November 6
“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 – 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,” 1 John 1:1-4.
The above four verses are an introduction to the First Epistle of John. True, the apostle John does not identify himself by name as the author of the Epistle. However, from the early days of the Christian Church, John was identified as being the author. The introduction of the Epistle is comparable to the introduction of the Gospel according to St. John. However, the apostle John does not identify himself as the author of the Gospel either.
In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men,” John 1:1-4. In both the Gospel and the Epistle of John, reference is made to the One of whom the author is writing as being the Word – “the Word of life,” and, “the Word was God.” And in both the Epistle and Gospel a reference is made to the beginning.
Referring to the One who “was from the beginning,” the author of the Epistle says, “We have heard . . . we have seen with our eyes . . . we have looked upon . . . our hands have handled.” Referring to the One who was “in the beginning,” the author of the Gospel says, “The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” From both the Gospel and the Epistle of John, it is very clear that the Son of God, who is true God with the Father and the Holy Spirit, became the Son of Man, the Savior of the world, through whom we have eternal life.
The assurance of eternal life can only be offered to us through the Gospel message of the forgiveness of sins. Sin is the wall that separated man and God. That wall was broken down and washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on Calvary’s cross. Unbelief, refusal to believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the Savior from sin, death, and the devil, will keep one from inheriting eternal life in heaven.
We should bear witness to the message of pardon and forgiveness for all people, “That you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” We have Christian fellowship with one another, and we are children of the heavenly Father by faith in Christ Jesus. And the result? “These things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
“Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing,
A cheerful trust maintain;
For God, the Source of ev’rything,
Thy Portion shall remain.
Why spend the day in blank despair,
In restless tho’t the night?
On thy Creator cast thy care;
He makes thy burdens light.
He ever will with patience chide,
His rod falls gently down;
And all thy sins He casts aside,
And in the sea doth drown.” Amen.