Two major false teachings plagued the readers of John’s day. One was the false belief that Jesus’ physical body, suffering, and death were all just illusions. Another, proposed by the false teacher Cerinthus, taught that Jesus was not born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit, but Mary and Joseph were both his biological parents. Cerinthus believed, falsely, that Jesus became the Christ when the Holy Spirit came upon Him at His Baptism, and then the Holy Spirit left Jesus right before He died on the cross as a mere man.
Although contrary to Scripture, these false teachings appealed to imperfect human reason and logic. Evidently, some in John’s day began to doubt the truths they were taught by the apostles, and to question the faith. After all, they reasoned, if Jesus’ life was just some grand illusion, then He wasn’t really born as the Bible teaches. If He wasn’t really born, then He didn’t really die. And if He didn’t really die, then He didn’t really rise from the dead. And as the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” (1 Corinthians 15:14 NKJV)
With these opening words of his letter, John takes a sledgehammer of truth to both of these false teachings. Jesus was “from the beginning” and was “that eternal life which was with the Father.” He is the eternal Son of God. At the same time, Jesus is “the life that was manifested.” He was seen, heard, looked upon, and handled with hands. Jesus was no illusion, but had real flesh and blood just as we all have.
Furthermore, several of those eyewitnesses who saw, heard, and even touched Jesus gave eyewitness accounts to share the truthfulness and reliability of these things. The Apostle John was just such an eyewitness. He was there and experienced with his own senses the many miraculous works Jesus performed. John was there to witness Jesus speak His last words and take His last breath as He hung dying on the cross. John was also there to see Jesus’ empty tomb, including the grave clothes lying where Jesus’ dead body ought to have been! And John was there when Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection with the offer to doubting Thomas to see and touch the wounds in His hands and side.
There may be times in our own life when the actual truths of God’s Word sound too good to be true, and the lies of false teachers sound reasonable and logical. In those moments, remember that in God’s Word you have written eyewitness accounts of the truthfulness and reality of your Savior and your salvation. The eternal Son of God was really born, really died, and really rose again. That means your sins really are forgiven! God did not send His Son to die for you on the cross to then botch the job by giving a poor written account about it all, or delivering it in some hidden code no one could figure out. God’s Word speaks truth! In that truth you have life and salvation! Believe that, dear sinner, and your joy will be full.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (1 John 1:1-4 NKJV)
God did not send His Son to die for you on the cross to then botch the job by giving a poor written account about it all.
is pastor of a quad parish that includes four western Wisconsin congregations: Morning Star Lutheran Church in Fairchild, Trinity Lutheran Church in Millston, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Melrose, and Peace with God Evangelical Lutheran Church in Onalaska.