As we begin to look into the words of St. John in First John I will warn you that along with lengthy sections and repeated statements on God's love , abiding in God and loving one another John makes it very clear with straightforwardness and little doubt that Jesus is the Christ, the one and only Son of the living God. He is also very determined to make clear that Jesus did dwell in the flesh on this earth.
The growing heresies of Docetism* and Gnosticism** where Christ's Deity were protested was a very real concern that John was addressing to the churches at this time. This is where we start today.
1 John 1:1-4
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, 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 begins this letter in the same way he started his gospel by pointing to Christ specifically the preexistence of Christ. He was in the beginning and He is the Word of life.
John 1:1-4
1 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.
When John says we, he is referring to himself and the other apostles who personally spent time with Jesus on earth. It is believed that John was the last remaining apostle at this time. He firmly states repeatedly that they have seen Him and looked upon Him and heard Him. I love the fact that he also states that with our hands have handled. John was the disciple who was leaning on Jesus breast at the last supper he was close and touching Him so would know first hand that He was real flesh and bones not a phantasm. Jesus was manifested in the Greek ephanerothe meaning to make visible, to make clear.
The Life which was in the beginning and with the Father was made visible and clear so that John and the other disciples could touch, hear and see Him and then declare this truth to us.
I would be so frustrated to be trying to explain what I saw and heard and touched to someone who was trying to make a fantasy or a more spiritual aspect out of the simple truth. Johns patience but determination is inspiring to make sure we understand what he is telling us about Christ.
He then goes on to say that they declare this so that we may have fellowship with them but truly fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Fellowship in the Greek is koinónia meaning fellowship, partnership, contributory help, participation, sharing in, communion, spiritual fellowship, a fellowship in the spirit.
John declared that we have communion with God, love Him and abide in Him as we will dig deeper into later in this book. But for now know that he shares this so that our joy may be full. Fellowship with God begins with know that Jesus came in the flesh and believing He is the Son of God and then His joy fills our lives to the brim.
Some questions to end this blog:
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God and lived on this earth in human flesh (was manifested)? If not why?
How are you pursuing fellowship with God?
How is His joy expressed in your life?
As always I encourage you to read and use the many online study helps to dig deeper into these verses and pray for the discernment and understanding only God can give.
God Bless till next time.
*Docetism is the doctrine important to Gnosticism that Christ's body was not human but either a phantasm or of real but celestial substance and therefore His sufferings were only apparent.
**Gnostics believe that the material world was evil and the only way to salvation was through discovering the "secrets" of the universe.
Remnants of neo-gnosticism are in some modern ideologies and theories of religion like new age spirituality and Dianetics*** that propose to reveal secrets and unlock secret powers of the human nature. Docetism seems to have pretty much died out.
***Dianetics is a set of ideas and practices regarding the metaphysical relationship between the mind and body created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Dianetics are practiced by the Church of Scientology, the nation of Islam and independent Dianetics groups.
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