1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked on… I. THE FAITH WHICH CAME BY SEEING JESUS. Too often intimate acquaintance lowers our reverence even for the great. How different the result of John's close friendship with Christ! Such was the faith which came by seeing Christ. What a faith it was! It breathes in all his writings; it breathed in his actions; it fitted him to look through heaven's open door and tell us what he saw. II. THE FAITH WHICH COMES BY HEARING OF JESUS. We cannot as yet rise to the level of the faith which grew by seeing Jesus; but we, too, hope to see, hear, handle Christ. And even now there is a special blessing promised to them "who have not seen, and yet have believed." III. THE JOY OF FAITH. Clearly the writer's joy was full. A faith so vigorous could not be otherwise. And St. John seeks to fill us with the same. We are unworthy servants, weary pilgrims, fainting soldiers, desponding amid sorrows, led astray by deceptive joys. We want a faith which shall make our courage strong, and our joy full. (T. M. Herbert, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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; |
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