Message - 1john 1:1 – John’s Testimony Of Personal Interaction Series

MESSAGE - 1John 1:1 – JOHN’S TESTIMONY OF PERSONAL INTERACTION

INTRODUCTION

We are going to embark on a journey of exploration in the First Letter of John with select passages from this letter. John is a very loving writer and had an intimate knowledge of his Lord that remained and matured over the 65 or so years since the Lord ascended into heaven.

John wrote his three letters, The Gospel of John and the Apocalypse (Book of revelation, all around the year AD 96. Today we will begin the Letter with the opening verses.

{{1John 1 v 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life - 1John 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - 1John 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.}} These verses speak of inclusive fellowship which is what the members of The Body of Christ have. The passage deals with the fellowship existing between Father and Son, and our fellowship with the Father and the Son. Verse 4 states the reason why John wrote this letter – {{1John 1 v 4 “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.”}}

JOY THAT IS MADE COMPLETE

Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit and God does not want us to be joyless. There is a difference between joy and happiness. I remember a line from a Sunday School chorus, “Happiness happens but joy abides in the heart that is stayed on Jesus.” We are emotional beings and battle with this joy and happiness and I like to think of it this way – Happiness is like the butterflies that flit in and out of the scene, but joy is the earth below that is unmoving and stable.

The events of life affect our happiness. We can be happy and sad and fearful and just so many other emotions, but joy is like the deep well, secure and eternal and not affected by happiness. Therefore it is possible to be unhappy on the outside because of some calamity or tragedy or failure – the reasons are legion – but on the inside joy is that steadfastness that links us with God. I am reminded of a verse here that says, “We KNOW whom we have believed . . .” That is joy. It is settled in an unshakable faith and is able to watch the butterflies and storms come and go overhead, but is itself unaffected by those events.

You will notice though the wording John used here, “that our joy may be complete.” This word “complete” in the NASB means to cram up as if stuffing clothing into a case, and also means to level up, such that the top has been reached and there is no more room for any more.

The Apostle John is very big on the joy in a Christian and is this any surprise? It is one of the fundamental teachings that he records in his Gospel that was written about the same time as his first letter. From where did he get this concept? Here are the relevant verses from the Gospel:

(a). We have John the Baptist speaking - John 3:29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice, and so this joy of mine has been made full.”

(b). Jesus in the upper room or on the way there said this - John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24 “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be made full.” John 17:13 “Now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world that they may have My joy made full in themselves.”

(c). In his second letter John stated this - 2John 1:12 “Having many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.”

Now we must ask, “What were the things John refers to when he wrote, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete?” Well, the answer is not difficult. He has his thoughts and memories fixed exactly on his precious Lord. His Saviour and Friend occupied his whole being. That is the secret. Do you want this fullness of joy, a joy that is filled up? Don’t go around looking for it and trying one thing after another. There is only one thing you must do. Look at the Lord Jesus from the scriptures and feast yourself on the glorious facts of the Lord. Occupy your thoughts and mind with the blessed Lord. That is the way. There is no other.