SERMON TITLE: THE PREEXISTENT–INCARNATE WORD OF LIFE

SERMON TEXT: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life– and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” (1 John 1:1-4). 

SERMON TEXT: “Christian hope centers on the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

INTRODUCTION: Unlike the evangelists Matthew and Luke, who began their gospels with the birth event in writing about Jesus, John reaches far back into the Eons of time, in his oral proclamation, later to appear in written form, to reveal the preexistent–Incarnate Word of life. In doing so, he shows what Jesus’ coming into the world meant to the inhabitants on this planet.

According to one writer, “John’s account of Jesus’ beginnings is an absolute account that stretches back beyond time and eternity.” This is seen more clearly in the Prologue to John’s Gospel, in which he has written...

“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 came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men” (John 1:1-4).

In John’s overall writings, including his prologue found in the Gospel of John 1:1-18, he “...contributed an essential understanding to the Gospel’s composite picture of Jesus.” What John reveals in the first four verses of his prologue to the gospel, bearing his name, in the words of one commentator on theses verses is that, “Jesus is the Word of revelation alive in human flesh.” In John’s own words, he has written...

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 

This writer goes on to say, “His revelation did not begin at birth in Bethlehem. He has been actively revealing God since creation in which He was active. He shows the nature of the life God created.” Someone else wrote, “The reality of God has been uniquely revealed to men in the word of life.”

In this message, we will see that the life God revealed in the preexistent–incarnate Word, according to 1 John 1:1-4, as it pertains to you and me is, first...

I. A LIFE THAT IS ETERNAL. John writes...

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us” (I John 1:1-2). 

Please note that not only does John write about a life that is eternal in these verses, for the person who has put their faith in Christ, he has composed one whole book, under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit (first John), so that we can know that we have eternal life.

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13). 

Concerning this whole idea of eternal life, I like the way in which Eugene Peterson states it in The Message. He writes, “And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite life of God Himself took shape in us.” Thus, the Apostle Paul could say ...

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me”(Galatians 2:20). 

The story is told of a man in prison, who in order to pass time, collected small pieces of wire and put them in a milk bottle. Years passed, and the bottle was finally filled to capacity. With time, however, pieces of wire were closely and tightly compacted together. One day in a fit of anger, he threw the bottle against the wall and broke the bottle containing the tiny pieces of wire. What happened, however, is that the tiny pieces of wire maintained the shape of the bottle.

Think about it! The infinite life of God Himself in the preexistent–Incarnate Word of life, took shape in us. He became what we are, so that we can become what He is. Our earthly bodies, like the milk bottle, will one day be broken as it were, but the Christ in us, who has shaped us, will live on eternal. That my friends, is eternal life. Do you know that you have eternal life? Like the wire that took the shape of the bottle, let me ask you a question using the words of this hymn, “Do others see Jesus in you?”

Second, the life that God revealed in the preexistent–Incarnate Word of life, according to in I John 1:1-4, as it pertains to you and me is...

II. A LIFE THAT IS EXPERIENTIAL. John continues in verse three...

“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (I John 1:3). 

Again in the words of Peterson’s paraphrase of this verse, “We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Those of us who know Jesus, often speak of a personal experience with Him. We coin it in terms of our conversion experience. The conversion experience is a shared experience. It is an “experience of communion with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.” Please note the word “fellowship” in verse 3. In the Greek text, the word for fellowship is “koinonia.” It means “partnership together with God,” and other believers. It is a shared fellowship experienced with others.

Someone has written, “The Christian message can be summed up in two great aims–love for men, and love for God.” Love for men is horizontal, and love for God is vertical. Before true communion between God and man can be experienced, the horizontal relationship must be in place. It is the aim of every preacher, as seen in the proclamation of John, “ ... to bring men closer to one another and closer to God,” so that they will experience true koinonia–a shared experience with God, and with other believers.

The assembled congregation is where both fellowship and worship takes place. In this context, we are experiencing life at its best. Both a horizontal and vertical experience.

Someone has written, “The pastor’s aim must always be to bring men into friendship with one another and into friendship with God.” That has always been my aim, as your pastor, here at Greenwood.

Thirdly, the life that God revealed in the preexistent–Incarnate Word of life, according to I John 1:1-4, as it pertains to you and me, is...

III. A LIFE THAT IS ENJOYABLE. John further proclaims ...

“These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” (I John 1:4). 

Using a paraphrase from The Message, Peterson writes, “Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!” It has been well stated, “The essence of Christianity is joy.” It has also been said, “The ultimate note of the Christian message is joy.” Throughout the Bible, Scripture is replete with the notion and theme of joy. It was the Psalmist who said ...

^“Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:3-4). 

“But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity” (Psalm 37:11). 

In I Chronicles ...

“Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy” (I Chronicles 15:16). 

In Ezra ...

“They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid” (Ezra 3:11). 

David prayed for his joy to be restored ...

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12). 

Isaiah the Prophet wrote ...

“Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs” (Isaiah 61:7). 

Paul admonished the Philippians...

“Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:2). 

The angel said to the shepherds...

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). 

We sing at Christmastime, “Joy to the world the Lord is come–Let earth receive her king”

“Those who truly behold the word of life,” wrote one writer, “are ruled by so great an experience that they can but sing their joy.”

Do you get the picture? Life in Christ is a life that is enjoyable.

CONCLUSION: Are you a recipient of a life that is eternal? A life that is experiential? And a life that is enjoyable? If not, I, like John, proclaim to you the Word of Life. Life is found in the preexistent–Incarnate God. You can experience life from above by putting your trust in Jesus.

Find out how you can have a full and meaning life. Go to: www.greenwoodbaptistchurch.com.