Introduction
AN INTRODUCTION TO FIRST JOHN
The Perspective of I John.
The Holy Spirit of God used the Apostle John to give us a full picture of the Christian life in the five books he wrote.
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JOHN’S GOSPEL |
1, 2, 3 JOHN |
THE REVELATION |
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Emphasis on Salvation |
Emphasis on Sanctification |
Emphasis on Glorification |
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Our Start |
Our Struggle |
Our Finish |
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Christ Died for Us |
Christ Lives In Us |
Christ Comes for Us |
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The Word Made Flesh |
The Word Seen as Real |
The Word Conquering |
The Purpose of I John: Five specific purposes for writing:
*That we might have fellowship (1:3): Also 1:6-7.
"Fellowship" is the key theme of chapters 1-2. Fellowship has to do with our communion with Christ. Sonship has to do with our union with Christ. Our daily fellowship changes. Our Sonship remains the same.
According to 1:3, our fellowship is a trinity of fellowship:
with one another
with the Father
with His son, Jesus Christ
*That we might have joy (1:4): The word "joy" is used 1X in this letter. But the blessing of joy is seen in all five chapters. Note that joy follows fellowship not only chronologically, but logically. Joy is the result of a close fellowship with Christ. Fellowship with one another is a blessed result of fellowship with Christ.
*That we might not sin (2:1-2): The penalty of sin is taken care of when the sinner trusts Christ, but the power of sin in the daily life is another matter. John explains two important things about sin in the life of the believer:
How to have victory over sin
How to get forgiveness when we do sin
*That we might overcome error (2:26): There were false teachers in John’s day, just as there are in ours. John’s ministry was to teach believers the truth, counteracting the false teaching
In today’s church, most of us want to have a positive ministry, and not be seen to be "negative", or "against" things. However, a vast portion of Scripture is given to correct error of the day in which it was written.
*That we might have assurance (5:13): In his gospel, John tells us how to be saved. But in this epistle, John tells us how we can know for sure we are saved. I John is a series of tests we can use to examine our fellowship and our sonship.
There is an emphasis in chapters 3-5 on being born of God: 3:9; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18.
*Gnosticism was a serious error in John’s day. Out of Gnosticism came two views:
Antinomianism viewed the body as hopelessly evil. According to this view, we should be certain that the spiritual part of our being is sanctified, because what the body did was not important. This attitude gave rise to unbridled license. I John is warning against both views, and especially the latter.
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FALSE TEACHERS |
JOHN’S TEACHING |
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Matter Was Evil So Christ could not come in the flesh |
Matter is not evil But man’s nature is sinful |
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Christ only appeared to be a real man |
Jesus Christ had a real body and experienced a real death |
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Knowledge of truth is more important that living the truth |
It is not enough to say what we believe We must practice it |
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Only a spiritual few could understand spiritual truths |
All Christians can know the truth |
The Preview of I John
EVIDENCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Chapters 1,2 Evidence Of Our Fellowship With God
Chapters 3,4 Evidence Of Our Love With God
Chapter 5 Evidence Of Our Life With God
Three themes repeat themselves throughout I John. The themes sometimes intermingle.
Light vs. Darkness: 1:5-7; 2:8-10 (obedience)
Love vs. Hatred: 2:9-11,15; 3:10-11,14-18; 4:7-8,20-21 (love)
Truth vs. Error: 1:6,8; 2:4,21,27; 3:18-19; 4:6 (truth)
A Preview of the Tests: Each of these three themes become a test for the believer’s life.
OBEDIENCE. Am I walking in the light as He is in the light?
LOVE. Am I walking in love, as He is love? Love is to be directed vertically, then horizontally.
TRUTH! Am I walking in the truth? Does my life measure up to God’s truth.
I can know I am in constant fellowship with God through Christ if: I have no known sin in my life, I have love for Him and His people, I believe and practice the truth.
The outcome of obedience to God and love for God, will be an outflow of God’s life through our life. God is life and He shares His life with us.
OUTLINE: Reveling In A Rich Relationship With Our God
In chapter one we will be encouraged to Enjoy God!
Our God Is Real. 1:1-4
Our God Is Righteous. 1:5-7
Our God Is Relevant. 1:3-2:2
Our God Is Reliable. 1:6-2:2
In chapter two we will be encouraged to Obey God!
Our God Is Relational. 2:3-11
Our God Is Relative. 2:12-14
Our God Is Reality. 2:15-17
Our God Is Right-On. 2:18-28
In chapter three we will be encouraged to Love God!
Our God Is Romantic. 3:1-3
Our God Is Restrictive. 3:4-10
Our God Is Reactive. 3:11-18
Our God Is Reassuring. 3:19-24
In chapter four we will be encouraged to Radiate God!
Our God Is Reigning. 3:24-4:6
Our God Is Radiant. 4:7-12
Our God Is Resident. 4:13-21
In chapter five we will be encouraged to Live God!
Our God Is Reasonable. 5:1-5
Our God Is Revealing . 5:6-13
Our God Is Rejoicing. 5:14-21