Background:  John who wrote this book was not perfect.  He was just a vessel that allowed
himself to be used of God.  When John wrote this book in approximately 90 AD he was most
likely in his late eighties.  John was referred to as one of the “sons of thunder” Mark 3:17.  In
Luke 9:51-56 he over reacted in a situation.  He had a fiery temper as young man.  He wasn’t
perfect.  The book of I John almost seems to me as he is trying to teach us some of the things he
learned through the years. He was not complacent in his Christian walk.  He allowed himself to
continually grow in Christ.  He did not allow commission of a sin or two to stop his progress
towards righteousness.  I John 1:9  He confessed his sins and continued on towards the goal God
set for him.  We do not have to be perfect to tell others about Christ, we do have to be forgiven
through the blood of Christ though.  Now we are ready to study the first four verses.

I John 1:1-4.  John Calvin states,” What I call believing is not some easy supposition or a mere
assent to what is said, but embracing something with a firm undoubting conviction, so that we
dare to subscribe to the truth as definite.”

In the first verse Christ is the one being referred to.  He is divine and eternal in nature.  Remember
that the plan of salvation was in place before the foundation of the world.  Jesus is eternal.  John
mentions that he has seen the Word of Life.  John is an eye witness of the life of Christ.  Christ’s
death on the cross is what brings us life.  Jesus is the Word of Life.  John had seen Christ, talked
with Him, touched Him.  “Seeing is a more convincing proof than hearing of; handling than even
seeing”, A.R. Fausset.  John through personal experience is relating to us the things of Christ.  In
the Introduction last week, the lesson showed that John had been called by Jesus, worked with
Him, was there when Jesus died, saw Jesus after the resurrection and saw Jesus ascend into
heaven.   When John mentions that they have handled Christ the story of doubting Thomas
springs to mind.  Thomas put his fingers in the wounds and literally handled Christ.  John rested
on Jesus’ bosom, leaned up against Him.  They did more than just see Jesus from afar off.

John 1:1-14.  Jesus is the Word.  John 8:58, 17:5, 6:62, 46-48, 16:28, 8:14  Jesus is eternal. John
1:14  Notice the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  All of these verses prove that only the
Lord Jesus could be the one referred to here.

The first four verses show that Jesus was both man and God.  His humanity cannot and should not
be denied, nor should Jesus deity be denied.  Without both parts Christ would have never been
able to take away the sins of the world.  John MacAthur states of this passage that the Word of
Life “refers not only to Jesus Christ but the proclamation of His gospel.”  The gospel of Jesus is
the redemption through His blood.

From the personal experiences with the Lord comes a proclamation of Him that our joy might be
full (V4).  In verse 2.  According to Calvin, the life was manifested means more clearly in Greek,
“We bear witness to the life-giving Word, just as the life was manifested.”  From knowing Christ
comes telling others about Him.  Will Hallman, stated in his Easter sermon of 1998 to the effect
those who saw Jesus die and then rise again were changed by the experience.  They were
motivated to tell others.  Paul preached from  all night long.  What motivated him to do so?  A
moving experience with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ should motivate and propel us.  Knowing Him
personally should get us to tell others about Him.  Works do not produce faith, but faith should
produce works.  Ephesians 2:8,9.  John 17:14-21  Notice that in Christ there is a departure from
evil.  When we are saved the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and creates within us a new
life.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit reveals to us the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way.
From this personal experience we should be motivated even as John was to let the whole world
know about the redemption in Christ Jesus.

The manifestation of Life on earth is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He was manifested to the world
physically back 2000 years ago.  He is manifested spiritually everyday in believer’s lives through
the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 3,  The reason for the declaration is given to us, “that ye also may have fellowship with us.”
In order to have fellowship in Christ one must be saved.  Through Christians telling others about
Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to flow in and through their lives, and the saving power of the
Gospel, the unsaved are drawn out unto salvation by God.  In a declaration of war, the country’s
congress writes down why they are making the declaration.  Here John is writing down why he is
declaring to us the Word of Life.  “We know God only by fellowship with Him.”, Fausset.  Prior
to salvation there was a great divide that separated us from God called unforgiven sin.  Sin
divided us from God, Christ reconciles us through His blood back to God.

Verse 4.  When we are in fellowship with God our Joy is full.  Psalms 1 speaks of the Happy or
Blessed man who is in fellowship with Christ.  Psalms 1:2  He meditates in the law of the Lord
day and night.  John is proclaiming the Word of Life to us that our joy might be full.  The entire
Bible from cover to cover reveals Christ to us.  From reading it, praying, and feeding upon God’s
word our spiritual joy increases.  A fruit of the Spirit is joy.  In order for fruit to grow to a healthy
size it must be nourished.  Watering our souls with the Word of God is the way to ensure our fruit grows to a healthy size.