1 John 1:1 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 of the Word of life.
Yes my Friends, it’s another day in the life of this crazy, distressed, violent, evil world, but thankfully, we have the means, the faith to withstand all it brings against us. And where do we get that means, that faith? Obviously from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And how do we know that He’s real, that He once lived here on earth as a man, and now exists within the hearts of all who believe on Him, as a guiding, protecting Spirit? Because honest, godly men who lived and shared life experiences with Him, wrote about it. Moreover, John, who’s writing we’re featuring today, was supposedly Jesus’ favourite, so he had no cause to lie or stretch, slant, or exaggerate the truth. Now this is John’s testimony to Christ. ‘That which was from the beginning…" And what’s that? ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ (John 1:1) Yes mih people, there was always, is now, and will be forever, only One True God, and His Word was at the start of everything. God spoke the world into existence. ‘And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.’ (Gen.1:3) Light came at some 186,000 miles per second. That was eons ago. And Friends, the good news is that it’s still coming today, and at that very same speed. Let’s bless His Holy Name and shout: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Yuh know what too? ‘All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.’ (John 1:3) Amen! Of that my people there is no doubt. And John continues his testimony; ‘which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes.’ Friends, he heard and saw Jesus. Wow! That’s more good news! And the Apostle Luke corroborates his statements. ‘Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration (narrative) of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things (accurately followed) from the very first, to write unto thee, in order (an orderly account), most excellent Theophilus. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.’ (Luke 1:1-5) There we have it Friends, Luke’s purpose; to supplement, to strengthen Theophilus’ knowledge of the basis of Christian certainty. As he says, other people are already writing down what happened and he’s using his knowledge of other writings, plus the eyewitness testimony of people he knows to write his text. And he feels competent to do this because he has a good understanding of both the historical data and its theological significance. So Friends, it’s not something that only one person, or a handful of people have witnessed. And as per his hearing and seeing, John writes with emphasis: ‘And the Word was made 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 1:14) What’s he saying there? That the Word, God, became flesh, became a man, and lived amongst us here on earth, and he witnessed all the glorious things He did, which were all full of grace and truth. Jesus himself said it, more than once too. ‘Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in (abide by) my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ (John 8:31-32) Truth was certainly Jesus’ stronghold. ‘I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) And again, when Pilate asked, ‘Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest (rightly) that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?’ (John 18:37-38) Now that’s a good question. Friends, when we talk about truth here with Christ, it’s not so much the difference between true and false, but more in the sense of something that’s genuine or real, as contrasted with the unreal. So Jesus’ truth is the real, genuine article, the truth that everything else should be built on to ensure honesty and godliness. As for grace, John declares: ‘For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.’ (John 1:17) There was grace before Jesus came, but not in the intense nor widespread manner, the largesse that Jesus brought it. And what is grace? Oh Friends, grace is the unmerited favour of our wonderful, merciful, LOVING God towards us sinners, given to us for our salvation. It’s only by His generosity that we can get salvation. Meaning that it’s nothing we can earn, buy, steal or anything within our own power to achieve, but only to accept as a free, undeserved gift from our Heavenly Father. And for that most generous gift Lord, we, your humble servants, all raise our voices in thanks, praise and eternal gratitude, saying; ‘Hallelujah! All Praise and Glory be to your Holy Name! Amen!’ Oh Friends, as believers we’re so lucky, that at times I have to pinch myself to make sure that I’m real and all the good things our God has done are true. (smile) Till tomorrow, when we’ll continue with John’s testimony…Much LOVE!…a believers road is rugged…but his joy is supreme…
Yes my Friends, it’s another day in the life of this crazy, distressed, violent, evil world, but thankfully, we have the means, the faith to withstand all it brings against us. And where do we get that means, that faith? Obviously from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And how do we know that He’s real, that He once lived here on earth as a man, and now exists within the hearts of all who believe on Him, as a guiding, protecting Spirit? Because honest, godly men who lived and shared life experiences with Him, wrote about it. Moreover, John, who’s writing we’re featuring today, was supposedly Jesus’ favourite, so he had no cause to lie or stretch, slant, or exaggerate the truth. Now this is John’s testimony to Christ. ‘That which was from the beginning…" And what’s that? ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ (John 1:1) Yes mih people, there was always, is now, and will be forever, only One True God, and His Word was at the start of everything. God spoke the world into existence. ‘And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.’ (Gen.1:3) Light came at some 186,000 miles per second. That was eons ago. And Friends, the good news is that it’s still coming today, and at that very same speed. Let’s bless His Holy Name and shout: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Yuh know what too? ‘All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.’ (John 1:3) Amen! Of that my people there is no doubt. And John continues his testimony; ‘which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes.’ Friends, he heard and saw Jesus. Wow! That’s more good news! And the Apostle Luke corroborates his statements. ‘Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration (narrative) of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things (accurately followed) from the very first, to write unto thee, in order (an orderly account), most excellent Theophilus. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.’ (Luke 1:1-5) There we have it Friends, Luke’s purpose; to supplement, to strengthen Theophilus’ knowledge of the basis of Christian certainty. As he says, other people are already writing down what happened and he’s using his knowledge of other writings, plus the eyewitness testimony of people he knows to write his text. And he feels competent to do this because he has a good understanding of both the historical data and its theological significance. So Friends, it’s not something that only one person, or a handful of people have witnessed. And as per his hearing and seeing, John writes with emphasis: ‘And the Word was made 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 1:14) What’s he saying there? That the Word, God, became flesh, became a man, and lived amongst us here on earth, and he witnessed all the glorious things He did, which were all full of grace and truth. Jesus himself said it, more than once too. ‘Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in (abide by) my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ (John 8:31-32) Truth was certainly Jesus’ stronghold. ‘I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) And again, when Pilate asked, ‘Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest (rightly) that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?’ (John 18:37-38) Now that’s a good question. Friends, when we talk about truth here with Christ, it’s not so much the difference between true and false, but more in the sense of something that’s genuine or real, as contrasted with the unreal. So Jesus’ truth is the real, genuine article, the truth that everything else should be built on to ensure honesty and godliness. As for grace, John declares: ‘For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.’ (John 1:17) There was grace before Jesus came, but not in the intense nor widespread manner, the largesse that Jesus brought it. And what is grace? Oh Friends, grace is the unmerited favour of our wonderful, merciful, LOVING God towards us sinners, given to us for our salvation. It’s only by His generosity that we can get salvation. Meaning that it’s nothing we can earn, buy, steal or anything within our own power to achieve, but only to accept as a free, undeserved gift from our Heavenly Father. And for that most generous gift Lord, we, your humble servants, all raise our voices in thanks, praise and eternal gratitude, saying; ‘Hallelujah! All Praise and Glory be to your Holy Name! Amen!’ Oh Friends, as believers we’re so lucky, that at times I have to pinch myself to make sure that I’m real and all the good things our God has done are true. (smile) Till tomorrow, when we’ll continue with John’s testimony…Much LOVE!…a believers road is rugged…but his joy is supreme…
SCRIP-BITS 