THE WORD OF LIFE
1John 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; 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;) 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. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 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.
The Apostle John begins his epistle in the same manner as he did his gospel. And it was in the same way Moses begin his first book of the law. For as we know, the Book of Genesis begins like this: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
But John, in our text of his epistle informs us that the Word of life, who spoke life in the physical creation, and was with God, and was actually God, and was that light of which Moses spoke, was also is the Word of life, whom the Apostles heard, and looked upon, and their hands handled. He is the Lord Jesus Christ! He is THE I AM!
Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
The sun, moon and stars were not created until the fourth day. So that light which the Creator called forth on the very first day was none other than the eternal Son of God! Psalm 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The Eternal Son of God has always been. For he is very God! Isaiah 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 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.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
But just how was the I AM made known to these human disciples who wrote our Bibles? He was made known to them in the exact same way as He was revealed both in and to the physical creation. Darkness was upon the face of the deep until the Word of life came forth. And these souls also sat in darkness until the Person of the Light was revealed.
Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And the Apostle Paul reveals that in the same way in which the Lord God called the light to shine in that world which was without form and void, is the same way the Word of Life shined into our hearts. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For as the dispelling of the darkness in the physical creation was only accomplished when God spoke after the moving of His Spirit, so the dispelling of sin’s darkness within the soul of man is accomplished when he effectually hears the word of the gospel applied by the Holy Spirit! Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The only way the darkness was upon the face of the deep is because the Spirit and the Word had yet to move and speak! Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
These do not just hear “sermons” in their outer, physical ears. They heard “the message” of the gospel from the Holy Spirit within the spiritual ears of their hearts! 1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Please take time to read the following various scriptures in order to thoroughly convince your hearts and minds of how the salvation of the soul, which is a new creation, is therefore like the creation of the physical realm. For the believer is definitely said by God to be a spiritual creation! Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Colossians 1:12 ¶ Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
For darkness is the absence of the revealed presence of God. Because whenever there is an omitting of God’s voice, (although there is never a “place” where God is not), there is the encroachment of darkness. In the beginning darkness was only present until “God said.” Therefore when there was the need of the hour of darkness for the Lord to be crucified, He kept his voice silent!
For due to the fact that it was the time for the hour of darkness for the Lamb of God’s sacrifice, he answered them not a word! Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Matthew 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.
John 19:8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. 33 ¶ And when the sixth hour (noon) was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour ( 3 p.m.).
And the reason that there shall be eternal ‘outer darkness’ for those rebelling against the rule of Christ Jesus in their hearts is because God shall never speak to them again. Matthew 25:29 …but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Psalm 28:1 be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
For when King Saul could not hear from God any longer, his only recourse is demonic revelation. 1 Samuel 28:6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
Therefore our Lord faithfully encourages all to walk in the presently provided light while we still can. John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
The last phase of rebellion against God, just before sudden judgment falls is to ignore God! Luke 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, (Noah) so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
And what do you hear as you go about your restrained life in this world-wide pandemic? Has there been a national day of prayer called? What is the mind set of those in the grocery store – at the gas station – at the doctor’s office? It is not about calling upon the Lord and repenting of our sin. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
It is evident that we are far more concerned about our groceries than our godliness! We are far more concerned about eating and drinking than about our ignoring the Lord Christ. THAT is highly more dangerous than COVID-19! Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Pastor Gene Breed
March 20, 2020
