I. John And The Beginning
A. John And The Beginning Of In His Gospel
1. The word in the beginning
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
—John 1.1-2
2. The beginning of the Word’s Ministry
This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
—John 2.11
3. The declaration of dirty deeds done dirt cheap
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
—John 8.44
4. The connection between the Gospel and the Epistle
And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
—John 15.27
B. John And The Beginning Of His Epistle
1. John, the eyewitness (the connection between the Epistle and the Gospel)
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, concerning the Word of life —
—1John 1.1
2. John and the old commandment (the Word)
Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.
—1John 2.7
3. John and the ever abiding Trinity
Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
—1John 2.24
4. John and the Devil
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
—1John 3.8
5. John and the Message of Love
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
—1John 3.11
a. So is John’s message about Jesus? {Trick question}
b. Is John’s message about love? {Trick question}
c. Is John’s message about loving one another through Jesus? {Trick question}
i. How would that look?
ii. We love one another as Jesus loves us!
iii. Obey the truth and love one another!
iv. Believe on the name of Jesus Christ and love one another!
v. Love one another, for love is of God
vi. God loves us, we also ought to love one another.
C. Application To The Church
Illustration
II. John And The Old Testament
A. Cain And Abel
1. The First Worship Service 3
a. I have labeled this the first worship service.
b. But where would Cain have gotten the idea to bring a sacrifice to God?
i. Could it have been that he had observed his father, Adam, doing just that?
ii. Could he have heard stories from his father and mother about their exit from the Garden and God sacrificing animals to clothe them?
iii. There is not enough evidence in the text to make a determination.
c. Here is what we do know: 4
i. It is Cain who first brings and offering to the LORD.
ii. Abel ALSO brings an offering to the LORD.
iii. Cain brought an offering of the fruit.
iv. Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.
a. It looks as if Abel brought the makings of a burnt offering.
b. Moses would later identify these objects as the objects of offerings to God (firstborn of the flock and their fat).
2. Trouble in Paradise 4b-5
a. The LORD respected Abel and his offering 4b
i. The LORD respected Abel
ii. The LORD respected Abel’s offering
iii. The LORD respected the offering because He respected the man.
b. But (how big is this little conjunction?) 5a
i. The LORD did not respect Cain
ii. The LORD did not respect Cain’s offering
iii. The LORD did not respect the offering because He respected the man.
c. Sin rear’s its ugly head! 5b
i. Cain was very angry.
a. We have to watch out when we are very angry.
b. We tend to do very bad things when we are angry.
ii. Some of the dumbest junk I have ever done, I did because I was mad and I acted before I thought things through.
B. The Reaction of Cain 6-8
1. Cain’s Anger and God’s Counsel 6-7
a. Cain’s Anger 6
i. It’s bad enough to be angry.
ii. It’s worse when someone sees it and calls you on it.
b. God’s Counsel 6-7
i. Why are you angry? 6
a. God seems to be intimating that Cain has nothing to be angry about.
b. At least that the problem can be solved.
ii. If you do well, will you not be accepted? 7a
a. God comes right out and tells Cain there is a solution.
b. But the solution lies within Cain.
iii. And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.
a. God identifies the problem: sin!
b. Sin is what got the first family thrown out of the Garden!
iv. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
a. God tells Cain that sin desires to rule over him.
b. God also tells Cain that there’s a better plan: rule over sin instead!
2. Abel’s Murder 8
a. Now we get to see how well Cain listened to God.
i. Probably about as well as we do at times.
ii. Which is all the worse seeing we know these stories from the Bible.
b. We are not told how Cain killed Abel, just that he did.
i. We can’t say, “Let’s ban rocks or sticks, they were responsible for the first murder”.
ii. Brothers and sisters, the first murderer was responsible for the first murder!”
C. Application to the Church
1. Where do we see this malevolent hatred and sin?
2. In the family AKA the BODY.
3. Brothers and sisters, if it can happen in a family, it can happen in church!
4. What if we connect Cain and Abel to the Sermon on the Mount?
22 “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (a senseless, empty headed man) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 “leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
—Matthew 5:22-24
III. John and the World 3
A. The Brothers Represent Two Systems
1. Abel represents religion/Chrisitianity
2. Cain represents the devil – the antichrist – anti-religion
B. The Brothers Represent Two Actions
1. Abel represents love
2. Cain represents hate
C. Application To The Church
1. The church should be a model of love and affection.
2. The church should not marvel when it is hated without cause.
Illustration
IV. Conclusion
