THE WORD OF LIFE

Introduction

[For Sure: I John]

What is 1 John all about?

“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” - 1 John 5:13

His main purpose in writing this letter is to help believers have assurance that they truly have eternal life. This is my goal as well. I want those of you who truly believe in Jesus to know you truly believe. My aim is your joy, happiness, peace, and obedience to Jesus!

Assurance is “usually attended with the strongest joy, with the sweetest comforts, and with the greatest peace...It is heaven this side of heaven.” - Thomas Brooks

[1 John 1:1-4]

[Prayer - East End Fellowship, CHAT, Crisis Pregnancy]

Assurance is found in Jesus alone

[Eva/Jumping]

Assurance that youʼre really a Christian or a believer comes from Jesus alone, not in anything else. It comes from trusting in who he is and what he has done on the cross and in his resurrection. “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).” - So, thatʼs the first thing I want we see from this passage is assurance is found in Jesus alone.

[1 John 1:1-2]

What is trust?

What would make you trust something or someone?

[Bridge/character]

If we are going to have assurance that we believe, we need to know who it is weʼre believing in. Weʼve said being for sure comes from Jesus alone, but who is Jesus?

#1 Heʼs God

Objection: I thought he was Godʼs son?

He is Godʼs son, but the Bible teaches that God is Trinity. This means there is one God who has existed forever in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who share one divine essence.

[Weʼre all human, Weʼre all different]

Wrong views of Jesus lead to no being for sure (trusting in yourself):

1) Oneness Pentecostalism, TD Jakes (Jesus was God in his ministry)2) Jehovah's Witnesses (Jesus is not god)3) Mormons (Jesus is man who becomes a god) 4) Islam (Jesus is not god, no cross) 5) Catholicism (Jesusʼ cross, not enough)

“The one who existed from the beginning (1:1a)”

Does this verse sound like any other place in the Bible?

This is a hint at Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This means Jesus always existed before the universe was created, just like God. In fact, he is completely God. Our minds should blown by this!

This means Jesus is the Creator of all things. He is King and Lord over all things. He is God in control of all things. “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created,and his life brought light to everyone (John 1:3, 4).”

“This is the one who is life from God (1:2a)” Jesus is the giver of all life. There is no physical or spiritual life, assurance apart from him.

“He was with the Father (1:2c)”

What does this mean?

Before the world began Jesus was in a family with God, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. There was perfect fellowship with in this family, perfect love, joy, and peace. God has always existed this way. He needed nothing, but is good.

Can you imagine this?

#2 Jesus is God-man

[1 John 1:1]

What does people hearing, seeing, and touching Jesus tell you about Jesus?

Jesus is God-man. He was a real person who existed. He was a real man. He spoke. People saw him. People spent time with him and really touched the God, who became man. This is not a myth or fairy tale.

This means God really became man and entered into this world. We canʼt escape this reality. He lived and breathed in space and time. We must deal with his words and his cross and resurrection. These things really happened. It is truly amazing!

What does people hearing, seeing, and touching Jesus tell you about those people?

We are learning about Jesus from an eyewitness. We can be for sure about Jesus because we are listening to the eye witness accounts.

#3 He is preached

[1 John 1:2]

“And now we testify and announce to you (1:2b)”

Why did the apostles and disciples testify and announce Jesus?

[1 John 4:9, 10]

1) God is life2) Our sin brings death 3) Jesusʼ death and resurrection takes away sin and brings life

Trusting in this Jesus alone is the source of being for sure about eternal life. Looking to anything else will never bring assurance or salvation.

Are you trusting in this Jesus alone to save you?

Is he your hope and peace?

God wants you know if you truly believe or not. He is for your joy, peace and happiness.

[Eva/Ladder]

Assurance leads to real life change

[Eva/Waves]

It better not be no real church,Real saints, who pray hardAnd let me rock my snap backWith the 501ʼs and the J's onIt better not be no real folk,Who donʼt think that they better than youStraight or gay, drunk or high,They walk through the coldWeather with youNo we donʼt wanna see that,Cuz that might mean a life changeThat might mean I'm worth more,The money, cars, sex and pipe dreamsBetter not be no real Jesus,Real forgiveness, for hurt folks. - Church Clothes, Lecrae

#1 Fellowship

[1 John 1:3]

Why does John say he is telling the church about Jesus?

“fellowship” - life together, sharing of life, common union

So, John is preaching Jesus is the God-man sent to save us from our sins on the cross, so that people would believe and become a part of the church. He is so pumped about Jesus he wants other people to trust in him and worship Jesus together.

Do you all see that?

The purpose of the apostles preaching the good news about Jesus was so that others might get saved and join the church. This is a real life example of not only of being for sure, but one of the main ways of growing in assurance. It is as youʼre a part of a local church, you hear about Jesus, grow in your love for him and for others. These are the two great markers of salvation. You begin to see them and so do others, for sure.

[Roscoe/Never Loved]

Why is fellowship with the local church so crucial according to 1 John 1:3?

Because fellowship with the church is equal to fellowship with God.

How can that be?

“He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life (1:1c)”

It is through the message, the word about Jesus, that we come into a relationship with God. This word brings people into a relationship not only with God, but other people who know and love God.

How should we view the church?

What you believe about the church is a result of what you believe about Jesus. Jesus loves and died for the church. We canʼt say we love Jesus and not love the church!

So, to summarize one of the results of being sure about knowing Jesus is “fellowship” with the local church. This means devoting yourself to one local church and participating in the life of that church. This is where you experience fellowship with the Triune God.

#2 Joy

[1 John 1:4]

John wrote this book so that they would know they were saved, so they he might have joy.

Is this selfish?

Absolutely not! His joy was their joy. Joy and happiness come from knowing your sins are wiped away and you have a relationship with God. This is why he wrote, so they would be convinced of these things for themselves. He was for their happiness and this was his happiness.

Conclusion

[Roscoe/Loved]

Where are you at with Jesus, his death and resurrection? Are you for sure?

There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. God has already done it all at the cross. Put all your hope in him and not in yourself. He is where being for sure about being saved if found.

When this happens true joy will begin to flow out of your heart. Itʼs a joy not based in this life, but in Jesus. Itʼs a joy that unites you with the local church to share this joy with others.