R sbc
May 27th 2007
Sunday Morning
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of The Bible
Sermon # 119
Subject: “ THE ETERNAL WORD”
Text: I John 1-1-3
Intro: The books of I II III John were consistently used by the early church fathers. This no doubt in my mind gives historical evidence that, John was followed in his writings being alive on the Ile called Patmos.
There is also internal evidence that this man wrote both the gospel of John and the book of Revelation. His determination was to show the reality of JESUS CHRIST. He would show him as man and as GOD....
Both the word of the gospel is under consideration and the ETERNAL WORD. I would say that the focus is CHRIST, and his MESSAGE. My sermon is broken down into at least five thoughts this morning...
I... “THAT WHICH WAS FROM THE BEGINNING” VS 1
This is so much like the wording of John 1-1 “ In the beginning” this is laying the foundation for the ETERNAL WORD which is Christ. Mr 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
He goes on to say that John 1-2 The same was in the beginning with GOD. This is shedding light upon the fact that Christ is eternal. From everlasting to everlasting he is GOD.
1st. That he was the one who laid the foundation of the earth: Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
A careful study of the context of Hebrews chapter one shows who he is talking about it is JESUS CHRIST.
2nd. That he was the one who was with the Father in the beginning...
In Prov 8:22-31 turn and let us read it together..
II... “THERE ARE FOUR THINGS JOHN SAYS ABOUT THE ETERNAL WORD: 1-3
1ST. He was one of the eyewitnesses of Christ... “heard and seen” vs 1
Luke as he begins his gospel letter note what he says about those who saw him Lu 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
The Apostle Peter said: 2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
They seen him as he called them into his church and kingdom service, they saw him as he turn the water into wine, they saw him as he feed the five thousand, they saw him as he walked on the water, no doubt they saw him raise Lazarus from the dead, they saw him as he healed the lepers and tamed the maniacs what a saviour and King he was.
2nd. They handled him. Vs 1 Luke 24-39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
a. To touch Christ meant instant healing for them: Mr 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
b. To be touched by Christ meant also a relief from physical sufferings: Mr 8:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
c. To be touched by him meant salvation of the soul:
Just think of all who have been touched by the masters hand, many have been saved and called into fellowship...Acts 9 Christ touches Saul of Tarsus and it changed him and the world he lived in...Christ touched many in his personal ministry and it changed them... He has touch you and I and we are living proff of it today...
Song says: He touched me oh he touched and O the joy that floods my soul, something happen and now I know he touched made me whole... You need to be touched today because you need to be saved, you need to be cleaned, you need to be washed, in the blood of the LAMB....
III... “ THAT THIS WORD WAS MANIFEST IN LIFE”..VS 2
Through out the bible Christ is referred to as the life, and he himself calls himself life. John says in Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. There is no question this morning to the fact that he is the life and the source of it. He holds it in his hands and dispenses it to whom he wills to do so.
1st. That he gives eternal life: John 10-28
2nd. That he gives a life of continual flowing: John 4-14
3rd. That he gives that is transforming life: John 5-24
4th. That he gives life giving words: John 6-63
5th. That he has the life giving words: John 6-68
6th. That he gives life with light that shows direction: John 8-12
7th. That he gives a life by the authority of the Father: John 17-2-3
8th. That he gives life that we can know we have it: John 20-31
IV..THAT GOSPEL IS THE DECLARATION OF ALL THIS: VS 3
Notice the wording of John, what he heard, he preaches unto them. This is what I do every time I am in this pulpit. I declare unto you the word of life.
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; Look at verse # 5 and he says it again... This message was passed from Christ to the Apostles from them to those they wrote and preached to, and then we have the privilege of his word today.
What is so real to me and some of you may not be real to others this is why we preach the gospel this is why we hold high the banner of the LORD. That we might declare him to you at all times.
1st. The gospel is about him.
It is about his birth, it is about his life, it is about his preaching, it is about his death, it is about his burial and it is about his resurrection, yes it is about his ascension and his coming again.
2nd. The gospel is of him
Ro 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
3rd. The gospel is through him:
Jesus said “ I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE AND NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.
V. THE FELLOWSHIP WE HAVE WITH HIM: VS 3-4
1ST. WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO IT: 1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2ND. WE CAN KNOW THIS FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM: Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Conclude this morning...
(1.) Fellowship and darkness do not go together..vs 6
(2.) Fellowship demands a walk in his light..vs 6
(3.) Fellowship guarantees a cleansing..vs 7-9