February 3, 2019
Morning Service

Our progressive Bible study has led us through the practical teachings of James right into the two letters from Peter which offered us some very deep spiritual truths.  Today we begin a study of book of I John.  John the apostle is the author and he is believed to have wrote this sometime before 95AD right after he wrote his gospel.  It is believed to have been written from Ephesus where John was ministering to the area churches there.  He writes this letter to churches that were not novices in the faith but well established in Christian truth.  John writes this with a fatherly tone as he lovingly shows concern that his children in the faith are being threatened by worldliness and false teachers.  Peter warned that these false teachers would come and now John is challenging the church to stand upon the foundation of truth that was established by Jesus.  John emphasizes many of those basic truths in this letter, but more than anything stresses the importance of having a close fellowship with God.  Knowledge is important in our walk with the Lord, but it is relationship that we need to focus on.  When we have given our heart to Christ, we naturally develop a personal relationship with Him and learn to love and trust Him at a much deeper level.  John begins this letter by emphasizing the fact that he walked and talked with Jesus and was an eye witness to most of His miracles.  Let’s look back and see how also stressed this point as he opened his gospel letter.

Joh 1:1-14  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.  (3)  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  (4)  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  (6)  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  (7)  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  (8)  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (9)  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  (11)  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  (12)  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  (13)  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

            John does an excellent job of summarizing that Jesus was the Son of God, the Light of the world, as well as its Creator.  He also is very clear that Jesus came in the flesh and “dwelt among us and we beheld His glory.”  John also makes it clear that “as many as received Him” are invited to be called His children becoming part of His family.  Now notice how John begins this letter is a similar fashion highlighting that he saw this with his own eyes.

 

1Jn 1:1-4  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—  (2)  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—  (3)  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  (4)  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

 

            John does not write like a fisherman!  This is a beautiful discourse explaining how he not only walked with Jesus, but truly knew Him and had fellowship with Him.  He also states a couple of the objectives he is trying to achieve from this letter.  First, he lays the foundation that he has the authority “to declare to you that eternal life.”  These Christians had not ever seen Jesus personally, but John builds their confidence that what he is telling them is true.  Secondly, he declares this to them that they may have “fellowship with us.”  This relationship is something that is available to them and to each of us.  Finally, he states that the things he writes to them will bring joy into life.  It is not a message of guilt and condemnation but one of joyful salvation.

 

            Joh 3:17  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

            Our relationship with God is to be filled with joy knowing that He is on our side.  His becoming man, living a perfect life, death upon the cross, and His resurrection were all done so we may be saved from our sins.  His will is not to find fault with us, but to bring us to salvation and a relationship with Him.  Remember last week Peter told us this:

 

            2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

        He is on your side.  His will is that all come to a place of repentance and enter into fellowship with Him.  He wants you to succeed in your journey to know Him better.  Paul put it like this in his letter to the Romans:    

       

Romans 8:31-32  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  (32)  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Do you see the point I am trying to make here?

  God is your greatest fan and supporter.  He gave His all for you.  He offered His Own Son as a sacrifice for your sins so that you could have this personal relationship with Him.  He has placed a great value upon you.  Paul says, “If He has gone to that extreme, do you really think He will not “also freely give us all things.”

Is that how you feel in your walk with the Lord?

 Is there joy in your life knowing that God cares for you more than you can even comprehend?

  If you are feeling a pressure to serve the Lord with a sense of, guilt or obligation, then you are missing the relational aspect of your spiritual journey.  John walked and talked with the Lord and he learned to trust and love Him; that is why he chose to give his all for Him not out of a sense of guilt or duty.  We cannot physically walk with the Lord, but we have been given His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.

John 16:13-14  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  (14)  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

            The Holy Spirit is given to us to “guide you into all truth” and it will reveal to us the person of Jesus.  It allows us to know Him and learn to love Him and even walk and talk with Him.  So how does this work?  How do I build this relationship?

It really is built just like any other relationship is; by communication and spending time together.  Two of the avenues we have to do this is through prayer as we talk to God and through Bible study as He talks back to us.  It, like any good conversation, needs to come in a quiet time of our day where we can put everything aside and give your total focus to Him.  In our busy world that is something that will only come if we make it happen.  The Psalmist wrote this:

 

Psalms 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

            Is there time in your day to set aside just for God?

  Start small and give Him ten solid minutes at first and then work your way up slowly.  Put away your phone, turn off the radio and TV and really be alone with God.  I find that it is easier to do this early in the day rather than later for me.  Find that spot and lovingly offer that to God; not out of duty or obligation but in love.  Invest this time in developing your relationship with the One who gave His all for you.  You will find it will create a desire, thirst, and hunger for more.  The closer you get the sweeter it becomes, just like any other relationship.

            So I challenge you to get started.  Pick a book of the Bible, any of the gospels, get you a devotional that gives you daily scripture, or just get an app that sends you a scripture every day and get started.  Learn to pray and pour out your heart to Him.  Start journaling what God is telling you through your reading and prayer life.  You will be amazed!

 

Heavenly Father, thank you for the invitation to know You.  Place within our heart the desire to invest in our relationship with You and allow it to grow and prosper.