WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.160 Good morning, everyone. 00:00:02.160 --> 00:00:03.439 Good morning. 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:06.719 And also, Happy New Year. Happy 2024. 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:10.240 ! We made it one weekend, 51 to go. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:14.720 ! But yeah, some of us celebrated the New Year together. 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:17.839 ! We had Joe and Alex hosting a dinner at their place. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:25.600 ! And also, some of us got together here on the 31st to count down, watch the fireworks. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:29.679 And not only did we celebrate the start of the New Year of 2024, 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:33.600 we also celebrated Taylor Swift and the Backstreet Boys. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:38.560 We also celebrated Kelly's birthday. Her birthday is on the 1st, so happy belated birthday to Kelly. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:42.480 And there may or may not have been a conga line. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:47.600 But yes, while we're looking forward to 2024, we also spent some time 00:00:48.239 --> 00:00:55.760 pausing to reflect back on last year, on 2023, on what God has been doing. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:00:59.679 And to give thanks for his goodness to us this past year. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:03.679 Over dinner, we were sharing about some things that we're thankful for. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:07.200 And one really common thing, actually, was this church. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:10.319 We were thankful for this church to the point where we had to say, 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:11.679 okay, no more talking about the gathering. 00:01:11.679 --> 00:01:14.000 You have to go be thankful for something else. 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:20.400 But yeah, looking back on last year, I really am thankful for this church. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:27.599 And for those who are new, yeah, I guess the church, it's new in a way, like the new year, 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.400 where in September, we've joined together. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:31.280 We're at this new spot. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:47.680 And I'm thankful for what God is doing. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:54.319 And we started a new season and welcomed one another together and wanted to start with the end in mind. 00:01:55.199 --> 00:01:59.919 So we looked at revelation, starting with the end in mind, knowing where we're heading, 00:01:59.919 --> 00:02:01.199 that Jesus is coming back. 00:02:01.919 --> 00:02:06.079 And with the end in mind, we need to have the end in mind to know what we're doing now. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:08.079 Where are we headed to know what we should do now? 00:02:08.959 --> 00:02:10.560 Then we also looked at our mission statement. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.639 Why we gather as a church? 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:13.439 What are we doing here? 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.280 Why are we gathering in the first place? 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.120 What are all these seats for these couches? 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:18.799 Why are we a church? 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:29.280 And also leading up to Christmas, we focused on God becoming man, coming down to earth to give us love, hope, peace, joy. 00:02:30.640 --> 00:02:39.040 And now to start off 2024, having the end in mind, now we want to start from the beginning, from the basics. 00:02:39.040 --> 00:02:44.560 Now that we know where we're heading, let's turn to the basics and foundations of our faith. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:46.880 What is it that unites us together? 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:50.000 Why do we gather and love one another in the first place? 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.319 And it's because John says, God first loved us. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:56.719 We're a spiritual family. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:59.599 And as our mission statement says, we're bought by the blood of Christ. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:03.919 And we seek to know him and enjoy him until the day that he returns for good. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:10.000 Until the day he returns to good and more than that forever and ever into eternity. 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:16.639 So for the next several weeks and months, we're turning to first John, the book of first John. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:20.879 And first John is an epistle or in other words, a letter. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:28.799 And today we'll look at the first four verses and take a look at the purpose behind this letter. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:34.079 What does God intend to speak to us through this book? 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:38.560 And I'll start off by phrasing it like this. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.960 That first John was written so that we might know God. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:48.240 And more than that, more than just knowing God, but to know that we know God, 00:03:48.880 --> 00:03:53.760 to know with confidence that we know God, to have no doubt that we know God. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:59.519 And so we're starting here from the basics to lay down the foundations of our faith or to strengthen it 00:04:00.239 --> 00:04:06.000 so that we might be a gathering who knows God and who knows with confidence, assurance that we know him 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:10.000 and are his children so that we may enjoy him until the day he returns for good. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:11.280 Okay. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:14.479 So the plan for today is to look at these, the first four verses of first John. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:15.199 We'll read that now. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:21.839 So yeah, let's stand together as we read the word of God from, from first John chapters one to four. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:26.159 John chapter one. 00:04:26.159 --> 00:04:31.359 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:36.399 which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands concerning the word of life. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:43.599 The life was made manifest and we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, 00:04:43.599 --> 00:04:49.759 which was with the father and was made manifest to us that we, which we have seen and heard, 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:54.000 we proclaim also to you so that you too may have fellowship with us. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.759 And indeed our fellowship is with the father and with his son, Jesus Christ. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:01.759 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:03.519 This is the word of God. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:04.560 You can take a seat. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:11.759 So that's first John one to four, one, one to four. 00:05:14.159 --> 00:05:17.120 So yeah, as the name of the book suggests first John, 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:22.079 John was likely written by a man who was called John. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:25.439 Specifically, this is the apostle John. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:28.319 So someone who followed Jesus around for three years. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:34.160 And in those three years, Jesus saw Jesus in, John saw Jesus in public, 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:37.199 preaching, healing the sick and casting out demons. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:43.680 John also saw Jesus in private eating and sleeping and praying to the Lord. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:51.600 Jesus saw John also being arrested and then crucified on a cross where Jesus breathed his last breath. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:58.720 And John also raced to Jesus's tomb on the third day and found it empty because Jesus wasn't there anymore. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:05.280 John saw Jesus risen from the dead with his nail pierced hands and with, with the hole in his side. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:10.079 And John saw Jesus ascend into heaven with the promise that he would return again. 00:06:10.799 --> 00:06:15.359 And this is the apostle John who wrote an account of what he saw and heard. 00:06:15.359 --> 00:06:18.719 That's the gospel of John found in the, in the, in the Bible. 00:06:18.719 --> 00:06:27.279 So we have the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, which are an account of what Jesus did here on earth 2000 years ago in what is now modern day Israel. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.839 So John wrote his gospel with a reason, the book of John. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:44.519 He tells us this reason in John chapter 20 verses 30 to 31, which says that now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:53.519 But these are written so that you might may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:59.680 See, John wants us to believe that Jesus is our savior and in doing so have life through him. 00:07:00.599 --> 00:07:01.939 John wants us to know Jesus. 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:05.019 And so he wrote down what he witnessed of Jesus. 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:07.639 And that was in his gospel. 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:12.060 So different book, not John, not first John, which we're studying now, but the gospel of John. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:13.959 Very confusing, but yeah. 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:19.399 John has the same idea now in first John that we're looking at in the introduction of this letter. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:25.019 And John emphasizes in the first four verses that Jesus really is true. 00:07:26.100 --> 00:07:31.540 He does this by saying that he, John is an eyewitness of Jesus and that his witness is credible. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:32.560 Right. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:35.459 That Jesus really is the son of God who came in the flesh. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:41.800 And we can see that starting from verse one, that which was from the beginning, meaning Jesus. 00:07:42.060 --> 00:07:47.079 Which we have, he says, which we have heard. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:51.800 In other words, we heard him and we have seen him with our own two eyes. 00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:52.699 This is his testimony. 00:07:53.220 --> 00:07:56.360 We have looked upon him with our own hands, with our own two hands. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:58.340 We have touched him in the flesh. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:07:59.439 We have seen him. 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:00.519 We testify to him. 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:03.459 What we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you. 00:08:04.920 --> 00:08:09.160 See, John is adamant that he is a firsthand eyewitness of Jesus. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:13.100 This is not something he heard from someone else, but he's seen it for himself. 00:08:13.820 --> 00:08:14.960 God in the flesh. 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:21.260 And it's not just John himself who saw this, the apostle, but he says, we, we saw him. 00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:24.140 There's multiple witnesses and John is one of them. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:29.760 And now there's maybe some of you listen closely today with a question in their heads. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:34.840 If you're familiar with, with Paul's letter, there's something missing in this introduction. 00:08:35.059 --> 00:08:36.159 Does anyone have a guess? 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:36.980 What's missing here? 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:50.240 Well, I've been saying this is John, the author, John's the author, but actually there's no author mentioned so far. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:55.620 And other letters in the Bible start off by saying something like this, right? 00:08:55.680 --> 00:09:01.180 Paul or Peter, an apostle of Christ Jesus, introducing who wrote this letter. 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.779 But there's, there's nothing of this sort here. 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:13.259 And I've been saying that God, that, that John wrote the fourth gospel and this letter, but it's not stated explicitly that this is John here. 00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:25.319 And I don't know if any of you are into critical biblical scholarship, but turns out there's some people recently who argue that John did not. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.100 In fact, the apostle John did not in fact write these books. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:33.939 That's a recent trend recently that it was someone else writing this book, pretending to be him. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:41.819 And now I'm not super dogmatic that it's John himself who wrote this, the gospel of John and first John. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:47.340 But I think there is really good evidence to believe that for three reasons. 00:09:48.180 --> 00:10:00.160 So reason number one is that early church tradition attributes these books, gospel of John and first John, this letter to, you guessed it, John, right? 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:09.040 Third century writers, Irenaeus, Dionysius, Tertullian, to name a few, claim that these books were written by the apostle John. 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:12.620 And that's why these books are in our Bibles in the first place. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:19.019 The church recognized these books as canonical, meaning that, that they are God's word and they should be part of our Bibles. 00:10:19.699 --> 00:10:29.079 And the church did this because they believe that they were written by an eyewitness, an apostle of Jesus, who is John and written by him under the authority of God. 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:39.540 Reason number two is that the earliest manuscripts we have, the earliest writings that we have of John's letters, all of them carry John's name where we would expect it. 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:40.780 Similar to our English Bibles. 00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:44.980 They were called John and first John, like our English Bibles. 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:52.019 And there's no early manuscript that doesn't carry John's name, aside from some fragments that are missing where they're meant to be. 00:10:53.139 --> 00:11:06.300 And then reason number three, which I think is the most important reason, is that the Bible is pretty clear that if it is not the apostle John, the author is at least an eyewitness, an apostle of Jesus. 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:11.519 See, the author here is very adamant that he himself saw Jesus. 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:15.279 He heard Jesus and touched Jesus and is testifying about this. 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:21.639 And you need to jump through some hoops or do some mental gymnastics to reach a different conclusion from this letter. 00:11:22.599 --> 00:11:30.659 And if we flip to the end of John's gospel, in John chapter 21, verse 20, we see similar thing. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:43.379 Mention of the disciple who loved Jesus, who himself at the last supper, leaned back against Jesus for his crucifixion and asked Jesus, Lord, who's it going to betray you? 00:11:43.719 --> 00:11:47.399 So the John who wrote the gospel was with Jesus before his death. 00:11:47.719 --> 00:11:54.319 And in verse 24, it says that this same disciple is the one who's bearing witness about these things, who has written these things. 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:57.120 And we know that his testimony is true. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:04.799 So if you take God at his word, then the author of John's gospel was this disciple at Jesus's side. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:10.460 And the author of 1 John was someone who has seen and touched Jesus for himself. 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.419 And now why do I bring this up? 00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:14.679 So who cares about some academic debate? 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.759 I think reason three is very important. 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:24.779 Because no one debating the authorship of John is arguing that some other apostle saw him. 00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:27.620 Some other apostle wrote it or some other eyewitness. 00:12:28.279 --> 00:12:32.699 So no scholar argues that it's Thomas or Andrew or that guy, Bartholomew. 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:43.279 It's always some person or group decades removed from Jesus that is taking on John's identity and pretending and writing, pretending to be him. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:54.959 So denying John's authorship is in a way, a thinly veiled attempt, a subtle attempt to deny the truth, the reliability of what John saw and broke down. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:13:02.519 That God really did come in the flesh in Jesus and die for our sins and rise on the third day. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:04.720 And that John saw that and he wants us to know this. 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.080 So John won't let that stand. 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:13.139 He emphasizes in these four verses that he really is an eyewitness and saw Jesus. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.400 And he writes to us that we may believe and have eternal life. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:20.399 And in other words, so that we might know God through Jesus. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:21.740 He wants us to know God. 00:13:22.579 --> 00:13:22.899 Right. 00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:26.919 And I mentioned this debate because John later goes on in his letter. 00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:33.720 He goes to war against people proclaiming similar ideas and goes to the point of calling them antichrists. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:36.899 So in chapter two, verse 22, he says, 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.120 Who is the liar? 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:40.299 But he who denies that Jesus is the Christ. 00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.699 This is the antichrist. 00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:43.699 He who denies the father and the son. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:47.300 And later he writes, I write these things about those who are trying to deceive you. 00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:51.200 And every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.780 That is the spirit of the antichrist. 00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:59.980 So see, John was adamant that Jesus really is God in the flesh because he wants us to know God. 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:03.800 And we can only know God through Jesus Christ. 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.860 Verse one is about Jesus. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:09.840 When it says that which is from the beginning, 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:13.640 this echoes back to John's gospel that we read during Advent. 00:14:13.700 --> 00:14:14.780 Leading up to Christmas. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:17.400 In the beginning was the word. 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:18.960 The word being Jesus. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:20.900 And the word was with God. 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.560 And the word was God. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:24.440 He was in the beginning with God. 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:28.860 All things were made through him and was without him was not anything made that was made. 00:14:29.340 --> 00:14:30.140 In him was life. 00:14:30.400 --> 00:14:31.660 And the life was the light of men. 00:14:32.160 --> 00:14:35.080 The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.420 You see, Jesus is God. 00:14:37.520 --> 00:14:38.840 He was in the beginning with God. 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:41.340 And through Jesus, we have life. 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:44.440 Reading on to verse 14 there. 00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:47.879 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:49.300 And we have seen his glory. 00:14:50.040 --> 00:14:54.180 Glory as of the only son from the father, full of grace and truth. 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:56.399 In verse 18. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.159 No one has ever seen God. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:00.599 The only God who is at the father's side. 00:15:01.079 --> 00:15:02.079 He has made him known. 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:05.899 And this was the good news that we celebrated during Christmas, right? 00:15:05.939 --> 00:15:09.019 The good news that the angels brought to us. 00:15:09.479 --> 00:15:11.279 That Jesus is born. 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:14.519 God became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:17.139 No one has ever seen God. 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:19.299 But Jesus has made him known. 00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:22.139 Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:25.059 The only sovereign, the king of kings and the Lord of lords. 00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:26.919 Who alone has immortality. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:29.120 Who dwells in unapproachable light. 00:15:29.699 --> 00:15:33.419 Whom no one has seen or has ever seen or can see. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.740 Jesus has made God known. 00:15:36.579 --> 00:15:36.679 Right? 00:15:36.740 --> 00:15:37.459 Isn't that amazing? 00:15:38.079 --> 00:15:42.459 That the invisible God, John saw with his own eyes. 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:45.759 The God whose voice shakes the earth. 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:48.199 That the Israelites could not bear to listen to. 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:50.460 God heard with his own ears. 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:52.840 The unapproachable God. 00:15:53.900 --> 00:15:57.080 God, John touched with his own two hands. 00:15:57.920 --> 00:16:00.540 And John proclaims this to us. 00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:04.300 So that we too can know God in the same way that he did. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:07.980 With this closeness and intimacy that John had. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:11.800 We also can approach God because Jesus came in the flesh. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:17.459 And the question for us is, do we believe in John's testimony? 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.899 That Jesus is eternal life. 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:23.599 The word became flesh and is the only way to God. 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:27.339 I invite you to consider this with us in the next few weeks. 00:16:27.779 --> 00:16:28.659 If you haven't. 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.079 I invite you to read this letter or John's gospel. 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:39.020 And I'm also sure there's many of us here who are willing to share about how God has changed our lives. 00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:39.420 Also. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.060 Invite us all to find eternal life in Jesus. 00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:47.280 John writes so that we might know God. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.460 We know him through Jesus. 00:16:48.680 --> 00:16:49.620 But more than that. 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:52.600 He wants us to know that we know God. 00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:55.940 What I mean is he wants us to know with confident assurance. 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:57.139 Beyond doubt. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:59.320 That we know God. 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:03.860 He wants us to feel in our bones that we are God's people. 00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:07.500 And that's what he says in chapter five, verse 13. 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.559 I write these things to you. 00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:12.500 You who believe in the name of the son of God. 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:16.200 So that you may know that you have eternal life. 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:20.740 See John writes his gospel so that we may know and believe in Jesus. 00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:24.819 He writes us this letter now so that we may know that we know Jesus. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:29.259 That we might have confidence that we know Jesus and have eternal life. 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:34.460 So who here has known God for, let's say five years. 00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:35.380 Raise your hand. 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.539 How about 10 years? 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.759 Who's been a Christian for your whole life? 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:41.660 You grew up going to church. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.200 Everyone with their hands up. 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.980 Ask again. 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.580 Do you know God? 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.519 Do you know God? 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.640 How do you know? 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:56.660 How confident are you that your faith really is genuine? 00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:59.720 You may have been going to church for five, 10 years, your whole life. 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:01.400 But do you really know God? 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:03.080 And how do you know that for sure? 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:06.980 Do you have a reason for the hope that you have? 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.519 Or is it just your parents' faith? 00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:12.860 Or something that is just the default that you follow? 00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:16.119 But if it gets challenged, who knows what will happen? 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:22.399 You may have known about God for decades, but do we really know him? 00:18:22.959 --> 00:18:25.819 And have our lives been changed by the gospel? 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:32.579 So this past Thursday at our midweek gatherings, we talked about some new year resolutions. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:36.500 And quite a few of us mentioned wanting to know God more. 00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:45.419 Some of us have been going to church for a long time, but still honestly know that your faith is still shaky. 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:49.019 You're not really sure if you know God for real, but you want to. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:50.840 And that's good. 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:56.900 Some of you, some of us do know that we know God, but we want to know him more. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.039 We want more of him. 00:18:58.100 --> 00:19:01.660 We want to have more confidence, more assurance, more closeness with him. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.019 And enjoy him more, to know and enjoy him more. 00:19:06.140 --> 00:19:07.779 And God gave us this reason. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:13.359 John wrote this, this God gave us this letter for this reason so that we can do this. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:18.420 He wants us to know beyond a doubt that we are God's children loved by him. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:36.380 And if we have this confidence, we can approach him with confidence to know him deeper, to know him even closer and comprehend even more the depth, the length, the height and breadth to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge itself. 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:38.820 Be filled with all the fullness of God. 00:19:39.320 --> 00:19:42.360 That's John's invitation to us in this letter of first John. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:44.460 And that's also my invitation to us all. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:48.980 To know God and to know that we know him with assurance. 00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.480 So let's read on in verse three. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:20:01.539 John writes, that which we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you so that you too may have fellowship with us. 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:06.180 Here, John gives a reason for his proclamation. 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:10.860 And I said that he wants us to know God and to know that we know God. 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:11.640 But hold on. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:12.680 What does he say here? 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:18.600 John writes in verse three, he writes so that you too may have fellowship with us. 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:23.640 See, I'd expect him to say here, he wants us to have fellowship with God. 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:28.720 But instead he says, I write so that you may have fellowship with us. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:34.480 John doesn't say it directly, but he still means for us to have fellowship with God. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:42.339 And I'll try to show that by looking at other parts of this letter to give us a scaffold for how to interpret other parts of this letter. 00:20:42.339 --> 00:20:50.379 So one pattern here in first John is that John will mention an idea and almost equate it with an other. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:57.259 Like two ideas are so similar and intertwined so that when he mentions one, he also means the other. 00:20:57.379 --> 00:21:03.220 When he says idea a, he's also calling into mind idea B because these things are so closely linked. 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:06.100 Here's an example from, from chapter four. 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:10.240 The first idea he says is to love one another. 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.900 And the second one is to know God. 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:15.500 So idea a love one another and idea B no God. 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:18.579 Let's look at chapter four, verse seven and eight. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:22.539 He starts off by saying, beloved, let us love God. 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:23.420 See love God. 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:29.960 Then he says, for love is from God and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:36.039 So you see here how he links the two ideas, whoever loves knows God and whoever knows God loves. 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:39.500 These ideas come hand in hand and are inseparable. 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:47.480 This means that when he tells us to love one another, he also wants us to know God even deeper because through loving, 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:51.700 we come to know God and know the love that God has for us. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:22:00.200 When we love one another with the love that God showed us, it proves that God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:05.299 So through love, we come to know with confidence that we know God. 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:10.920 Another example is in chapter two, where he says idea a, don't sin. 00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:14.319 And secondly, be no God again. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:22.279 So in chapter two, verse one, he says, my little children, I'm writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:27.179 The notice he links not sinning with knowing God in verse three. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:32.279 By this, we know that we have come to know him when we keep his commandments. 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:37.240 Whoever says I know him, but does not keep his commandments is a liar. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:43.740 And the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word in him, the love of God is perfected. 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:46.579 By this, we may know that we are in him. 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:51.140 Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:52.420 Right? 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:57.480 So there John starts off by saying, I'm writing to you that you may not sin. 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:02.839 But by the end, we see there's another reason also in John's mind for that commandment. 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:07.680 He wants us not to sin because by that, we know that we know God. 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:14.120 We can know that we know God when we follow his commandments and walk in the same way in which he walked. 00:23:14.980 --> 00:23:17.920 Our obedience demonstrates that we are children of God. 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.839 And if we are children of God, we will obey. 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:32.519 See, God commands our obedience and love because this is how we know God even more deeply and intimately and have greater confidence that we are his. 00:23:32.939 --> 00:23:36.379 Love and obedience are these means by which we can know that we know God. 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.699 And it goes the other way as well. 00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:44.179 You cannot know God if we do not obey or love one another. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:44.819 Right? 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:50.139 If we say we know God, but we don't keep his commands, we continue in sin and enjoy it. 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:52.020 Then you are a liar. 00:23:52.860 --> 00:24:04.300 Or if we do not love one another, then we don't know God because obedience and knowing God are intertwined and love and knowing God are inseparable. 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.100 Right? 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:09.100 So my parents there are visiting from Toronto. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.380 So you can say hi to them. 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:11.880 William and Carol. 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.040 Uncle William, Auntie Carol. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:17.800 But those who know me know that I love to eat. 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:18.840 So I'm a simple man. 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.319 I love God and I love hot pot. 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:24.959 So my mom would cook for us growing up. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.000 And I loved my mom's cooking. 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:29.819 My mom would cook soup for us almost every meal. 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:32.679 And that's why now to this day I really like soup. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:35.259 And there's two soups I liked in particular. 00:24:35.399 --> 00:24:36.299 Mom, do you remember one of them? 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.779 What's one soup that I like? 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:39.919 Okay. 00:24:41.659 --> 00:24:42.019 There's a lot. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:45.259 One of them was I like lo song tong. 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:48.139 So this tomato, this tomato vegetable soup. 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:52.740 So, you see, I love my mom and I love her cooking. 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:55.060 So when my mom tells me, 00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:57.080 like drink more soup, 00:24:57.520 --> 00:24:59.180 I just do it. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:01.100 Obedience to that was easy. 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:04.579 And I'd get another bowl. 00:25:04.679 --> 00:25:07.559 And two minutes later, I'm staring at the bottom of my bowl again, my empty bowl. 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:13.079 And so you would know that I love soup because this bowl was empty. 00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:14.059 I drank it all. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:19.579 But if I took one sip of it, a mouthful, and then just spit it out, 00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:23.500 like went to the washroom, spit in the toilet, what would you think, right? 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.119 It's clear that I didn't like it. 00:25:26.059 --> 00:25:29.000 I could talk all I want about how I love this soup. 00:25:29.859 --> 00:25:32.379 But I could say, wow, this soup tastes so good. 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:36.259 But if I didn't drink any of it at all, you'd know that I was lying. 00:25:37.539 --> 00:25:39.440 And that's how John writes this letter. 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:41.339 He's just saying to us, drink the soup, man. 00:25:41.379 --> 00:25:41.940 Just drink it. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:44.660 Like loving God means loving others. 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:47.600 And loving God means obeying his commandments. 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:51.980 You know that you love God when you love others and follow his commandments. 00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:54.720 You know that you do not love God if you do none of these things. 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:59.720 So let's take this idea back to chapter one, verse three. 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:02.559 John says, I want you to have fellowship with us. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.640 And then he continues. 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:09.160 Indeed, our fellowship is with the father and with his son, Jesus Christ. 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:15.980 And to be clear here, fellowship here means a close association, having much in common or a tight partnership. 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.820 That's the idea here. 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:20.560 And John says, I want you to have this fellowship, this communion with us. 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:29.720 Because his fellowship, because fellowship with us is intertwined in his head, inseparable with fellowship with God. 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:37.160 He's saying that if you have fellowship with us, us being these eyewitness and apostles of Jesus, then you also have fellowship with God. 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:41.360 But if you do not have fellowship with us, then you also don't have fellowship with God. 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:43.120 And why is that? 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.500 There's two reasons here. 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:51.880 So one is because we can only have fellowship with God through knowing Jesus, through believing and following him. 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:58.700 And that requires believing what the apostle said about Jesus's life, death and resurrection. 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:02.680 John says, no one who denies the son has the father. 00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:06.000 Whoever confesses the son has the father. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:08.859 Also, we can only come to know God. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:13.400 We can only approach him because Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:16.279 And all who believe in Jesus have eternal life. 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:22.339 And some people think that all religions teach the same thing and that there are different ways to God. 00:27:22.339 --> 00:27:25.900 That we're like a blind man feeling different parts of an elephant. 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.180 That's not true. 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:29.680 That's not what God says in his word here. 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.480 There's only one way to God. 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:33.680 And that's through Jesus dying for our sins. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:36.480 Now, what does that mean for a church? 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.519 Right? 00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.680 Everyone is welcome here. 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:41.279 To everyone here, you're all welcome. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.240 We're glad you're here. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:50.740 But also at the same time, I want to make clear that this church is a gathering of God's people. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.460 We are followers of Christ. 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:56.680 And for those who don't know God, you're welcome here. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.660 And I say this with as much love as possible. 00:27:58.660 --> 00:28:04.360 But if you do not know God, then you are not one of us. 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:08.540 You do not really have fellowship with us because you do not have fellowship with God. 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:13.360 But we want you to, and you can have this fellowship with God. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:18.620 That's why we're going through this letter so that we may know God and know that we know God through Jesus. 00:28:18.619 --> 00:28:22.799 We want everyone here to have the same love and joy that we have. 00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:24.899 So I invite you to keep joining us. 00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:29.059 And we'd be honored to be part of your journey to be seeking God together with you. 00:28:31.719 --> 00:28:36.039 Secondly, loving God requires loving his church. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:39.179 There's no such thing as a solo Christian. 00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:46.979 In chapter four, we hear that this commandment we have from him, whoever loves God must also love his brother. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:50.319 Everyone who loves the father loves whoever has been born of him. 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.740 And that is the church, God's people gather together. 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:57.880 And when we love one another, we grow in the love of God and come to know him more. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:05.039 So if you're a Christian and you claim to believe in God, but feel like you're not growing. 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:12.779 And you're not actively part of a local church and loving one another together in fellowship with other believers. 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:15.180 Then I can't say I'm too shocked. 00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:21.640 If you think God's in your life, but he's not the center and just hidden away in the back corner. 00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:30.660 It could be because you also haven't prioritized loving his people, loving the brothers who also have fellowship with God. 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:34.640 So how much do we love God's church? 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:37.500 We can't grow close to God. 00:29:37.560 --> 00:29:43.180 We can't know God more without also growing close to his people and loving his people. 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:52.680 So that includes joining our weekly gathering or some weekly gathering of God's people to worship God together with them. 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:57.240 But it's more than just popping in for an hour and a half every week, then popping out. 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:02.060 Do we really, as a church, know one another and love one another? 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:05.339 Look to your left and to your right. 00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:06.559 Who's sitting beside you? 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:15.759 Do you see these people as people that God loves, redeemed by the blood of Christ and have fellowship with God also? 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:19.619 Look to the people to left and right. 00:30:19.679 --> 00:30:20.539 Do you know their names? 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.740 That's one place to start. 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:27.819 And I know that our church is growing. 00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:33.539 We have a hundred people and it's not possible to know everyone deeply, but we can start small. 00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:36.220 We like to ask around here, who's your five? 00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.420 Who's the five that you know? 00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.859 We'll start with five people. 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:42.160 Are there five people here that you know and love deeply? 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:46.400 Are there five that we can share our joys with or our sorrows with? 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:48.160 Who can we can turn to in a tough time? 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.759 Does anybody know you? 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:52.240 Somebody here had an emergency. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:56.420 Let's say they needed a place to stay suddenly or had to rush to the hospital. 00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:58.799 Is anyone here going to be calling your phone? 00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:00.859 Who would you call up? 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.579 Who's your five? 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:06.779 If we want to know God more, we need to have fellowship with one another. 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.799 So let's greet one another. 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:15.839 We can say hi to one another, invite each other to lunch, get to know them, go beyond the small talk and really get to know them. 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:19.279 We don't have to share our deepest, darkest secrets immediately, 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:22.460 but let's open up our lives to one another and try to get there. 00:31:23.559 --> 00:31:27.960 Because when we have fellowship with one another, that's when God abides in us. 00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:32.319 And we know more deeply the love that God has for us when we love one another. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:41.119 So John writes to us that we would know God and know that we know him through obedience and loving one another. 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.200 There's one more thing. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.880 Let's look at verse four. 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:47.660 In chapter one, verse four. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.100 It says, 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:53.080 And we are writing to you so that our joy may be complete. 00:31:53.500 --> 00:31:57.460 John is writing so that our joy may be complete. 00:31:57.460 --> 00:32:00.160 And I've been talking a lot about love. 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:09.120 But if you read these verses again, and this book, the apostle John and also first John is known a lot to be a book about love. 00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:15.559 But if you read these first four verses again, there's no actual explicit mention of love here. 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:19.679 And I think that's because that John doesn't just talk about love. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:22.480 But first, before talking about it, he demonstrates it. 00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:24.539 So let's see how. 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.319 He says, 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:28.259 We are writing to you so that our joy may be complete. 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:30.279 That's not explicitly. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:33.299 He's saying that he wants his joy to be complete. 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:36.859 Not our joy, but he wants his joy to be complete. 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.720 Like here, I'd expect him to say, 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:42.059 I'm writing to you so that you would know God, so that your joy may be complete. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.319 You would have joy in God. 00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:52.220 But he says that he cares about our joy to such a degree that in order for his joy to be complete, we have to know God also. 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:55.079 It's not enough for him alone to know God. 00:32:55.439 --> 00:33:05.179 But his heart is so full of love for God and for his church that his joy is only made full when we know him as well. 00:33:06.179 --> 00:33:07.000 Isn't that love? 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:10.619 Can you feel the love that John has for his church? 00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:16.139 And doesn't it remind you of the love that God has shown us when he puts our good? 00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.459 He loved us so much. 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:19.599 He sent his son to die for our sins. 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:24.379 Love looks to the interest of others and finds joy in seeing their good. 00:33:25.739 --> 00:33:28.899 There's a similar idea in 3 John, another letter. 00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.819 3 John verse 4. 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:36.359 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:42.679 No greater joy than that you guys are walking in the truth, that you guys are flourishing and you know God. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:46.259 He talks like a parent who wants the best for his children. 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:47.579 Right. 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:54.579 So suppose I offered Joe and Alex an all expensive paid trip to the Maldives. 00:33:54.799 --> 00:34:01.240 Business class flights, ocean villa overlooking, the sea turtles, manta rays. 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.119 Doesn't that sound good? 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:03.579 You want that? 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:04.500 Spa package for two? 00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:04.980 You want that? 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:10.079 Vet, right? 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.139 But there's a catch. 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:16.519 Suppose they brought Eden along and she got sick. 00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:17.699 Right. 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.360 Or she caught a flu. 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:22.039 She has a stomach bug and she's crying the whole time. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.880 She's sniffling. 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.759 She can't eat. 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.679 She's throwing up. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.239 How would that make you feel? 00:34:28.299 --> 00:34:30.759 Would you still enjoy that vacation in the same way? 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:31.579 Right. 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.360 No, not at all. 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:35.279 I think there'll be something in their heart. 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:36.340 That's yeah. 00:34:36.780 --> 00:34:40.920 Something piercing the heart because Eden, their daughter is not feeling well. 00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:45.140 And they love baby Eden. 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:50.680 And for their joy to complete, they want to see Eden happy and healthy and loving God. 00:34:51.040 --> 00:34:54.380 And that's how John feels for his church. 00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:57.980 He loves the church dearly and seeks the church's good. 00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:01.240 And that's my heart for you also. 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:07.419 I'm not perfectly and probably not to the same degree as John, but I want to see us as a church, 00:35:07.919 --> 00:35:13.239 know and love and glorify our God and savior Jesus Christ in order for my joy to be complete also. 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:20.459 And the question for us is, do we love each other with this love in the same way? 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:24.079 If we do, this stirs up our gathering, right? 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:29.319 We gather to encourage and exhort one another to know and love God because our joy is not complete 00:35:29.320 --> 00:35:32.160 unless we see others worshiping God also with the same joy and love. 00:35:33.180 --> 00:35:38.800 And if we see one of us in need, how can we not open up our hearts and share generously with them 00:35:38.800 --> 00:35:40.300 for all that they need? 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:44.519 If we don't do this, then we know that God's love does not abide in us. 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:48.160 Do we love the lost in this way? 00:35:49.080 --> 00:35:51.559 Do we love people who do not know God in this way? 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:56.559 If we do, then our hearts will be burning for their salvation. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:02.619 Our hearts will be burning to scatter, to show mercy and to call people to know Jesus, 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:04.579 to know the same joy and love that we know. 00:36:05.239 --> 00:36:09.239 And when we have this heart, when we want people to know God, 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:14.659 then we will know that we're children of God and we'll come to know God even more deeply. 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:18.379 We talk a lot here about gathering and scattering. 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:22.420 I want us to do this out of joy, to gather and scatter out of joy, 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:26.179 not out of obligation because we're told we have to come every week. 00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:27.980 We have to go do the prison ministry. 00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:30.059 We have to go tell the friends about Jesus. 00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:33.980 But I want us to do this out of joy, that our joy may not be complete 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:36.319 unless we see everyone worshiping God. 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:40.759 We want to see everyone with us in heaven for all eternity, worshiping our God. 00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:47.440 Let us gather, gather and scatter out of joy and love that we have for God. 00:36:48.100 --> 00:36:52.000 And when we have this heart, then we'll know that we're children of God. 00:36:52.100 --> 00:36:54.160 Then we'll know God more deeply and intimately. 00:36:56.100 --> 00:36:59.040 So to sum it up, that's, that's this letter of first John. 00:36:59.140 --> 00:37:01.680 That's this book that we'll be going through in the next several weeks. 00:37:02.360 --> 00:37:06.980 It's a letter from the apostle John, an eyewitness to the church 00:37:06.980 --> 00:37:09.800 so that we would know that Jesus did come in the flesh. 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:15.540 And to, to know, and more than that, to know with confidence that Jesus died for us 00:37:15.540 --> 00:37:19.040 and that we are God's children to know that we know God. 00:37:19.960 --> 00:37:22.380 And we can know that God through Jesus. 00:37:22.680 --> 00:37:25.500 We can only know God because Jesus died for us. 00:37:26.060 --> 00:37:28.000 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:37:28.700 --> 00:37:29.680 We have seen his glory. 00:37:29.679 --> 00:37:35.500 And more than knowing God, we want to know with confident assurance, right? 00:37:35.799 --> 00:37:38.460 That our sins are forgiven, that we have fellowship with God. 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:42.559 And we can do this by having fellowship with one another, by loving one another, 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:45.839 when we love one another and follow God's commandments. 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:54.180 So let's take this journey together, starting off 2024, like this, in fellowship with one another, 00:37:54.180 --> 00:37:58.120 seeking God together, seeking to know with confidence that we are his children. 00:37:59.120 --> 00:38:01.940 We are a simple gathering in a complex time. 00:38:02.620 --> 00:38:08.059 And we seek to walk daily in the way of Jesus so that we may know him and enjoy him 00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.760 until the day he returns for good. 00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:11.920 So let's do this together. 00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:16.080 Looking through first John, let's seek him together so that we may know him and enjoy him. 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:17.320 Can we do that together? 00:38:18.180 --> 00:38:19.180 Let's pray for that. 00:38:25.460 --> 00:38:27.160 Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:32.040 That the word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:38:32.160 --> 00:38:37.140 We have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the father, full of grace and truth. 00:38:37.580 --> 00:38:38.780 May that be our confession. 00:38:38.780 --> 00:38:45.580 Would we take hold of those words that we have seen the glory of God in Jesus and know you through him. 00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:52.840 And God, may you make us a gathering who is committed to obeying your word, to loving one another. 00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:55.320 Make us your children. 00:38:55.680 --> 00:38:58.900 Help us to live as you called us to. 00:39:01.080 --> 00:39:05.000 Help us to know you more through displaying your holiness. 00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:12.199 To know that we are made in your image when we follow your commands and love one another the way you loved us. 00:39:12.199 --> 00:39:14.559 and come to know the love you have for us 00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:16.019 through our love for one another. 00:39:17.739 --> 00:39:19.599 God, help us to do this by your spirit. 00:39:19.939 --> 00:39:20.839 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:39:21.339 --> 00:39:21.539 Amen.