What We Have Heard…

STUDY: # 1017-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: FEBUARY 5 @ 11, 2019

TOPIC: “What We Have Heard…” 1 John 1:1-2 John speaks of what he heard directly from the Master’s lips. John was one of the twelve apostles who accompanied Jesus everywhere, and had the unique privilege of laying his head on the Master's chest. He had seen and heard!

I. John was very blessed to have walked and personally be with Jesus.

A. John had to be a pious man; separated from evil in order to be close to the Lord Jesus.

1. John had the doctrinal foundation to have all true communion with the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To achieve true communion with the Lord Jesus Christ you do not have to fill a position, but let your life be filled with a doctrinal foundation (a strength based on believing the teachings of the gospel).

3. There can’t be TRUE COMMUNION with those who hold false views of the Lord Jesus Christ (perspective = the point of view from which something or someone is considered or analyzed).

4. Here in the epistle, John spoke of the Incarnation of our Jesus ("That which was from the beginning ...").

5. The one who existed since eternity with God the Father, came to this world as a real Man.

6. The reality of His Incarnation was demonstrated by the fact that the apostles had "heard" Him, "seen Him with their eyes," contemplated Him with deep meditation and concentration and "touched Him with their hands."

7. The Word of Life was not a mere transient illusion, but a true Person, in a body of flesh!

8. (Vs.2) This verse confirms that He who "... was with the Father ..." (Brother, thank Him for His great act of love for you!) and whom John refers to by the name of "... the eternal life..." WAS GIVEN A BODY, DWELLED AMONG US, AND WAS SEEN BY THE APOSTLES!

9. The apostles were men of great character. They were determined; they didn’t fear leaving everything. They loved Jesus more than anyone did. They were not dragged by their fears. They were sure of Jesus, full of all kinds of sacrifice, willing to sacrifice their lives for Jesus, and you know what? THEY STOPPED BEING THEMSELVES TO BE ABSOLUTELY CHRIST’S!

10. The verses in this epistle are written, not by theologians, nor philosophers, but by the testimony of those who heard, saw, contemplated, and touched the One in whom life was incarnate. All of that was recorded with great precision and accuracy!

11. (Vs.3) All those who receive the apostle’s testimony have communion: with the Father, his Son Jesus Christ; with the apostles and all believers throughout the history of the Church.

12. (Vs.4) John writes about communion because: "We are writing these things to... so that our joy may be complete."

13. John knew the true joy of Jesus!

14. Our brother John understood that the world cannot offer joy. He had known Jesus personally, and wanted the brothers to see, as we do today, THAT THERE IS NO TRUE JOY HERE ON EARTH, because everything here ends at some point.

15. John realized that the world cannot give the human heart full and permanent joy.

16. This JOY can only come from a good relationship with the Lord!

17. When a person has communion with God and with the Lord Jesus, they have a deeply settled "joy" that cannot be disturbed by earthly circumstances.

18. Why are earthly circumstances disturbing you? Tell your reflection in the mirror that it must have peace. Tell yourself that no one should know that earthly circumstances disturb you. Tell your reflection that because it looks disturbed, it is showing people that you do not have joy. If you are not "joy fulfilled" it is that Christ is absent in your life. There is no true communion with the Father and the Son Jesus Christ, like John had. May your life be filled with joy, brother!

19. Someone wrote: "The source of every song is very high, it is in heaven above!"

20. You cannot sing and worship if you are not high, above, in heaven. Have the true joy of Christ! Amen.