February 5, 2012
Morning Service

Author:  John the Apostle, son of Zebedee and Salome.  He was a fisherman by trade and she is recorded as to attending Jesus in His travels and ministering to His needs.

·         Called while mending nets with his brother James (who was the first apostle martyred).

·         He was the youngest of all the apostles and was meek in spirit and speech (Barclay).

·         Was one of the three “inner circle” along with James and Peter.  He was present in such events as the healing of Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:37), the mount of transfigurization (Mk 9:2), and was close to Jesus in the garden as he prayed (Mk 14).

·          He called himself the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” (John 19:26) as he leaned on Jesus’ chest during the last supper. (John 13:23)

·         He was given the task on caring for Mary from Jesus as He was on the cross.  (John 19:26)  It is believed that she lived with him in Jerusalem until her death 15 years later.

·         He then moved to Ephesus around the year 69 AD and was later exiled to the isle of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelations.  He later returned to Ephesus where died and was buried very near to the age of 100 years old.

 

John is believed to have written this letter to believers from Ephesus anywhere from 85-100 AD.   He sought to address concerns for the church at that time:

·         To rekindle the fire of living a devoted life.

·         To again warn them of false teachers.

 

There are many similarities with the Gospel of John, but one distinct difference.

• Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

·         1Jo 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Look at the beginning of John’s gospel and we will see how similar it is to this letter.

 

Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

Let’s begin our journey into this letter from John.

 

1Jo 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;  (2)  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 

            We learn that Jesus was from the beginning, meaning He is eternal.

            We learn He did in fact personally enter the world that He created in the form man. 

                        John heard, saw, looked upon and handled the very “Word of life.

            By His coming, He brought to us life.  He has made all things new.

 

2Co 5:17 So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

 

 

            He has changed death into life and our existence into real living.

 

Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

1Jo 1:3-4 that which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.              In sharing what he has seen and heard, John encourages to fellowship on two plains:

1.       With fellow believers (man)

2.      With the Father and His Son (Jesus).

The cross replicates this with the vertical beam (man) and the horizontal beam (God)

 

Fellowship (Greek) is defined as:   partnership, communion, participation, or relationship.

            This is one of the true foundations of the Gospel.  We are to have a RELATIONSHIP with our Creator.  Christianity is not a religion with simply rules and regulations to follow; it is us as individuals knowing who Jesus is and what He has done for us.  That knowledge then creates a loving relationship in which we love and serve Him because He first loved us.  It is not our duty or our burden to follow Him, but our greatest heart’s desire to please Him who does so much for us.

 

Rom 5:8  But God commends His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

 

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If a man loves Me, he will keep My Word. And My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

 

Mar 12:30-31 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment.  (31)  And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

 

1Jo 1:4  And we write these things to you so that your joy may be full.

            This message that John shared with us is not one of depression and discouragement, but of joy!

            Is there joy in your in walk with the Lord?  There should be!

·         We have been forgiven of our sins

·         We have the opportunity to speak to our Creator at anytime (and He listens)

·         We serve a God who has no limitations (anything is possible)

·         We have a chance to have a transformed life (all things new)

·         We have purpose in life-to share the gospel unto all the world (Matt 28:19)

·         We have the greatest of all hope that He will return one day and take us to live with Him (John 14)

 

John was joyful in sharing this good news.  He challenged us to create a fellowship (relationship) between us and our God and between us and our fellow believers.  We should set our hearts desire upon knowing Him and loving our brothers.