The Completed Joy Of A Christian: The Word Of Life Celebrated

Reality shows continue to draw people’s attention. . .

In an article, 10 Reality Shows That Aren't Real at All (And 10 That Totally Are), Chris Littlechild, talks about how they claim to be real; however, “the producers are just looking to stir up drama with fake moments. These shows are often called structure reality, they are not representative of reality.

Warren Wiersbe has a series of books on the New Testament called “BE” books.

• Be Loyal—Matthew

• Be Wise–I Corinthians

• Be Joyful–Philippians

• Be Complete–Colossians

• Be Ready–I and II Thessalonians

• Be Real–I John

Wiersbe’s sub-line for 1 John is “Throw away your mask and take a realistic look at love and right living in an age which knows little of either.”

We live in a society where children have never known the real deal—they are too often consumed with virtual reality. They can create their avatar and live in La La land. Many products that we get in the grocery store are imitations. Hollywood has perfected the artificial life to the point real life seems too dull and boring. Virtual reality games have led many to lose touch with reality.

My wife and I rode horses while on vacation in Texas. The guide told us a funny story. A family came to ride horses. She asked a young man if he had ridden horses in the past. He said he had. When asked about the experience, he told it was VR.

Watching a child eat cotton-candy at the fair for the first time is amusing. Their eyes reflect their anticipation. Yet, a mouthful soon turns into only a small taste. They learn quickly that not everything that promises to be filling actually fills the stomach.

John writes to a church that was in danger of wasting time and energy on substitutes for the real thing. John wanted them to experience that which fills the soul, the Incarnation of the Word of Life.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 1 John 1:1-4

John, in writing to a church that had become confused about the nature of Jesus, writes to Christians so they will know the truth and experience a life of ultimate joy. The aging and compassionate pastor, in 1, 2, and 3 John, attempts to draw Christians’ attention to the realness of Jesus–a realness manifested in the unique relationship between God and love.

This study holds before us the challenge to strive to excel in our love by and for Christ and apply that love when societal issues seek to create discord (e.g., racial, cultural, political, spiritual, etc.). The letter is John’s way of saying, “We are better than this because we know Christ, the ultimate image of ethical living.

This is a series of sermons based upon 1 John that focuses on the foundation of the Christian experience, love and fellowship with God. 1 John is about application of these two themes. This is sermon __ of __. A series of sermons that forms the bases for a genuine relationship with God and right living.

One would believe a study guide for 1 John would easily divide into several sections. The structure of 1 John does not flow in the traditional form of a letter written by Paul; there is no greeting, introduction, no summary at the conclusion of the letter, no personal affirmations, etc. The letter has a variety of themes; however, they do not fit into a point one, point two type structure. The two major themes are ethical—walking in the light and Christological—an uncompromised confession of Jesus as the Christ. A strong ethical emphasis is presented in the language of love. Faith relates to the Christological theme. John holds these themes together; their synergistic effect is the practical side of Christians’ life in Christ.

Chuck Swindol points out parallelisms in 1 John, simple but profound: Christ vs. antichrists, light vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood, righteousness vs. sin, love of the Father vs. love of the world, and the Spirit of God vs. the spirit of the Antichrist. Along with all the New Testament writers, John held the view that love comes from God; therefore, if we place faith in Christ, he places love in our hearts. This suggests that if we fail to love each other that lack an experiential faith that works.