1 John 1:4 Full & Lasting Joy (Sermon 4)

In the Prologue to John's 1^st Epistle, he speaks about 'Proclaiming the Word of Life' (1:1-3)

• John then goes on to give Two Reasons for Proclaiming this 'Word of Life'.

Last time we looked at the First Reason - so that we might have Fellowship with God.

Verse 3: "We proclaim to you what we have seen & heard, so that you also may have

fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father & with his Son, Jesus Christ. "

We saw the Reason why John deals with the issue of Fellowship:

• It is because of the Fundamental Problem in the World - Man's Rebellion against God.

We also looked at the Meaning of this phrase 'Fellowship with God':

• Firstly, the Bible tells us that a Christian is someone who is a Partaker of God's Life.

• Secondly, we are Partners with God in the sense that we are Sharers in God's Purposes.

We come now to the Second Reason why the Apostle John Proclaims the Word of Life:

Verse 4: "We write this to make Our Joy Complete " (AV that Your Joy may be Full).

• John's message to the Church of Christ today is this:

Never forget that you possess a Fullness of Joy & a Lasting Joy.

Never forget the message of the Angels to the Shepherds at the Birth of Jesus:

"I bring you good news of Great Joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

The message is the same as that of the Apostle John: Those who believe in Christ the Lord, possess a Saviour who brings Fullness of Joy.

The Puritan, Thomas Watson, once said about his experience of Preaching:

"There are two things, which I have always looked upon as difficult.

The one is, to make the wicked sad; the other is, to make the godly joyful.

Dejection in the godly arises from a double spring; either because

their inward comforts are darkened, or their outward comforts are disturbed. "

Making the godly joyful is a difficult task for a fairly obvious reason.

• Even as Believers, we are bound up with our everyday circumstances.

Problems arise, almost on a daily basis, in relation to our outward & inward circumstances.

• Therefore, it is imperative to understand that True Christian Joy can be experienced no matter what our circumstances may be. True Christian Joy rises above our daily circumstances.
• We'll come back to that point later.

The Apostle John says: "We write this to make Your Joy Full or Complete " (1 John 1:4).

We must ask ourselves the Question:

What does John mean by this expression 'Fullness of Joy'?

Peter Barnes, commenting on 1 John 1:4, says:

"The Christian life is a joyful life. However … Christian joy is not mere excitement,

but a calm, deep & sober happiness which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit's work in us (Galations 5:22-23). If you profess to belong to Christ, and you find that you are constantly mournful & depressed, there is something wrong. John's First Epistle was written that we might have joy. As Charles Simeon put it, 'There are but two lessons for the Christian to learn: the one is, to enjoy God in everything; the other is,

to enjoy everything in God. '"

 

In order to understand the meaning of John's expression Fullness of Joy, it will be helpful to delineate Four Elements of True Christian Joy, which are taught in Scripture.

Firstly: True Christian Joy is founded upon the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

• Remember the Context of this Great Statement concerning Fullness of Joy:

• John is proclaiming what he has Seen & Heard concerning the Word of Life (1:1-2).

Look at what John tells us about those who Believe in this Message about the Word of Life:

• The Blood of Jesus purifies us from every sin (1:5-7).

• Believers have been brought from Darkness to Light (1:9-11).

• Believers have an Advocate with the Father; Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (2:1-2)

• Through Christ, Believers have a True Knowledge of the Living God (2:3-6).
• Believers possess Forgiveness of Sins on account of the finished work of Christ (2:12)
• Believers possess the power to Overcome the Evil One in the Name of Christ (2:13-14).

John is saying:

" We write these things, concerning the Gospel of Christ, so that your Joy might be Full. "

C H Spurgeon says:

" All the Doctrines of the Bible have a tendency, when properly understood & received,

to foster the Christian's Joy. "

Look at the Message of the Apostle Paul to the Philippians - the Epistle of Joy:

• This is the Epistle in which Paul commands Believers to:

" Rejoice in the Lord Always " (Phil 4:4).

• This is the Epistle where Paul begins by saying:

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you,

I always Pray with Joy " (1:3-4).

Why can Paul write to these Believers with such Confidence?

Paul gives the answer in the First Chapter.

• It is because of their partnership in the work of the Gospel of Christ (1:5).

It is because they Preach the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

The Gospel of Salvation in Christ is explained in the following verses:

• They possess Fullness of Joy because of the Assurance that the Almighty God, who began a Good Work within them, will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ (1:6).

• He is sure that they will be presented pure & blameless when Christ Returns (1:10).
• He tells these Believers that they Share God's Grace with him (1:7).
• He tells these Believers that he loves them with the Love of Christ (1:8).
• He tells them that they are being filled with the Righteousness that comes from Christ (1:11).

• In other words, Paul begins this Epistle by explaining the Fundamental Truths

concerning the Gospel of Christ.

Paul is saying:

"I am giving you this exhortation to Rejoice in the Lord. But I am doing this knowing that you have grounds for Rejoicing because of these Great Truths concerning the Gospel of Christ. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with Joy because of your Salvation. "

Paul goes on to say that he is in Chains in Prison for the Defense of the Gospel (1:16).

• The Truth of the Gospel is so important that it is worth going to prison for.
• Some have Preached the Gospel out of a sense of rivalry & false motives. But, says Paul:

"The important thing is … that Christ is Preached. And because of this I rejoice " (1:18).

• Paul is sure that the Gospel will Triumph, despite opposition from false teachers(1:12-18).

 

Both John & Paul preach the same message:

• True Christian Joy can only be founded upon the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

William Gurnall, the Puritan who wrote The Christian in Complete Armour, says:

"The reason why many poor souls have so little heat of joy in their hearts, is that

they have so little light of Gospel Knowledge in their mind. The further a soul stands

from the light of Truth, the further he must needs be from the heat of comfort."

Believer here this morning - Do you want to be Joyful in the Lord?

• Then make sure you are well acquainted with the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

• When we feel despondent, encourage yourself by reading God's Word,

especially the passages dealing with Salvation & our Eternal Security in Christ.

The Scriptures delineate Four Elements of True Christian Joy.

Firstly: True Christian Joy is founded upon the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

Secondly: True Christian Joy is directly related to the Believer's Relationship to Christ.

Note what the Apostle John says:

"We write These Things to you to make your Joy complete" (1 Jn 1:4).

He is referring back to the "things which we have heard, seen, looked at & touched " (v1).

He is referring to his Eyewitness account concerning Jesus - the Word of Life.

In other words, John is saying:

"We have this Joy because of the things we have witnessed

in the Life & Ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God."

• John is saying to his readers that Real & Lasting Joy can only be found as you have

a relationship with the one whose message I am proclaiming to you.

I am an Eyewitness of Jesus Christ, who is the only source of Real & Lasting Joy.

Furthermore, says John, We have this Joy, because

"Our fellowship is with the Father & with his Son, Jesus Christ" (! Jn 1:3-4).

• John is saying that Real & Lasting Joy can only continue as you

remain in Fellowship with the Living God, & with his Son, Jesus Christ.

This is why the Psalmist David says:

"I said to the Lord … You will fill me with joy in your presence " (Ps 16:11).

• Fullness of Joy can only be experienced as we continue to live in the presence of God.

John remembered the context in which the Lord Jesus taught his disciples about Joy.

"I am the Vine; you are the Branches. If any man Remains in me & I in him, he will bear

much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing … As the Father has loved me, so I have

loved you. Now remain in my love … I have told you this so that my Joy may be in you &

that your Joy may be Complete (AV that your Joy might be Full )" (John 15:5-11)

The Apostle John preached the same message as the Lord Jesus.

• True Christian Joy is directly related to the Believer's Relationship to Christ.
• True Fullness of Joy can only be experienced by those who Remain in Christ.

Again, take note of the command of the Apostle Paul concerning Christian Joy:

"Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord " (Philippians 3:1)

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" (4:4)

" I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me" (4:10).

• Paul has the same emphasis time & again - He commands Christians to Rejoice.

However, this is not simply a command to Rejoice; BUT a command to 'Rejoice in the Lord!'

 

 

Wallace Benn, commenting on these verses, says:

"Joy is always connected with the Lord Jesus. In fact, our joy will be as correspondingly

deep as we are close to him. The further we are away from the Lord Jesus, the more our joy will diminish. Christian joy is always in the Lord, & we deepen our joy as we draw

nearer to him."

John Gwyn-Thomas says:

"If we look for happiness we will never find it; if we keep searching for joy we will

never attain it; but when our relationship with the Lord Jesus is right the result will be

Joy & Peace in Him. "

The context of Philippians 3:1, goes back to the middle of chapter 2, where Paul says (2:18):

" I am glad & rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad & rejoice with me."

Paul rejoices because his readers were 'Children of God' - they were 'in the Lord'.

• Even in a 'crooked & depraved generation', these people were Children of God (2:15).

• They shone like stars in the universe as they held out the Word of Life.

They shone like stars because they were in the Lord - in the Light of the World;

They shone like stars because they held out the Word of Life (2:15-16) They held out the Lord Jesus Christ who brings people: " Out of darkness into his marvelous light " (1 Peter 2:9)

• Paul could rejoice because these people were in the Lord - Therefore, he would be able to "boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing" (2:16).

The same argument can be found from the context of Paul's command to Rejoice in ch 4:

• In chapter 4v1 Paul says: " Stand Firm in the Lord."

Then he goes on to say: " Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (4:4).

• We can only Rejoice in the Lord, if we Stand Firm in the Lord.

To put it another way: "We can only Rejoice in the Lord if we Remain in the Lord.

Note how Paul deals with these foundational truths:

• It is only after Paul has told his readers to " Stand Firm in the Lord." (4:1), that

he tells them to, " Rejoice in the Lord." We cannot 'Rejoice' unless we first 'Stand Firm'.

• We cannot Rejoice unless we have a Relationship with Christ & Stand Firm in Christ.

In the same context, Paul is pleading with Euodia & Syntyche to agree in the Lord (4:1-2).

• They can only Agree in the Lord, because they both have a Relationship with the Lord.

• Paul says: These women have " Contended by my side in the cause of the Gospel" (v3a).

They can be counted among " My fellow workers " (v3b).

Their " names are written in the book of life " (v3c).

• They have a relationship with Christ, therefore, you can help them to put things right.

Everything surrounding this command to 'Rejoice' was Centred upon Christ.

• True Joy can only be found in the Lord.
• It can only continue as we remain in the Lord, & as we continue our service for the Lord.

Remember the words of the Hymnwriter, Charles Wesley:

"Jesus, my strength, my hope, On Thee I cast my care,

With humble confidence look up, And know Thou hearest my prayer."

Believer here this morning - Do you want to be Joyful in the Lord?

• Then make sure that you have a Living Relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Make sure that you have a Right Relationship with your Fellow Believers .

The Scriptures delineate Four Elements of True Christian Joy.

Firstly: True Christian Joy is founded upon the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

Secondly: True Christian Joy is directly related to the Believer's Relationship to Christ.

Thirdly: True Christian Joy is a Constant Joy.

The Apostle John says in our text (1 John 1:4):

"We write these things to you to make your Joy complete " (AV that your Joy may be full ).

The Greek word translated as 'full or complete' means 'filled full'.

It means that your Joy will be filled to the brim.

It means that you will experience a Joy which has a real fullness, without limit. "

• This is the Wondrous Joy that the Apostle Peter refers to as: (1 Peter 1:8):

" Joy unspeakable & full of glory! " (NIV Filled with an inexpressible & glorious joy )

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones says:

"A better translation would be this: 'These things write we unto you, that your

joy may remain full; not only that it may be, or become, but that it may remain so."

• Paul is using an illustration of a cup full of liquid - it is a cup full to the point of overflowing. It is Full to the point where one more drop of liquid will cause it to overflow.

Paul is arguing like this: "Not only is your Joy is full to the brim, but it will remain full! "

• This is a Joy which is a Constant Joy - a Joy that Remains Full to the brim.

Be joyful in the Lord, not only while you are worshipping the Lord together & singing

God's praises, but also when there are wars & rumours of wars, & when there is division in the local church, & when life seems full of trouble & strife. Your Joy can remain full, always!

This interpretation is backed up by the Apostle Paul's Command to the Philippians:

"Rejoice in the Lord always " (Philippians 4:4).

These words are quite emphatic:

'Rejoice in the Lord, not sometimes or from time to time , but Always. "

• Our Rejoicing is to remain. Our Rejoicing is never to cease;

our rejoicing is to be daily, monthly, yearly, & even hourly.

Nehemiah gave a marvelous word of Assurance during the Solemn Assembly,

which was called after the Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem:

• The people listened to Ezra, the priest, reading the Law of God from daybreak till noon (8:3).

Notice the Reaction of the People:

" All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law" (8:9).

Then Nehemiah said, 'Do not grieve, for the Joy of the Lord is your Strength' " (8:10).

• The Joy of the Lord is our Strength, because the Joy of the Lord is Strong & Vibrant;

• The Joy of the Lord is a Joy that is Strong in the face of Grief & Trouble.

The people went away from this Solemn Assembly to: 'Celebrate with Great Joy' (8:12).

• The Joy of the Lord is a Joy which is Great & Constant - it is a Joy that Remains.
• The Joy of the Lord is a Joy which is a Strong Power; it is a Mighty & Robust thing.

Nehemiah has the same message as the Apostle John.

"We write these things to you to make your Joy Complete - to make it Remain. "

" Do not grieve, for the Joy of the Lord is your Strength. "

The truth of this passage is highlighted by John Henry Sammis' Hymn:

"When we walk with the Lord, In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will,

He abides with us still, And with all who will Trust & Obey!

Trust & Obey! For there's no other way To be Happy in Jesus

But to Trust & Obey."

The Scriptures delineate Four Elements of True Christian Joy.

Firstly: True Christian Joy is founded upon the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

Secondly: True Christian Joy is directly related to the Believer's Relationship to Christ.

Thirdly: True Christian Joy is a Constant Joy.

Fourthly: True Christian Joy is a Joy that may be experienced in All Circumstances.

• In this same Epistle where John speaks about Fullness of Joy, he also says:

"We know that we are children of God, & that

the whole world is under the control of the evil one " (1 John 5:19).

• The Bible says that the whole mind & outlook of the world is opposed to God.

The whole world is under the dominion of Satan. Therefore, it is an extremely evil place.

• We must realize that we live in a world which is opposed to both God & his People.

Throughout the Scriptures there are two subjects that appear side by side, just like twins.

• They are repeated time & time again - Trouble & Rejoicing - Persecution & Joyfulness!

The Apostle John remembered the Teaching of the Lord Jesus:

"In this world you will have trouble " (John 16:33).

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first …

If they persecuted me they will persecute you also " (John 15:18-20).

It is in this context that Jesus gives his teaching on the True Vine & Abiding in Him:

Then Jesus says: "I have told you this so that My Joy may be in you & that Your Joy

may be complete " (AV that your joy might be full ) (John 15:11).

( Notice that these are the very words which John repeats in 1 John 1:4).

Jesus emphasizes the fact that the Disciples' Grief over Persecution will turn to Joy:

"I tell you the truth, you will weep & mourn while the world rejoice. You will grieve,

but your grief will turn to joy … Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again

& you will rejoice, & no one will take away your joy " (John 16:20-22).

The Apostle John taught the same message as Jesus:

• Even in the midst of Trials & Discouragement, you can still possess Fullness of Joy!

This is not a message that is confined to this First Epistle of John.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians:

"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).

When we look at this statement, our immediate reaction is to ask a searching question:

How can we possibly Rejoice when Life is Full of Trouble & Strife?

What about bereavements? What about sickness, suffering & the problems of old age? What about disappointments, economic uncertainties, loneliness & unemployment?

What about political troubles - the state of our own country & the world?

However, the context of this command indicates that Paul knew what he was talking about.

• He wrote this Epistle from a Roman Prison - not sure whether he was to live or die.

• He tells the Philippians that they should expect suffering s (Phil 1:29-30):

Look at the immediate context of Paul's exhortation to 'Rejoice in the Lord Always':

" Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Phil 4:4-6).

Paul goes on to speak about his own experience, saying (Phil 4:10-11):

" I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed,

you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this

because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. "

• Whatever the Apostles circumstances may have been: whether he is in plenty or in want; whether he is feeling well-fed or hungry; he continued to 'Rejoice in the Lord always!'

What was it that enabled Paul to rise above his circumstances & to possess Contentment?

Paul gives the answer in verses 12-13:

"I have learned the secret of being content in any & every situation …

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. "

The vital question is this - What was that secret?

The answer is obvious - The answer is found in that phrase:

"I can do everything through him who strengthens me. "

• Paul had learned that the Almighty, Sovereign, God was in absolute control of all the circumstances which the Believer might face in life!

• We can face absolutely everything 'Through him who strengthens me. "

Paul learned what Jeremiah Burroughs calls: ' The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.'

The Rejoicing which Paul was writing about was independent of his circumstances:

• Paul had suffered a great deal of pain & anguish. He had suffered shipwreck & had been lashed by Roman Soldiers. He was imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel of Christ.

Paul's secret was to look beyond his immediate circumstances of suffering & trials,

& to Keep his Eyes on the Great Unchangeables of God's Word.

• He thought about the Glorious Character of our Sovereign God, which cannot change.

He thought about the Blood of Christ never loses its power.

He thought about the Holy Spirit, the Comforter & Helper, who will never be taken from us.

• He thought about the Promise of God, that: "All things work together for the good of them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

• He thought about God's Purpose & Will for his life & the fact that God's will is always best.

Alec Motyer grasps the main point which the Apostle Paul is making, when he says:

"Paul accepted all his circumstances as coming from God …

Paul had learned to be content because he had learned to trust. "

• Paul was contented because believed that God was Trustworthy.
• Paul was content because he had learned to Trust in the Trustworthiness of his God.

• Paul had learned to look to God for deliverance from a particular problem that might arise.

• However, he had also learned to trust even if the Lord was not going to deliver him.

• Furthermore, he continued to trust because he knew that God's Grace was Sufficient

to help him through the worst circumstances possible.

Note how Paul learned this lesson of contentment:

• He certainly didn't learn this lesson overnight.
• He learned it going through the treadmill of life's difficulties & trials.
• Bit by bit, test by test, circumstance by circumstance, the Apostle persevered through the lower 'degrees' of partial contentment, until, at last, he finally 'graduated' and the 'secret' of contentment was finally & fully learned.
• Contentment did not come easily. It was purchased through the exacting price of discipline.
• A major factor in producing contentment is a Christian's own attitude towards circumstances.

Wallace Benn, writing in an Evangelical Times article on Philippians 4, says:

"No less than 16 times in 4 chapters Paul refers to joy … 'Rejoice in the Lord', says Paul. Notice that it is a command. You may ask, 'How can I be commanded to be joyful?'

But, you see, there is never a circumstance in which a Christian finds himself where

there are not adequate reasons to be joyful. "

"There is never a circumstance in which a Christian finds himself where there are not adequate reasons to be joyful. "

We have looked at the Second Reason why the Apostle John Proclaims the Word of Life:

Verse 4: "We write this to make Your Joy Full or Complete. "

In order to understand the meaning of this phrase Fullness of Joy, we have looked at

Four Elements of True Christian Joy which are delineated in Scripture.

Firstly: True Christian Joy is founded upon the Great Truths of the Gospel of Christ.

Secondly: True Christian Joy is directly related to the Believer's Relationship to Christ.

Thirdly: True Christian Joy is a Constant Joy.

Fourthly: True Christian Joy is a Joy that may be experienced in All Circumstances.