"No Darkness At All"

1 John 1:1-5  That which was (Imperfect Act Indicative EIMI, Progressive Imperfect = kept on being)

from the beginning,  which we have heard, (Perfect Act Indicative AKOUO, Attic Greek = have heard. John switches to Attic Greek because those who used Attic Greek, the Gnostics, were teaching that Jesus had no real form or body)

which we have seen (HORAO, Perfect Act Indicative = to see in the past with
continuing results)

with our eyes, which we have looked upon, (Aorist Mid Indicative THEAOMAI = to conclude from the observation of)

and our hands have handled, (Aorist Act Indicative PSELAPHAO = to touch in a
point of time (see Luke 24.39))

of the Word of life; (ZOE, Descriptive Genitive = function of life. Jesus is the Life, John 14.6)

1 John 1:2  (For the life was manifested, (Aorist Pas Indicative PHANEROO = was revealed)

and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, (PROS + Accusative PATER = face to face with the Father)

and was manifested (Aorist Pas Indicative PHANEROO = was revealed) unto us;)

1 John 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare (Present Act Indicative APAGGELLO = habitually proclaim)

we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship (Accusative Sing KOINONIA = communion, close relationship, fellowship)

with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (see John 14.26; 10.28)

1 John 1:4  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

1 John 1:5 This then is (Present Act Indicative EIMI = keeps on being)

the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is (HO THEOS + Present Act Indicative EIMI = God Himself keeps on being)

light, and in him is (Present Act Indicative EIMI = keeps on being)

no darkness at all. (SKOTIA OUDEIS = darkness nevermore, not at all)

The world tells us that there are many ways to God. We are led to believe that one way is just as useful as another, that all pathways truly converge at the same spot, and that we must love and support the concept that "all men are brothers". If this is true - well then, we would do well to heed this message. If there are many pathways to God, then the Buddhist will certainly find Him as fast as the worshipper of Islam. Take the method that is most comfortable for you and enjoy the ride.

But, what if there is only one Way to God? What if God ignores all the other ways but this One? What then? Well then, there's the rub (as Shakespeare would say) - because if only One Way is acceptable to God, and we ignore this way, then we would never find God. And, if we never found God, then we would be in danger of being cast away from God when we enter that state of eternity. So today we need to seriously consider our lives. Are there many ways to God, or is there only One Way?

Slide One

1 John 1:1  "That which was (Imperfect Act Indicative EIMI, Progressive Imperfect = kept on being) from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life"

The Apostle John was excited as he began this letter. Please note there's no greeting, no salutation. What John has to say is unparalleled in importance, so he gets right to the point. Many of the religions, the "ways" to God show the Creator as a disinterested party, someone Who sits out in space. This Being, if there is a Being (we are told by liberalism) is not interested in you. No, not interested in you. There are the religions like fatalism or evolutionism that present God with a little "g", and take away His personality, make Him a "thing" or a process. Yet John cried out, No, not so! The very opposite is true! God cares about each and every one of you, and does not ignore or dismiss the world. The Father proved this in the greatest way possible - He sent His Pre-Existent Son into the world.

In John 1:1 the Apostle uses the Greek Imperfect Active Indicative of EIMI - which should be translated "That Who kept on being from the beginning". God the Father's Son, Jesus Christ, He came into this world - and kept on being from the beginning. Jesus existed from eternity past with the Trinity of God. He is the very being and essence of life, the embodiment of life. Jesus did not suddenly come into being like Buddha or Mohammed. Jesus was not a teacher like Mahatma Gandhi who was born into existence because of the love of two parents. No, this was no mere mortal, but very God of very God, Creator of Heaven and Earth. The Apostle tells us:

John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3]  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Yes, Jesus exists from eternity past. Yes, Jesus is very God of Very God. Yes, Jesus is Creator of all things, and we can say with assurance that "without him was not any thing made that was made". This is exciting news, but not the reason that John is so excited.

Slide Two

All know that Jesus Christ is God, but the exciting bit is this: He came to us! Look what the text says:

1 John 1:1  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, (Aorist Mid Indicative THEAOMAI = to conclude from the observation of) and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.  [2]  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)"

Unlike the others who came before and after Jesus, Jesus came to us to save us where we are. The "other ways" to God taught that we must get better before God would have us. The "other ways" to God taught that we must be good enough to get into the presence of God. Not Jesus. He walked amongst us. We heard Him, we saw Him with our eyes, handled His Body, concentrated on Him and put Him on trial. He willingly lowered Himself to our state to show us the Way.
 

In The Whisper Test, Mary Ann Bird writes: I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech. When schoolmates asked, "What happened to your lip?" I'd tell them I'd fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow, it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me. There was, however, a teacher in the second grade that we all adored - Mrs. Leonard by name. She was short, round, happy - a sparkling lady. Annually we had a hearing test.... Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back - things like "The sky is blue" or "Do you have new shoes?" I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said, in her whisper, "I wish you were my little girl." God says to every person deformed by sin, "I wish you were my son" or "I wish you were my daughter." (Contemporary Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers Editor Craig Brian Larson, Baker Books, p. 90.)

Jesus preached an exclusive Way, a Way only through Him. He said:

John 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

"What a pompous statement", the Pharisees thought - "How dare He make Himself the Only Way to God?". Yet, He dared because He was the only way. You knew He was the Only Way

when you saw Him ...

He never stole money from His converts, nor even held on to the purse. No, Judas held the purse. Jesus said {Matthew 8:20}  "... foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. "

He wore one set of clothes, common man's clothing - never fancy thousand dollar suits.

When you saw Him, your life was brightened.

He spoke in language that the average man could understand.

He never spoke of Nirvana, or some inconceivable spiritual state that you would never obtain. No, God was approachable, and He referred to God as "Father" showing that we were designed to have a relationship with Him.

When you heard Him, your mind was illuminated.

And you were allowed to touch Him, you usually came away healed. Healed from sin, healed from sickness.

Unlike the mystics, Jesus could be approached and touched. And amazingly ........... He touched you back!

Slide Three

1 John 1:2-3  "(For the life was manifested, (Aorist Pas Indicative PHANEROO = was revealed) and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)  [3]  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

Jesus Christ manifested (Aorist Pas Indicative PHANEROO = was revealed) or revealed two types of life. First, He revealed to us that He is the fountain of Eternal Life, life without end. Oh, this is wonderful, for long has man feared death. The ancient Egyptians were buried through complex ritual designed to insure that each ruler would one day resurrect, yet a thousand years later archeologists sack their graves and manipulate their dead bodies. Today men seek to freeze their bodies, their heads in hopes that one day they shall be resurrected from the dead. This has long been man's hope, to avoid the dreadful icy touch of death - yet only One has revealed or brought eternal life to light. Only Jesus Christ had the power to stand before the tomb and yell, "Lazarus, Come Forth!" and Lazarus respond. Only Jesus had the power to lay down His own life, then rise again on the third day. Many have claimed the Caesar, Alexander the Great, many other great Leaders rose from the dead - yet only Jesus was seen:

1 Corinthians 15:5-8  "And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  [6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  [7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  [8]  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."

... and having seen Him, were willing to lay their lives down in sacrifice for the Messiah.

Second, Jesus revealed to us that He is the fountain of Eternal Light, a light driven life, a beautiful life of contentment and peace that extends from now and into eternity. What good is eternal life if it has poor quality. What good is it to live in a Frigidare Box on the grounds of Buckingham Palace? None whatsoever! Jesus is light, and showed us light driven life.

Unless you know Jesus you cannot have eternal life, nor can you have light driven life. No, you cannot have fellowship with God if the quality of your life is driven by the darkness. There are many darknesses today that men trust their lives to:

All of these ways are dark paths that lead to death, that lead to eternal darkness. The Apostle reminds us that:

1 John 1:5  "This then is (Present Act Indicative EIMI = keeps on being) the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is (Present Act Indicative EIMI = keeps on being) light, and in him is no darkness at all."

No, there is only One source of light, and this Source is Jesus Christ. God Himself is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. If you want eternal life with God, you must have the light in your life, you must have Jesus in your life. If you want a better quality of life, if you want God in your life, you must have the light that is Jesus in your life.

No, there is only One that can give eternal life, and light driven life.

And that is Jesus.

So Come!
 

A little girl was about to undergo a dangerous operation.  Just before the doctor administered the anesthetic, he said:" Before we can make you well, we must put you to sleep."  The girl responded: "Oh, if you are going to put me to sleep, then I must say my prayers first."  And she folded her hands, closed her eyes, and said:" Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake; I pray the Lord my soul to take.  And this I ask for Jesus' sake. Amen. Later on the surgeon admitted that he prayed that prayer that night for the first time in thirty years. (Donald L. Deffner, Seasonal Illustrations, San Jose: Resource, 1992, 88)