1 John 1:1-2
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us."
John was defending the truth against a heresy named Gnosticism that was popular among the early church. The followers of Gnosticism had a well-define dualism, which believed that Jesus could not possibly have been the word that became flesh, because it was impossible for God who was all-good to enter into sinful flesh. Therefore, they established Docetism, which claimed that Jesus was not the word that became flesh, and people back then were seeing an illusion. The fact is that "word became flesh" is an extremely important truth in our faith, because if Jesus didn't become flesh, He wouldn't be able to release us from the limitations of our flesh. It takes one who truly experienced victory against limitations and bondage of the flesh to save all people of the world from the bondage of flesh and sin. John talked about three characteristics of the word that we believe in:
First, the word can be personally heard. "Heard" means to directly hear the word of Jesus and to hear the teachings and sharing from the disciples. Our faith is not only a subjective experience, but also an objective experience. Not only have we directly received the word from the Lord, other brothers and sisters can also confirm the word through God's work. Second, the word can be personally witnessed. Our faith is not only a theory, but it's something our eyes can see. When Jesus was on earth, disciples could see and hear Him and it was an experience of reality. Third, most importantly, the word can be personally touched. Contrary to Docetism in Gnosticism, Jesus was truly the word that became flesh, for His body is real and can be touched, none of which is virtual.
Do you know that your faith is real? What is your relationship with the Lord? How are you going to share the benefits of the gospel? May God help us to truly experience His word so that we may share His word with others. That is why John said here: "The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it." May God continue to touch our heart with the gospel so that we may spread the gospel to those around us and share the benefits of the gospel with them.
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