Title: Life begets life (1 John 1:1-4)
Contents
The text was written by the Apostle John between A.D. 70 and 100. After Jesus ascended to heaven, the first generation of the gospel who first received the gospel from the apostles had the joy and excitement of the gospel. However, if we understand the background that the text was written for them when a generation has passed and another generation has come, which has the form of faith but does not have the passion for the Lord and the gospel internally, we can understand the intention of the apostle John through the text. You can see clearly. The Apostle John wrote the text to make the saints as saints, the church as the church, and the gospel as the gospel. The apostle John makes it clear that the purpose of writing 1 John is to rekindle the promise and assurance of eternal life that he has promised us (2:25; 5:13).
Ladies and gentlemen, why do believers live a life of faith so dimly that they cannot feel the distinction from unbelievers? This is because the hope of heaven and the certainty of eternal life that we already have are dim. Another reason is that attempts to shake the church unchurch are still challenging us.
A daily newspaper recently published a book called 'Jesus is a Myth'. The newspaper used the following nonsensical phrase to advertise the book: "A dagger aimed at the heart of Christianity? A key to unlocking the mystery of Jesus?" In this day and age, it is not enough to comfort, encourage, and unite our hearts, but if an anti-Christian book full of prejudice and arrogance shakes people's hearts and souls, what is the productive benefit and how can we learn the strength to live in these difficult times? can you get
The Apostle John says that he wrote 1 John in order to block the delusions and challenges of the world and Satan, and to walk the path of our faith dignifiedly and proudly (2:26). There are so many false prophets out there that tell them to test their teachings to see if they belong to Jesus Christ (4:1-3).
Just as when a child is born into the world, it must grow by fighting bacteria and various viruses, our faith also grows by overcoming the temptations, challenges, and trials of the world. Believing in Jesus does not mean that you are comfortable without any problems. Therefore, we need to strengthen our spiritual resistance, our spiritual stamina. When we do this, we can build saint-like saints and church-like churches.
Through the Apostle John, the Holy Spirit presented a prescription to restore the saints whose vitality of the gospel is withering, and the churches that are collapsing in the face of the challenges of the world.
1. We must receive the life of Jesus Christ (verses 1-2).
The life of God was revealed through Jesus Christ (verse 2). Jesus Christ is the life. In order to restore our faint faith and weak saints, we need to receive the life of Jesus Christ again. This eternal life is the spiritual life that comes from God and is given to all Christians (Romans 6:23).
When a believer is carrying the heavy burden of life, the best and only remedy is Jesus Christ Himself, who has become life, when passing through the deserts and deep valleys of the Christian life. When we inherit the life of Jesus Christ again and overflow with life like an active volcano, we can live in praise even in the harsh world. We don't have to go looking for any other mystery. Being supplied with the life of Jesus Christ and being filled with the life of Jesus Christ is the mystery itself.
The apostle John can be said to be the apostle of life. In the Gospel of John written by John, the word 'eternal life' appears 16 times, and only 6 times in 1 John. I tell the best prescription responsibility to the saints whose only emotion, blessing, and confidence in eternal life have faded. Even Peter, who was a disciple of the Lord, said that only in Christ has the word of eternal life (John 6:68). The Bible testifies that there is eternal life in Jesus Christ (John 5:39).
Our parents' generation received the gospel and lived in the midst of hardships and hardships, enjoying the joy and thrill of eternal life. However, although we received the gospel in peace, there are many times when we cannot live a dynamic life with the joy and emotion of eternal life. Fading faith means that your relationship with Jesus Christ has faded. Therefore, when Jesus Christ is restored in the center of our heart, we can live a life full of joy and emotion with the assurance of faith, and our church can be used to spread the life of Jesus Christ in this age. Are you full of Jesus life?
2. We must preach the life of Jesus Christ (verse 3).
We can evangelize when we are filled with Jesus Christ. If you are filled with the life of Jesus, you can share Jesus Christ with others with a happy heart. When you are filled with the life of Jesus, a great and beautiful work of life begets life. When your eyes are opened to the life of Jesus Christ and the power of Jesus Christ is restored in the center of your heart, the life of Jesus Christ can be shared with others.
Last week, five 'frog boys' who went up to the mountain to catch frogs 11 years ago were found dead. The parents lost their minds saying, "I didn't even lock the door because I was afraid my child would come back soon...". The parents of the children did not even move in fear that their children would return, even though the place they lived in had been converted into an apartment complex. The children's items were kept as they were. This is how parents feel. Life creates joy and grace in another. But when life goes out, everyone grieves.
The Apostle John emphasizes that the eternal life of Jesus Christ has been heard, seen with eyes, noticed, and touched with hands (verse 3). The life of Jesus Christ has become our life. To believe in Jesus is to experience the mystery of the life and person of the Lord entering into us and our abiding in Jesus Christ.
When will we experience this life? When we go before the Lord to praise the glory, go to the deep place of prayer and listen to the voice of the Lord, the life of Christ in us works dynamically.
The church is not a building, but a community of fellowship. The fellowship of saints is one of the essence of the church. Holy fellowship bears fruit with a fullness of joy (v. 4). Joy is a characteristic of those who believe in Jesus. When the world is full of joy that cannot be taken away, we can move forward proudly no matter what challenges and adversity we face.
Dear family of faith, let's reach out our hands of faith and touch the traces of the cross that loved me and burn the life force of the Lord again in my heart. Let's deliver the greatness of the gospel and the joy and thrill of eternal life to other parched souls so that life can be used as a spiritual party that produces life. Let our church become a community filled with the joy of the life and fellowship of Jesus. Let's embroider the fall of 2002 as a feast of life.
life begets life
life begets life
A desolate world, in the midst of a rebellious city
Jesus life is communicated
Groups that lost their vitality like dry bones
hear the gospel
hear life
find life
enjoy life
death begets death
A generation without confidence, a city with no tomorrow
the ashes of death are sprinkled
A group of people who hold on to their appearance and ignore the essence of life
see death
hear death
follow the emptiness
wear despair
When you meet the Jesus of Life
Jesus life
If you enjoy the life of Jesus
Jesus life