1 John 1

Letters of John / 1 John 1

The writer of this letter, John is connecting everything that he is going to tell us with one single idea: God has entered the world and we have been able to comprehend him.

Whenever people practice a theology of just in case they are looking to that thing and asking, “are you enough this time?” Will you be big enough for me to stop searching?

God has made Himself known and that fact alone makes all the difference in our lives.

If you want to know what happens when God shows up, these verses this morning help us to understand.

Christ showed up: God has become known

1 John 1:1–2 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

This is John’s claim. It is his only sense of authority. It is his complete source.

He is telling the hearer’s of this letter, or sermon, that because Christ has shown up, it is worthwhile listening.

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

everyone on the face of this planet wants an experience of the good. The good life the meaningful life, the fulfilling life. And people define their lives by their proximity to that good (Taylor). John is saying that the good has come and come near and we are invited to interact with it, with Him

We Remain connected to Him

God chose connection with humanity, refusing to keep us alienated from Him. We know this because John states that they encountered Him because they could recognize Him. He didn’t look unlike them or speak unlike them . His way of being with humans was to become human.

1 John 1:5–10 ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Because Christ has been made manifest in a way we can encounter him, we are invited into fellowship with Him.

1 John 1:4 ESV

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Joy is complete in encountering Him together

Joy has a source outside itself. You experience joy within yourself but the source of that joy comes from somewhere else.

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Christ has come into the world so that, together, we can experience joy. It is not waiting for something more, it is celebrating in what is now.

But there isn’t joy in the planning.

Joy comes in the experiencing. Christ has already revealed Himself, you role is less planning and more inviting in.