A Witness to Divinity

Series: 1 John: That You May Know
Text: 1 John 1:1–4

Sermon Summary

In a world filled with confusion and counterfeit claims, how can we be confident in what is true? John opens his letter with a bold and personal testimony: he saw, heard, and touched the eternal Word of Life—Jesus Christ Himself. This firsthand witness anchors our faith in the real, incarnate God. When we know this truth, we enter into fellowship with both God and His people. And in that fellowship, we find lasting, unshakable joy.

Main Idea:

Knowing the incarnate God leads to fellowship and joy.

I. Truth Is Under Attack

1 John 1:1–2
“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— 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—”

• Truth has always been under attack—from Eden to today.

• The enemy’s strategy has long been to twist the truth (Genesis 3).

• In John’s time, false teachers (like the Gnostics) denied that Jesus came in the flesh.

• John counters that with personal testimony—he heard, saw, and touched Jesus.

• This echoes his gospel:

  • John 1:1–5 — Jesus is God.

  • John 1:14 — Jesus became flesh.

• Why does the incarnation matter?

  • Hebrews 2:14–18 — Without becoming human, Jesus couldn’t die to save us.

• The incarnation is not a theological side point—it’s central to our salvation.

II. We Can Have Fellowship with God and His Church

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

• Christian fellowship is rooted in shared truth about Christ.

• John’s joy comes from seeing others enter that same fellowship.

• Fellowship with the Church is not optional:

  • Hebrews 10:24–25 — Don’t neglect meeting together.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2, Matthew 18:20 — Biblical community is encouraging, strengthening, and Christ-centered.

• Fellowship with God is offered to all believers:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:9 — You were called into fellowship with Jesus.

  • 1 John 4:20 — Love for God and love for others are inseparable.

  • Luke 3:21–22 — At Jesus’ baptism, we see perfect Trinitarian fellowship.

III. We Have an Invitation to Participate in the Spreading of Joy

1 John 1:4
“And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

• Joy is shared when we proclaim the truth of Christ.

• You can’t share joy you don’t have.

• Real joy comes through knowing Christ and being in community with God’s people.

• Scripture emphasizes joy as a fruit of knowing God:

  • Psalm 16:11 — Fullness of joy in His presence.

  • Romans 15:13 — Joy and peace through believing.

  • John 16:11 — Joy that cannot be taken away.

Conclusion

The truth of Jesus—His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection—is the solid foundation of our fellowship with God and with one another. If you believe, you are invited into the joy of knowing Him. That joy is not only for you—it’s meant to be shared.