Christmas in 1 John: Telling Others

“We write to you about the Word of life, which has existed from the very beginning: we have heard it, and we have seen it with our eyes; yes, we have seen it, and our hands have touched it. When this life became visible, we saw it; so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life which was with the Father and was made known to us. What we have seen and heard we tell to you also, so that you will join with us in the fellowship that we have with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3).

“And we have seen and tell others that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever declares that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he lives in God” (1 John 4:14-15).

This is the Christmas story in 1 John. It is wonderful in itself; however, the Incarnation is not the only truth here declared. Notice verse 2: “so we speak of it and tell you about the eternal life”; verse 3: “we tell to you also”; verse 14: “and tell others”; verse 15: “whoever declares.”

Telling others is one of the assurances of our own salvation, and telling others is the means of the salvation of others. Good news is meant to be declared.

Written December 1988.

This post coordinates with Saturday’s reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan, please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.