WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.680 Well, good morning, church, and happy Father's Day. 00:00:03.459 --> 00:00:06.219 Would you turn with me to the book of 1 John? 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:10.839 As Pastor Matt mentioned, we're going to be beginning a new sermon series this morning 00:00:10.839 --> 00:00:12.560 in the New Testament book of 1 John. 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:17.179 That's page 959 in the Pew Bible, if you'd like to turn there. 00:00:19.740 --> 00:00:20.339 959. 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:30.160 I wonder if you've ever had any doubts about Christianity. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:37.679 Perhaps you've wondered whether Christianity is true and whether you should believe it. 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:45.000 Or maybe at a deeper level, I wonder if you've ever had any doubts, not necessarily about 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.000 Christianity, but about yourself, whether you're really a Christian. 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:52.380 Whether you really have eternal life. 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:56.720 Whether what you believe is the real thing, the genuine article. 00:00:58.800 --> 00:01:03.900 Well, the book of 1 John is written to Christians who are being blown and tossed by doubts just 00:01:03.900 --> 00:01:04.460 like these. 00:01:05.240 --> 00:01:10.980 They, too, were wondering whether or not they had the real thing, and they were deeply troubled 00:01:10.980 --> 00:01:12.300 and deeply confused. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.600 And as we work our way through this book over the course of the summer, we'll start to learn 00:01:17.600 --> 00:01:18.120 why. 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:22.719 You know, it seems that a group of people who had broken away from the church then began 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:27.740 to teach and practice things that caused those original believers to lose their confidence. 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:33.420 Because this breakaway group said that they had discovered the true meaning of fellowship 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:36.680 with God and the real secret to spiritual life. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:43.600 They were saying that what these Christians believe wasn't the real thing after all. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:46.880 And that caused them great trouble, great concern. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:53.760 So John writes his letter to combat these false teachings and to give his readers confidence. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:57.020 At the end of the book, John states his purpose very clearly. 00:01:57.180 --> 00:01:59.680 He says in chapter 5, verse 13, he says, 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:06.540 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:11.620 that you have eternal life so that you can know. 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:16.719 So John is writing to build up Christians in their assurance. 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:19.760 Assurance that they do indeed have eternal life. 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:23.760 Assurance that the message that they received is indeed the truth. 00:02:24.600 --> 00:02:28.360 Assurance that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God come in the flesh. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:34.560 So I wonder, friend, do you wish you had a bit more assurance today? 00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:41.340 A bit more confidence that your relationship with God in Christ really is the real thing? 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:44.780 That's what John wants to impart to us. 00:02:45.420 --> 00:02:49.340 He wants us to know how to recognize genuine faith. 00:02:49.900 --> 00:02:52.380 And he wants us to have it for ourselves. 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:56.220 So let's dive in and let's see how John begins his letter. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:57.919 1 John chapter 1. 00:02:57.960 --> 00:03:03.439 We're going to look at verses 1 through 4 this morning, which is the intro to this letter of 1 John. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:05.000 John writes, 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:32.639 That which we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you, 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:35.859 so that you too may have fellowship with us. 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:41.699 And indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:03:42.839 --> 00:03:47.399 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:49.079 Let's pray together. 00:03:50.459 --> 00:03:56.679 Father, as we spend the next couple of moments this morning meditating on this beautifully rich passage, 00:03:56.680 --> 00:04:03.200 and as we set out this summer to meditate and consider this beautiful book of 1 John, 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:08.800 would you come in your grace and in your mercy by your spirit and give us understanding of these things? 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:17.240 God, not just an intellectual understanding, but the deep heart assurance that John wants his readers to have, 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:19.899 that you want us to have in our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:19.899 --> 00:04:21.719 So help us, we pray. 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:22.959 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:29.500 Okay, so as John opens his letter, you might have noticed that the sentence here, 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:31.799 the structure is pretty complex, right? 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:34.819 I mean, usually a sentence sort of goes like this. 00:04:34.859 --> 00:04:38.879 There's a subject followed by a verb followed by an object, right? 00:04:39.159 --> 00:04:42.859 As in, I play baseball. 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:43.739 Yeah, right? 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:45.719 That's like how sentences are supposed to work. 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:51.200 But John, in this opening sentence, rather than putting the subject and the verb first, 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:54.460 he puts the object first, right? 00:04:54.620 --> 00:04:58.280 In order to find the subject and the verb, you have to go all the way down to verse 3. 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:04.740 And there we discover that the subject and the verb of this long opening sentence is, 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:06.780 we proclaim. 00:05:08.420 --> 00:05:09.420 We proclaim. 00:05:10.440 --> 00:05:12.500 So that's what this introduction is all about. 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:16.939 In verses 1 and 2, John tells us what he proclaims. 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:19.279 His proclamation is what? 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:20.759 Concerning the word of life. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:25.319 And then in verses 3 and 4, he tells us why he proclaims it. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:29.379 So that his readers might not only have fellowship with him, with the church, 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:33.399 but also with God, with God the Father, with his son, Jesus Christ. 00:05:34.819 --> 00:05:38.379 But remember, this letter is meant to bring assurance, right? 00:05:38.379 --> 00:05:45.100 So even in these opening verses, John is trying to impart confidence in his Christian readers. 00:05:46.139 --> 00:05:50.480 These readers are troubled that what they've heard and what they believe might not be the genuine thing. 00:05:50.579 --> 00:05:52.620 It might not be the key to knowing God after all. 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:58.459 So we should ask, how do these opening verses impart that confidence 00:05:58.459 --> 00:06:03.879 that what John has to say about the word of life really is genuine and true? 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:09.040 In other words, why should we believe this message concerning the word of life, 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:10.939 as he puts it at the end of verse 1? 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:17.620 Well, there are kind of three steps in the argument that I'm going to try to trace out this morning. 00:06:18.139 --> 00:06:24.339 Or at least three ways in which this opening introduction serves to fuel our assurance and our confidence. 00:06:24.339 --> 00:06:31.519 Notice first that this word of life, John says in verse 2, was made manifest. 00:06:31.919 --> 00:06:37.419 Other English versions will translate that same word as the word of life appeared or even revealed. 00:06:38.099 --> 00:06:43.419 So the first thing that John's pointing out here is that we can be confident in this word of life 00:06:43.419 --> 00:06:51.739 because this word of life showed up, made itself known, was openly revealed and made manifest. 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:55.000 Now what exactly does that mean? 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:59.400 Well, this takes us right into the very first verse where John explores this. 00:06:59.939 --> 00:07:02.720 We proclaim, John says, that which was from the beginning. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.600 And immediately when we hear that phrase, don't we think of the opening verse of the whole Bible, 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:09.939 Genesis 1-1, in the beginning God. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:16.759 Or maybe we think about the beginning also of John's gospel, John 1-1, in the beginning was the word. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.160 John's pulling that same thread here. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:24.860 And he's saying that this message concerning the word of life is about the eternal God 00:07:24.860 --> 00:07:29.740 who existed from the beginning, from the timeless beginning of eternity, 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:35.260 before anything was created or made, that which was from the beginning. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:40.300 In verse 2, John will describe it further, this word of life further, 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:42.960 as the eternal life which was with the Father. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.659 And doesn't that remind us of the opening of John's gospel, 00:07:45.779 --> 00:07:50.120 where we read that the word was with God and the word was God. 00:07:51.599 --> 00:07:55.560 But then in the rest of verse 1, things get kind of interesting, don't they? 00:07:56.099 --> 00:07:59.859 You know, most religions will talk about some kind of transcendent, supernatural, 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:04.699 maybe even timeless God or spiritual force. 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:08.300 But things get interesting in verse 1. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:08.860 John says, 00:08:09.420 --> 00:08:13.740 We proclaim that which was from the beginning, which we have heard. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:16.180 Okay, maybe that's not so weird. 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:17.779 We hear things about this spirituality. 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:21.800 But then says, John says, which we have seen with our eyes. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.519 And then he says, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands. 00:08:26.519 --> 00:08:34.600 When John says, the life was made manifest, this is what he means. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:39.279 He means that the eternal God entered history. 00:08:40.079 --> 00:08:46.399 And that John and the other apostles saw him, heard him, even touched him. 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:49.779 How could this be, you ask? 00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:53.259 How could what is eternal enter into time? 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.059 How could the infinite be seen and touched? 00:08:56.519 --> 00:09:04.220 Well, what John is describing here is the fact of the incarnation. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:10.340 That God the Son took on human flesh and lived among us. 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:12.840 Fully human and fully God. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:15.079 Two natures in one person. 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:22.980 God can be known because he has made himself known in the person of Jesus. 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:26.920 Jesus living in the flesh right before us. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:31.120 Notice that John is saying two things about Jesus here. 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:34.779 First, that Jesus really is one with the Father. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:36.100 He is fully God. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:40.620 As we've said, John is saying this is the one who was from the beginning, sharing God's eternity. 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:41.800 He is the word of life. 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:43.180 The eternal life. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:44.860 Which was with the Father. 00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:48.139 But here is the mystery and the wonder. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:51.639 John is also saying that Jesus is fully human. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:56.279 We've heard him and seen him and even touched him. 00:09:56.279 --> 00:10:03.519 Perhaps John had in mind that moment after Jesus' resurrection that we read earlier. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:07.600 When Jesus came into their midst and ate with them and said, go ahead. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:08.839 Touch me. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:10.220 It's really me. 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:19.779 Or maybe John had in mind one of the countless other times when he and the apostles would have been traveling together with Jesus. 00:10:20.060 --> 00:10:21.040 Eating together. 00:10:21.680 --> 00:10:23.240 Passing food back and forth. 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:24.440 Rowing boats together. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.800 Setting up tents together. 00:10:27.680 --> 00:10:33.100 John had no doubt that Jesus really was a fully human person. 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:40.980 And here is the beauty and the wonder of a genuine Christian message. 00:10:42.340 --> 00:10:44.620 God took on flesh and dwelt among us. 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:54.120 That's one way you can tell and perhaps the most important way you can tell genuine Christianity from false substitutes. 00:10:55.960 --> 00:10:59.500 How do you tell genuine Christianity from false substitutes? 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:08.500 The main test, not the only, but the main test is, do you believe in the full humanity and the full deity of Jesus Christ? 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:16.860 If you leave either one of those behind, you don't have the real thing. 00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:27.360 But if it's true that God became flesh for us, then don't you see the assurance that this brings to our hearts? 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:30.800 Consider first what this central fact of Christianity means. 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:34.440 First, it means that God has made himself known. 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:39.259 God hasn't remained a secret, hidden in eternity. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:51.379 The one true God doesn't need to be sort of sought after in mystical experiences that only sort of the select, dedicated few could ever hope to achieve. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:12:02.799 God doesn't need to be sort of reasoned to through intellectual feats that only the smartest and most talented of philosophers could possibly achieve. 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:13.379 No, God made himself plainly known for all to see in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:20.539 But the incarnation doesn't just mean that God has revealed himself to humans. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:25.179 It means that humans can be reconciled to God. 00:12:26.939 --> 00:12:35.299 You see, friends, the problem that exists between God and you and me isn't just a sort of gap of knowledge, right? 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:43.299 The problem isn't just that we need to get more information about God, as if our main problem were ignorance or confusion. 00:12:45.079 --> 00:12:50.939 The problem that exists between God and you and me isn't just a knowledge gap. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:52.299 It's a moral gap. 00:12:52.299 --> 00:13:02.259 Because we humans are rebels who have turned away from God to try to run life our own way in this world that God has made. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:11.439 And having rebelled against God, turned away from God, we've incurred God's just wrath against our rebellion. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:23.460 But if the incarnation is true, then God hasn't just overcome the knowledge gap, he's overcome that moral gap as well. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:36.220 Because in Jesus, in Jesus' humanity, he lives a perfect life of obedience to the Father, an obedience that he offers up on our behalf. 00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:45.779 So that even though our human moral record is tainted, we can have his human moral record that is perfect and complete as our own. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:48.580 A righteousness given to us. 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:56.120 And in his humanity, Jesus also dies to pay the penalty that our sins deserve. 00:13:56.920 --> 00:14:05.279 God's just sentence against human sin falls on Jesus, who in his humanity can rightfully represent us and rightfully pay it. 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:12.300 But because he is also fully God, this payment is infinite, perfect, and complete. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:19.639 And that brings the deepest assurance imaginable. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.460 That God himself has made the way. 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:30.720 We don't look to someone less than God for our rescue. 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:35.440 We look to Jesus, God himself, who has made the way. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:46.259 So when you look to Jesus Christ, you see not just God fully revealed to humanity, but you see sinners fully reconciled to God. 00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:54.759 And that reconciliation is offered freely to all who would admit their sin and trust in him. 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:59.980 So the word of life then is revealed, John says. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.700 It's manifest. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:03.100 It's incarnated right in our midst. 00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:05.080 And that is our greatest assurance. 00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.779 But this kind of leads to another question, doesn't it? 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:13.240 How does this message of who Jesus is and what he has done get to us? 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:18.279 We weren't there, right, to hear and see and touch for ourselves. 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:22.039 So what assurance can we have of these things? 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:26.539 Well, this brings us to the second thing that John has to say. 00:15:26.699 --> 00:15:31.139 This is kind of his second big point about this message concerning the word of life. 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:33.899 First, was the manifestation of the incarnate Jesus. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:39.679 But second, is the proclamation through the eyewitnesses of the apostles. 00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:41.699 The proclamation. 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.899 Look again at verse 2. 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.259 John says, 00:15:44.259 --> 00:16:05.960 You see, the event of the incarnation did not go unnoticed. 00:16:07.019 --> 00:16:13.279 In fact, Jesus himself selected the apostles to be eyewitnesses of all that he said and did in his public ministry. 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:20.299 Most importantly, the apostles became eyewitnesses of his greatest work of all, his death and his resurrection. 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:26.579 Now, John uses two words here to describe his apostolic announcement. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:30.279 The first one is testify, and the second one is proclaim. 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:39.399 The first word testify points to the fact that John and the other apostles were eyewitnesses of all that Jesus said and did. 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:44.139 And in that way, the apostles had the authority of experience. 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:45.299 They were there. 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.319 They saw it for themselves. 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:51.579 So they could authoritatively say out of their own experience, this is what's true about Jesus. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:58.059 They could give reliable witness to Jesus because they had indeed witnessed him for themselves. 00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:01.479 But the second word is proclaim. 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:08.619 And the word proclaim actually carries the sense of being commissioned for a task. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:12.539 In other words, the apostles didn't just see these things for themselves. 00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:19.039 In addition to that, Jesus himself commissioned them to speak and to teach on his behalf. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:21.359 You see this throughout the gospels, actually. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.059 When Jesus is calling the apostles, why does he call them? 00:17:24.199 --> 00:17:28.279 So that they might be with him and so that they might go out and preach, right? 00:17:29.159 --> 00:17:32.879 And then he'll say things like, whoever listens to you listens to me. 00:17:33.699 --> 00:17:36.459 And whoever listens to me listens to the one who sent me. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:41.740 So in other words, the apostles didn't just see these things for themselves. 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:45.740 In addition to that, Jesus commissioned them to speak and teach on his behalf. 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:48.240 And, you know, we saw another example of this in Luke 24. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:55.120 The risen Jesus commissions the apostles to go forth and proclaim what they had heard from him with his authority. 00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:58.640 Now, how does this connect to assurance? 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:12.000 Well, for John's first readers, they needed to be reminded that the message they received came from the ones who had not just seen Jesus with their own eyes, 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:16.160 but who had also been commissioned by Jesus to share that message with others. 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:22.080 The splinter group that had kind of broken away and was troubling John's original audience, 00:18:22.540 --> 00:18:28.000 they were teaching things and practicing things that had no basis in what the apostles taught. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:34.320 And we don't know for sure what they were appealing to for the basis of those things they were teaching and practicing. 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:36.279 Maybe they were appealing to spiritual experience. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:39.220 Maybe they were appealing to cultural trends. 00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:40.960 Maybe they were appealing to who knows what. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:45.840 But it had no basis in what the apostles taught. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:50.440 And so John's original readers were not to be blown and tossed by it. 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:56.140 The message that mattered was the message of the apostles. 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.680 And the same, friends, is true today. 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:04.900 If we want to know the truth about Jesus and about what it means to follow him, 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:08.920 where should we look and where only should we look? 00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:17.180 Well, we should look and only look to the testimony and proclamation of the apostles themselves. 00:19:18.060 --> 00:19:22.180 After all, they actually heard him, saw him, touched him, 00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:26.100 and they received the commission from him to be his witnesses and to teach in his name. 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:33.039 You know, it's not uncommon today to hear someone say, you know, 00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:35.959 if they disagree with something in the New Testament or especially Paul. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.059 Paul tends to sort of get the worst of it, you know. 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.759 Someone disagrees with something Paul says. 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:41.559 You know, that's just what Paul says. 00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.519 That's just what Paul says. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.839 We can think something else. 00:19:46.219 --> 00:19:49.779 You can almost imagine the original readers of John's letter 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:52.500 probably hearing something similar from the group that was troubling them. 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.559 Look, that's just what John says. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.559 We know what's true. 00:19:56.099 --> 00:20:03.199 But friends, consider how strange it would be if you were in a courtroom 00:20:03.199 --> 00:20:06.500 and one of the attorneys stood up and said, 00:20:07.459 --> 00:20:08.639 ladies and gentlemen of the jury, 00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:12.299 you should not find my client guilty of these charges. 00:20:13.159 --> 00:20:16.439 After all, these folks you've been listening to all this time, 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:20.059 bringing forth all this evidence, well, look, they were only the eyewitnesses. 00:20:20.219 --> 00:20:21.639 They don't really know what happened. 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:24.219 The jury would scratch their head and say, 00:20:24.220 --> 00:20:27.880 wait, we're not supposed to trust the eyewitnesses who saw all this stuff? 00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.660 None of that would fly. 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:32.940 We would laugh that attorney right out of court. 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:39.400 And in the same way, when we base what we believe about Jesus 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:43.539 and what we believe it means to follow Jesus faithfully on what the apostles teach, 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:47.299 we're basing it on the only reasonable and sure foundation. 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.440 To trade the apostolic word for some other word 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:55.700 is like trusting a clever lawyer trying to win a case 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:59.039 rather than trusting the people who saw it with their own eyes. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:06.879 But notice also here, not just John's apostolic qualifications, 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:09.299 notice too his motivations. 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.039 In verse 3 he says, 00:21:12.139 --> 00:21:15.599 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:18.039 so that you too may have fellowship with us. 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:21.319 And indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:26.559 John wanted his readers to know the fellowship that comes 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.200 from believing in this word of life. 00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.399 And it's a two-fold fellowship, isn't it? 00:21:31.399 --> 00:21:32.919 On the one hand, it's a fellowship with us. 00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:34.000 That is with the church. 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:36.539 With the church that the apostles had founded. 00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:39.779 And on the other hand, it's a fellowship with God the Father 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.119 and Jesus Christ his Son. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:45.700 You know, John isn't ultimately trying to build his own brand 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.000 or grow his own following. 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.339 Right? 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:54.000 In fact, there's a strong likelihood that John might be writing this letter in exile. 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:57.519 Writing this letter towards the end of his life 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:00.339 when many of the apostles had died for their witness to Christ. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:07.859 John's motivation was that his readers would be united to God 00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:09.959 and to the people of God. 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:13.099 United to Christ and to Christ's church. 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:17.240 And you know, friends, the two must always go together. 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:20.459 The two must always go together. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.299 The gospel, first and foremost, reconciles us to God. 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:26.179 Whereas once we were God's enemies because of sin, 00:22:26.359 --> 00:22:28.639 now through the grace of Christ we're God's children, 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:31.419 united in intimate fellowship with him. 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:35.579 But out of this common fellowship with God in Christ that we have, 00:22:35.639 --> 00:22:36.559 the church is born. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.819 A people who are united as a spiritual family. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:43.759 Not united around race or class or nationality 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:48.099 or musical preferences or educational background or similar hobbies. 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:53.680 No, the church is united in a common love and common devotion 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:56.059 and common union with Christ. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:23:01.779 We have fellowship with God and with one another because of Christ. 00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:05.379 And the two must always go together. 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:10.319 You know, we can't be content with an evangelism or a spirituality 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:15.220 that doesn't lead to a robust engagement with church life. 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:19.720 That would be a deficient kind of spirituality. 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:23.139 And we can't be content with a church life 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:28.960 whose unity is some superficial social or political commonality. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.539 That would be a deficient church life. 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:35.319 No, true evangelism and spirituality draws people to God 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:37.039 and to God's people. 00:23:38.059 --> 00:23:42.100 Just as a true church will not simply draw people into a social club, 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:46.620 but into living fellowship with a living and holy God. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.960 But as we think about having assurance in this apostolic message, 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:56.140 we still might ask one more question. 00:23:56.140 --> 00:24:00.000 After all, the apostles aren't around anymore, are they? 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:03.640 Not only are we not eyewitnesses of Jesus, 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:06.320 we're not around to hear the apostles teach. 00:24:07.300 --> 00:24:09.280 Those eyewitnesses have all died long ago. 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.940 They aren't here to share their testimony. 00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:14.940 So how can we possibly have any assurance in what they taught? 00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:21.040 Well, the answer to this last question is answered somewhat indirectly 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:23.339 by the last verse in our passage. 00:24:24.599 --> 00:24:26.319 In verse 4, John writes, 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:31.480 And we're writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:34.799 We're writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:38.039 Now notice again, John's pastoral heart coming through here. 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:41.000 He's saying that his joy would not be complete 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:43.180 until his readers come to really know 00:24:43.180 --> 00:24:45.059 that they have eternal life in Christ. 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:47.059 That's where his real joy lies 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:52.019 in seeing them enjoy the assurance of union and fellowship with God in Christ. 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:55.539 But notice here, and here's the point I want to point out, 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:59.159 notice how John is going about this work. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.039 He says, 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:04.740 I'm writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:11.700 For John, his written words are just as important 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:17.259 and just as effective as his testifying and proclaiming in person. 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:23.579 In fact, for John, his in-person testifying and proclaiming 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:26.660 was limited, right, to wherever his body and his voice could carry. 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:31.640 But the written word allowed John to minister to this troubled church 00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:34.079 even though it was many miles away. 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:39.500 It was the written word that would allow John's joy to be complete 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:42.299 because the written word could finish 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:44.900 what his in-person ministry had only started. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.960 And we know that this is true 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:51.799 not just for John's ministry to this particular church, 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:54.180 the recipients of the letter we call 1 John. 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:57.079 It would be the written word that would complete 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.500 the ministry of all the apostles. 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:03.380 They were given their commission by Jesus to teach in his name 00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:05.280 and lay the foundation of the church. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.960 And that church would stretch to the ends of the earth 00:26:07.960 --> 00:26:09.480 and to the end of the age. 00:26:11.280 --> 00:26:12.380 And if that were true, 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.840 how else would the testimony and teaching 00:26:14.840 --> 00:26:18.940 of these finite men do that global work that Jesus intended 00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:21.920 unless it was written down and preserved? 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:26.000 And friends, that's exactly what we see 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:28.220 and exactly what we have 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:30.160 in what we call the New Testament. 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:33.340 Here is the written record 00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:36.740 of the apostles' testimony and proclamation, 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:39.960 written by them, 00:26:40.800 --> 00:26:43.060 authorized by the risen Jesus himself, 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:45.759 and inspired by the Holy Spirit, 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.800 as Jesus promised. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:52.279 And so you see that the incarnate word of verse 1 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:55.879 becomes the proclaimed word of verses 2 and 3, 00:26:56.419 --> 00:26:59.200 which in turn then becomes the written word of verse 4. 00:27:00.659 --> 00:27:03.059 So as we read that written word today, 00:27:03.159 --> 00:27:05.899 we still encounter the proclaimed word of the apostles. 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:08.379 And through the proclaimed word of the apostles, 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:11.480 we encounter the incarnate word, Jesus Christ. 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:15.319 Or rather, we should better say, 00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:19.319 the incarnate word encounters us. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:23.279 The living Lord Jesus continues 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:27.120 to speak through his commissioned apostles 00:27:27.120 --> 00:27:30.079 as we read the words the Holy Spirit 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:32.880 inspired them to preach and to write. 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:37.819 And as the living Lord encounters us through his word, 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.720 he gives us rich assurance. 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:43.079 Assurance that we have fellowship with God. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:46.680 Assurance that we are indeed part of his church. 00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:49.420 And this assurance flows forth into joy. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.400 When John says, 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:54.079 I'm writing these things so that our joy may be complete, 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.420 I think he intends not just his own joy, 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:58.600 but the joy of his readers as well. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:28:00.140 Our joy. 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:04.940 And what greater joy could there be 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:09.980 than that found in this message of the incarnate Jesus. 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:14.700 The joy of knowing that God has made himself known. 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:18.799 The joy of knowing that God has forgiven all our sins 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:20.920 and reconciled us to himself. 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:24.680 The joy of knowing that our fellowship with God 00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.720 will not be broken 00:28:25.720 --> 00:28:27.759 because Jesus has united us to himself. 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:30.759 The joy of knowing that we don't need to do this life alone 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:33.619 because we're joined together in the fellowship 00:28:33.619 --> 00:28:34.900 and the family of the church 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:36.759 to run this race together, 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:39.539 to bear one another's burdens, 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.819 to rejoice with those who rejoice, 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:43.420 to grieve with those who grieve, 00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:46.480 to spur one another on to love and good deeds, 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:50.500 and to continue doing so 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:52.720 until the day comes 00:28:52.720 --> 00:28:55.940 when we all see the incarnate Jesus face to face. 00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:58.980 When sin and sorrow are no more 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:01.640 and we step into the new heavens and new earth 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.019 because Christ has returned 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:04.940 to take his people to himself 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:06.980 and to make all things new. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.440 And friends, on that day, 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:11.599 then our assurance will be complete 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:14.019 and then our fellowship will be complete 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:18.500 and our joy will at last be truly and finally complete. 00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.559 Because you know, on that day, 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:22.000 we'll be able to say with the apostles 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:23.119 and with all the church 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:25.059 that that which we have heard, 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:27.220 we too have seen with our eyes 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:29.879 and have looked upon and touched with our hands. 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:33.119 Friends, this will be true of all of us one day. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:36.579 We will gaze upon and behold 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:38.960 and embrace the very word of life. 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.599 Let's persevere to that day. 00:29:42.119 --> 00:29:42.619 Let's pray. 00:29:44.019 --> 00:29:44.500 Let's pray. 00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.400 Our Father in heaven, 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.759 we ask that by your spirit 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:54.079 you would give us a renewed confidence 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:57.079 in the apostolic word that you've given us. 00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:59.559 And we pray that by your spirit 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.480 we would continue, 00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.740 as we engage with your word, 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:06.319 to be encountering Christ himself. 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.500 Lord, let these words 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:11.319 not just be dry words on a page 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:13.819 or dry, simple words in the mouth, 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:15.159 but would you cause them 00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:18.399 to light a fire within our souls once again 00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:20.799 that burns for you, 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.859 for the knowledge of you, 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:23.960 and for the glory of you. 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:27.419 God, as we work our way through this book this summer, 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:29.539 would you give us clarity 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:32.200 as to what genuine Christianity is? 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:36.340 Help us to recognize it and spot it 00:30:36.340 --> 00:30:38.680 and love it and cherish it. 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.720 But Father, we also ask, 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.900 as we work our way through this book, 00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:44.000 that our own confidence and assurance 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:46.299 that we are known by you 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:47.960 would grow. 00:30:48.680 --> 00:30:50.100 Lord, perhaps there are some 00:30:50.100 --> 00:30:51.920 here this summer, 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:53.019 even today, 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:55.700 who aren't sure that they know you, 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:58.599 who find these things confusing or obscure. 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:01.480 Lord, we pray that you would continue 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:03.200 to open the eyes of their hearts 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:06.099 to see the beauty of Christ 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:08.019 and the truth of Christ. 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.740 And we pray that by your spirit 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.839 you would grant them the faith 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:13.339 to embrace him for themselves. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:16.180 We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. 00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:16.840 Amen.