1. Evidences of the Incarnate Christ 1 John 1:1-4

2. Brother Against Brother Few things are more disturbing than a house divided. Civil war is especially distressing. Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

3. The Church Faces Early Division The apostle John is most likely in Ephesus. It is late in the first century and he is among the eldest of Christians. He sees the church Jesus established beginning to divide.

4. An Early Church Division Divided over pre-gnosticism Primarily gnostic teaching that Jesus was not truly a man. Ideas concerning spiritual purity and fleshly wickedness. Ideas about rising above the possibility of sinning through knowledge.

5. Divided by means of syncretism The combination of different forms of belief or practice. The fusion of two or more originally different inflectional forms.

6. The Ephesian Angle Division already predicted Acts 20:30 – Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

7. 2 Timothy 1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. What caused this mass desertion?

8. The Colossian Heresy – Colossians 2:8-19 Deceptive philosophy Human tradition Basic world principles Judgments on festivals False humility Worship of angels

9. Imagine the Confusion The Bible had not yet been completed. Trusted Christian teachers are dividing. The very nature of Christianity is uncertain. To what do you appeal?

10. John Appeals To Basic Beginnings 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. 2The 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.

11. Beginning = ARCHE Not beginning of the world The beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ. John was one of the few left on the earth who was actually there for the beginning.

12. He appeals to the senses of the apostles What we have heard What we have seen What we beheld What we have handled

13. Matthew 13:16-17 -- But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. If you want to know anything, go to the source If you want to know about Jesus, go to those who were with Him the most. Who better than the “disciple whom Jesus loved” to clarify the muddy waters?

14. Concerning the Word of Life The Word which IS Life Eternal life – speaks of more than QUANTITY; also speaks of QUALITY

15. The Highest Joy 1 John 1:3-4 -- We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.

16. Don’t Leave What You’ve Always Known Enjoy fellowship with the saints Enjoy fellowship with God and Christ Reach for the greatest of all joys – sharing the pure gospel of Jesus Christ!