7th May 2024

7th May 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (1 John 1v1-4)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The late great Edward Donnelly once wrote “A Christian is anyone who has looked into the face of Jesus and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'.” That's it isn't it? We are not Christians by an accident of birth or because we do good things or because we attend a church. A Christian is someone who has looked unto Jesus and found Him to be the Saviour and friend of sinners.


Nevertheless, there may be moments in a Christian's life of crippling doubt. Many Christians have at times echoed the cry of a man from long ago who told Jesus “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9v24) How can such brothers and sisters be comforted? How can any of us be sure of what we have come to believe?


Certainty in Christ is possible, for what we have believed is not a myth but the truthful proclamation of those who saw Jesus with their own eyes. John was one of those eyewitness, an Apostle, a member of the Twelve, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 20v2) and alongside his brother James one of the "sons of thunder" (Mark 3v17). This same John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write four books and over the next weeks we will consider 1 John.


Why should we listen to John? Because he heard, saw and touched Jesus (v1b). Christ is the eternal Saviour who "was from the beginning" (v1a) and whose life was made manifest some two thousand years ago (v2a). John saw Jesus (v2b) and so John proclaimed Jesus (v2c). He testified that Christ was indeed the Son of the living God and proclaimed to us that eternal life had been made possible for all who would believe (v2d).


Can the Apostles be trusted? Is their account of Christ's life and death a sham? While some argue this exact thing, I am always struck by the remarkable change in John and his fellow Apostles. They scattered when Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26v56), they struggled to believe that He was raised (Luke 24v11) and they hid themselves away in the days that followed (John 20v19). But then these same men left their darkened rooms and stepped once more into the daylight. Their doubt had turned to belief and their fear had turned to faith. They would be scattered once more, but this time not out of terror. Instead the Apostles would take the Gospel to the world and lose their lives as a result.


Although there is a tradition that says John was once thrown into boiling oil, he would be the only Apostle who would die a natural death probably as a prisoner on the island of Patmos. What had changed for men like John? They had come to realise that Christ had been raised. They had seen Him and walked with Him and watched His Ascension. Therefore 1 John is a letter from an eyewitness of Christ's majesty whose life was radically changed because he could not deny who and what he had seen. 


So wy did John write 1 John?W That we might have assurance, fellowship and joy. Fellowship with whom? With the Apostles (v3b) and ultimately with the Lord (v3c). The Gospel brings us into fellowship with each other and fellowship with God. Christianity is not a solitary pursuit. Christ's blood was shed for His people and as we believe the Gospel we belong to one another and we belong to the Lord with the result of this fellowship being fulsome joy (v4).


Sometimes we practice our faith with scowls rather than smiles but there is joy to be had in the realisation that we have not believed a lie. The foundation of the church is the teaching of the Apostles and Prophets with Christ Himself as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2v20). Sinners like us have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, we have been brought into membership of the Holy Catholic Church and although we were once enemies of God we now have fellowship with Him.


There's nothing dubious about any of this. Brothers and sisters, rejoice with inexpressible joy. Christ's work is certain and those who believe in Him have not done so in vain.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q32 What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them.
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