Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 24
Sunday


THE WITNESS
OF FRIENDS

READ:
1 John 1:1-7
_______________________________________________________

We have seen, and bear
witness, and declare
to you that eternal
life which was with
the Father and was
manifested to us.
__1 John 1:2
_______________________________________________________

Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam died in a traffic accident 5 months before the publication of his landmark book about the US war in Korea. In the days following the author's death, fellow writers and colleagues volunteered to conduct a national book tour on his behalf. During every engagement, they paid tribute to Halberstam by reading from his new book and offering personal recollections of their friend.

When it comes to conveying the essence and importance of a person, there's no substitute for a friend. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, His followers began to tell others about the unique Person they had known. "We have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us" (1 John 1:20). Their purpose was that others might come to know God the Father and christ His Son (v.3).

At times we may feel that witnessing to others about our faith in christ is a frightening task or a burdensome duty. but talking about a Friend whose presence and influence have transformed our lives helps us see it in a new light.

The gospel of Christ has always been most powerfully presented by the witness of His friends. __David McCasland
_____________________________________________________________

``````````````Lord, help us see, through transformed eyes.``````````
````````````````````This world of people in despair;```````````````
`````````````````We want to reach out with Your love``````````````
`````````````To tell them just how much You care. __Sper``````````
_____________________________________________________________

The more you love Jesus,
the more you'll talk about Him.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 John 1:1-7*************

1 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,
concerning the Word of
life-- 2 the life was
manifested, and we have
seen and bear witness, and
declare to you that eternal
life which was with the
Father and was manifested
to us-- 3 that which we
have seen and heard we
declare to you, that you also
may have fellowship
is with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And
these things we write to you
that your joy may be full.

5 This is the message
which we have heard from
Him and declare to you,
that God is light and in Him
is no darkness at all. 6 If we
say that we have fellowship
with Him, and walk in
darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth. 7 But if
we walk in the light as He
is in the light, we have
fellowship with one
another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

John the apostle wrote 1 and 2 John to refute the false teaching
that denied the incarnation of Christ, probably an early form of
Docetism. (The Greek word dokeo means "to seem.") Docetism
taught that Jesus only seemed to have a physical body, therefore
denying the humanity of Christ (John 1:14, 1 John 4:2-3; 2 John 7).
Here, at the beginning of his first epistle, John testified that Jesus
was real, for he (and others) had seen Jesus with their eyes
and touched His body with their hands (1:1). __Sim Kay Tee