| This John who is writing a letter which became part of | | | | need John's solid teaching and the life and love and |
| the Word of God had been with Jesus Christ for three | | | | power that Jesus Christ gives and imparts. John writes |
| years and he has been faithful to Jesus Christ for 60 | | | | not only to promote security and assurance and joy, |
| years. This is a man who has something important to | | | | but also to prevent sin! |
| say and teach. We can learn much by reading and | | | | What is the result of receiving this life? Fellowship. |
| studying the letter of John in these present confusing | | | | The Bible - the Christian Faith - knows nothing of |
| and deceptive times. Here is leadership which will | | | | isolation - of solitary confinement. A believer is always |
| never be outdated or old fashioned. Do turn to the | | | | fellowshipping with other believers. |
| actual text and let it guide, direct, motivate and inspire | | | | It has been described as men buying a fishing boat. If it |
| you! | | | | sinks they all sink. |
| John speaks about Jesus Christ being the "Word of | | | | Or even more poignant it has been likened to Siamese |
| Life". Here is life - not out there - but in Jesus Christ | | | | twins - sharing the same blood. Now that is Fellowship |
| there is quantity and quality. Life goes so fast - and it is | | | | that is intimately close. |
| so short - time vanishes. That is why John is so | | | | Joy and Peace come from this kind of Fellowship and |
| concerned that these believers hold on to eternal life. | | | | this quality of Fellowship. |
| There is unending quantity - with unimprovableupon | | | | Joy and Peace are marks of maturity. And, Joy has to |
| quality. | | | | flow. As we share Joy and help create Joy in others |
| The world says, "You've made your bed. You'd better | | | | we find more Joy flowing within our own lives. |
| lie in it." Jesus Christ comes along and says "Take up | | | | And that is another area where we can ask - Have |
| your bed and walk". | | | | you got the real thing? There is no middle ground with |
| With Christ, life can be peaceful and satisfying in the | | | | John. John was and is a witness to Jesus Christ and a |
| midst of suffering and challenge. You get all of this in | | | | witness keeps to the facts and is not too interested in |
| Jesus - the Jesus Who was from the beginning. | | | | opinions or views. |
| You do not need to go running around all over the | | | | These are the results and consequences of genuine |
| place looking for and searching for salvation and love | | | | and authentic faith. Our history is sound - our theology |
| and forgiveness and peace and power. It is all in Jesus | | | | is right regarding Jesus Christ - we behave as God |
| Christ. | | | | would have us behave - and we serve where Jesus |
| The eternal enters history to allow man to have a real | | | | Christ calls us to serve. |
| meaningful spiritual experience that lasts. You look at | | | | We have to make sure we have what is real - the |
| Jesus Christ and you see in Him LIFE. | | | | Jesus Christ of the Bible. |
| "I am the way the truth and the life." Now that is either | | | | The next verse is God is light, and this was being |
| right or it is a lie. | | | | written in a dark day of persecution and suffering. This |
| John is writing in a day when funny teaching were | | | | mature wise leader is just pouring forth these most |
| coming into the Church of Jesus Christ. Men were | | | | amazing and reassuring truths, which we need to |
| denying the humanity of Jesus. Men denied that Jesus | | | | embrace in these dangerous and turbulent times. |
| Christ was a real man. Some were saying that Jesus | | | | Last week I was reading that some 23% of our |
| was not God and that He was just a good teacher. | | | | population are to some degree afraid of the dark. |
| These are being taught in various places today. We | | | | There are an awful lot more afraid of the Light! |