had been given the opportunity to touch the resurrected Christ and to see the places of the nail and sword scars. John testifies that this Man was different from all others who ever lived. Never a person spoke like He did. He is truly the Word of life and the eternal revel ation from God. In verse two he goes even a step further in referring to Christ's man ifested life of whom they all bore witness. Notice that this passage is in parenthesis. For ease in reading, it may be better to go from verse one to verse three. This is not to minimize in any way the second's importance. The third verse really introduces the purpose for writing the epistle. It was offered to pre sent fellowship. That word "fellow ship" appears two times here and once each in verses six and seven. What tremendous communion is ours with Christ as our Saviour and Lord. Christ wants each of us to be in this fellowship. Perhaps some one is reading this who has never been born again. You are not in the true fellowship that provides contented joy now and the assur ance of eternal life in the hereafter. Never forget that real fellowship begins with a right relationship to Cod through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no doubt but that I John was written to those who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. This is obviously clear from certain terms which appear. As an example, there is the word "Fath er" (2:1). Not every person is a child of God (John 8:44). This is a personal family letter. The term "little children" denotes this valid fact. Throughout the epistle we find the word "born." This refers to the
new birth and is another way to express the relationship we have in God's perfect fellowship. "Father" means "the originator of a family." We possess the same nature and are motivated by the same spirit. The word "Father" ap pears no less than 13 times in the epistle. John's use of it refutes the false idea of the universal Father hood of God. It is true that all men are the offspring of God in a crea tive sense (Acts 17:24, 26, 28), but so are the birds, fish and animals in that they all have their origin in the Almighty. Jesus told the re ligious Pharisees of His day that the devil was their father, even though they still were God's off spring in creation. Here in I John we see the relationship which a believing sinner has with the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ. Persons to whom this epistle was written are called "little children." This term appears eight times. Now the term "little" does not signify immaturity but is really a way of expressing close endearment in this unique spiritual relationship. These are the ones who have been saved and are now God's children by virtue of a new birth from above. This event is brought about super- naturally through the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8). John is presenting an appeal to the new man in Christ for the highest and the holiest that is in him. It gives us a realization of the new partnership we have with God and with one another. There is a very erroneous teach ing abroad today that says Chris tians do not need to confess their sins to God. They take I John 1:9 to suggest that we are forgiven when we believe and that the fin ished work of Christ takes care of Page 27
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter