 00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.220 Number three. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.660 There's God. 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.460 There's the apostles. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:26.019 How do we have fellowship with God? 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.860 Through the apostolic witness. 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:30.799 Through the apostles. 00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:34.339 It's what John is explicitly saying. 00:27:35.679 --> 00:27:39.679 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. 00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:43.399 And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:27:44.479 --> 00:27:46.939 If you want to get to God, you've got to come through us. 00:27:51.179 --> 00:27:53.879 And then finally, perhaps you're here. 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:57.839 And you think, well, I've got a few ideas. 00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:58.419 I've got a few ideas about God. 00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:01.139 I've never really kind of investigated this stuff. 00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:02.299 Well, if this is true. 00:28:04.439 --> 00:28:07.379 If what John is saying, that we have the official account. 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:12.319 We have the only powerful account able to bring us into fellowship with God. 00:28:12.439 --> 00:28:14.459 Then it's got to be worth your time to investigate. 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.199 It's got to be. 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:21.259 John is saying, the only way you can know about God is through us. 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:25.319 Then it's definitely worth our time investigating what they say. 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.120 It's amazing talking to people. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.319 Everyone uses the phrase, oh, I'm spiritual. 00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:33.200 I like to take a bit of this and a bit of that and mix it all together. 00:28:33.380 --> 00:28:35.500 And I call that my own personal spirituality. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:40.599 But that is complete nonsense if what John says is true. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:43.759 That there's one truth that leads us to God. 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:47.799 And it's from God to the apostles to us. 00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:49.220 Nothing else. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:53.539 There's no creative thinking when it comes to this stuff. 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:56.960 And so, what have we learned today? 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.559 One big truth. 00:28:58.659 --> 00:29:04.119 The light of God's revelation shines supremely through the apostolic witness. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.019 That's what we've learned. 00:29:05.659 --> 00:29:12.339 So let's pray together and pray that it would be shining on us and through us and in us. 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.839 Let's pray. 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:25.099 Father God, thank you that you didn't just send Jesus. 00:29:26.459 --> 00:29:31.000 Thank you that he didn't just accomplish everything that you'd sent him to do. 00:29:32.439 --> 00:29:37.439 But thank you that he left reliable witnesses to testify to the glorious truth. 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:41.240 That he came into the world to save sinners. 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:45.039 And so, Lord, may we cling to this truth. 00:29:46.199 --> 00:29:48.639 May we feast upon this truth. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:55.319 Father, may what you revealed to them be revealed to us as we dig into this word. 00:29:56.599 --> 00:30:00.339 Father, may your word do its work in and through our lives. 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:05.859 Father, thank you that you revealed it so that we would have fellowship with the apostles. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:12.579 But so much more that we would be brought into fellowship through you, our glorious heavenly father. 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:18.240 And that we would have glorious fellowship with your son, Jesus Christ. 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:21.519 So, Father, may this word be dear to us. 00:30:22.179 --> 00:30:24.819 And may that fellowship be the very reason that we live. 00:30:25.639 --> 00:30:27.919 Father, bless us and be with us in Jesus' name. 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:28.959 Amen.