Untitled Sermon (19)
OUTLINE OF FIRST JOHN
I. THE GREAT TESTIMONY OF JOHN: THE SON OF GOD HAS COME TO EARTH, 1:1–5
II. THE THREE MOST CRITICAL MISCONCEPTIONS OF MAN, 1:6–2:2
A. Misconception 1: Man Can Fellowship with God and Still Walk in Sin, 1:6–7
B. Misconception 2: Man Is Not Totally Sinful and Depraved, 1:8–9
C. Misconception 3: Man Can Become Sinless and Righteous on His Own, 1:10–2:2
III. THE PROOF THAT ONE REALLY KNOWS GOD: SEVEN TESTS, 2:3–29
A. Test 1: Obeying God’s Commandments, 2:3–6
B. Test 2: Loving Your Neighbor, 2:7–11
C. Test 3: Remembering Your Spiritual Growth, 2:12–14
D. Test 4: Not Loving the World, 2:15–17
E. Test 5: Guarding Against Antichrists or False Teachers, 2:18–23
F. Test 6: Letting the Gospel Remain in You, 2:24–27
G. Test 7: Continuing, Abiding in Christ, 2:28–29
IV. THE PROOF THAT ONE REALLY LOVES GOD: SIX TESTS, 3:1–4:21
A. Test 1: Experiencing God’s Incredible Love, 3:1–3
B. Test 2: Turning Away from Sin and Its Enslavement, 3:4–9
C. Test 3: Being Marked by Righteousness and Love, 3:10–17
D. Test 4: Having a Clean Heart, 3:18–24
E. Test 5: Testing the Spirits of False Teachers, 4:1–6
F. Test 6: Loving One Another, 4:7–21
V. THE PROOF THAT A PERSON TRULY BELIEVES IN GOD: FOUR TESTS, 5:1–21
A. Test 1: Being Born Again, 5:1–5
B. Test 2: Believing the Testimony About Christ: That He Is the Son of God (Part I), 5:6–8
C. Test 3: Believing the Testimony About Christ: That He Is the Son of God (Part II), 5:9–15
D. Test 4: Living Free of Sin, 5:16–21
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF
JOHN
INTRODUCTION
AUTHOR: John, the Apostle (see the Gospel of John, Introductory Notes, Author).
The author does not give his name nor give himself a title. But the author is easily identifiable. The style, vocabulary, and content point to the same author writing the Gospel of John and the Epistles of 1, 2, and 3 John.
John Stott points out that all three epistles are found in the earliest Greek manuscripts. There has never been any question about their being Scripture. The earliest reference to the three epistles was by Polycarp (about A.D. 155 in his letter to the Philippians, 7th chapter). But there are what seem to be quotations from the epistles made by earlier writers (Clement of Rome, the Didache, and the Epistle to Diogenetus). Eusebius verifies that John wrote at least the first two epistles. And Clement of Alexandria mentions “the greater epistle” of John which shows that he knew of more than one letter (John RW Stott. The Epistles of John. “Tyndale New Testament Commentary,” ed. by RVG Tasker. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964, p. 14f).
It should be mentioned, however, that some say there were two Johns: John the Apostle and John the Elder, who is said to have been a member or minister of the church at Ephesus. But the weight of evidence points directly to John the Apostle as the author of all four books.
DATE: Uncertain. Probably A.D. 85–90 (see the Gospel of John, Introductory Notes, Date).
There is no mention of the persecution under the Emperor Domitian in A.D. 95, so the letter most likely was written before that date. It is thought that the three epistles were written about the same time. Some even feel that Second and Third John were written and sent at the same time as First John. If both Second and Third John are personal letters to individuals, they could have easily accompanied the letter of First John to the church.
TO WHOM WRITTEN: To the church at large. Note: there is no greeting, farewell, or personal references that would reveal the recipients. This means a most wonderful thing: each local church can look upon First John as though the letter has been personally written to it.
Tradition says that all three epistles were written from Ephesus where John pastored during the latter years of his life.
PURPOSE: “These things have I written … that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (5:13) (see Special Features, point 3). However, John also wrote to defend the faith and to strengthen the church against false teachers and heretical doctrine. John confronted the first stages of the same heretical teachings that Paul often confronted—the beginning stages of Gnosticism. Briefly stated, Gnosticism said that the human body was evil. This teaching resulted in two different attitudes toward the body and life.
⇒ Some said that the body needed to be disciplined, controlled, and taken care of as much as possible. By controlling its urges and appetites and keeping it fit, the corruption and evil of the body could be mastered more easily.
⇒ Others said that what was done with the body mattered little, for it was evil and doomed to death. Therefore, if a person took care of his spirit, he could eat, drink, and be merry and do whatever else he wanted with his body.
a. The parallel with the false teaching of today is clearly seen.
⇒ Some concentrate upon the body and its health through recreation and discipline, seeking to overcome the evil, that is, the corruption, disease, aging, and dying of the body as much as possible.
⇒ Others live as they please, eating and drinking and partying as they wish, thinking that it matters little how they live. Just think how many people feel that they can do their own thing—what they want, when they want—just so they believe in God and worship occasionally and do a good deed here and there.
The point to see is this: each person gives attention to the spiritual only as he wishes, only as much as he feels is necessary to keep his spirit in touch with God. But his concentration is the body and its pleasure, whether the pleasure is the exhibition of discipline and control or the stimulating of the flesh.
There are teeming millions, and have been since Christ, who believe that they are safe and acceptable to God just so they have been baptized, belong to a church, practice the rituals of the church, and worship here and there. They think they can pretty much live like they want during the week: eat, drink, party, seek the pleasures and possessions of the world, bank, hoard, even curse and be immoral here and there. What they do with their bodies, just so it is not too serious in their minds, does not matter that much. What it is that makes them acceptable to God is what has just been stated: being baptized and belonging to the church.
b. Note how the truth destroys this life-style and teaching. The human body is not evil; Jesus Christ, the image of God, came to earth in a human body. Therefore, the human body could not be evil, for God cannot be touched with evil. He is perfect. The conclusion is shocking and convulsive for the life of man. Since the body is honorable, it means that everything a man does with his body is important to his spiritual welfare. What he does with his body determines his relationship and destiny with God. It is totally impossible to keep one’s spirit right with God and let one’s body go its own way. A person is a person, both spirit and body. Therefore, he is to honor God with both his spirit and body, just as Jesus Christ did in the body given him by God. (See outline and notes—Ro. 12:1–2; 1 Co. 6:12–20 for more discussion. See Colossians, Introductory Notes, Purpose. Also see note, pt. 2—Col. 1:15 for more detailed discussion.)
SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. First John is “A General Epistle.” That is, it is not written to a specific church, but rather it is written to all Christian believers. It is “An Epistle Written From a Father to His Children.” It is written from the heart of a pastor who feels the tenderness of a father for his children (1 Jn. 2:1, 12, 18, 28; 3:1, 2, 7, 18, 21; 4:1, 4, 7, 11; 5:2, 21). See James, Introductory Notes, Special Features, point 1.)
2. First John is “An Epistle Combating False Teachers and Doctrinal Error.” (See Purpose above.)
3. First John is “An Epistle of Christian Certainty or Assurance.” The phrase “we know” is used thirteen times to give assurance to the believer. The epistle assures the believer time and again that God has sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into the world to save man (the incarnation). In addition, John assures the believer of eternal life. In contrast, the Gospel of John was written to stir faith “that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.…” (Jn. 20:31).
4. First John is “The Epistle of Tests.” It was written to give the believer test after test by which he could prove whether or not he knows God. The tests also strengthen the believer’s faith and love for God. A quick glance at the outline will show this.
5. First John is “A Personal and a Spiritual Epistle.” It is not written so much from a doctrinal point of view, although it is filled with doctrinal teaching. Its emphasis is personal righteousness, purity, love, and a knowledge and loyalty to Jesus Christ, the Son of God Himself.
6. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses Love” (1 Jn. 2:7–11; 3:1–3; 3:11–17; 3:23; 4:7–21).
7. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God” (1 Jn. 1:7; 2:1, 22; 3:8; 4:9–10, 14–15; 5:1, 5, 9–13, 18, 20).
8. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses that Jesus Christ Did Come As a Man” (1 Jn. 1:1–3, 5, 8; 4:2–3, 9–10, 14; 5:6, 8, 20).
9. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses that Jesus Christ is the Savior: He Did Die for Man’s Sins” (1 Jn. 1:7; 2:1–2; 3:5, 8, 16; 4:9–10, 14).
10. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses the Spirit Living Within the Believer” (1 Jn. 2:20, 27; 3:24; 4:13, 15–16; 5:12).
11. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses the Need for Separation From the World” (1 Jn. 2:15–17; 3:1, 3, 13; 4:3–5; 5:4; 5:19).
12. First John is “An Epistle that Stresses Righteousness and Obedience to God’s Commandments” (1 Jn. 2:3–8, 29; 3:3–15, 22–24; 4:20–21; 5:2–4, 17–19, 21).
OUTLINE OF FIRST