The Study of I John 1:4

View the video blog for this lesson: I John 1:4

I John 1:4

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

THE STUDY

Translations differ on the wording of this text. Some have the reading “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (NKJV). Others, among which is the New International Version, follow the Greek manuscripts that read, “We write this to make our joy complete.”^[1] For the purpose of this lesson we are going to follow the Greek manuscript.

As I read this verse two things jump out at me:

1.   John made a point to say, “we are writing these things.” Why?

2.   I was intrigued by the fact that our joy can be complete. How?

First, let’s look at the “we are writing.” We discussed in the beginning of

this study who the author was, JOHN! Twelve times in this letter he says “I write” or “I am writing” (2:1, 7, 8, 12, 13 [three times], 14 [twice], 21, 26; 5:13). Is he putting himself with the readers in one class?^[2] The pronoun we must be understood literally, because John, like the other apostles, preaches and writes as an eyewitness and ear-witness. Thus John is not the only one to testify orally or with pen and ink. He stands next to his fellow apostles. He says, “We [all the immediate disciples of Jesus] write this to make our joy complete.”^[3]

          Secondly, he talks about “our Joy can be complete.” The Greek word for “JOY” is Chara (Kara) which literally means “Joy.” No big surprise here just thought you would like to know the Greek word for Joy. Whereas Gnosticism, by denying the atonement, and “the personal office of God in the salvation of the world,” cuts off one great sphere of God’s love, and consequently one great cause of the believer’s joy. The greatest joy to fill the heart of the apostle John and those with him is to see the believers increase in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wants them to have full fellowship with the Father and the Son, so that the believers live in full communion with God.^[4]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH …

- John writes his Gospel to share of this union we are to have with Christ. In his epistle he writes that we all may find joy in this union with Christ. Today let us find joy in being one with Christ. It should be a joy and not a struggle.

CONCLUSION:

When my kids were younger I was indoctrinated with kids programs. Winnie the pooh was one of my favorite. I remember preaching a sermon once and used the illustration of being either a “Tigger” or an “Eeyor” Christian. What I was trying to point to was the fact we should be filled with joy and allow it to be displayed in our lives. Church, it takes 72 muscles to frown—only 14 to smile! Let us find our union with Jesus joyous, not a burden.

           

Blessings
Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (238). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (238). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (239). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[4] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (239). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.