Summary of 1John

1 John (NKJV)

OUTLINE OF 1 JOHN

I. PROLOGUE: THE ORIGINAL APOSTOLIC MESSAGE CONCERNING ETERNAL LIFE (1:1–4)

II. THE FIRST EXPOSITION OF TRUE SALVIFIC COMMUNION WITH GOD (1:5–2:27)

A. Communion with God is demonstrated by acknowledging sin and Christ as the provision for sin (1:5–2:2)

B. Genuine faith is discerned by the end-time tests of righteousness and love (2:3–11)

C. Genuine faith is discerned by the end-time test of correct belief in Christ in contrast with the world and the antichrists’ view of Christ (2:12–27)

III. THE SECOND EXPOSITION OF TRUE SALVIFIC COMMUNION WITH GOD (2:28–4:6)

A. Divine sonship of believers is discerned by the test of righteousness (2:28–3:10a)

B. Divine sonship of believers is discerned by the test of love (3:10b–23)

C. Divine sonship of believers is discerned by the test of correct belief (3:23–4:6)

IV. THE THIRD EXPOSITION OF TRUE SALVIFIC COMMUNION WITH GOD (4:7–5:12)

A. Genuine faith is discerned by a love that comes from God and is rooted in faith (4:7–21)

B. Genuine faith is discerned by the test of correct belief, which is the basis of love (5:1–12)

V. EPILOGUE: TO GIVE ASSURANCE TO CHRISTIANS ABOUT THEIR SALVATION (5:13–21)

A. To give assurance to true Christians that eternal life is through Christ (5:13)

B. To give assurance that they have access to the Father through prayer, especially with respect to prayer for others in the Christian community (5:14–17)

C. To give assurance that genuine believers are characterized by righteousness and that they really have a relationship with God and Jesus (5:17–21)

R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2267.

The MacArthur Study Bible Outline

Outline

I. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL I (1:1–2:17)

A. The Fundamental Tests of Doctrine (1:1–2:2)

1. A biblical view of Christ (1:1–4)

2. A biblical view of sin (1:5–2:2)

B. The Fundamental Tests of Morals (2:3–17)

1. A biblical view of obedience (2:3–6)

2. A biblical view of love (2:7–17)

a. The love that God requires (2:7–11)

b. The love that God hates (2:12–17)

II. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL II (2:18–3:24)

A. Part 2 of the Doctrinal Test (2:18–27)

1. Antichrists depart from Christian fellowship (2:18–21)

2. Antichrists deny the Christian faith (2:22–25)

3. Antichrists deceive the Christian faithful (2:26, 27)

B. Part 2 of the Moral Test (2:28–3:24)

1. The purifying hope of the Lord’s return (2:28–3:3)

2. The Christian’s incompatibility with sin (3:4–24)

a. The requirement of righteousness (3:4–10)

b. The requirement of love (3:11–24)

III. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL III (4:1–21)

A. Part 3 of the Doctrinal Test (4:1–6)

1. The demonic source of false doctrine (4:1–3)

2. The need for sound doctrine (4:4–6)

B. Part 3 of the Moral Test (4:7–21)

1. God’s character of love (4:7–10)

2. God’s requirement of love (4:11–21)

IV. The Fundamental Tests of Genuine Fellowship—SPIRAL IV (5:1–21)

A. The Victorious Life in Christ (5:1–5)

B. The Witness of God for Christ (5:6–12)

C. Christian Certainties Because of Christ (5:13–21)

1. The certainty of eternal life (5:13)

2. The certainty of answered prayer (5:14–17)

3. The certainty of victory over sin and Satan (5:18–21)