THINGS SEEN AND HEARD

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. . . " (1 John 1:3)

BOTH SEEING AND HEARING are gifts from God. As it is written, "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them" (Prov 20:12). This is not only true in nature, it is much more true in grace. The ability to perceive the Person of Christ and comprehend His word, comes from the Lord. In both nature and grace, God has "planted the ear" and "formed the eye" (Psa 94:9). Seeing this truth, David cried out, "Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law" (Psa 119:18NKJV).

WHAT, THEREFORE, JOHN WRITES to us is not his private opinion or interpretation of Christ Jesus. No Scripture "is a matter of one's own interpretation" (2 Pet 1:20 NASB). John is going to declare to us what God ENABLED Him to see and hear. He will not simply relate historical facts. This book is NOT "made by an act of human will, but," as with all Scripture, John, being "moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Pet 1:21).

AT THIS POINT, there is an important Divine manner to perceive. Before Jesus left His disciples, He told them He was going to send the Spirit of Truth to them. "But the Helper (Comforter KJV), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26, NKJV). These Apostles were going to be wholly reliant upon God in their speaking and writing. They had not previously been "trained" in this area, nor were they noted for their speaking and writing skills. None of the twelve were priests or scribes. However, the Holy Spirit would cause them to excel in both areas. God the Father would send the Spirit to them. The Holy Spirit would "teach" them about everything pertinent to the Gospel and God of salvation. He would enable them to see and comprehend Scripture, as well as the real issues with which they ought to deal. He would also enable them to recall what Jesus has said, as well as expounding what He meant.

ACCORDING TO THE WAY men think, the best time to record a matter is when it occurs – or at least as close to that time as possible. With men, time erodes recollection, and important details are soon forgotten, or even distorted. Also, twelve men speaking or writing about a single matter would, by nature, tend to present contradicting views. The Holy Spirit, however, would cause these men to rise above those natural tendencies, being in perfect accord with each other – having "one mind and one mouth" (Rom 15:6).

JOHN BEGINS HIS EPISTLE by saying it contains what he had "seen and heard." However, First John was NOT written right after Jesus ascended into heaven. Nor, indeed, were any New Covenant writings so recorded. It is generally conceded that Mark is the earliest New Covenant book. It was written 40-42 A.D., or 10-12 after the ascension. First John was written, so far as we know, somewhere between 80-95 A.D. That is 50-65 years after the ascension! Such a procedure is not the manner of this world. According to the flesh, John was aged, and the powers of recollection would have deteriorated, according to the laws of nature. However, the Holy Spirit did not rely upon the flesh, nor did John.

MARK IT WELL, this is a critical Epistle, written to bolster the confidence of believers, and assure them they have eternal life (1 John 5:13). Such objectives cannot be realized by philosophizing about truth, or sharing private perceptions of the Gospel. If knowing we have eternal life is at issue, precision must be found in John's teaching. Too much is at stake for him to be vague. The statements about the Lord Jesus Christ must be precise and to the point (1:3,7; 2:1; 4:9,10,14; 5:5,6). The benefits accruing from His achievements must also be flawless and clear (1:7; 2:20,27; 4:2). Something cannot be given to us that is in any way distorted.

HERE IS WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT comes into the picture. Over half a century after Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated on the right hand of God, the Spirit brings such recollection and insight to John that he is able to effectively minister to "God's heritage" (1 Pet 5:3). John is not depending upon his memory to declare what He has "seen and heard." Even as in the beginning of his ministry, when but a young man, he could not help but speak the things he had "seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). But in this Epistle, as well as in those earlier days, his memory was empowered by the influence of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit directed Him in WHAT to remember, as well as how to put it into words. He had really "seen" and really "heard," but now the Spirit enables Him to really remember with precision and exactness.

THE HOLY SPIRIT did not move men along like robots. First, He worked with "HOLY men" (2 Pet 1:21). Second, He used those who had been exposed to the Person, words, and works of the Savior of the world – "witnesses chosen before by God"(Acts 10:41).

IN THE WRITING OF SCRIPTURE, experience and insight are woven together by the Spirit of God. The personal seeing and hearing of these things enabled the Apostle to write with both joy and zeal. The insight empowered him to write with confidence and power. Because of this, his inspired recollections took the very nature of Christ's words – "spirit" and "life" (John 6:63). This is true of "all Scripture."

– Given O. Blakely