UNDERSTANDING THE EPISTLE OF 1^st JOHN – SERMON #5 “JESUS”

INTRODUCTION:

1. John begins this Epistle by declaring to the reader that he, himself, has personally seen and come to know the LORD Jesus personally; therefore, this Epistle is a first-person personal testimony!

(1:1-3)

(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—(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—(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.” 

2. John was called to become a disciple of Jesus while working as a fisherman with his brother James!

Matthew 4:18-22

(18) “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. (19) And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (20) Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (21) And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. (22) Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

3. He came to be one of the “inner circle” of Jesus’ disciples! (7x)

Matthew 17:1 “And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.”

Mark 5:35-37

(35) “While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (36) But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” (37) And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.”

4. In his Gospel, John refers to himself as, “the disciple Jesus loved…”

5. At the LORD’s Supper, John was seated next to Jesus and leaned against HIM! John 13:23 “There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” (NASB)

In First John, he mentions the Name of Jesus 11 times!

EXPOSITION:

Jesus Christ is the SON of the FATHER!

1^st John 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.”

1^st John 4:15 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

1^st John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.”

Those who believe in Jesus Christ have fellowship with HIM!

1st John 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.”

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses HIS People from all sin!

1^st John 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.”

Leviticus 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

Hebrews 9:11-12

(11) “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) (12) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”

Hebrews 9:22 “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Jesus is the advocate for HIS People!

1^st John 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.”

*advocate: “parakletos” * a counselor, intercessor, helper, one called alongside for defense.

Theo Note: This word appears only 5x in the Bible. Here, where it applies to Jesus, and in John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7 where it is applied to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the Christ!

1^st John 2:22 “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”

Everyone everywhere is commanded to believe in Jesus Christ and not believing in HIM is the sin that sends people to hell!

1^st John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

John 8:24 “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

Jesus Christ has come to earth in a human body!

1^st John 4:2-3

(2) “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

Those who believe in Jesus Christ overcome the world, the flesh, and the Devil!

1^st John 5:5 “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Jesus Christ is the true GOD and the ONE and ONLY source of eternal life!

1^st John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”