A Life Like No Other: Jesus the Incarnate Word

1 John 1:3

The impact that Jesus has on His followers cannot be put into words. They were radically changed and really did "turn the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). The impact of the life of Jesus, this "life like no other," compelled them to take Him and His gospel to the nations. They simply believed they must. They had no choice. What they had experienced in Jesus they wanted others to experience too.

Verse 3 begins with the phrase "what we have seen and heard." As we noted earlier, "seeing" is highlighted in each of the first three verses. Interestingly, the main verb of the prologue does not appear until now. It is the word "declare." It means to "proclaim" (ESV) or "announce" (GNT, NET). John says we cannot remain silent about this eternal life-giving Word. What we have heard, seen, looked upon, and touched we must share with others. We will testify and bear witness concerning Jesus Christ, and we will proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

To what end? "So that you may have fellowship along with us." John speaks of fellowship four times in this letter, all in 1:3-7. The Greek word is koinonia, and it speaks of sharing in common something that is significant and important. It entails the joy and oneness in a group of people who are in accord regarding something that really matters. You share common values, beliefs, and goals. You love the same things. You pursue a common agenda.

John so loves the church, the believing community of faith in Jesus, that he wants to invite everyone to become a part. No one is to be excluded from this invitation. No one who comes by the way of Jesus—the Word 9who gives life, eternal life, a life of both quality and quantity—will be denied entrance. The moment you enter into a personal relationship with Him, this life is yours. And this fellowship is yours as well.

The fellowship that exists among followers of Jesus is far richer and deeper than that of a college fraternity or sorority. It is far richer and deeper than that of a favorite sports team or community club. It is far richer and deeper than even that of national identity or ethnic heritage. It is the "fellowship of family" that transcends any and all artificial barriers that have afflicted the human race since the fall. By means of the incarnation and His perfect atoning sacrifice (2:2), we are now a "fellowship family" with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus becomes our Savior, God becomes our Father. It is a package deal. Later, in 2:23, John will write, "No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well."

Unlike every other religion in the world, Christianity brings us into intimate relationship with a God who is Savior and Father. And He is a perfect Savior and a perfect heavenly Father. In addition, you get a whole bunch of brothers and sisters thrown in as well "from every nation, tribe, people, and language" (Rev 7:9). We Christians must never forget that we have more in common with a Chinese Christian, an African sister, and a brother in South America than a next-door neighbor who does not know Christ. And never forget that this eternal life that has transformed us is the eternal life we must proclaim to our neighbor here and among the nations in order that they might become family. We continually want to add more!

Have a Passion to Enjoy This Life

1 John 1:4

God is glorified in us when we find our joy in Him. A common theology, a common Savior, a common Father, and a common experience of joy unites all who have come to know this life that is like no other, life in Jesus the incarnate Word. These common blessings are woven into a beautiful tapestry throughout 1 John, and they are highlighted by the four keys we noted earlier, keys that he introduces by saying that he is writing or has written "these things." How might we enjoy these blessings?

John wrote this letter "so that our joy may be complete." Not partial, but complete. Full. All we could want or ever need. John is echoing the words he heard from Jesus: "I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete" (John 15:11); and "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete" (John 16:24). We have a fullness of joy in our shared life with Jesus. That fullness of joy is ours through our friendship with one another and with God, who is now our Father. And all of it made possible by the gospel of Jesus Christ, God's Son.

Christians never become sinless in their time on earth, but they should sin less as they enjoy their new life in Christ. This striving to be more and more like Jesus (and note the amazing promise in 3:2!) is a life of joy lived not out of obligation, but gratitude—gospel gratitude, because Jesus died the death we should have died (2:2) and He lived the life we should have lived (2:6). This life of holiness is marked particularly by joy, by keeping Christ's commands (2:3), and by loving one another (2:10).

When John writes a letter to help us enjoy Jesus, the Word of life, he fills it with theology. This theology is doctrinal and it is practical. It is also pastoral. Thus he warns us concerning those who would deceive us with false doctrine—those he marks in the most striking manner with the designation "antichrists" (2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7).

John believes theology matters and so should we. Our joy—which is made complete in fellowship with the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and one another—is grounded in a shared theology. To enjoy this life we must believe the theology about this Word of life. There can be no cafeteria approach to Jesus Christ, where we pick what we like and leave what we don't. John had no interest in a "Jesus minus theology" or a "Jesus plus theology." Thabiti Anyabwile says it like this:

To receive the Word of life is to embrace Jesus as He offers Himself in the gospel. That phrase—"as He offers himself in the gospel"—is very important. We must receive Jesus—the 11Word of life, the eternal life, the Son of God—not as we imagine Him to be, or as we like to think of Him, or as someone else believes Him to be. We do not truly receive Jesus if we do not accept Him as He defines Himself.

We know that we are Christians and have received God's salvation when we humbly accept the Word of life, which means to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who appeared in our flesh, was crucified to take our punishment for our sin, was raised from the grave three days later for our justification with God, and is coming again to bring the fullness of God's kingdom. Is that the Jesus you have received? (unpublished sermon manuscript)

John knew it was possible to be saved and doubt. Those who deny this must deny 1 John 5:13. I believe he also knew that doubt will discourage us, cause us to fear and lose confidence, and negatively impact our joy. So he wrote these five chapters to provide assurance that we are in the family because we have believed and trusted in Jesus the Son of God. Anyone who says, "If you are 99-percent certain you are saved you are 100-percent lost!" is teaching false doctrine, at least concerning this important theological truth. Still, John does not want us to wonder if we are saved. He wants us to have assurance that we are saved. First and foremost, we must look to Christ and believe. We must look to the cross and trust. Then we must examine our obedience and our affections. These avenues of assurance are found on every corner in 1 John.

Conclusion

In ad 325 church leaders from around the Roman Empire gathered in Nicea (in modern day Turkey). The issue on the table was "Who is the Son?" A popular Presbyter from Alexandria named Arius said, "God became a Father, and the Son was not always; ... once He was not; ... He was created" ("Athanasius: Select Works and Letters" in Schaff). Two men, Alexander and Athanasius, strongly opposed this view, believing that biblical truth and the doctrine of salvation itself hung in the balance. In God's providence the Arians were defeated, and what we know as "The Nicene Creed" was set forth as the biblical and orthodox understanding of the nature and person of Jesus. Both His humanity and His12 deity are beautifully affirmed. And His person and work as the Christ are wonderfully balanced. In glad confession and worship, may we also confess with our spiritual fathers that this too we believe!

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. (https://www.ccel.org/creeds/nicene.creed.html, accessed Feb. 11, 2014)

Reflect and Discuss

This dilemma is posed in C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity (pp. 54-56) among other places.