By

Shelby G. Floyd

The book of 1 John was written about 85-90 A. D., at a time when false teachers were denying that Christ was divine and also that he had a fleshly body. John refutes both of these false ideas. There are some today who are still teaching these same false doctrines.

CHRIST IS ETERNAL

He was in the beginning. He was with God and he was God:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). This is obviously a reference to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

CHRIST IS HISTORICAL

Christ is a historical person. This was verified by empirical evidence—proof of the five senses. John says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.”(1 John 1: 2). At least three of the five senses are mentioned in this verse.

CHRIST IS FELLOWSHIP

Christ is our common bond. Because of the salvation that we have in him, we have fellowship with the Father and the Son in his death and suffering, in his spiritual body the church, and in the spiritual worship. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3).

CHRIST IS JOY

To those who believe God and obey his word, Christ gives his joy: “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4). This is the message that was first proclaimed and then written that our joy might be full.

Copyright © 2017 Shelby G. Floyd All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142