Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 1:4

"and these things we write, that our joy may be made full." — 1 John 1:4 (ASV)

And these things I write to you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:4)

Some Christians have joy, but there are only a few drops in the bottom of their cup. But the Scriptures were written, and more especially the doctrine of an Incarnate God is revealed to us, that our joy may be full. Why, if you have nothing else to make you glad, the feet that Jesus has become brother to you, arrayed in your flesh, should make your joy full.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

"There," the apostle seems to say, "if you have doubts, they will kill your joy. Doubt is a great joy-killer; but we have seen him, we have heard him, we have handled him who is the fountain of all true joy. Let no doubts come into your hearts, for these are well-attested facts of which we speak."

"We live still," says John—though, perhaps, when he wrote, he may have been the last survivor of the eleven—"we live still, by our testimony concerning Christ, to confirm your faith, that your joy may be full."

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Some Christians have joy, but there are only a few drops in the bottom of their cup; but the Scriptures were written, and more especially the doctrine of an Incarnate God is revealed to us that our joy may be full. Why, if you have nothing else to make you glad, the fact that Jesus has become brother to you, arrayed in your flesh, should make your joy full.