That Which Was From the Beginning… 1 John 1:1

The Apostle John starts out his letter in 1 John emphasizing both the deity and humanity of Christ together   because we can have no relationship, no fellowship with God, apart from confessing that Christ was indeed the Son of God.

This confession, this whole hearted conviction that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God, is the first step towards God, because no one who denies the Son has the Father but whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:23) Whoever hates me hates my Father also. (John 15:23) To reject Jesus as the Son of God, is to reject God the Father and to call Him a liar; It was God Himself who claimed Jesus as his own Son, (Matthew. 3:17, Matthew 17:5) who sent Jesus into the world, (John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-10) and who Jesus represented in the world. (John 14:9-11, John 16:28) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-23)

There is no relationship to God, the Father without a relationship to Jesus Christ first. Jesus is the beginning. This one simple truth is what separates and distinguishes Christianity from all other world religions. This one person, Jesus Christ, who called himself the Son of God, and taught that no one comes to the Father except through him.  (John 14:6) It is not the existence of God that world religions deny, it is the authority of Jesus Christ, who makes God known to us, that is called into question. What are the works that God requires from us? To believe in him who he sent. (John 6:28-29) Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:23-24)

This is what the apostle John emphasizes in 1 John Chapter 1:1-2. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have gazed up and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the father and was made manifest to us.” John’s testimony in 1 John, echoes his testimony in the Gospel of John. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-4, 14)  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:13-15) The apostle John leaves us no doubt of his testimony, Jesus is the Son of God.

Jesus is the Beginning

For Christians, this truth is basic and foundational and I am not pointing out anything new. Jesus is the beginning. If you want to know God – Jesus is the beginning. If you want a new life, Jesus is the beginning.  There is no other beginning but him. There is no other way for us to approach God but through him. There is no way for us to please God except by believing in him as the one whom God sent.  “Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:33-36) “And this is his commandment that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” (1 John 3:23)

Before we go any further in studying the book of 1 John, you must first contemplate and seek to answer this one question if you have not already. It is the one, question that Jesus still asks of all of us, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” (Luke 9:20)

Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the World and able to save you? Would you like to entrust your life to Jesus and follow him? Then simply believe he is who he says he is and he can do what he says he can do, save you and reconcile you to God, giving you eternal life. Make a sincere confession to God the Father through prayer that you believe Jesus is the Son of God, and you want to know him as your personal savior. That’s it. Below is a sample prayer you can pray if you would like to know Jesus as your Savior. It is not the prayer that saves you, but your confession that God is true by believing that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, sent by the Father to be the savior of the world. (John 3:16)

Dear Father,

I believe and confess that Jesus is your Son, who you sent into this world to be the savior of those who believe in him. I confess that I am a sinner and I need a Savior. Without him, I have no hope of ever saving myself, of ever changing, of ever being good enough to please you. I want to know Jesus in my life. I want to be able to approach and get to know you through him. Forgive me of my sins and remove them away from me as far as the east is from the west. Grant me repentance and a clear conscience from all my sins. Fill me with your Spirit so that I might learn your ways and to follow you from this day forward into eternity. Amen.