Live in the Light.

1. Live in the Light. The Epistles of John

2. Today we will begin an 8 Week Series The aim will be to give a summary of the main concepts found within the three Epistles of John. .

3. The goal of the class will be: to give tools for obedience.

4. You will likely be forced to think about the truth in a more thorough way than ever before…

5. The work will be worth it! The result will be rewarding!

6. Today we will be covering the 10 verses of Chapter 1, & the first2 verses of Chapter 2. .

7. Rather than taking time to giving general background to the book, author, audience and setting… we want to dive right in. .

8. Chapter 1 .

9. (1:1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

10. (1:2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

11. (1:3) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

12. (1:4) And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

13. (1:5) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

14. (1:6) If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

15. (1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

16. (1:8) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

17. (1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

18. (1:10) If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

19. (2:1) My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

20. (2:2) He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

21. Let’s try and make some observations from what John is saying… .

22. (1:1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

23. (1:2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

24. John begins speaking about Jesus. He says that Jesus is the One who was from the beginning of time. .

25. The word used is ‘the first’ or ‘the king’ of ‘the ruler’. He is speaking of Christ’s preeminence before all time & all things..

26. John describes Christ, by saying that he was/is ‘the word of life’ & he was/is ‘the eternal life’. .

27. John says that this One, this word of life, this eternal life, was with God from the beginning and was now made manifest, visibleto them. .

28. John says that the apostles saw him with their own eyes, they heard his voiceand they touched his person. They saw his lifestyle & his behavior. .

29. In other words, what the disciples examined displayed by Christ in word & deed is the essenceof ‘eternal life’. .

30. Let’s re-read and then re-phrase to make this clear. .

31. (1:1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

32. (1:2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

33. (1:1-2) That which was with God from the beginning was‘eternal life’—that life was made manifest (incarnate) and through the ‘word of life’ we have looked upon it (eternal life), we have seen it(eternal life) and touched it (eternal life) with our hands… and we are proclaiming to you the eternal way of life that was manifest to us by God.

34. The ‘eternal life’ in view here is more than or different from our normal understanding of ‘salvation’or ‘living for ever’. .

35. This is very, very important… .

36. (1:2) the lifewas made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

37. The eternal life in focus is the typeof life that Jesus displayed….

38. That is; the qualityof life that Jesus lived…which is also the kindlife that we will live forever with Jesus.

39. This distinction is very important to understand. .

40. Eternal life can mean two related, yet very different things. .

41. First, most commonly, eternal life means escapefrom the punishment of our sins & freedom from condemnation on judgement day, along with a length of life that will last eternally.

42. (John 3:16) God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perishbut haveeternal life.

43. Not only is this the primary way that Christians perceive ‘eternal life’ it is often the only thing they have ever been taught concerning eternal life…and they have no other paradigm.

44. However, there is another aspect to the truths about ‘eternal life’ that are not only very important, but they are essential to living a godly & fulfilling life.

45. Second, less commonly, eternal life means the quality of life experiencedin holiness & joy. That is, the type of life or the benefits and enjoyments that are part of eternal life…which can be experienced now, partially and then, fully.

46. (John 17:3) And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and JesusChrist whom you have sent.

47. Eternal life is someonethat you can knowintimately, namely God & his Son. .

48. (Gal 6:8) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reapeternal life.

49. Eternal life is somethingthat you can reapthe rewards of by sowingto - living in the Holy Spirit. .

50. (John 6:27) Do not labor forthe food that spoils, but [labor] for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.