Concerning the Word of Life
In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4, 1 John 1:1–4)
The Word of Life: Not an idea, but a Person
Notice how John does not begin his epistle with an argument. He begins with a testimony.
“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…” (1 John 1:1-3)
Before John gives us doctrine, he gives us personal “encounter”.
Before he gives explanation, he gives in person, lived “experience”.
Christianity, John insists, is not built on rumor, philosophy, or religious speculation. It is built on personal contact with a living Christ.
John is saying: “We did not merely hear about God—we met Him in person.” “We are bearing testimony to what we saw.” (1 John 1:1-3, Rev 12:11)
One Christian writer captures this same conviction when she writes:
Christ came to represent the Father to man. He revealed the nature of God to the world. Satan had misrepresented the father. He had pictured him as a being full of revenge, who had no forbearance, no mercy, no patience, no love. He clothed him with his own attributes; but Christ came, and took upon him humanity, that he might reveal to humanity the true character of the Father; and we are to represent Christ to the world as Christ represented the Father. {RH, April 30, 1889, par. 8}
“The Word” — God Made Known
When John uses the word “Word”, he is drawing us back to creation itself:
“In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1)
In Scripture, God’s Word is not just an audio only, God’s Word is “action”, God’s Word is “power”, God’s Word is “self-disclosure” God speaks, and worlds appear. God speaks, and light breaks apart the darkness.
But now John tells us something astonishing: “The Word stepped into human history.”
This is what one writer declares:
“In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived.” (DA 530}
“In him was life; and the life was the light of humanity” (John 1:4). It is not physical life that is here specified, but immortality, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life. Physical life is something which everyone receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the Life-giver, takes it again. Man has no control over his life.
But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Him. “I lay it down of myself” (John 10:18), He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in [humanity]. [We] can possess it only through Christ. [We] cannot earn it; it is given [us] as a gift if [we] will believe in Christ as [our] personal Savior.
“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). This is the open fountain of life for the world. {1SM 296.2}
Jesus did not live a borrowed life.
Jesus did not delegate His life.
Jesus did not live any symbolic life.
Jesus lived “God’s own life” walking among us. The Bible tells us, “In Him was life and the life was the light of humanity.” (John 1:4) This is in part why the Bible calls Jesus “Immanuel, God with us.” (Mat 1:23)
“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” It is not physical life that is here specified, but eternal life, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life. Physical life is something which everyone receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the Life giver, takes it again.
Humanity has no control over their existence. But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Jesus. ” The Father loves me because I give my life. I give my life so that I can get it back again. No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get it back again. This is what the father told me.” (John 10:17-18) he said.
In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ. He cannot earn it; it is given him as a gift if he will believe in Christ as his personal Savior. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3. This is the open fountain of life for the world. {5BC 1130.3}
Thus, when John says the phrase, “concerning the Word of life,” he means:
“We are speaking about God Himself, personally present.” “We are sharing with you our personally lived testimony!” His name shall be called Immanuel, God with us.” “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God” is seen “in the face of Jesus Christ.” From the days of eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was “the image of God,” the image of His greatness and majesty, “the outshining of His glory.” It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkened earth He came to reveal the light of God’s love, –to be “God with us.” Therefore, it was prophesied of Him, “His name shall be called Immanuel.” {DA 19.1}
“Of Life” — Not Just Informatics, but Vitality
Notice carefully: John does not say “a word about life” but calls it “the Word of life”. Recall how we are told now that “the life was the light of humanity…” (John 1:4)
“Life” is not merely something Jesus teaches. “Life” is WHO Jesus “is”.
John makes this unmistakably clear:
“The life was manifested, and we personally have seen it…”
The Life of Christ became visible.
The Life of Christ became audible.
The Life of Christ became touchable.
“Christ is life itself. He who passes from death to life becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Eternal life is Christ Himself. ‘He that hath the Son hath life.’ (1 John 5:11-12) The life of Christ is communicated to the believer through faith, and this life is to be maintained by faith. Thus, we live by faith, and not by sight.” (FLB 131)
That means eternal life is not just about “length of days”, but “depth of relationship”. Jesus wants us to add “life” to our years, and not necessarily years to our life. And this is how we can say “Heaven begins on Earth.”
No one can be a successful soul winner till [they themselves have] settled the question of surrender to God. We are individually to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. To each one of us He must become wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. When our faith lays hold upon Christ as our personal Savior, we shall place Him before others in a new light. And when the people behold Christ as He is, they will not wrangle over doctrines; they will flee to Him for pardon, purity, and eternal life. {CEv 61.3}
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. (Ezekiel 14:14, Ezekiel 14:20)
“To know Christ is to have eternal life. The value of a man is estimated in heaven according to the capacity of the heart to know God. This knowledge is the spring from which all power flows. God created man that every faculty might be capable of enlargement; and it is His design that the divine attributes shall be revealed in the human being. Then the court of heaven will recognize [humanity] as a coworker with God.” (John 17:3, Jer 9:23-24, DA 388)
Friends, eternal life does not begin at the resurrection—it begins at “conversion,” and that is the only way we can say:” Heaven begins here on earth.”
Seen, Heard, touched — Faith Rooted in Reality
John describes Jesus by framing Him with a very expressive language
We want to tell you about the Word that gives life—the one who existed before the world began. This is the one we have heard and have seen with our own eyes. We saw what he did, and our hands touched him. Yes, the one who is life was shown to us. We saw him, and so we can tell others about him. We now tell you about him. He is the eternal life that was with God the Father and was shown to us. We are telling you about what we have seen and heard because we want you to have fellowship with us. The fellowship we share together is with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3):
The Life of Christ is heard
The Life of Christ is seen
The Life of Christ is looked upon
The Life of Christ is handled
Why? Because false teachers were already claiming Jesus was not truly human. (John 1:11, John 3:32)
John responds: “But we touched Him.” (1 John 1:1-3)
John did not experience mystical vapor.
John did not experience a spiritual illusion.
John did experience an “incarnate reality”.
The following quote gives us further directions:
“The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea and raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ, and the Savior desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word. When his visible presence should be withdrawn, the word must be their source of power. Like their Master, they were to live “by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. DA 390.3}
The Word that originally created life is currently seeking to “recreate life”. Jesus is in the active business of transforming the erring humanity that has long been beleaguered by the ravages of sin
Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Rom 12:2, ERV)
By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God, –God’s thought made audible. In His prayer for His disciples He says, “I have declared unto them Thy name,”–“merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,”–“that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” But not alone for His earthborn children was this revelation given. Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God’s wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which “angels desire to look,” and it will be their study throughout endless ages.
Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which “seeks not her own” has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto. {DA 19.2}
The same Christ who calmed storms and raised the dead still speaks life into broken souls today.
The Purpose: Fellowship, Not Mere Belief
John tells us clearly why the Word of life is proclaimed:
“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.”
The goal of the gospel is not just forgiveness.
The goal of the gospel is not just correctness.
The goal of the gospel is not just church membership.
It is “fellowship” with Creator.
“In every human being He discerned infinite possibilities. He saw [people] as they might be, transfigured by His grace–in “the beauty of the Lord our God.” Psalm 90:17, 2 Cor 5:17). Looking upon them with hope, He inspired hope. Meeting them with confidence, He inspired trust. Revealing in Himself man’s true ideal, He awakened, for its attainment, both desire and faith. In His presence souls despised and fallen realized that they still were men, and they longed to prove themselves worthy of His regard. In many a heart that seemed dead to all things holy, were awakened new impulses. To many a despairing one there opened the possibility of a new life. {Ed 80.1}
Christ bound them to His heart by the ties of love and devotion; and by the same ties He bound them to their fellow men. With Him love was life, and life was service. “Freely ye have received,” He said, “freely give.” Matthew 10:8. Ed 80.2}
It was not on the cross only that Christ sacrificed Himself for humanity. As He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), every day’s experience was an outpouring of His life. In one way only could such a life be sustained. Jesus lived in dependence upon God and communion with Him. To the secret place of the Highest, under the shadow of the Almighty, men now and then repair; they abide for a season, and the result is manifest in noble deeds; then their faith fails, the communion is interrupted, and the lifework marred. But the life of Jesus was a life of constant trust, sustained by continual communion; and His service for heaven and earth was without failure or faltering. {Ed 80.3}
As a man He supplicated the throne of God, till His humanity was charged with a heavenly current that connected humanity with divinity. Receiving life from God, He imparted life to men. {Ed 80.4}
The Word of life restores what sin destroyed, which was “relationship”. Jesus came to restore relationship. And to all of them that receive Him gave He power to be the sons and daughters of God.” (John 1:12)
We are not merely saved “from” something; we are saved “into” something: “living, personal communion with God”. We are admonished in Scripture:
Trust in him always; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8
The perception of God’s love works the renunciation of selfishness. In calling God our Father, we recognize all His children as our brethren. We are all a part of the great web of humanity, all members of one family. In our petitions we are to include our neighbors as well as ourselves. No one prays aright who seeks a blessing for himself alone. {LHU 45.5}
The infinite God, said Jesus, makes it your privilege to approach Him by the name of Father. Understand all that this implies. No earthly parents ever pleaded so earnestly with an erring child as He who made you will plead with the transgressor. No human, loving interest ever followed the impenitent with such tender invitations. God dwells in every abode; He hears every word that is spoken, listens to every prayer that is offered, tastes the sorrows and disappointments of every soul, regards the treatment that is given to father, mother, sister, friend, and neighbor. He cares for our needs, and His love and mercy and grace are continually flowing to satisfy our needs. {LHU 45.6}
But if you call God your Father, you acknowledge yourselves His children, to be guided by His wisdom and to be obedient in all things, knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honor, His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honor your relation to your Father and to every member of His family. You will rejoice in doing any act, however humble, that will tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred (MB 104-106).
The Result of Communion with Creator: Fullness of Joy
John ends his opening paragraph with a stunning purpose statement:
“These things we write to you that your joy may be full.” (John 1:4)
Communion with Jesus is not shallow happiness.
Communion with Jesus not emotional excitement.
Communion with Jesus is deep, settled, resilient joy.
We are warned time and time again against a superficial gospel:
“The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it means taking away our sins and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit.” (COL 419)
The Word of life does not merely remove our guilt, rather, the Word actively fills our “emptiness”. Christianity, when truly lived, cannot be lifeless.
The life of Abraham, the friend of God, was a life of prayer. Wherever he pitched his tent, close beside it was built an altar, upon which sacrifice was offered the morning and evening. When his tent was removed, the altar remained. And the roving Canaanite, as he came to that altar, knew who had been there; and when he had pitched his tent, he repaired the altar and worshiped the living God. {ML 35.2}
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, unto thy seed will I give this land: and there built he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, and there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord. Genesis 12:7, 8
Creator God Welcomes Us to His Audience Chamber
We come to God by special invitation, and He waits to welcome us to His audience chamber. The first disciples who followed Jesus were not satisfied with a hurried conversation with Him by the way; they said, “Rabbi, . . . where dwellest Thou? . . . They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” John 1:38, 39. So we may be admitted into closest intimacy and communion with God. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Highest shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1. Let those who desire the blessing of God knock and wait at the door of mercy with firm assurance, saying, For Thou, O Lord, hast said, “Everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”(MB 131.)
The Word of Life as Seen Today
John’s personal testimony resounds all down through the ages to this very day to become our personal calling.
He says, “We declare what we have experienced.” My friends, this is just how the gospel advances today.
“The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.” (MH 470)
The Word of life is now seen in patience under suffering
The Word of life is now seen in kindness under pressure
The Word of life is now seen in hope that survives grief
The Word of life is now seen at the ready to respond to all manner of tragedy, natural disaster,
The Word of life is now seen responding to all demonic forces that surround every soul.
Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it! (Col 1:7)
“It is the life of Christ in the soul that is the distinguishing characteristic of the true Christian.” (C.O.L. 312)
Our Invitation
Church, John is not asking us merely to “agree” with the Word of life.
Jesus is inviting us to receive Him
Jesus is inviting us to know Him
Jesus is inviting us to walk with Him
Jesus is inviting us to reflect Him
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isa 60:1-3)
By grace, through faith, the Word of life still speaks.
By grace, through faith, the Word of life still restores.
By grace, through faith, the Word of life still brings joy.
My precious friends, that life that is the light of humanity today is offered again each day, not as dry theory, but a model of “living fellowship with Jesus Christ.
“He who has the Son has life.” (1 John 5:12)
Each to Give Their Measure of Light
Every shining star which God has placed in the heavens obeys His mandate and gives its distinctive measure of light to make beautiful the heavens at night; so, let every converted soul show the measure of light committed to him; and as it shines forth the light will increase and grow brighter. Give out your light, . . . pour forth your beams mirrored from heaven. O daughter of Zion, “Arise, shine; for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee” 4BC 1153.3}
By living a life of devotion and self-sacrifice in doing good to others, you might have been adding stars and gems to the crown that you will wear in heaven, and laying up unfading, eternal treasures (MS 69, 1912). {4BC 1174.1}