1st ,2nd and 3rd John, Lesson Two
|
1That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we did behold, and our hands did handle, concerning the Word of the Life 2and the Life was manifested, and we have seen, and do testify, and declare to you the Life, the age-during, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us --3that which we have seen and heard declare we to you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ;4and these things we write to you, that your joy may be full. (Young's Literal Translation) |
John's Presentation of the Principle of Life.
A. John's Eyewitness Testimony.
That which was from the beginning (v.1a)
a. That – John begins this epistle with a demonstrative pronoun.
1) This is similar to the gospel of John. - In the beginning was the Word.
2) The Word that was in the beginning was a person in the beginning.
b. From the beginning (Gk. Arche) This is the same beginning as in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 (cf. Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:10).
2. That which was from the beginning then was probably an expression of Christ.
3. Note how verses 1 & 2 begin.
a. "That which was manifested was the Life."
b. "The Life, is what was seen."
c. Jesus was the Life they saw and He was in the beginning.
B. John's Stress on the Reality of the Manifested Deity of Christ.
1. There is multiple eyewitness testimony - we (all the apostles).
a. Heard
b. Saw
c. Beheld (contemplated)
d. Handled
1) Three times John says we saw Him.
2) This is all emphasized by the fact that the apostles suffered and died for what they believed.
2. The difference between seeing and beholding.
a. To see is to superficially observe
b. To behold is to contemplate, to discern or mediate on.
3. We have multiple testimony. (cf. 2nd Peter 1:1,21 and John 19:35).
a. Not only to pre-existing deity - "that which was from the beginning."
b. But also to His real humanity - we saw, we heard, contemplated and handled.
C. Concerning the Word of Life (v.1c)
1. That which they contemplated (saw) and handled was in relation to the Word of Life. (cf. John 1:4).
2. Here John makes the declaration that all that which was from the beginning relates to life - but whose life - ours!
a. It is the life, the eternal.
b. 1st John 5:11 states that God has given us eternal life, the eternal life and that life is His son.
c. This is not the life of Christ - He is the preexisting one, the eternal one. Life is not a problem for Him, but it is for us since we die.
3. The importance of accepting the apostles testimony - Life (1st John 4:5-6).
D. Fellowship is With the Father (vs. 2-4)
This is the same idea of John 1:1 (the Word was with God)
1. With carries the idea in Greek of face to face.
2. Manifested means to open up, to unfold, to reveal.
3. Proclaim is the idea of the apostles putting out the message.
Note: These three ideas are in 1-2.
1) The manifestation - Jesus revealed Himself.
2) The testimony - I beheld the revealing.
3) The proclamation - I am now proclaiming what I beheld.
THE PREMISE FOR HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. (vs.5-6)
|
5 And this is the message that we have heard from Him, and announce to you, that God is light, and darkness in Him is not at all; 6 if we may say -- `we have fellowship with Him,' and in the darkness may walk -- we lie, and do not the truth; |
A. God's Nature Stated Positively - "God is light."
1. The figure of light is often used in the Scriptures to describe that which is good, righteous, and true. cf. Ephesians 5:8-10.
2. Then, God must always be thought of in this way. He is good ,righteous, and true.
B. God's Nature Stated Negatively - "In Him Is no Darkness at All."
1. The figure of darkness would represent the opposite of light: evil, unrighteousness, falsehood.
2. Then, we can never think of God as having anything to do with sin, or excusing it in any way.
3. No matter how you view God - there is absolutely no darkness in His practice.
a. As a creative God.
b. As a loving God.
c. As a redeeming God
d. As a judging God.
4. Light and darkness are opposing forces. They are self eliminating.
a. The presence of light eliminates darkness.
b. The presence of darkness eliminates light.
C. False Claims Concerning Fellowship with God. (vs. 5-6)
"We have fellowship with Him" ,yet walk in darkness (v.6).
1. Why is this claim false?
a. Because fellowship means we have something in common.
b. And we have just seen that God is "light" (goodness righteousness and truth).
c. "Walking in darkness", therefore is going against all that God stands for. Cf. Eph. 4:17-24.
2. What is the result of such a claim?
a. We are false in our WORDS ("we lie).
b. We are false in our DEEDS ("do not practice the truth").
3. Instead, we should "walk in the light as He is in the light."
a. Instead of living a life characterized by "evil, unrighteousness, and error" (all while claiming fellowship with God)....
b. ...we should live a life in harmony with God's "goodness, righteousness and truth."
4. Only then will we experience:
1). "Fellowship with one another."
a. That is, we have fellowship with God.
b. We share in that life which is eternal and provides joy.
2). "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son [which] cleanses us from all sin."
a. This suggest that "walking in the light" does not imply sinlessness.
b. Any more than "walking in darkness" means the complete absence of good.
c. Rather "walking in the light" suggest....
1. A life of making progress under the influence of God's light.
2. A life enjoying the cleansing power of Jesus' blood as one meets the conditions outlined in verses 8-9.
D. The Possibility of Fellowship (v.7).
|
7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. |
1. Fellowship with God is possible.
a. Verse 7 says if you walk in the light there is fellowship.
b. Verse 6 says, if you walk in darkness , there is no fellowship.
2. The basis of our fellowship: The blood of Jesus.
3. The condition of our fellowship: walking in the light.
4. The description of our righteousness - clean by the blood of Jesus.
5. The state and privilege of those who walk in the light:
a. The state - righteous.
b. The privilege - fellowship with God.
6. The verb tenses in these passages are present tense indicating a on-going cleansing.
7. The definition of walk.
a. Movement.
b. Direction
c. Continuity
d. Separation
e. Destiny
f. Fellowship.
8. The example of walking in the light.
9. The harmony of John's concept with the rest of the Bible. (Philippians 3:8-9; Romans 4:15; 6:14).
10. If the walk is continuous,
a. The the fellowship is continuous.
b. Because the blood is continuous.
c. This assume the possibility of occasional sin.
1) Chapter 3 will be a condemnation for continuing in sin.
2) Chapter 2 will be a condemnation of any presumption to sin.
Index by Lane Rogers
