Alt: Dr. Ed Young sharing a powerful message about knowing God’s love.
Dr. Ed Young’s recent health scare, a quadruple bypass surgery following a previously successful angioplasty, served as a profound spiritual experience. Despite facing a serious medical procedure, he found solace not in prayers for healing, but in surrendering to God’s will. A clear message resonated within him: “I’ve gotcha.” This experience led him to explore the concept of knowing God’s love as described in 1 John.
Alt: An open Bible, symbolizing the search for knowledge and understanding of God’s word.
Understanding “Knowing” in 1 John
The theme of “knowing” permeates 1 John, appearing 38 times. Written by the Apostle John, the disciple Jesus loved, this book emphasizes the certainty of faith, not mere hope or belief. John, nearing the end of his life, reaffirmed the dual nature of Jesus as fully man and fully God, a crucial doctrine at the time. He highlighted Jesus as the Christ, the promised Messiah, God incarnate.
The Structure of 1 John: Light, Love, and Life
1 John can be outlined simply: Chapters 1-2 focus on God as light, Chapters 3-4 reveal God as love, and Chapter 5 proclaims God as life. This simple framework provides a clear path to understanding the book’s core message. The opening verses of 1 John summarize this journey: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes…concerning the Word of life.” These verses introduce the concept of epistemology – the study of how we know what we know.
Alt: Praying hands, representing communion with God and the experience of His love.
Objective and Subjective Knowing
John describes two types of knowing. Objective knowing comes from sensory experience. He speaks of seeing, hearing, and touching Jesus, offering undeniable proof of his existence and ministry. This is contrasted with subjective knowing, a personal, internal experience, like Dr. Young’s “I’ve gotcha” message. This subjective knowledge is not open to external validation but carries deep personal conviction.
John’s use of the Greek word “horao” for “see” illustrates different levels of understanding. He recounts the Resurrection story in John 20, where John “saw” the empty tomb with understanding and belief, marking a pivotal moment in his faith journey. This “seeing” represents a profound, transformative understanding of Jesus’ resurrection.
The “What” of Knowing
John emphasizes the importance of knowing the “what” – the Person of Jesus (God incarnate), the words of Jesus (his teachings), and the works of Jesus (his miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection). These three elements form the foundation of Christian understanding.
The “Why” of Knowing: Fellowship and Joy
The purpose of knowing is twofold: fellowship and joy. Fellowship is experienced through communion with God – feeling His guidance, instruction, and presence in prayer. Joy, in this context, is not dependent on circumstances but stems from the unwavering knowledge of God’s love and presence. This joy persists through trials and triumphs, offering unwavering peace and contentment.
Alt: People expressing joy and praise, embodying the fulfillment that comes from knowing God’s love.
The Certainty of Knowing
Dr. Young uses the story of Henry Ward Beecher and the calculus problem to illustrate the importance of standing firm in our knowledge, even when challenged by those with seemingly greater authority. The professor’s harsh treatment of his students ultimately served to teach them a valuable lesson: the importance of conviction and the courage to stand by what we know to be true.
Dr. Young’s experience and his exploration of 1 John encourage us to seek a deeper understanding of God’s love, a knowing that transcends doubt and fear. It’s about experiencing the assurance that, no matter what life throws our way, God has us, and in that knowledge, we find true and lasting joy.
