Bible Study June 11, 2025
“What Gives Complete Joy?”
1 John 1- 4 (ESV)
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 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— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
Do you ever ask yourself in times of being at peace and celebrating the joy in your lives why does this happen? John answers that question in verse four of our reading today. “fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
But how do we get there? John uses terms such as made manifest … seen … testify … proclaim. We have not seen Jesus with our eyes but we can see Him through those that followed Him who did see Him. It is through them that we see.
Fellowship is not a social experience but it but a participation in possessing eternal life. John writes to tell of the physical reality of Jesus but he is also talking about personal salvation through Jesus. Once we are in a salvation experience with Jesus then we are in fellowship. John is saying here “fellowship” in Jesus produces eternal life. He uses these two terms interchangeably.
How do we tie each of these verses together? John is writing to show us how to create joy in our lives. The proclamation of the gospel is found in these four verses. The reality of the gospel (1-2) produces fellowship in eternal life (vs. 3) and in turn fellowship in eternal life produces the joy in our lives.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 