"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, of the Word of life;" — 1 John 1:1 (KJV)
The Dispensational Context:
Now, look here, cher!
If you want to get the gravy right on this scripture, you got to look at who John is writing to.
He ain't writing to Paul’s crowd.
This is for the Circumcision remnant, the Jewish believers getting tossed around like a pirogue in a hurricane.
John is dropping an anchor for them.
You see that phrase "That which" right there?
Don't let some slick-talking preacher tell you that's an abstract concept, a rulebook, or some floating cloud of spiritual maturity.
No, sir!
Just like over there in 1 Corinthians 13:10, when it talks about "that which is perfect," "that which" is a reference to a Person, not a thing!
John is telling them, "Listen, we didn't just hear a rumor down the bayou.
We saw Him with our own two eyes, stared right at Him, and our very own hands handled Him."
The "Word of life" ain't a philosophy; it’s the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the flesh, resurrected and real enough to touch.
Socratic Question:
If "that which" is actually a living, breathing Person and not just some inanimate object or a concept you pull out of the air, how does trading a "thing" for a "Someone" change the whole way you look at biblical prophecy and what it means to actually grow up in the faith?
Final Takeaway:
At the end of the day, your faith ain't anchored in a system, a program, or a fancy philosophy.
It is anchored in the physical, historical reality of Jesus Christ.
You ain't waiting on a thing or an event to fix your life; you are waiting on "that which" is perfect—the resurrected Savior Himself, and He's as real as a South Louisiana sunrise.
Now, look here, cher!
If you want to get the gravy right on this scripture, you got to look at who John is writing to.
He ain't writing to Paul’s crowd.
This is for the Circumcision remnant, the Jewish believers getting tossed around like a pirogue in a hurricane.
John is dropping an anchor for them.
You see that phrase "That which" right there?
Don't let some slick-talking preacher tell you that's an abstract concept, a rulebook, or some floating cloud of spiritual maturity.
No, sir!
Just like over there in 1 Corinthians 13:10, when it talks about "that which is perfect," "that which" is a reference to a Person, not a thing!
John is telling them, "Listen, we didn't just hear a rumor down the bayou.
We saw Him with our own two eyes, stared right at Him, and our very own hands handled Him."
The "Word of life" ain't a philosophy; it’s the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the flesh, resurrected and real enough to touch.
Socratic Question:
If "that which" is actually a living, breathing Person and not just some inanimate object or a concept you pull out of the air, how does trading a "thing" for a "Someone" change the whole way you look at biblical prophecy and what it means to actually grow up in the faith?
Final Takeaway:
At the end of the day, your faith ain't anchored in a system, a program, or a fancy philosophy.
It is anchored in the physical, historical reality of Jesus Christ.
You ain't waiting on a thing or an event to fix your life; you are waiting on "that which" is perfect—the resurrected Savior Himself, and He's as real as a South Louisiana sunrise.
