The Life-Giving Word

1 John 1:1-4

– As we begin a new series in the Epistles of John we will introduce this wonderful little book this morning and look at two of the Apostle’s main purposes in writing a general letter to the Churches of Asia Minor

I. Introductory Issues

• Author – John the Apostle
  1. Supported by internal evidence
     • Similar content, vocabulary and writing style to John’s Gospel
     • Written by an eyewitness
     • Written in authoritative tone
  2. Supported by external evidence in early Church (Polycarp and Irenaeus)
• Date – around 90 AD
  1. Probably written after the Gospel and  before Domitian’s persecution of the Christians
  2. John was writing this letter as an old man and as the last living Apostle
• Location – Ephesus/ Asia Minor (modern day country of Turkey)

II. John’s Polemical Purpose (vv. 1-2)

• The ‘Gnostic’ Challenge to Christianity
  1. The Gnostics tried to mix popular Greek philosophy with Christian theology
  2. Taught that the material world/physical body was evil, while the spiritual world/ soul was good
     • Some Gnostics were very strict and severe in their treatment of the body (asceticism)
     • Other Gnostics were openly immoral and lascivious
  3. All Gnostics denied that God could have taken on human flesh – called ‘Docetism’ (Jesus only ‘seemed’ to be human)
• John’s Response to Gnosticism
  1. Jesus was eternally God (v. 1)
  2. God took on genuine human flesh and was historically manifested in the person of Jesus Christ (vv. 1-2)

Application Points:

– The attempt to compromise the apostolic gospel of Jesus Christ by blending it with popular philosophies is still a major challenge today!

– The Christian faith stands or falls on the historicity of Jesus Christ!  If there was no historical incarnation, crucifixion or resurrection there is no salvation for the human race.

III. John’s Pastoral Purpose (vv. 3-4)

• Experience of Fellowship
  1. With the Triune God
  2. With one another
• Experience of Joy

Application Points:

– It is impossible to have fellowship with the Father if we reject the Bible’s teaching about His Son

– A relationship with Jesus Christ, lived out within the Church family becomes our greatest joy