For the next few weeks I thought it would be a good time to study First, Second and Third John, since we will be studying the gospel of John in the fall through BSF. All were written by the same author, John who was Jesus’ beloved disciple. In addition to the gospel of John, he also wrote Revelation.
This first letter by John was written to warn Christians about the false teachers who were trying to mislead them. They had moved away from the faith and some had left the church. These Christians were being taught that Jesus was not really a man. John taught clearly that the Son of God came as a real man and lived his life here on earth and that He actually died and rose again from the dead. He wrote this letter to encourage Christians. He reminded them what they already knew. They knew what was true, they knew Jesus was the Son of God, and they knew that He came to take away their sin. They also knew that they can be sure of eternal life with Jesus and they should show they were Christians by their good lives.
This is relevant today. There are many believers who have fallen away and are believing false teachings. This book is a great reminder of just who Jesus is and a reminder of what He has done for us. It helps us to not doubt, but remember what we KNOW.
John used words for knowledge 41 times. He used the phrase, ‘we know’ 13 times. So if you are a Christian but you have doubts, this should give you confidence and take away any doubt. You should KNOW that Jesus is Savior and He has saved you. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13.
1 John 1:1-4 – The Word of Life
John proclaimed that Jesus was there before there was anything, when all that existed was God. The Father and the Son were both there from the beginning and are inseparable. Jesus is eternal. He called Jesus the Word of Life. John and the disciples were witnesses. They heard, saw and touched Jesus and testified about Jesus and the eternal life He brings.
Principle: Jesus is eternal and the Word of Life.
1 John 1:5-10 – Walk in the Light
John focuses on the theme of walking in the light. If you ‘walk in the light’ you know Christ. Those who do not know Christ ‘walk in darkness’. “God is light, in Him is no darkness at all.” – 1 John 1:5
Those who claim to have fellowship with God must live as though the claim is true and those who do are continually cleansed from sin. Those who claim to have no sin are deceived and do not have the truth in them. The goal of the believer is ‘walk’ in the light, as God is in the light so we can have fellowship and unity with Him.
Light - As light shines, so God shines showing Himself through Jesus. John uses light to mean all that is good, holy and right. This shows God character. God is good. He is always right. He is holy. He sees all things so we can hide nothing from Him. To walk in the light is to share in the character of God.
Darkness – This word means all evil acts of this world, all sin, and anything that is opposite from goodness. To walk in darkness means walking in sin.
God has a remedy for sin. The remedy is the blood of his Son Jesus Christ. He shed His blood for us. Admit you have sin in you and confess them to God. God has promised to forgive us and He will keep His promise. He put all our sins on Jesus at the cross. Jesus took our punishment. He died for this purpose. Now God can forgive those who confess their sins. God says all have sinned and Jesus came to die for the sins of all people. If we had not sinned, then Jesus would not have had to die.
Principle: Believers are to walk in the light of Jesus.
1 John 2 – Staying in the Light
John’s purpose for writing this letter was so Christians will not sin. However, they should be concerned about sin. We all sin because we are human, but sin doesn’t rule the life of a Christian. God doesn’t want us to sin, but as humans we do.
When you become a Christian, there is a change in relationship with sin. A Christian no longer loves sin, brags about his sin, plans to sin again, enjoys sin as he once did, or is comfortable in habitable sin anymore.
John focuses on fellowship with God. He has given us an Advocate in Jesus, the Righteous One. So if and when we sin, we have Jesus as our defender before God. Jesus Christ covered the sins of all the world and those who keep His commandment demonstrate they truly know Him. Those who don’t but say they have fellowship with Him, are liars. Those who walk with Him give evidence they are in Him. (1 John 1-6)
Principle: We all sin, but have an Advocated in Jesus.
John warns and commands believers – children, fathers, young men – to love one another. If you hate someone, then you are still in darkness. If you love others, then you are living in the light. Love is often defined as the single most important sign which the world uses to identify a Christian. (1 John 2:7-14)
Principle: Love one another.
Believers are not to love the world. The world is a phrase used to refer to the sinful and material attitudes. “Everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the father but from the world.” – 1 John2:16. Love of the world proves that the love of the Father is not in them. These attitudes are from the world not God. (1 John 2:15-17)
It’s ok to love the beauty of the world that God created, but we are not to love things of this world more than God. We are not to love things that the world can give us like homes, cars, gadgets, status or even the world’s way of doing things. We express love in our time, attention, and money. The world encourages us to give to the things of the world instead of to God.
Principle: Love God, not the world.
Believers are warned against teaching of antichrists or false teachers. We have heard the antichrist is coming. Many antichrists have come so we know it is the last hour. These liars deny Jesus is the Christ. But we know the truth. John is writing these things so you will not be led astray. He encourages us to continue in Jesus and be confident and unashamed before Him when He returns. If you know what is right, you have been born of Him. (1 John 2:18-29)
Principle: Be confident and unashamed before Him at His return.
Do you abide in Him or just visit every once in a while?
Join me next time for 1 John 3-5. Hope to see you here. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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