Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Biblical Christianity
1 John 1:1-4

(1) What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life-- {2} and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- {3} what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. {4} And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
 

INTRODUCTION:
My friend Tom Wideman tells a story about returning to the old drive in hamburger restaurant. Even though it had been years since Tom and his wife Sally had been there he was delighted to find the menu the same.

In a day when very little seems to be remaining it is good to find some old stan byes. The word of God is a stand by. It does not change. Christianity remains the same in it's message. There are some basic essentials. Let me lead you to affirm these essentials of Christianity.

John states he has personal knowledge relating to the reality of the faith. Notice the terms he uses as he emphasizes the truth of his faith:
WE HAVE HEARD v 1, 3, 5;
WE HAVE SEEN v 1, 2, 3
WE BEHELD v 1;
WE TOUCHED v 1;
WAS MANIFESTED v 2;
BEAR WITNESS v 2;
WE DECLARE v 2, 3, 5
 
 
 

1. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY CENTERS IN CHRIST v 1-3 a

2. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY SHARES CHRIST v 3

3. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY REJOICES IN CHRIST. v 4 "OUR"
 
 

1.     BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY CENTERS IN CHRIST v 1-3 a 

(1) What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life-- {2} and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- {3} what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

EXPLANATION:
A. AS BEGAN BY CHRIST. v 1 a "What was from the beginning, . . ."

Dr. FRED FISHER: "THAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING. . ." NEUTER RELATIVE PRONOUN ENCOMPASSES BOTH THE PERSON OF CHRIST AND THE MEANING OF THE PERSON. WAS ALREADY EXISTING. EMPHASIZES JESUS DIDN'T COME INTO EXISTENCE
AT THE BEGINNING.

        1. The word beginning 9 times in this epistle; 3 ways
            a.    Creation; v 1 ,
            b.    Of the gospel; v 2:7, 3.
            c.    Of the evangelization of the readers; 2:24.
 

B. AS BEHELD BY EYE WITNESSES. v 1 b

        1. BEHELD IN THEIR SEEING. WE BEHELD" OUR WORD FOR THEATER
            a.    McGEE, SEEN = SALVATION, BEHELD = SANCTIFICATION
            b.    MANIFESTED 2:28

        2. BEHELD IN THEIR HEARING.

        3. BEHELD IN THEIR TOUCHING.
                a. TOUCH THE MOST INTIMATE. LK. 24:39
                b. FISHER: HANDLED, REMINDS US OF THOMAS

C. AS BROADCAST BY THE DISCIPLES. v 2-3

        1. BROADCAST THROUGH THEIR PREACHING.
            a. J.VERNON McGEE v 2     ETERNAL LIFE WHAT IS IT; IT IS CHRIST

        2. BROADCAST THROUGH THEIR PARTICIPATION.

ILLUSTRATION:
PREACH THE GOSPEL USE WORDS IF YOU HAVE TO.

Story of a solder being pronounced dead. Family had the funeral without a body. Boy came home. Family could not believe it was him, During the night His mom came in and touched him, Then his dad came in and touched Him, Just want to make sure it really is true.
 

APPLICATION:

John tells us he saw Him, heard Him touched and handled Him. He is the living Lord.
 
 

2.    BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY SHARES CHRIST v 3

{3} what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

EXPLANATION:

A.    IN HUMAN FELLOWSHIP. "and indeed "our" fellowship"
        v 3 Uniquely ours possessive pronoun peculiar to Christians. Not gnostics.

        1. FELLOWSHIP = KONONIA (SHARING)
                a. ROM.15:26 CONTRIBUTION,
                b. 2 COR 9:13 DISTRIBUTION
                c. HEB 13:16 COMMUNICATION

B. IN HEAVENLY FELLOWSHIP. v 3 b
        ". . .our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."
 

ILLUSTRATION:
A man awakened from sleep shouting "tell them about me, tell them about me." His dream had him on trial for murder and the only witness who could confirm his alibi was talking about football, baseball, and other sporting events.

This dream relates to the Christians who meet daily with people and never talk about the one person who can save their life.
 

APPLICATION:

John proclaims to us what he knows concerning Christ. We should follow his example.
 
 

3.    BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY REJOICES IN CHRIST. v 4 

{4} And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

PHILLIPS TRANSLATION:
WE MUST WRITE AND TELL YOU ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THE MORE THAT FELLOWSHIP EXTENDS, THE GREATER THE JOY IT BRINGS YOU US WHO ARE ALREADY IN IT.

EXPLANATION:
A. JOY IN WRITING
        1. JOY MEANS AN INNER PEACE. HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON HAPPENINGS.
        2. JOY COMES FROM GOD.     GAL 5:22 FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
                a. JOY TO HELP SAINTS.     THE WORD HELPS.
                b. JOY TO HINDER SATAN.     THE WORD HINDERS.

B. JOY IN WITNESSING
        1.     WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THE BIRTH OF JESUS "GREAT JOY" Luke 2:10
        2.     PHILIP IN SAMARIA GREAT JOY. Acts 8:8
                    a. CONNECTION BETWEEN SALVATION AND JOY.
        3.     EUNIC BAPTIZED WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING. Acts 8:39
        4. JAILER BAPTIZED REJOICED. Acts 16:34

ILLUSTRATION: THE SUPREME JOY IS SHARING CHRIST.
The story of John Broadus and a youth he won to Christ. each time he came home And went to town this man would make a big scene "Hey John, John Broadus, Let me thank you again for telling me about Jesus.

Dr. Brodus said in heaven that man will come and say thank you for telling me about Jesus. I think it would be great if all of us had a similar experience.
 
 

CONCLUSION:

1. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY CENTERS IN CHRIST.

2. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY SHARES CHRIST.

3. BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY REJOICES IN CHRIST.