Welcome back to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John.
We just finished studying 1 John 1:1.
Let’s do a quick review of our previous lessons.
Lesson 1 - 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning...
We learned that Jesus is God and God is eternal. When you think about Jesus, remember that He is eternal, He is God, and He came to this earth.
Lesson 2 - 1 John 1:1…which we have heard…
We learned that God wants you to hear Him, obey Him, continue in His word till the end, and be an overcomer.
Lesson 3 - 1 John 1:1...which we have seen with our own eyes...
We learned that even though you can’t see Jesus physically with your own eyes, you can see Jesus with the eyes of faith.
Lesson 4 - 1 John 1:1...which we have gazed upon...
We learned that God wants you to gaze upon Him, to be transfixed by Him, to really study Him, to analyze Him, to look closely at and behold Him, believe in Him, and fix your eyes on Him.
Lesson 5 - 1 John 1:1...and touched with our own hands...
We learned that you can touch Jesus by faith by believing in Him, by knowing that He is with you always, by drawing near to Him, by praising Him, by thanking Him, by worshiping Him, by taking communion, and by abiding in Him.
Lesson 6 - 1 John 1:1...this is the Word of life.
We learned that Jesus is the message from God that gives eternal life. To have abundant eternal life, fill your life with Jesus and believe in Him. You can do this by digging deep into the Bible and getting to know Jesus.
Now let’s move on to 1 John 1:2.
In this lesson, we’re going to learn about how Jesus was concealed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament, and about how He will continue to reveal Himself to you as you seek Him earnestly.
1 John 1:2 And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.
Let’s focus on: And this is the life that was revealed…
“This is life” is speaking about Jesus who is the Word of life.
“Revealed” means to make something known that was previously unknown, to make clear.
In the Old Testament, Jesus was concealed. We can only see glimpses of Jesus through the many prophecies about the coming of Jesus.
In the New Testament, Jesus was revealed. We see that He is the fulfillment of these prophecies.
For example, at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis 3:15, we see the first prophecy about Jesus. This prophecy says the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
In this verse, the Bible doesn’t specifically say, Jesus, will crush the head of the serpent. It only says that He will crush the head of the serpent. We don’t get the details. We are only getting a glimpse of Jesus.
But, we know after reading the New Testament, that this is Jesus. Jesus, the seed of the woman, is the one that crushes the head of the serpent by dying on the cross and rising from the dead, thus defeating the serpent.
In 1 John 3:8, we read that the serpent, also known as the devil, has been sinning from the very start. Jesus, the Son of God, was revealed to destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies about Jesus.
However, Jesus doesn’t get revealed until the New Testament.
In John 1:29-31, at the Jordan river, Jesus came up to John to be baptized.
John said that Jesus is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He said that reason he came was to reveal Jesus.
John 1:29-31 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. 33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.
In Romans 16:25-26 we read how the gospel was a mystery concealed for ages past and now revealed through Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past 26 but now revealed and made known through the writings of the prophets by the command of the eternal God, in order to lead all nations to the obedience that comes from faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Just like Jesus was concealed in the Old Testament, there was a time when Jesus was hidden from you. Do you remember the time before Jesus was revealed to you?
You may have had glimpses of Jesus, just like there were glimpses of Jesus in the Old Testament prophecies, but he wasn’t revealed yet.
Now, do you remember when Jesus was revealed to you?
What’s amazing is that Jesus wants to continue to reveal more and more about Himself to you. The more you seek Jesus, the more He will reveal Himself to you.
In Matthew 7:7 Jesus says that when you seek, you will find. If you seek Jesus you will find Him. He says to ask and it will be given to you. Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. He says that if you knock, the door will be opened to you. Knock on Jesus’ door and He will open up His life to you.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
In Hebrews 11:6 we read that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. One of the rewards of seeking God is that you will get to know Him more. The more you seek Him, the more He will reveal Himself to you.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
We read in Matthew 6:33 that Jesus wants you to prioritize seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first. When you seek Him first, Jesus will reveal more of Himself to you.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
In conclusion, Jesus was concealed in the Old Testament and was revealed in the New Testament. Jesus wants to continue to reveal more and more about Himself to you. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you, seek Him earnestly, knock on His door, and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
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Thank you and God bless you.
~ Jeff M Newman
VERSE BY VERSE BIBLE STUDY LESSONS (See all)
Lesson 8 - Lesson 8 -1 John 1:2...we have seen it and testified to it... (Share Your Testimony)
Lesson 7 - 1 John 1:2 And this is the life that was revealed... (Eternal Life Revealed)
Lesson 6 - 1 John 1:1...this is the Word of life. (The Message of Eternal Life)
Lesson 5 - 1 John 1:1...and touched with our own hands...(Touching Jesus by Faith)
Lesson 4 - 1 John 1:1...which we have gazed upon... (Gaze Upon Jesus)
Lesson 3 - 1 John 1:1...which we have seen with our own eyes... (Eyes of Faith)
Lesson 2 - 1 John 1:1…which we have heard… (Hear and Obey God)
Lesson 1 - 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning (Jesus is Eternal)
(Image by Hector Ramon Perez on Unsplash. Río Negro, Argentina. Berean Study Bible.)
Lesson 7 - 1 John 1:2 And this is the life that was revealed...