You Stand on a Rock Solid Gospel (1 John 1:1-4)

Scripture Intro: Take your Bible with me this morning as we begin our journey through one of the most beloved books in the New Testament.  Our journey together, which I am entitling “Back to the Basics,” will be through the epistle of I John. Turn with me this morning to I John chapter one.

Author: The apostle John undoubtedly penned this epistle. 

• John is the younger of the two sons of Zebedee, the “sons of thunder.”  He was passionate about the truth.
  
• He may have also been a cousin to Jesus.  
• We know from our readings of the gospels, that John was a part of the “inner-circle” of the apostles, along with Peter and James.
• John was originally a disciple of John the Baptist, but upon meeting Jesus began to follow him, and it is certain that they struck up a very close relationship, as he is identified often in his own gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”
• Church history tells us that upon Christ’s ascension, John took up residence in the Asian city of Ephesus, and began to minister to the churches there.
• John is famous as the last living apostle.  His writing and teaching ministry to the churches was very effective.

Occasion: It was while he lived in the Asian city of Ephesus that John penned this powerful epistle.

• I John is often identified as a “Catholic,” or general epistle that was not addressed to any church in particular.  This is certainly not the case. John wrote this epistle with specific individuals undoubtedly in mind.
• During the latter part of the 1st century, when John writes this book, the Greco-Roman world is in a state of distinct ferment.  Idol worship invades every level of society, and people even worship the emperor. Yet, in the midst of this immense putridity, John ministers to at least seven churches in this area who have, or did, stand as beacons of truth.
• John, being a “son of Thunder,” would have been uniquely qualified to combat the wickedness of the day.

But why is I John being written?

• I John is penned as a result of a particular problem that John sees infiltrating the Christian church in Ephesus.
• There are seeds of gnostic teaching beginning to spread.  I call them seeds, because full-blown Gnosticism didn’t become a reality until after the 1st century.  However, this is certifiably pre-gnostic teaching.  This wicked doctrine taught that all matter is evil, and that the spiritual is the only true reality. The physical journey is a journey to rid ourselves of our wicked, temporal bodies.  Because of this belief, pre-gnostic teachings had three main issues.
• They were doctrinally wrong – Jesus did come in the flesh!
• They minimized the problem of sin.
• They had a tremendous lack of love since they thought their knowledge was superior.
• John, as a guard over the flock of God does not take kindly to this, nor should he! This teaching was spreading into the church, and people were leaving! The people who leave the church are known as secessionists.
• One of  the leaders of this teaching, Cerinthus, was a known contemporary of John, and they did not get along.  In fact, church historian Iraneous in his book, Against Heresies, recounts the following humorous story:

“John, the disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving the heretic Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bath-house without bathing, exclaiming, ‘Let us fly, lest even the bath-house fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth is within!’”

John is not at all happy, and he is not afraid to let his unhappiness be known. Nor should he be!  You see, the problem that John is encountering is a problem that you encounter today. The problem is this:

FCF: When opposition comes, people doubt their faith.

As John opens up this incredibly important book in the history of the church, he does so by driving home this one singular truth in the first four verses.  It is a truth that rings true to us today. The truth that…

Prop: Because you stand on a rock-solid gospel, your faith must be strengthened in the face of opposition.

Trans: As the aged apostle introduces his book to the churches at Ephesus today, he does so by introducing three primary truths in the first four verses regarding the rock-solid nature of the gospel that he is defending.  They are truths that are sure to bolster our faith today.

I.  Because you stand on a rock-solid gospel, you must understand that the gospel is reliable (v. 1-2)

Explanation: Against the 21st century backdrop of un-surety that we are familiar with, it is stunning to discover an epistle whose very theme is a theme of Christian surety. In the 3 letters that John addresses to the churches at Ephesus, he uses words related to “knowing” 40 times – that is an astounding number! As John opens up his first letter, he skips the traditional greeting that we are familiar with in NT epistles, and jumps straight into assuring these attacked Christians of the one thing that we all must be sure of – The gospel is reliable!

A.     The gospel is enduring (v. 1).
Explanation: There is sometimes a discussion regarding what John means when he says “that which is from the beginning,” since the main verb in the passage doesn’t occur until verse two. The two options are as follows:

• Jesus – This would be consistent with how he opens up the gospel of John, but the language is a bit different.
• The gospel – Seems to make better sense in this context.

The phrase refers to the fact that the gospel message has not changed. Since the time that it began to be heralded until now, the gospel has remained unchanging.

Illustration: One of the biggest frustrations with politicians is the fact that they change constantly.  Every politician has changed his mind about something in order to pick up more votes. We hate that!

Application: The gospel never changes! Remember that John is talking to a group of people whose minds are bing influenced by false teaching regarding the very nature of the gospel.  John opens up his message with a stirring vote of confidence – the gospel never changes!

• Are you going through a rough time? – The gospel never changes!
• Are you faced with changing situations? – The gospel never changes!

If your hope is in anything else, you will be sorely disappointed. Why? Because everything else changes. The gospel doesn’t! It is enduringly constant.

B.      The gospel is experienced (v. 1-2).
Exp: Here is where I’m sure that John got particularly passionate. Pre-gnostic teaching said that Jesus would have never come and taken a human form, since matter is evil. Yet John says.. “We have heard, we have looked upon, we have touched with our hands.”John also does something interesting here as he equivocates the gospel with the person and work of Christ. To have heard is not enough.. OT people heard.  To have seen is not enough. But to touch – John says “You say that Jesus didn’t come in the flesh? Look, guys, I touched him!” v. 2 – The eternal entered time and became temporal and John experienced it and he says that your gospel is rock-solid because I have experienced it!

Illustration: I was recently in a conversation with a guy, and I asked him, “How would you defend your faith? How would you prove that God exists?” His response? “I know God exists because he’s changed my life. I’ve experienced the gospel!”

Application: There is no stronger prove for the reliability of the gospel than its’ certifiable power to change lives.  Have you experienced the gospel? Than you know that it is reliable.

• Kingdom of death to life.
• Child of wrath to love.

THE GOSPLE CAN BE EXPERIENCED!

C.     The gospel brings life (v. 2).
Explanation: John identifies Jesus and the gospel with eternal in no uncertain terms in verse two.  The message of the gospel brings life, and that life bears witness in the person and work of Jesus who we passionately follow! This verse is central to understanding the whole book!

Application: Christian, do you understand why the gospel is so reliable?  It’s reliable because it is enduring, it can be experienced, and it brings life!

Against the emotions, teachings, and errors of our day, the gospel is completely reliable.  

• That is the burden of John in writing this letter, and it is my burden to you from these two verses today.

Many things in this world will seek to capture your attention.  Many will discount the work of Jesus in your heart.  None are reliable like the true, unadulterated gospel.

Fallen Condition Focus: When opposition comes, people doubt their faith.
Proposition: Because you stand on a rock-solid gospel, your faith must be strengthened in the face of opposition.
Transition: As we have considered the rock-solid nature of the gospel we have noted that it is reliable, but as we look closer at our text today, a second truth jumps off the pages at us…

II. Because you stand on a rock-solid gospel, you must understand that the gospel brings fellowship (v. 3).

Explanation: Verse 3 gives us the purpose for why Paul is proclaiming the truths of the gospel when it says, “In order that you might have fellowship with us.”

If that is the purpose, then what is fellowship?  It’s certainly more than a gathering together over pie on Sunday night after church.

A.     Gospel fellowship is horizontal (v. 3).
Explanation: John’s plea in writing here is that the people in the church who are being drawn away by these secessionists would have fellowship with us. In John’s writings, he makes a big deal about Christian fellowship. Horizontal fellowship is not just a relationship with other believers, but it is a partnership in the gospel ministry.  It is a deep and abiding love and commitment to others in the body of Christ. John’s point here is clear: You will have fellowship with someone.  Will it be with the secessionists, or with those in the body of Christ? The gospel allows you to fellowship with others.

Application: Guys, watch who your closest friends are.  Are they people who allow you to partner with them in the gospel?  When’s the last time that you spoke to your friends about what God is teaching you?

                  That is the purpose of true Christian fellowship!

Some of you have friends that you know do absolutely nothing to bring you closer to Christ. If that is the case, you may be saved, but according to John, you are missing one of the fundamental purposes of the gospel.  The gospel brings true, abiding, uplifting horizontal fellowship.  John doesn’t want to lose that!

B.      Gospel fellowship is vertical (v. 3).
Explanation: John goes on to explain that ultimately the fellowship that we have is with God and Jesus Christ, not just with each other!
John Stott said it well: “This statement of the apostolic objective in the proclamation of the gospel, namely a human fellowship arising spontaneously from a divine fellowship, is a rebuke to much of our modern evangelism and church life.”

Illustration: Stories are told commonly of Christians who bounce around from church to church to church.  Maybe you know one.

Application: Do you know what the problem with those people is?  It’s not just a problem with getting along or some other surface issue.  It’s a problem with understanding the purpose of gospel proclamation.The doctrine of heretics disrupts the church.  The true gospel message brings fellowship with others and with God! How’s your fellowship with God?  Are you partnering together with God in the gospel iministry?

Fallen Condition Focus: When opposition comes, people doubt their faith.
Proposition: Because you stand on a rock-solid gospel, your faith must be strengthened in the face of opposition.
Transition: We have understood from John today that our rock-solid gospel is reliable, that it brings fellowship, and finally today, we realize that…

III.  Because you stand on a rock-solid gospel, you must understand that the gospel brings joy (v. 4).

Explanation: We are only in the first four verses of this book, and John has already unveiled two purposes for writing.  The second “purpose clause” that we read here has to do with the fact that John has written this letter in order that they might have joy. It is important to recognize that this could be better translated “the joy of us.”

A.     The gospel brings joy now (v. 4).
Explanation: Don’t miss John’s persuasive argument!  John felt concern about their spiritual state.  Siding with the secessionists would not bring temporal or eternal joy.The proclamation that the reality of the gospel produces a fellowship in eternal life would bring joy to anyone with half a brain! John doesn’t want his readers to miss this. You miss out on the gospel, and you’re missing out on the ultimate source of joy!

“Joy is something very deep and profound, something that affects the whole and entire personality.  In other words it comes to this; there is only one thing that can give true joy and that is contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He satisfies my mind; He satisfies my emotions; He satisfies my every desire. He and His great salvation include the whole personality and nothing less, and in Him I am complete. Joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – D. Martin Lloyd Jones

Illustration: There’s really nothing like getting great news. As a kid, I used to have to go to bed before most of my favorite sporting events were over.  I would have to wait until the morning to discover if my teams won or lost.

Application: The gospel is the greatest news ever delivered! John makes it very clear that he wants his people to experience that joy now, and he does not want them to follow the secessionists.

• Anything but the gospel does not bring true joy!
  

The gospel, as manifested in the person and work of Jesus, is the only thing that brings true, lasting joy. So what are you finding your joy in? Feel like I’ve been harping on this a lot lately? It’s b/c that’s the message of the Bible.

B.      The gospel brings joy later (v. 4).
Explanation: Completed joy involves joy now, but it certainly is more than that, and John understands that. You can almost hear his pastoral heart shining through as he appeals to them: Don’t give in to the secassionalists. Don’t deny Jesus. Jesus and the message of the gospel are the only sources of everlasting joy.” Oh, how John, “the beloved apostle,” must have looked for that day where Jesus would take him up. The gospel alone promises the everlasting joy that is found in Jesus!

Application: Are you looking for other things to satisfy? Not only will they fall short of satisfying you now, but they will fall woefully short later as well.

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Conclusion: 
Henry Martyn (18 February 1781 – 16 October 1812) was an Anglican priest and missionary to the peoples of India and Persia. Born in Truro, Cornwall, he was educated at Truro Grammar School and St John's College, Cambridge. A chance encounter with Charles Simeon led him to become a missionary. He was ordained a priest in the Church of England and became a chaplain for the British East India Company.

Martyn arrived in India in April 1806, where he preached and occupied himself in the study of linguistics. He translated the whole of the New Testament into Urdu, Persian and Judaeo-Persic. He also translated the Psalms into Persian and the Book of Common Prayer into Urdu. From India, he set out for Bushire, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tabriz.

Martyn was seized with fever, and, though the plague was raging at Tokat, he was forced to stop there, unable to continue. On 16 October 1812 he died. He was remembered for his courage, selflessness and his religious devotion. In parts of the Anglican Communion he is celebrated with a Lesser Festival on 19 October.

How did Martyn keep going? Consider this epitaph that was written about him:

Here Martyn lies. In Manhood's early bloom
The Christian Hero finds a Pagan tomb.
Religion, sorrowing o'er her favourite son,
Points to the glorious trophies that he won.
Eternal trophies! not with carnage red,
Not stained with tears by hapless captives shed,
But trophies of the Cross! for that dear name,
Through every form of danger, death, and shame,
Onward he journeyed to a happier shore,
Where danger, death, and shame assault no more.

How does Martyn possess such uncommon courage? The same way that you do.  The same way that John seeks in this text to convince us that, friends, we stand on a rock-solid gospel!

• It is a gospel of undeniable reliability.
• It is a gospel that produces fellowship.
• It is a gospel that brings complete, full, everlasting joy.

Though the winds of time come, and things change, the gospel remains constant!