Sunday Morning - November 1, 1998
Text: 1 John 1:1-2 "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 show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)"
THAT WHICH (nominative singular)
was from the beginning
Luke 1:2 "Even as they [Apostles] delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;"
we have heard,
Matthew 5:2 "And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,"
we have seen with our eyes,
Matthew 9:30 "And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See [horaw:G3708] that no man know it."
Matthew 24:6 "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see [horaw:G3708] that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet."
we have looked upon,
1 John 4:14 "And we have seen [theaomai:G2300, looked closely at] and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."
our hands have handled,
Acts 17:27 "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel [grope, NASB] after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:"
THE LIFE (nominative singular)
1 John 1:2 "(For the life was manifested, and we have seen [ [horaw:G3708, perceived] it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life [the life the agelasting], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)"
WITNESSES
John 15:27 "And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
ETERNAL LIFE IS WELL DOING
Romans 2:6-7 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"
ETERNAL LIFE IS SOWING AND REAPING
Galatians 6:8-9 "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
ETERNAL LIFE IS LAYING HOLD ON IN FOLLOWING AFTER
1 Timothy 6:11-12 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
ETERNAL LIFE IS THE PROMISE
1 John 2:25 "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."
THE PROMISED INHERITANCE BASED ON FAITH
Galatians 3:14 "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith [pleasing Him, we may make shipwreck of the faith]."
Galatians 3:18 "For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise." Not on the bases of being just.
INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE
Luke 18:18 "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Luke 18:22 "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me." You have to live by faith to have treasure in heaven which is life for the age.
LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE
1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."
THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
Acts 1:4 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."
THE GIFT, THE PROMISE
Acts 2:38-39 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE
Ephesians 1:13-14 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of [the] promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
FELLOWHEIRS
Ephesians 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his [the] promise in Christ by the gospel:"
JESUS ENDURED
Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
Acts 2:33 "Therefore [Jesus] being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."
John 5:26 "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;"
YE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE
Hebrews 10:35-36 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."