A Profound Preface

In this introductory message to the book of 1 John, Chuck Swindoll cautions that while the Apostle John’s writing appears simple on the surface, it contains immense theological depth. Swindoll illustrates this using a childhood memory of fishing with his father on a calm bay: the water was placid and still, but his father warned him to "sit still" because there was "big stuff down in there"—a truth realized when a massive tarpon suddenly breached the surface [6–8]. Similarly, while 1 John is often the first book Greek students translate because of its basic vocabulary, Swindoll notes that beneath its simple syntax lies a complex "grammatical tangle" of profound truth [9–10]. The sermon focuses on the prologue found in 1 John 1:1–4, where John establishes the reality of the Incarnation. Swindoll emphasizes that the apostles were not relying on hearsay; they experienced the "Word of Life" through their physical senses. They heard Him, they saw Him with a "studied stare," and they touched Him with their own hands [20–21]. Swindoll identifies three major portraits of God found in the letter—God is Life, God is Light, and God is Love—before explaining John’s two specific purposes for writing: to bring believers into fellowship (intimate communion) with the Father and Son, and to make their joy complete [11, 14–15, 23–26].

Message Key Facts:

• The "Wretch" Made New: Swindoll opens with the story of John Newton, the author of "Amazing Grace." Newton was a "wretch" who worked on a slave ship and was treated like an animal, yet he was redeemed by Christ. Swindoll uses this to remind the congregation that every believer starts as a wretch saved by grace [1–2].
• The "Big Stuff" Analogy: Swindoll compares the study of 1 John to fishing in deep waters. Just as a calm surface can hide massive fish, John’s simple vocabulary hides deep theology. He recalls his father telling him, "Sit still son, there's big stuff down in there".
• Three Portraits of God: Swindoll outlines three distinct descriptions of God found in 1 John:
  1. God is Life (1:1–2): He is the "Word of Life" and "Eternal Life," transcending all boundaries of time [11–12].
  2. God is Light (1:5): In Him, there is no darkness or evil whatsoever; He represents pristine holiness [14–15].
  3. God is Love (4:8): Love is not just what God does; it is who He is. His love explains creation, redemption, and providence [15–16].
• Sensory Evidence: John validates the Incarnation by appealing to three senses: hearing, sight (using a Greek word meaning a "studied stare" or "theorizing" as one does at a theater), and touch. John physically embraced the Word of Life [20–21].
• The Disney Illustration: Swindoll compares our relationship to Jesus with an artist friend who worked for Disney. The friend knew artists who knew Walt Disney, but John knew Jesus firsthand. We are generations removed, but through John’s witness, we connect with the One he touched [21–22].
• True Fellowship (Koinonia): Swindoll corrects the modern church definition of fellowship (coffee and donuts). True fellowship is like a honeymoon: an intimate, deep sharing of life with life, love with love, and light with light [24–26].
• Defining Joy: Swindoll rejects Webster’s definition of joy as an emotion evoked by good fortune. Instead, biblical joy is a deep satisfaction of the mind, emotions, and desires found through contemplation of Jesus Christ, regardless of life's circumstances.

Message References:

• 1 John 1:1–4: The primary text, known as the "prologue," describing the Word of Life and the reasons for writing.
• Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created..." referenced to contrast the beginning of creation with the eternal beginning of the Word.
• John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word..." referenced to describe the pre-existence of Christ before time began [17–18].
• 1 John 1:5: "God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all".
• 1 John 4:8: "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love".
• John 15:1: "I am the True Vine," used to explain the grammatical concept of the "restrictive attributive" (emphasizing Jesus as the true one).

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll