20161025 Tuesday, October 25 2016
1 John 01: John's Eyewitness Of The Messiah And The LORD God

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"That which was 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 wrote the Book of John and four epistles - 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and the "Book" of Revelation which was actually an epistle, a letter (see The Epistles: What Is An Epistle?), dictated to him by Jesus Christ ("1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" Revelation 1:1 KJV), to the "seven churches of Asia" (see Where Are The Seven Churches Of Revelation Today?).

As such, John had a great amount of Biblical knowledge and understanding - the key of which was the identity of the Messiah (see The LORD God Our Saviour):

"1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. ... 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-3,14 KJV)

John knew what the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, truly looked like (see How Has Satan Stolen The True Appearance Of Jesus Of Nazareth?). John also knew what the LORD God, Who had existed through all time since He did the Work of Creation, looked like; John saw Him when the LORD appeared to him for the writing of Revelation.

"1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter" (Revelation 1:10-19 KJV)

John's "That which was 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" was a witness of the existence of the Messiah, in His human form, and as the LORD God.

"1:1 That which was 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; 1:2 (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;) 1:3 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. 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." (1 John 1:1-4 KJV)

The Messiah's famous "And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God" of Luke 4:4 was actually a quote of Himself to Moses when He spoke it as the LORD God / Word of God in Deuteronomy 8:3: "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."

The Eternal Law is not "done away" because the LORD God Who declared it is going to return to enforce it (see the Fact Finder question below).

"1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:5-10 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does "Day of the LORD" mean?
See What And When Is The Day Of The LORD? and What Happens After The Day Of The LORD?