Post by foxjj on Jan 19, 2023 7:44:21 GMT
John’s Sincere And Urgent Message.
For some the Christian faith is just another religion. However, when reading the writings of The Apostle John we see that the faith he proclaims is much more then mere religion, it is a personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord. John wrote in a sincere and urgent manner, desiring that his readers would understand the incredible message that The Almighty was manifested in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
The opening of his Gospel and first letter convey clearly that Jesus was no ordinary man from the Galilee. He was before time as we know it, and came in order to declare God’s light and redemption onto people living in spiritual darkness:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (1 John 1:1-4 (ESV)
John expressed his sincere and urgent message as an eye witness when he wrote concerning his experience of personal fellowship with Jesus:
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5-10 (ESV)
“God is Light,” this expression proclaims the purity of God compared to the darkness of sin in our world. In chapter 3 of his Gospel, John put it this way: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
“Fellowship” speaks to the Spiritual Union that Believers have with the Father through Jesus Christ, this is the uniqueness of Christianity. In my pre Christian days I had no consept of fellowship with God. It wasn't until submitting my life to Jesus that the opportunity of this fellowship became a reality. At that juncture in my life I no longer “Walked in Darkness” which refers to living a life outside of God's forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
“Purified by The Blood of Jesus,” this can only be understood by those who possess the knowledge that The Lord Jesus has fulfilled the Old Testament practice of blood sacrifice: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)
The Bible proclaims the wonderful message of The Almighty God reaching out to a dark and sinful world, offering redemption through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus who warned His listeners: “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24) This is a sincere and urgent message to one and all.
Today, let us give thanks for the sincere and urgent message of the Gospel.
John Joseph Fox.
