Eyewitness Testimony

Read 1 John thru 3 John
 
1 John 4:14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
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1 John 4:16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
 
“HOW do you know the Bible is true?” Has anyone ever asked you that question? Have you asked the question? There are several ways to know the answer is, “Yes!”
   One of the ways is to listen to the New Testament writers. You will often see in the gospels and epistles such eye-witness statements as we have here, “We have seen with our own eyes.”
   John was the youngest disciple. And he became the longest living apostle of Jesus Christ. He walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, heard the teaching, stood before the cross and entered the empty tomb. John witnessed Jesus risen. He ate with and listened to the Risen Savior. Then he watched Jesus ascend to heaven. He’s quite an eyewitness. We know he told the truth because he gave his life completely to Jesus. No one lives a suffering life for a lie.
   John has seen and heard. So he told the truth about Jesus. He has witnessed how much God loves us. That is why we have put our trust in his love. Watching God act through Jesus and the Spirit, John is convinced God is love. So he urges all who live in love to live in God because God lives in them.
   “Love” is an action word. Moses praised God: “With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed.” (Exodus 15:13a) Paul wrote: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) God’s love has moved through history to redeem his broken world. Live in God’s love, prepared to act on his behalf.
  
Not New, Still New
 
2 John 4-6 How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded. 5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
 
THIS epistle is to the “chosen lady and her children”. It is likely the lady is a church and the children are its members. John’s purpose, as with other epistles is to encourage them to continue walking in the truth. Many false teachers threatened God’s good work. The Liar is always at work.
   John knew the power of God’s loving truth. Consider how his life had changed with God’s love. What had he known about loving others before Jesus walked into his life? What did he learn about loving others as he saw people throw rocks at Jesus and curse him? What did he know about love until he watched Jesus love those who hated him and killed him? What did he know about love until he saw the Power of Love change lives, especially his own?
   John personally knew Jesus’ great love. He wanted to help others know love was not a simple word of emotion but a profound work of God to deliver the good news of salvation.