Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, Word of Life, draw us to You and the Father. Amen.
Text: First John 1:1-7
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 – 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 – that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 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. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.
Devotion
In this text we again hear John speaking about the union of the eternal Word with Man in Jesus Christ. He and the other Apostles saw and felt that which was from the beginning, namely, the Word, Life, God’s only-begotten Son, God Himself. It was clearly Jesus’ human nature they saw with their eyes and touched with their hands. But all the same he says it was God. So then the two natures are one Person in Christ. And so it is the Word, the Life, God’s only-begotten Son we hear in the Apostles’ preaching, and Him we are united with, in that we believe and keep the Word in our hearts. We have fellowship with the Apostles and are one Body with them, but our fellowship is in Christ, who is the Head of the Church. His divine life flows through the whole Body. God’s life, God’s love itself, the bond of perfection unites all saints in the Lord. The Apostles embrace us by their proclamation and seat us together with themselves at Jesus’ Supper, and so we and they have communion with the Father and the Son.
But God is light, that is, truth and holiness. No one who lives in God can walk in sin and deceit. No one who lives in sin and deceit lives in God. Not that children of God here on earth are without sin. But they do not live in sin, do not serve sin. They confess it and seek forgiveness for it, and by grace they advance in sanctification, until they finally shall become perfectly pure. For the blood of Jesus Christ is the blood of God’s Son, so shouldn’t it cleanse from all sin? It gives us a full forgiveness at all times, and it sanctifies us completely. Through the blood of Christ I shall then become perfectly sinless, and then I shall see Him as He is.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, even me You have given room in Your heart, – everything in me thrills when I speak about it. Even me You have cleansed with Your blood and make me alive with Your love. Even me You have drawn out of darkness into the light of life – even me. I kneel before Your throne and will exalt You with worship and praise. But Lord, I am poor and miserable and unworthy of all Your mercy toward me, I am still so sinful and unclean. Cleanse me completely, wash me with Your blood, and I shall be perfectly pure. Then I shall praise You with pure lips from a blessed heart. Amen.
Hymn
Who can be telling
The pow’r of Jesus’ blood?
My soul is swelling
With longing for my God!
In me is burning
My Jesus’ perfect love
And I am yearning
For mansions there above,
Where I am turning
My thoughts to God’s pure love.
I now am given
The joy of blessedness,
Sweetness of heaven,
Restored my innocence!
Beyond expression
The glory of my soul,
Once in depression
On earth, a lowly thrall
But now arisen
With my Immanuel!
Brorson: O hvilken Ære L 166:3-4 tr. DeGarmeaux;
tune: Paa Gud alene (LHy 350); alternate hymn: All my heart sings and rejoices ELH 115:6-7 or In Thee is gladness ELH 149