There is a short introduction available for the book of 1 John. You can read it here.
Key Themes (1 John)
The book of 1 John, traditionally attributed to the Apostle John, is a pastoral letter written to encourage believers to remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and to live out their faith in love and truth. The letter addresses issues of false teachings, the nature of Christian fellowship, and the assurance of salvation. John emphasizes the importance of love, obedience, and the recognition of Jesus as the Son of God. The key themes include:
- The Assurance of Salvation: A central theme in 1 John is the assurance of salvation for believers. John writes to give his readers confidence that they have eternal life in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that those who believe in Jesus as the Son of God and live according to His commandments can be assured of their salvation. This theme highlights the certainty and security of the believer’s relationship with God.
- Love as the Mark of True Believers: John repeatedly emphasizes that love is the defining characteristic of true believers. He teaches that God is love, and those who know God will naturally love others. This theme underscores that genuine faith is evidenced by a life of love—love for God, love for fellow believers, and love for others. John insists that love is not merely an emotion but is demonstrated through actions.
- Fellowship with God and Others: John discusses the importance of fellowship with God and with other believers. He emphasizes that true fellowship is based on walking in the light, living in truth, and confessing sin. This theme highlights the communal aspect of the Christian faith, where believers are called to live in harmony with God and one another, sharing a common life rooted in Christ.
- The Reality of Sin and the Need for Confession: John acknowledges the reality of sin in the lives of believers but also stresses the importance of confession and the assurance of forgiveness. He teaches that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This theme emphasizes the ongoing need for repentance and the availability of God’s grace and forgiveness.
- The Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ: John addresses the importance of correctly understanding the identity of Jesus as both fully divine and fully human. He emphasizes that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, countering the false teachings that denied His humanity. This theme highlights the central Christian belief in the incarnation and the necessity of recognizing Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior.
- The Importance of Obedience: John stresses that obedience to God’s commandments is a key indicator of genuine faith. He teaches that those who love God will keep His commandments, and that living a life of obedience is evidence of knowing God. This theme underscores the connection between love for God and a commitment to follow His will, demonstrating faith through righteous living.
- Warning Against False Teachers and Antichrists: John warns believers about the presence of false teachers and antichrists who deny that Jesus is the Christ. He encourages his readers to test the spirits and hold fast to the truth they have received. This theme emphasizes the need for discernment in the face of false teachings and the importance of remaining faithful to the apostolic doctrine.
- The Contrast Between Light and Darkness: John frequently uses the imagery of light and darkness to describe the moral and spiritual states of individuals. Walking in the light is associated with truth, righteousness, and fellowship with God, while walking in darkness is linked to sin, deception, and separation from God. This theme highlights the moral implications of faith and the call to live in the light of God’s truth.
- The Witness of the Holy Spirit: John speaks of the Holy Spirit as the witness who testifies to the truth of Jesus Christ. He assures believers that the Spirit dwells within them, guiding them into all truth and enabling them to recognize and reject falsehood. This theme underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life, providing assurance and discernment.
- Overcoming the World: John encourages believers by reminding them that their faith in Jesus Christ enables them to overcome the world and its temptations. He affirms that those who are born of God have the victory over the world through their faith. This theme highlights the power of faith in Jesus and the ultimate triumph of believers over sin and worldly influences.
1 John is a deeply pastoral letter that emphasizes the essential elements of the Christian faith: love, truth, obedience, and fellowship with God. Through its themes of assurance, the importance of love, the reality of sin, and the need for discernment, John provides guidance for believers to live out their faith with confidence, integrity, and a deep sense of community. The letter calls believers to remain rooted in the truth of the Gospel and to manifest their faith through love and righteous living.
What I Noticed Today (1 John 1-3)
In verses 1-4, a prologue of the incarnation of Christ:
- God’s Son was from the beginning.
- He was heard, seen, and touched by the apostles.
- Who gives eternal life.
- We testify to the eternal life that was with the Father has been revealed to us.
- So that you may also have fellowship with us, our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
- The purpose of John writing this letter is so that our joy might be complete.
1 John 1:5-2:12
John discusses the lifestyle of the believer in fellowship with God.
In verses 5-10, John relays a message from Him (Jesus):
- God is light; in Him, there is no darkness.
- We cannot have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness. One cannot claim fellowship with God while disobeying Him. The person who does this is lying and not practicing the truth.
- But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
- If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us.
- If we say we have no sin, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 2
- I write this so you will not sin.
- But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father in Jesus.
- Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, even the whole world.
Note: “Propitiation” means to turn away the wrath of God. Jesus turned away the wrath of God on our behalf through his atoning death on the cross.
- This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him:
- By keeping His commands.
- The one who says he knows God but doesn’t keep His commands is a liar.
- The one who keeps His commands has the love of God perfected in him.
- The one who says he remains in Him should walk as He (Jesus) walked.
- The command you should follow is an old command. It is the message you have heard (to love one another). Jesus called the command new, which is true in Him (Jesus) and you.
- Darkness is passing away, and the true light is shining.
Note: Sin is characterized by “darkness.” “True light” is the revelation of God to man.
- Anyone who says he is in the light but hates his brother lives in darkness.
- The one who loves his brother lives in the light and does not stumble.
- But the one who hates his brother walks in darkness and doesn’t know where he is going because the darkness has blinded him.
Note: Christians who hate fellow Christians are lost; they have no sense of direction because they are spiritually blind.
In verses 12-28, John explains the purpose of the letter:
- I am writing to you little children because your sins are forgiven by Jesus, and you have come to know the Father.
- I am writing to you fathers because you have come to know God and the One who is from the beginning.
- I am writing to you young men because you have victory over the evil one (Satan). God’s Word remains in you, and you have victory over the evil one.
Note: In context, it does not make sense to interpret John’s divisions of children, fathers, and young men as specific age groups, or even as levels of spiritual maturity. John is speaking to all Christians (all have been forgiven their sins). We begin as God’s children when we accept Christ. Fathers are those who have known the Lord for a long time and developed a deep relationship with Him. Young men have God’s Word in them, which enables them to fight against evil.
- John continues warning them not to love the world and the things of the world. If you love the world, the love of the Father is not in you.
- The world is the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride. These are not of the Father but of the world.
- The lust of the world is passing away but the one who does God’s will remain forever.
- In the last hour, the Antichrist will come. Even now, many antichrists have come. They went out from us (Christian churches) but did not belong to us, for if they had, they would have remained. They would not have committed heresy if they were true believers.
- But you have the Holy Spirit and knowledge. You have the truth.
- The liar is the one who denies Jesus as Messiah. This one is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
Note: If you deny the Son as Messiah, you are also denying God the Father who sent Him.
- No one who denies the Father can have the Son.
- He who confesses the Son has the Father as well.
- If what you heard, in the beginning, remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father.
- This is the promise of eternal life that He (Jesus) made us.
- The anointing (Holy Spirit) you received from Him (Jesus) remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you (because you have the Holy Spirit to teach you).
- Just as He taught you, remain in Him.
- Remain in Him so that when He appears, we may have boldness and not be ashamed at His coming.
1 John 3
In verses 2:29-3:24, John discusses the righteousness, love, and confidence that are marks of those in Christian fellowship.
- Everyone who does right has been born of Him.
- The Father loves us and calls us His children.
- The reason the world doesn’t understand us is they don’t know Him.
- What we will be as God’s children has not yet been revealed. Believers will be transformed because we will see God as He is.
- Everyone who has this hope purifies themselves just as He is pure.
- Everyone who sins breaks the law.
- He (Jesus) was revealed so that He might take away sin because there is no sin in Him.
- Everyone who remains in Him does not sin; everyone who sins has not seen Him or known Him.
Note: John understands believers sin (2:1), but they receive forgiveness of sin through Jesus’ death (1:7) when they confess their sins becoming believers (1:9). John seems to be suggesting that while the believer still sins, they do not sin habitually. Those who sin habitually are false believers (2:23).
- Let no one deceive you!
Note: Apparently, there were those who were confusing people as to what was sin and what was not (the antichrists mentioned previously).
- He who does what is righteous is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.
- The one who sins is of the Devil, for the Devil sinned from the beginning.
- The Son of God was revealed to destroy the Devil’s works.
- Everyone born of God does not sin because His seed (His nature) is in him.
- This is how God’s children and the Devil’s children are made known.
Note: Again, John is not suggesting that the believer never sins. He is saying a believer does not live in habitual sin because they have the divine nature (a new identity in Christ).
In verses 10b-15, John discusses the command for Christians to love one another:
- Whoever does not do right is not of God.
- Especially the one who does not love his brother.
- This is the message you have heard from the beginning.
- Unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother.
- Cain murdered his brother because his works were evil, and his brother’s works were righteous.
- Do not be surprised if the world hates you
- We know we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers.
- The one who does not love remains in death (unsaved).
- Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know no murderer has eternal life residing (or abiding) in him.
Note: These verses (14-15) are difficult to interpret. John seems to be suggesting that hatred of one brother to another is the moral equivalent of murder. You cannot have Christ abiding in you and feel true hatred toward a brother in Christ.
In verses 16-24, John describes true Christian love:
- We know true love through the example of Jesus, who laid down His life for us.
- In the same way, we should love our brothers and lay down our lives for them.
- If anyone has worldly goods and closes his eyes to a brother’s need, can God’s love reside in him?
- We must not love in word or speech but in action.
- This is how we know we belong to God.
- Even if your heart condemns you (deceives you), God knows our conscience.
- If our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we can have confidence before God.
- We can ask whatever we want of God in prayer and receive that which is in God’s will (5:14-15).
- This is the command; believe in Jesus Christ and love one another as He commanded us.
- The one who keeps His commands remains in Him and He in us through the Holy Spirit.
Note: Verse 24 is the first of six references to the Holy Spirit (1 John 3:24, 4:1, 4:6, 4:13, 5:6, and 5:8).
Some thoughts for further consideration:
- Our salvation comes through the confession of Christ as the Son of God through faith. However, becoming a believer does not bring us lives free from sin. We still struggle with sin and the old nature.
- Our life in Christ begins with faith, and God’s command to love fellow believers as Christ loved us. Our life in Christ begins with faith and ends with love.
- Our love for God should be evidenced by the way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
