1 John 4:14 - Homiletics

The historic basis of the Christian testimony.

Connecting link: The mutual indwelling of God in us and of our spirits in God is the result of a Divine revelation of love made to us on God's part, and of the reception of that love on our part. That love, which has been and is still the object of our adoring contemplation, and to speak it out among the people is the business of our lives. "We have seen," etc. We may be permitted here to quote in full a note of unusual value from the 'Speaker's Commentary' upon this verse: "'We have seen with adoring wonder, and the impression of the sight abides with us τεθεάμεθα , and are bearing witness μαρτυροῦμεν , that the Father hath sent [perfect] the Son as the Saviour of the word.' One of the numerous loops that bind the Epistle to the Gospel" (comp. John 1:32 , John 1:34 ; 1 John 1:1-3 ; John 19:35 ).

I. THE RECORD BEFORE US IS THAT OF THOSE WHO WERE EYE - WITNESSES OF THE FACTS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST . ( John 1:16 ; John 19:35 .) In this Epistle (and in the Gospel by the same apostle) we have the history of our Lord's life given us by one who had followed with him, and who understood the meaning of that life at least as well as any other of the apostles. But we note—

II. THAT THE EYE - WITNESSES OF THE EXTERNAL FACTS OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST LOOKED ALSO BENEATH THE SURFACE , AND BEHELD THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FACTS . Four distinct and leading features thereof are given here.

1 . That Jesus Christ was "the Son" of God. Not merely a Son. Not a Son merely in the same sense that others may become. But the only begotten Son; of the same nature with the Father.

2 . That he was "sent" by the Father.

3 . That he was sent to save—to save from sin.

4 . That his mission was for the race. "The Saviour of the world."

III. THAT TO BEAR WITNESS TO THESE FACTS WAS THE GREAT BUSINESS OF THEIR LIVES . "We do testify." They lived for this. They suffered for this. If need be, they were prepared to die for it. To assert it over and over again they gave up all that earth calls dear; they encountered opposition and fiery persecution; they counted not their lives dear unto them. So that their testimony was of such a kind as could not possibly be false. We say this, well weighing our words, and fully assured that the scientific value of the testimony to the facts of our Lord's life, death, and resurrection cannot be overestimated, and that it is a question which demands more careful study from the unbeliever than many will consent to give to it. The testimony stands thus:

1 . It rests on a clear and distinct historical basis.

2 . It is given by men who were eye-witnesses of the main facts they relate.

3 . The meaning of the facts was directly opposed to their national expectations and prepossessions, and such as they could only have been induced to give when all their prejudices were overborne by a Power from on high.

4 . In such a life and work, so full of Divine meaning, there was a message presented to the people for them to believe ( John 20:31 ). The reception of the message was intended to lead up to a living faith in Jesus as the Saviour of the lost (comp. John 4:42 ).

5 . Such faith in Jesus would ensure the privileges of sonship ( John 1:12 ). With sonship would come fellowship, with fellowship knowledge of God. In this knowledge would be the eternal life ( 1 John 5:9-12 ).

IV. TO HAVE SUCH TESTIMONY BEFORE US INVOLVES US IN GREAT RESPONSIBILITY . Such a testimony, so given, with such a purpose, cannot leave us where it found us. We are responsible to God for the use we make of such a message as this. We are bound