by Bob DeWaay

November 1, 2015

1 John 1:3-4Eyewitness Proclamation and Fellowship

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Proclamation of Eyewitnesses

“seen” and “heard” imply the basic reliability of sense perception

“we proclaim” is the principle verb of the sentence

The priority is to preach Christ! Christian claims are based on objective reality

through the valid testimony of eyewitnesses

1John 1:3a (ESV)That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you . . .

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How Fellowship With God Is Possible

“So that” translates a purpose clause in the Greek

Proclamation of Christ leads to true fellowship for those who believe

Jesus reveals the Father and makes fellowship with Him possible

1John 1:3b (ESV) . . . so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

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Fullness of Joy

John expresses his purpose for writing John and the other apostles have joy when

their gospel is believed (3John 1:4) If we have a wrong doctrine of Christ, we do

not have true fellowship

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

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Implications and Applications

Judgment will be based on objective truth revealed using human languages

Christian faith is grounded in objective reality

True fellowship is found only through the gospel

True joy comes through faith in Christ

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We Are Accountable to God

See Matthew 7:24-27 – building on the Rock Written languages convey objective truth

John 12:48 (NASB)He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

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Christian Faith and Objective Reality

Faith is not subjective or without an object “Are written” is in the perfect tense –

happened in the past and is still valid Messiah is the Son of God

John 20:31 (HCSB)But these [truths about Christ] are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.

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True Fellowship Is Gospel Fellowship

Jesus is the great “I AM” Receiving Christ is receiving the Father

John 13:19, 20 (NASB)“From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

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Our Fellowship Will Last Until the Final Day

We have fellowship now and will be kept until the day of judgment with guiltlessness

Our hope on that day is grounded in the faithfulness of God who called us

1Corinthians 1:8, 9 (NASB)who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Glorious Joy of Salvation

We believe based on apostolic testimony Loving and believing are not based on

metaphysical impressions but on the truth of the gospel

1Peter 1:8, 9 (NASB)and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.