1 John The assurance of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2)

Introduction

1 John – Introduction – Salvation through Jesus Christ

The theme of 1 John is the assurance of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

The author emphasizes that true believers in Jesus Christ will exhibit specific characteristics, such as love for one another and obedience to God's commandments. He also warns against false teachers who deny that Jesus is the Son of God and encourages his readers to remain faithful to the gospel’s truth.

Historically and culturally, 1 John was written in the late first century, when Christians were growing concerned about false teachings that were infiltrating the church. Some of these false teachings denied the humanity or divinity of Jesus Christ, while others promoted a form of spiritual elitism that divided the church. In response to these challenges, the author of 1 John sought to reinforce the fundamental teachings of the gospel and encourage his readers to remain true to their faith.

The key characters in 1 John are the author, who is not explicitly named but is traditionally identified as the apostle John, and the readers, who are likely a group of Christians living in the same community. The author also refers to false teachers who have left the community and are promoting their ideas about Jesus Christ.

Several Greek words in 1 John may need to be explained for a sermon.

These include:

agape: a self-sacrificial love that is the hallmark of Christian love

antichristos: one who opposes Christ or seeks to replace Christ with a false version of himself

Pistis: Faith or trust in God

parakletos: an advocate or helper, often used to describe the Holy Spirit

kosmos: the world or society that is opposed to God

Explaining these Greek words can help to deepen the congregation's understanding of the text and its meaning for their lives.

Ok, now describe the context of the larger picture of 1 John on how a Christian should apply its reading to their modern-day lives.

The context of 1 John is one in which the author addresses a specific community of Christians facing challenges to their faith from false teachers and competing worldviews. However, the themes and teachings of 1 John have broader relevance for Christians today as they seek to live out their faith in a world that is increasingly secular and hostile to traditional Christian beliefs.

One of the main themes of 1 John is the importance of love for one another as a sign of true faith in Jesus Christ. The author emphasizes that Christians should not just love in words or speech. Still, also in deed and truth (1 John 3:18). This call to practical, sacrificial love is just as relevant today as it was in the first century, as Christians seek to embody the love of Christ in their relationships with others.

Another theme of 1 John is the importance of obedience to God's commandments. The author emphasizes that true faith in Jesus Christ will result in a life characterized by obedience to God's will (1 John 2:3-6). This emphasis on obedience challenges Christians today to live lives that are consistent with their professed faith and to submit to God's authority even when it is difficult or unpopular.

Finally, 1 John contains warnings about false teachings and the dangers of departing from the gospel’s truth. The author emphasizes that many false teachers deny the true nature of Jesus Christ or seek to promote their own ideas above the gospel message (1 John 4:1-3). This warning is particularly relevant today, as Christians are often bombarded with competing worldviews and messages that seek to undermine their faith.

In light of these themes and teachings, Christians today can apply the message of 1 John to their modern lives by:

They are striving to love one another practically and sacrificially as a sign of their true faith in Jesus Christ.

They are seeking to obey God's commandments and live lives that are consistent with their professed faith.

They remain vigilant against false teachings and discerning in their engagement with competing worldviews.

I trust in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation and remain faithful to the truth of the gospel message.

By applying the teachings of 1 John to their modern lives, Christians can deepen their faith, grow in their love for one another, and remain steadfast in their commitment to Jesus Christ.

We will move into 1 John over the next few weeks.