Introduction to 1 John
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Introduction of 1 John
As Troy preached from Romans 14 a few weeks ago he reminded us that there are a lot of things that we as people disagree about. But this morning with all of our differences one thing that I believe we can all agree upon is the fact that we live in a pretty crazy world.
A crazy world in which people would actually get so mad while driving down the road that they would purposefully try to get you to hit them with your vehicle. Have you ever experienced this?
Or for example a few weeks ago Brian and I’s itinerary was delayed because someone decided to shoot at a plane. Now some would say that is only something that would happen in a place like Haiti but literally the day after we returned home the news was reporting that a plane was grounded at Love Field in Dallas because someone shot at a Southwest plane.
We live in a crazy world not only because of the crazy things that happen but also the crazy things that people believe.
Does this quote sound like the crazy times in which we are living?
“Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught falsehoods in school. And the person that dares to tell the truth is called at once a lunatic and fool”
Does that quote sum up the times in which we live? Does anybody know who or when this quote was made? It was said in 427 BC by Plato.
What does this quote teach us about the crazy world in which we live?
It teaches me that things never change. The same things that we as Christians struggle with are many of the same things that people even before the time of Jesus struggled with.
That is one of the reasons why I have chosen to study with you the letters 1, 2, 3 John. The things that John wrote about are the same things that we are facing as Christians some 2000 years removed.
When we read through the letter of 1 John it is pretty clear that the churches that John expected to read his letter had been struggling for some time with false teachers and false teaching.
Some of these teachers were so bad that John refers to them as “of the devil” or the antichrist. John tells his listeners to not let these people deceive them because they are making a practice of sin and are of the devil.
John goes on in this letter to tell the Christians to not believe everything that they are hearing from these individuals but rather test everything to make sure that it is from God.
Although John spends time confronting the false teachers of his day what I love about his writings is that he did not spend more time than was necessary on the doctrines of these false teachers.
Unfortunately, I believe to many people spend their time talking about false doctrines than they do about the truth.
Growing up, this is the way I was taught to teach and preach. From the time that I was old enough to remember most of the sermon and classes that I heard rather than preaching and teaching the truth of the text they spent more time talking about how everyone else has got the text wrong.
Rather than focusing on the beauty of the text unfortunately so many people today spend their time tearing down other people and unfortunately many times tearing down their own brothers and sisters in Christ.
I say that to say, one of the things that I love about the Letter of 1 John is that he doesn’t spend all his time focused on the teaching that is false. Rather he focuses on the teaching that is true. Most of John’s writing is focused on the great truths of the Christian faith. And I believe that the best way to refute false teaching is to be well grounded in the Truth of God’s word.
Because John doesn’t focus all of his time on the false teachers, he is able to answer the questions that are on the hearts and minds of his audience. For example, in 1 John he is able to answer questions like:
1. Is Jesus Really God?
2. Are my sins really forgiven?
3. Does God really want a relationship with me?
4. Can one know right from wrong?
5. Is the Devil winning the war?
6. What does God expect from his children?
7. Can I be confident in my Salvation?
All of these questions and more are answered in this small letter. So, over the course of this class, we will be looking at many of these questions.
But before we dive into these questions let’s spend a little time introducing this letter.
Number one: Who wrote it?
As I have already said, John wrote the letter of 1 John. But which one? The author of 1 John does not identify himself. Second John and third John say that it was written by John the Elder.
Most scholars believe that the author of 1 John was John the Apostle. The apostle whom Jesus loved. This is the same John who most believe wrote the gospel of John and Revelation.
Most scholars believe that it was the Apostle John because he was an eyewitness to Jesus and his writing resembles a lot of what is written in the Gospel of John.
Now a more important question is why was it written?
We have kind of already talked about it but essentially the letter of 1 John was written so that we may believe. It was written so that we would continue to believe even through false teaching.
1 John 5:13
When 1 John was written it seems that there were people who have left the church and had decided that Jesus was not the son of God and therefore, they made it their mission to convince everyone that Jesus was not who he said he was. (1 John 2:18-23, 4:1-3)
Not only were they denying who Christ was, but they seemed to be generating Hostility among those who remained faithful. (1 John 3:4-10)
Can you imagine how difficult this must have been. Here you have someone that previously you had learned to love and trust, but now they are telling you that what they previously believed about Jesus was not true. So, it seems that in order to clear up any confusion John comes in and lays out the facts about what is true about Jesus.
John does not give them any new information but more so e reminds them about what Jesus ahs already said specifically in chapters 13-17 of the Gospel of John.
When we look at the Letter of 1 John essentially the letter boils down to two main truths.
1. God is Light (1:1-3:10)
2. God is Love (3:11-5:12)
Not only does John want his audience to know that God is light and Love, but he specifically tells them four reasons why he wrote the letter. Notice them with me.
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
1. 1:4 So that your Joy may be full. This is such an important reminder for Christians. How many people today claim to belong to Jesus but yet you would never know it by the expression on their face. You see true Christians should be people who are full of Joy.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
2. 2:1-2 So that you sin not. But if you do don’t forget that you have an advocate with God, Jesus Christ. And that He is the propitiation for our sins.
I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.
3. 2:26 So that you will not be deceived. John says don’t buy into the sins and falsehoods of this world.
`1 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
4. 5:13- Assurance of Eternal Life
When we stop and think about it the things that John is writing here are the very things that we need today.
We need to know and believe that God is Light. We need to know that God is Love. We need greater Joy in our lives. We need to know that when we do sin there is hope for us because of Jesus. We need to be warned about false teaching but more importantly we need to cling to truth. Finally, we need assurance blessed assurance that because of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice we can be right with God and have eternal Life.
Outline
For those of you who love structure let me give you a simple outline of this letter.
There seems to be a clear introduction in verses 1:1-4 and also a clear conclusion in 5:18-21. And then in between the introduction and the conclusion there are two main sections that are introduced by the phrase “this is the message”.
Then both sections are followed by images about how God is both light and Love.
We could get more technical, but these are the two main focuses for John, the idea of Light and Love.
Now in the time that we have left lets focus on the introduction of this letter.
Introduction: 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
After reading the introduction to this letter you may notice that it doesn't sound anything like a letter. Mainly becasue there is no greeting like most other letters written during this time period. Many people view this writing more like a sermon than a letter.
Its as if John says I have something important to tell you so I am going to cut to the chase.
I need to remind you of the fact that Jesus is eternal.
Its as if John is saying, I have heard about the people who are trying to convince you otherwise. But don’t you remember what I taught you concerning Jesus when I shared with you my account of the good news concerning Jesus.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Because 1 John & John’s introduction are so similar, I believe that John wants his audience here in first John to be reminded right off the bat that Jesus has always been but also he wants them to know that he is the Messiah.
I talked about earlier how the things that John wrote about are the very things that we need to be reminded of. As you know, there are many people today who believe just like these false teachers that Jesus is not God. There is actually a Bible translation that tries to discredit the deity of Jesus. For example the New World Translation of the Bible translates John 1:1 this way.
New World Translation
In the beginning was the Word,a and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
I love that John just comes write out of the gate and reminds us about who God is becasue this is what are faith hinges on.
You see not only did John think this was important but Paul reminds his readers in Col 1:16 of this fundamental truth when he says.
Colossians 1:16 (ESV)
For by him (Jesus) all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Over and over again in scripture Jesus and the writers remind us of this fundamental truth.
Heb 1:10; Heb 13:8; John 8:58; Rev 1:8; Romans 9:5; Rev 22:12-13
This is important becasue without this truth there is no reason for us to be here.
I hope all of you in here this morning already believe this. But you see all the believers in 1 John at one time believed it too but some stopped believing it. So John wants to make sure that they fully understand who Jesus was and is.
After claiming that Jesus is eternal he then lays out the evidence as to why his readers should believe him and not these people who are trying to deceive them.
1 John 1:1–2 (ESV)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
He says we, (meaning the apostles) have heard, seen and touched the eternal one.
You remember, John got to spend about 3 years with the eternal one. In fact becasue he got to spend three years with the eternal one he thought it necessary to write the fourth Gospel.
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John wrote what he did so that we would believe. John got to witness a lot of amazing things. Let me ask you, what would you have liked to have witnessed Jesus do or say?
Think of all the evidence that John saw and heard. He being the closest to Jesus probably had the most compelling evidence to help us believe that Jesus is eternal.
If you remember he was the one who was standing next to Jesus mother at the cross. He watched Jesus die.
John really wants us to understand who Jesus is. But he continues in verse 3.
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
He says I am reminding you of the evidence so that you will have fellowship with us, the Father and the Son.
Here in verse 3 John leaves no room for argument about who Jesus is. Because he says that that which was in the beginning is the
The Son of God- that means that Jesus is Deity.
Jesus - Savior
Christ- The promised Messiah
John use all three of these discriptures to leave no doubt in who Jesus is.
What is John’s point in these four verses. John wants us to know that Jesus is the one true Messiah and because he is the Messiah we are able to have fellowship with him and becasue of him we are in fellowship with one another.
Before John says anything else to his listeners he wants them to know who Jesus is. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is eternal and because he is eternal you have fellowship with him and you also are eternal because you have eternal life in Him.
As we study this letter together, I want to encourage you to read through this short letter at least once every week.
