Bible Overview: 1 John

Author: John

Recipients: Christians

(unknown identity)

Date: A.D. 75-100

John left Jerusalem after its destruction in A.D. 70 and relocated to Ephesus. He probably wrote from there, and it could have been anytime after A.D. 70 until his death around 100.

Purpose:

CSB Study Bible: Notes Message and Purpose

1 John was written to confirm Christians in true apostolic Christianity by helping them avoid the destructive beliefs and behaviors to which some had fallen prey.

1 John 1:4 BSB

4 We write these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 John 2:1 BSB

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

1 John 2:26 BSB

26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

1 John 5:13 BSB

13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Themes & Key Verses

Assurance of Salvation:

1 John 5:13 BSB

13 I have written 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 1:2–3 BSB

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. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:3–6 BSB

3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. 4 If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.

“First John maps out the three main components of saving knowledge of God:

(1) faith in Jesus Christ,

(2) obedient response to God’s commands, and

(3) love for God and others from the heart.”

For people who struggle with assurance of their salvation, here is John’s test:

1. Do you believe that Jesus is who He says He is?

2. Are you seeking to obey Him and submit your life to His commands?

3. Do you love God and others from your heart?

True Faith

1 John 5:1 BSB

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves those born of Him.

1 John 5:5 BSB

5 Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:10 BSB

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.

Active Obedience

1 John 2:3–5 BSB

3 By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. 4 If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him:

1 John 3:6 BSB

6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.

1 John 5:18 BSB

18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.

Fervent Love

1 John 2:10 BSB

10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.

1 John 2:15 BSB

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 3:10 BSB

10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

1 John 3:11 BSB

11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:14 BSB

14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.

1 John 3:17 BSB

17 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

1 John 4:7–8 BSB

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:20–21 BSB

20 If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

Application

God wants believers to be secure in their relationship with Him, and He has given us the evidences of genuine conversion: true faith in Jesus Christ, obedience to God’s commands, and love for God and others.

This is how we can know we are truly saved, if these things are true of us. If they are not true, likely we are not saved.