Each week throughout 2021, I will share a Bible study blog post taking us through the letter of 1 John. Only five chapters long, this brief book is worthy of our consideration. Whether you drop in for one post or many, I pray that you enjoy them. Access all posts here.
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:4)
John's Stated Aims
One thing I love about John's writing is his willingness to directly state his reasons for writing. One reason this is beautiful is that his letters, especially this first one, are spiraling in nature.
When Paul wrote, it was neat and structured. Arguments spilled forth, doctrines were built and expanded upon, and his letters generally concluded with chapters of application. John, however, wrote in a circular and seemingly scattered way.
At times, since his writing is often non-linear, it takes a little work to get a grip on the precise point he makes. Perhaps, if you did your homework last week, you noticed this as you read through 1 John. So it is kind of him, and the Spirit, to give us direct statements concerning his purpose in writing.
Here, we have one purpose. Fullness of joy is John's aim.
Later in the letter, John will say,
I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin (1 John 2:1).
Still, later he will say,
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you (1 John 2:26).
Finally, he'll say,
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
Consider each purpose statement from John. First, he wrote so that we might have the joy of fellowship with God, and so he deals with the human problems of loneliness, isolation, and separation. Second, he wrote so that we might not sin, and so he deals with the problems of slavery, guilt, and shame. Third, he wrote so that we might not be deceived, and so he deals with the question of where we can turn for answers. Fourth, he wrote so that we could know we have eternal life in Jesus, and so he dealt with the problem of fear, insecurity, and worry.
All this to say, John is going to get after your heart in this letter. He will use the doctrine of Christ to attack your loneliness and isolation, especially the times you feel that no one gets you and no one is like you. He will show you how the gospel sets you free from the penalty and the pull of sin. And by this truth, will set you free. He is going to help you discover, through the absolute claims of the gospel, how the truth of Jesus Christ is real and true and, in a world that likes to hedge on any truth claim, is the truth. And he is going to help destroy your fears and worries about your standing with God, as He shows you Jesus.
Personally, if these truths could sink into my heart even 3% more as a result of this letter, then I know I would be a far greater man. You, me, we can grow from John's letters.
Fellowship With God That Leads to Joy
But let's get back to what he said in our fourth verse. He said, "We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." So -- review the prologue -- John wrote about the true Jesus so we could have fellowship with the Father so we could all have complete joy.
First, John wanted the joy of the apostles, for whom he was the living representative, to be complete. This is why he said "that OUR joy may be complete." He knew that, as long as the deceivers abounded and the churches believed their lies, he couldn't have full joy.
Later, he would write,
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 4).
They say parents are only as happy as their saddest child. No matter how great life might be for a parent, they are in pain if their children are suffering or floundering. And John was no exception. As a father to these churches, he knew there would always be something missing in his joy if these believers wandered from the truth.
And he knew, of course, it would lead to joy in the whole church. Our joy, he said, will be complete if we embrace the True Jesus, hold to the Apostles' doctrine, and enjoy our new relationship with God.
Have you believed this about your connection to the True Vine?
Jesus said,
"I am the True Vine, and my father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1).
He went on with the teaching by saying,
"I am the vine; you are the branches." (John 15:5).
Eventually, He concluded by saying,
"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
Be Convinced True Joy Is Found in God
Do you believe it's true? Do you believe that complete and full joy comes from an abiding relationship with Christ? Do you believe your connection to God is the one that leads to your deepest satisfaction?
As long as you think real, true, total, complete joy is found elsewhere, you won't turn to the true source. And God's people sometimes make this mistake.
In times past, God said of Israel,
"My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)
They neglected the true source of joy. And the thing is, Jesus Christ is held out as the ultimate fountain of the living water of joy. All through the Bible, joy is found in various forms. But when Jesus arrived, true joy arrived. The long-awaited deliverer had come, and it is through our relationship with Him that our truest joys are found.
1 John will help us with this joy. It is common for modern believers to talk about a relationship with Jesus, but John will show us precisely what such a relationship looks like.
He will teach us who God is and what conditions are required to walk with Him. He will teach us who the Son of God is and what doctrines we must believe to enjoy Him. He will teach us of the morals and life which accords with Christ, and how a life that refuses to submit to Jesus is likely not a life that belongs to Jesus. And he will teach us about the most preeminent of Christian virtues, the one which all the others fall under, love for our Lord and His church.
All of these teachings are going to help you uncover true joy.
Again, I ask, do you believe this? Can you allow the One who designed you to tell you how He designed you, with capacity for Himself, and that only He can ultimately get you going? Do you believe complete joy is found in fellowship with God, who is written of in the apostolic words, which flowed from an understanding of the True Jesus, the True Vine?
We are going to discover, in John's letter, how the world system is a liar. It tells us joy is found in places it isn't. We must make a conscious decision to agree with Scripture regarding where true joy is found. All lesser joys are to be subservient to and flow from the enjoyment of God. Tell yourself, preach to yourself, that this is true.
