Sharing the Joy

Good Morning!

1 John 1 (New Century Version)
Love One Another
1 We write you now about what has always existed, which we have heard, we have seen with our own eyes, we have looked at, and we have touched with our hands. We write to you about the Word[a] that gives life. 2 He who gives life was shown to us. We saw him and can give proof about it. And now we announce to you that he has life that continues forever. He was with God the Father and was shown to us.3 We announce to you what we have seen and heard, because we want you also to have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with God the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to you so we may be full of joy.[b]
God Forgives Our Sins
5 Here is the message we have heard from Christ and now announce to you: God is light,[c] and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 So if we say we have fellowship with God, but we continue living in darkness, we are liars and do not follow the truth.7 But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from every sin.
8 If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done.10 If we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and we do not accept God's teaching.
Footnotes:
a.1 John 1:1 Word The Greek word is "logos," meaning any kind of communication. Here, it means Christ, who was the way God told people about himself.
b.1 John 1:4 so . . . joy Some Greek copies read "so you may be full of joy."
c.1 John 1:5 light Here, it is used as a symbol of God's goodness or truth.

John, the beloved disciple, opens his letter with a simple testimony of his experience with the Lord, Jesus. John was a simple fisherman – not a learned (as in learn ED) scholar. He was just a simple man going about his daily task of fishing. John was also a follower of another John – that would be John the Baptizer. John was there when Jesus asked John the Baptist to immerse Him in the water. John, the disciple, was there when the Spirit descended upon Jesus. John heard – and followed – the simple command – “Come, follow Me”. So when John the disciple speaks (or writes, in this instance), it is worth our while to pay attention.

John speaks of his motive for writing in verse 3: “we want you to also have fellowship.” And in verse 4 he says why: “so we may be full of joy”. We want to include you – so we can have joy. I read a blog the other day that talked about feeling estranged in a church full of people. I can see how that can happen. We get caught up with all the busy work and sometimes forget to turn to see someone who is being left out. John wanted people to be included because it would lead to joy.

So what is the message? God is light. He illuminates our life. Now with illumination comes declaration. We can see all the nooks and crannies – the cracks and crevices that hold on to the last vestiges of sin. The closer we get to the light, the more we see of ourselves – and the more disgusted we feel. But look at the promise – God is faithful to forgive and to cleanse us.

I like reading 1st John. It is an easy read but chock full of Truth for me to hang onto on this good day in the Lord.


Agape’

Mr. Jim