Its the Foundational Doctrine : 1 John START
Since he rose from the dead and ascended, people have been trying to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ.
John opens his first Epistle (1 John) with the strongest defense possible. He was there, he saw Jesus, he knew Jesus, Jesus is God.
1 John 1:1–2 (ESV) 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—
John opens his first Epistle (1 John) with the strongest defense possible. He was there, he saw Jesus, he knew Jesus, Jesus is God.
1 John 1:1–2 (ESV) 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—
Why does it matter so much that Jesus is God?
First: Because if He isn't, then we are hopeless to change. We are stuck being who we are and living as we are trying to follow the teachings of a wise sage but knowing deep down He was one of a kind.
But if He is God. And if He has all the power of God. And if He lives in us and will be with us till the end of the age, then NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE. We can not only be saved by Jesus from hell, we can be changed by Jesus from sin, habits and affections that war against our freedom in Christ.
Second: Jesus was "from the beginning" and always with God. God is ONE in three persons. If God is NOT One in three Persons then God wasn't an eternally loving being. He was only loving when He created the universe. But God in three persons is capable and characteristic of love. The love of the Father for the Son, the Spirit for the Son and Father, the Father for the Spirit, the Son for the Father and the Spirit. God is eternally loving within Himself.
So God knows how to get along in love. How to fellowship. How to share sweet communion. Which is what we are called to do with Him and each other. Which is probably why John says later:
1 John 1:7 (ESV) 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.
He changes us (cleansing us) so we can get along in fellowship with each other.
Every problem in every relationship is based in sin and lack of love.
God the Son cleanses us from sin so we can love as God does within Himself.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to love. Especially those closes to me. It can be difficult. I can be ornery. I ask you for the power to love. Jesus, change me. Make me a lover of others.
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