Day One
1 John 1:1-2 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 – 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.
What is ultimate? What is the nature of reality? We all wrestle with ultimate questions. Where do I come from? Why am I here? How do I live now that I am here? What happens when I die? Some believe we are the figment of someone’s imagination, and that nothing we experience is real. Others say we really are in The Matrix. Of course, many believe we are nothing more than a cosmic accident. As such, we have no real purpose in life, and it doesn’t matter how we live because when we die that’s it. There is nothing beyond the grave. But are any of these beliefs true? What is the answer to what’s ultimate, and are there answers to those other questions and so many more that we all have? Fortunately, there is an answer, and it’s found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John begins this letter with an amazing statement about the nature of who Christ is: He is “that which was from the beginning.” In numerous places throughout the Scriptures we’re told that Christ has always been, that He is the Creator, and that it is He who holds the universe together.
Now, even more amazing is the fact that He who was from the beginning also became flesh. That’s what John means when he says that he, and many others, heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him. He further says “the life was manifested,” and that He is “that eternal life which was with the Father.” The Son of God added a human nature to His eternal, divine nature. He is the God-man, and John bears witness to that amazing reality. He handled Him with his own hands! There are mountains of evidence and eye-witness testimony that demonstrate the fact that Jesus of Nazareth is in fact God in human form. John is but one of those eyewitnesses.
John also refers to Jesus as the Word of Life. What in the world does he mean? It’s interesting that John himself in the opening of his first gospel referred to Jesus as the Eternal Creator as well as the Word. Much like people in our culture love to hear what political pundits have to say, those of the first century Greek world loved to hear what their philosophers had to say. Their idea of ultimate reality was wrapped up in what they called the logos, or “word.” John takes the Greek concept of logos and tells his readers that Jesus is the logos. He is ultimate reality. Remember, Jesus said “I am,” just like the Father did in the Old Testament. What God means is that He is being itself. Nothing exists apart from Him.
He doesn’t mean that the Greeks have it right though. He is using their word logos to point to the true logos, Jesus Christ. But Jesus is more than a concept. He is a person who relates to us. John says that God became man and we have heard Him, seen Him, and touched Him. It is Jesus who is the Word of Life. He is the essence of all things. In Him is being. In Him is life. There is no life apart from Him. And, He is the Word made flesh. It’s not unlike saying to our Star Wars culture that Jesus is “The Force.” It is Jesus who holds the universe together, not an unseen force. And this Jesus is the Force of Life. Apart from Him, you have no life whether physical, spiritual, or eternal.
So, what is ultimate? It is a person – the God-man – the Lord Jesus Christ. You are here because He created you. Your purpose in life is to worship Him and put His character on display before others. When your life is wrapped up in Him, it will affect what you do or don’t do as well as how you do what you do. And the good news is that there is life after death! But only in Christ! That means the ultimate question for you is simply this: do you know Him? Put another way, do you love Him? Have you called on Him for mercy and forgiveness? Are you following Him? Do you delight in Him? Are you trusting Him for forgiveness and life? Do you look to Him alone to save you or to something else like religion or good works? Or do you not even think about Him or even care? These are the kinds of questions you must answer. And remember, the Eternal God became man that guilty sinners might have life in Him, and that He has been declared to you.
For your journal: 1) What did you learn today? 2) In what ways have you failed to understand or live out this teaching? 3) What specific things does God want you to do in light of this teaching? 4) What is your plan to do them? 5) Write out your prayer to God.
For further meditation: 1) What false doctrines does this teaching refute? 2) What sins does this teaching prohibit? 3) How does this teaching give me comfort? 4) What are the spiritual, physical, relational, or emotional benefits of this teaching?
Day Two
1 John 1:3-4 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. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Where can we find real, lasting joy? I was a college swimmer, and I loved it. But now I’m old. I grew up on forty acres and lived in a seventy-two-hundred square foot house with a tennis court, fishing pond, and so much more. The house burned down, and the property is gone. I had a wonderful relationship with my Dad. We had such great times together. He died. You get the idea. Time marches on. Things fade away. People die. Is there anything – is there any joy – that lasts forever?
John had seen and heard the Eternal Life of God as revealed to us in Christ. John is an eyewitness of the God-man’s reality, and he has declared Him to us. Now he tells us why.
First, that we might have fellowship with each other. Now John is not just looking for some new friends. He’s not looking for some kind of social outlet. The biblical concept of fellowship is much deeper. Football fans cheer their teams together, country club members enjoy their cocktail parties, and Christians love their church socials. While there is some measure of fellowship in these dynamics, none of them approaches the reality of biblical fellowship. That’s something rooted in Christ. Christians are bonded to one another in a spiritual, family relationship because they’ve been born of the Spirit and adopted into the family of God. That’s why John goes on to say that “truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” (And don’t miss the fact that the Father and Son are put on equal footing. There is but one God who’s revealed Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Think about what it means to have fellowship with God: for Him to be your Father. He’s all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and all-merciful! He’s the all-righteous One, and you, a sinner, can know Him through Christ. Think of His love for guilty, rebel sinners! Think of His protection and provision for those who know Him! Think, think, think!
Our fellowship with each other is so much more than dinner on the ground or hanging out at the coffee shop. It’s a shared life in Christ. It means that we know why we are family: Christ. We’re focused on that, at least to some degree, when we get together. We love, encourage, admonish, and bear one another’s burdens. We know who we are, why we’re here, and focus on those things as we look to Christ together. If our fellowship time with other believes is no different from the world’s, we’re missing out on what God has for us.
To be clear, it’s not about being religious. Think about the joy a close family has on special occasions. It’s like that – only deeper. I have a bond with my unbelieving cousin because we’re family. But I have a much different and deeper bond with my believing friend because of who we are in Christ. I grew up in the Cold War. I was taught to fear and even demonize Russians by our political structure. And yet, one of the greatest treasures I have is a note written on the inside cover of my Bible, from a Christian brother in Russia, who I spent two weeks with almost twenty years ago. I’d never met him before nor have I spoken with him since. I won’t see him again this side of Heaven. But I’ll treasure that note and him forever because of the unbreakable bond we have in Christ.
Second, John declared Christ to us: “that [our] joy might be full.” He wants us to have fullness of joy in Christ. Did you know that the Scriptures hold Christ out as the greatest joy in all the universe? Jesus said that He is the living water, the treasure in the field, the bread of life, and so much more. Jesus said if you drink the water that He gives, you will never thirst again. Think about these word pictures. If you were in a desert, what would you want more than anything else? Water! He’s more precious than a pirate’s treasure! He’s bread to a starving soul! Many things give us temporary joy. But Christ is in fact the most wonderful thing in the world, and His joy is forever. He’s not an ogre out to spoil your fun. He is for His people and gives them fullness of joy in Him. The Bible says at His right hand are pleasures forever more!
And think about this gem; we want many things, but things don’t satisfy. We always want more. Too often we think of God as a cosmic Santa, and we’re disappointed when we don’t get the things we want. But Christ alone gives true satisfaction. And that’s why He gives us the greatest gift possible; that’s why He gives us the most wonderful thing in the world: Himself. There is indeed a joy that lasts forever: Christ.
For your journal: 1) What did you learn today? 2) In what ways have you failed to understand or live out this teaching? 3) What specific things does God want you to do in light of this teaching? 4) What is your plan to do them? 5) Write out your prayer to God.
For further meditation: 1) What false doctrines does this teaching refute? 2) What sins does this teaching prohibit? 3) How does this teaching give me comfort? 4) What are the spiritual, physical, relational, or emotional benefits of this teaching?
Day Three
1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
In the movie Wall Street, the main character Gordon Gekko, said “Greed is good.” Is he right? How do we know whether he’s right or not? How do we even know what it means to be good? Different people define goodness differently. Some say that homosexuality is good while others say it’s sin. Some say government forcing mothers to kill their unborn babies in the womb for population control is good. Others say murder is evil. There are those who say people are basically bad; they’re born that way. Some argue that people are basically good; they’re born that way. Certain academics say that human beings are parasites and should be destroyed like other parasites so the planet may thrive. Is kindness good or is it weakness and therefore bad? What is good? Is it sacrifice or self-interest? Is there anything that can be called good or evil, or is everything simply the way it is by cosmic accident? Is it good to obey your parents or are they tyrants to be ignored? Should you be faithful to your wife or should you do what makes you feel good? Shouldn’t your priority be you? Or should it be God and others? Ask different people these questions and you’ll get different answers. But what we need is the answer that’s right for all people, in all places, at all times. And that’s what we have in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John says that the Eternal God who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ gave him a message, and he’s passing that message along to us. The message is simple: “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”
What does light do? It shines. It helps us to see in the dark. In another sense, light refers to understanding. I might say, a lightbulb just went off in my head!” And light also refers to goodness. So, John is saying that God shines and helps us to see truth. He gives us understanding. He helps us to see what’s true and what’s false; what’s real and what’s not; and what’s good and what’s evil.
But more than that, God is light. He is good. He is the essence of goodness. There is no darkness or evil in God. The bible tells us that God cannot sin, and that He cannot tempt us to sin. Think about that tremendous statement. Did you know that God can’t do everything? Oh, He’s all powerful, and He’s in control of all things. But, He can’t do everything. The Bible tells us He can’t lie! And that’s because He can’t sin! It’s not merely that He won’t do evil or tempt us to evil, it’s that He can’t because of who He is. He is good. He is goodness. If there is anything that is good, God is the source of it because He is goodness itself. There is no goodness apart from Him.
The only way we know there is good and evil is because God has revealed it to us. We didn’t discover that reality, nor did we have intuitive insight that gave us the answer, nor is it common sense. God is the One who tells us there is good and evil, and He’s the One who tells us what’s good and what’s not. That means you can’t decide what’s right and wrong. I know a young college student who told his girlfriend that premarital sex was okay for them because they loved each other. But that’s not what God says. If you twist or ignore God’s word, you say you know more than the God who created you and revealed to you what’s right and wrong. In that moment you become an idolater because you worship yourself. And who wants to be an idolater? I asked a young lady who was considering abortion, “if Jesus were sitting beside you and told you not to do it, would you?” “Of course not,” she said. I then responded, “He is sitting beside you by the Spirit, and He has told you not to do it in His word.” You see? We know what’s good and what’s not because of God. We can make good decisions if we look to Him.
God Himself is goodness, the source of all goodness, and the arbiter of all goodness. If we want to know what’s good and live good lives, we must know God in Christ. And thankfully, He has revealed Himself to us!
For your journal: 1) What did you learn today? 2) In what ways have you failed to understand or live out this teaching? 3) What specific things does God want you to do in light of this teaching? 4) What is your plan to do them? 5) Write out your prayer to God.
For further meditation: 1) What false doctrines does this teaching refute? 2) What sins does this teaching prohibit? 3) How does this teaching give me comfort? 4) What are the spiritual, physical, relational, or emotional benefits of this teaching?
