“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; (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;) 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. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” – 1 John 1:1–4
A few years ago, a friend of mine tried to convince me of a truth. For whatever reason I argued against them for a while (a behavior I practice regularly). No matter how hard my friend tried to persuade me, my pride only dug in deeper and deeper. We later parted and later I ended up researching the matter for myself… only to find that I was absolutely wrong! What a humbling experience.
John wrote to churches and Christians of the first century, imploring them to turn away from the false doctrines creeping into early church culture. Many of these false teachings denied that Jesus was truly God in the flesh. Despite the fact that multitudes saw Christ perform miracles, heard His teachings, felt His hands and side, and dined with the Lord Himself, people still struggled to believe in His deity.
“Truth never fears examination; but pride fears correction. A Christian committed to Christ must love truth enough to pursue it, proclaim it, and humble themselves before it—no matter the cost.”
Just decades after the events of Christ’s ministry, people and even Christians were already embracing false teachings despite the obvious truth. John writes passionately to direct the church to believe the overwhelming evidence presented by Christ Himself, the firsthand accounts of the disciples, and the testimony of many others who witnessed Jesus.
Yet regardless of their position and beliefs, John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, knew it was best to write and persuade them toward the truth—so that “their joy might be full.”
Applications:
- Some people will reject obvious truth. While it’s tempting to stay silent, in matters of faith and life, we should lovingly seek to guide them to God’s truth.
- Stay humble and willing to admit when you’re wrong. Pride keeps us in error, but humility brings freedom. Be cautious of sources that could mislead you.
