1 John 1:1-4 – The Word of Life

Jon Beck

Our current series through 1 John is Life in the Light: Knowing Christ. Walking in Truth. Loving One Another.

These sermon notes are not a full manuscript but a listening guide designed to help our Tabernacle Church family follow along. I encourage you to add your own notes as you listen each week. The service will be available on YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can also find sermon notes, family devotional guides, our prayer list, and other resources on our church website.

1 John 1:1-4

Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of Life, was revealed and proclaimed through His apostles so that all who believe may share fellowship with God and experience the fullness of His joy.

Introduction

  • See post 1 John Intro for a general intro remarks for the book.
  • John immediately establishes the certainty of the truth about Jesus Christ.
  • False teachers denied that the eternal Son had genuinely become human.
  • John responds with the testimony of an eyewitness: “We heard Him. We saw Him. We studied Him. We touched Him.”
  • Christianity rests upon God’s historical revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ Is the Life Revealed – vv. 1-2a

  • Jesus existed eternally with the Father.
  • The eternal Son entered human history in a real human body.
  • The apostles heard, saw, observed, and touched Him.
  • “The life was made manifest” means that eternal life was revealed and made visible.
  • Jesus does not merely teach about eternal life. He is eternal life.

Word of Life

  • Logos — word, message, or personal revelation
  • Zōē — divine and eternal life

Because Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, we must build our lives on His truth and look to Him alone for eternal life.

Jesus Christ Is the Life Proclaimed – vv. 2b

  • The apostles personally witnessed the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
  • They testified truthfully concerning what they had seen.
  • They proclaimed Christ so that others might believe.
  • Their testimony gives Christianity an objective, historical foundation.
  • The apostolic message has been preserved for us in Scripture.
  • The church must receive, guard, and proclaim this message without alteration.

Because the gospel is the truth about Jesus Christ, we must believe it faithfully and proclaim it boldly.

Jesus Christ Is the Life Shared – 3

  • The apostles proclaimed Christ so that others might have fellowship with them.
  • Koinōnia means sharing, participation, partnership, or having something in common.
  • Christian fellowship is shared eternal life through Jesus Christ.
  • Fellowship is vertical: believers share life with the Father and His Son.
  • Fellowship is horizontal: believers share life with one another.
  • This shared life becomes visible through truth, obedience, confession, and love.

Because Jesus Christ brings us into fellowship with God and His people, we must remain grounded in truth and share life with one another.

Jesus Christ Is the Life Enjoyed – v. 4

  • John proclaimed Christ so that their joy might be complete.
  • Complete joy flows from knowing Christ and sharing His life with His people.
  • Biblical joy is deeper than emotional happiness.
  • It does not depend upon comfort, success, health, or favorable circumstances.
  • Our joy deepens as we see others know Christ and walk faithfully in the truth.

Because true joy is found in Jesus Christ, we must find our satisfaction in Him and encourage one another to walk in truth.

The What Now?

  • Trust what God’s Word reveals about Jesus Christ.
  • Reject anything that denies or distorts the truth about who Jesus is.
  • Find your joy and satisfaction in Christ, not in changing circumstances.
  • Walk faithfully with Christ’s church and help others know Him.

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