1 John 1:1-4 (Day 11)

Prologue 1:1-4
John affirms the tangible reality of the incarnation of Christ and announced that the goals of this letter were fellowship and joy.

1:1 - Some think "That which was from the beginning" means more like Genesis timing, but from the rest of John's letter it would make more sense for it to mean from the beginning of the gospel: he was with God's Son and originally witnessed by the apostles who had direct contact with Him. 
- "concerning the Word of life" = "the message about Life" like Phil 2:16. Jesus is Life and this is a message about Him.

1:2 - The Life (Jesus) is intensely personal, He has appeared, He is the eternal life, and He was with the Father.

1:3 - This letter was written to Christians. Not people John was hoping to convert; They were already saved but they needed this letter if they were to enjoy real fellowship with the apostolic circle to which John belonged.
- If we doubt, as Christians, if we really have eternal life, it will jeprodize the fellowship we share with the Father and Son. Not our salvation - Once a believer has the give of life they can never loose it (John 4:4; 6:32; 37-40), but their fellowship depended on them walking in the light (1 John 1:7).
= My fellowship with Jesus, Spirit and Father depends on me walking in the light. I'm excited to see what the commentary has to say on verse 7 tomorrow, but I want to get it in my thinking right now: My fellowship depends on my walk. And I can't walk in the light without Jesus guiding my steps. It's like a weird paradox almost: I need to have fellowship with Jesus to be able to walk in the light, and if I'm not walking in the light it will weaken the fellowship I have with Him. Jesus, stay close to me, be near me. Help me to love You and grasp even deeper how great Your love is for me. 

1:4 - John so shared the heart of Christ for His people that their own joy was bound up in the spiritual well-being of those whom they ministered.

I pray that You give me this same heart. I do care about them, and would be upset if they turned from You but I want them to see my heart in the way I care for them. I want them to know that I'm trying to snatch them from the fire because I love them. I care about them. And I want them to know the Truth - to know You.