Big Idea: John introduces us to the subject of his epistle. It is the Word of Life, who was from the beginning. This eternal one, takes on flesh and dwells among men. Jesus is the presence of God on earth, the God-man, two distinct natures in one person.
Establishing the ________________ of Jesus
Physical Body
1John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
The fact that Christ was really in the flesh, that He was no phantom, no shadow mocking the eyes that looked upon Him, is exceedingly important. Hence John… begins by declaring that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who in His eternity was from the beginning, was really a substantial man, for he says, “We have heard” (hearing is good evidence); “We have seen with our eyes”(eyesight is good, clear evidence, certainly); “We have looked at” (this is better still, for this imports a deliberate, careful, circumspect gaze); but better still, “Our hands have touched,” for… his hands had often met the real flesh and blood of the living Savior. We need have no doubt about the reality of Christ’s incarnation when we have these open eyes and hands to give us evidence.
Presence of God
1 John 1:1–2 (ESV) 1 … concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
The two phrases, however, present different aspects of the same truth. The Word became flesh, contemplates simply the historic fact of incarnation. The life was manifested, sets forth the unfolding of that fact in the various operations of life. The one denotes the objective process of the incarnation as such, the other the result of that process as related to human capacity of receiving and understanding it.
Jesus is not only God in the flesh, He is God in action. Jesus is the presence of God on earth.
John 5:30–36 (ESV) 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true… 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
Luke 22:39-46 (829)
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Luke 9:51 (ESV) 51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
“Here are two mysteries for the price of one — the plurality of persons within the unity of God, and the union of Godhead and manhood in the person of Jesus. . . . Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.” J.I. Packer, Knowing God
Establishing the ______________________ of Salvation
Both Jesus’ divinity and humanity make salvation real for us.
Hebrews 2:14–15 (ESV) 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
John 14:8-12, 15-17
Colossians 2:8–15 (ESV) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
