"OVERVIEW OF 1 JOHN"

Background info –

Author – John

Date – 90 - 95 AD

Audience – Believers

Theme – “Tests of Eternal Life”

By the grace of God we will come to see how the theme “tests of eternal life” is taught throughout the book. We will look three specific tests that are laid out in the book of 1 John.

We must understand the condition at the time the book was written –

False prophets are very prominent at this point in time –

Gnostics – adored to devil and dethroned Christ Doetic Gnostics – Denied the humanity of Christ Cerinthian Gnostics – distinguished between Jesus and Christ

Message that John is proclaiming – 1:5-7

1 John 1:5–7 (NASB95)

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Throughout the book Johns makes the point that you are not saved by -

Walking in the darkness – 1:6

1 John 1:6 (NASB95)

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

Hating your brother – 2:9, 11, 3:15

1 John 2:9 (NASB95)

9 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now.

1 John 2:11 (NASB95)

11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

1 John 3:15 (NASB95)

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

Loving the worlds goods – 2:15-17

1 John 2:15–17 (NASB95)

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

By not loving – 4:8

1 John 4:8 (NASB95)

8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Then he transitions and makes the point that you are saved if you “KNOW” three tests –

Know – understand (the word “know” is an action verb, the point is that as believers we continue to do the action)

Who do people say that Jesus is?

Know that Jesus is the Christ

You must remember that false prophets called the Gnostics are going around to the believers teaching that Christ is of no value, and that He was never human –

1 John 4:14–15 (NASB95)

14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Testify – witnessed the Father sending his Son to the be the Savor Vs. 15 – confess – admit/declare – Jesus is the Son of God The point is that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. (Man – Incarnation)

1 John 2:22–23 (NASB95)

22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

Who is the Liar? - the one that denies the Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) Identify the person as the antichrist If you embrace Jesus as Christ (Messiah)

1 John 4:2 (NASB95)

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

You must know that Jesus is the Christ Incarnation of Christ – “Came in the flesh”

1 John 5:1 (NASB95)

1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.

Jesus is the Christ (Messiah)

This the first test that you must pass if you are truly saved –

Know His Commandments

1 John 2:3 (NASB95)

3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

The word “Know” active verb continual pattern of life – What are God’s commandments?

1 John 5:2–5 (NASB95)

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

How do you and I view the Commands of God? If we are truly saved then we do not view them as a burden

1 John 3:24 (NASB95)

24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

This is the second test we must pass if we are truly saved – Let me ask you a question – How are you doing on keeping the commands of God?

Know Brotherly Love

1 John 3:16 (NASB95)

16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We know love by looking at an example – who’s example is it?

What did his example look like?

Compassion when he was rejected Loved even while people hated his guts Demonstrated benevolence despite people’s actions

The challenge is that as believers we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow brothers –

The term for love in the Greek is Agape – “Benevolence/brotherly love

What are practical ways that we can do this today?

1 John 3:19 (NASB95)

19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him

The word “By” is a preposition that helps link a thought together within a phrase or sentence – look at verse 18 to discover what the preposition is linking together.

The point is for believers to know for sure of their salvation they must not only love in word and talk rather in deed and truth.

3:11 – “Love one another” (with a benevolent love)

1 John 3:11 (NASB95)

11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

3:14 – plural active verb – continual pattern of life for a believer in Christ.

1 John 3:14 (NASB95)

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

4:7 – plural active verb – continual pattern of life for a believer in Christ

1 John 4:7 (NASB95)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

This is the third test for someone to determine if they are truly saved.

Application –

PURPOSE OF THE BOOK - 5:13 – “so that you may know that you have eternal life…”

1 John 5:13 (NASB95)

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

Have you ever wondered if you are saved? It is time to be done with that question

3:10 – You are either Children of God or Children of the devil –

1 John 3:10 (NASB95)

10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

Your life will be demonstrating one of two things -

I. Either a pattern of righteousness

II. Or a pattern of unrighteousness