As I have had the privilege to continue to write articles, I have decided that, Lord willing and as I am able, I would like us to walk through God’s word again. I have been encouraged by emails from many over the last month sharing how God has used articles for His glory and the good of His people. Though not using the previous template of an overview of each book, I will walk us through one book at time, 1 John, in an expository way, verse by verse. This letter, doctrinal (teaching) letter, from the Apostle John presents theology that should ground the believer, convict the believer, and give the believer discernment about false doctrine which creeps into our minds so easily. He brings us back to three basics of Christian life: true doctrine, obedient living, and enthusiastic devotion to Jesus. Even in our communities, I see a rise in false teaching that can lure people away from the core doctrines of faith into myths and sooth itching ears and, therefore, I desire to point each of you back to the solid foundation of God’s word (2 Timothy 4:1-5). My hope is that even if you are not believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior, that you may be enlightened to His grace. So, let’s look at this letter.
Our author is John the Apostle, the same John that wrote the familiar Gospel of John. He probably wrote this letter around the same time as Revelation while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. John writes this to be a summary that assumes knowledge of the gospel as written by John and offers assurances for faith in Christ. This letter indicates that the audience of this letter were confronted with the error of Gnosticism, which became a more serious problem in the second century and still pervades our beliefs and culture today. As a philosophy of religion, Gnostics held that matter is evil and spirit is good. The solution to the tension between these two was knowledge, or gnosis, through which man rose from the common world to the spiritual. In the gospel message that was shared by those who held this belief, this led to two false theories concerning the person of Christ. Docetism, regarding the human Jesus as a ghost and Cerinthianism, making Jesus a dual personality, at times human and at times divine. This belief is heresy, false, and is to be rejected, friends. The key purpose of 1 John is to set boundaries on the content of Christian faith (core doctrine) and to give believers assurance of their salvation. As we walk through this letter, I wanted to provide a brief overview and give you a challenge at the end of this article.
John’s letter is about the basics of faith in Christ, it helped the audience reflect honestly on their faith. It helped them answer the question, Are we true believers? John told them that they could tell by looking at their actions. If they loved one another, that was evidence of God’s presence in their lives. But if they bickered and fought all the time or were selfish and did not look out for one another, they, in fact, did not know God. That did not mean they had to be perfect. In fact, John also recognized that believing involved admitting our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness – repenting of their sin and wrongs against God and other Christians. They must depend on God for their cleansing from guilt, along with admitting wrongs against others and making amends, as another important part of growing in relationship to God. Back then, as today, we can observe many churches and people within local gatherings that do not seem to be believers. This letter calls us to self-evaluate first, then engage others in their supposed faith to see if it is genuine (Matthew 7:1-5; 15-23).
Here is John’s outline in themes: The one, eternal God became incarnate as His Son, Jesus Christ, who is true God and eternal life. All mankind (humanity) is sinful under the wrath of God, but through faith in Jesus Christ alone receive salvation and adoption in fellowship with God as Father, with Jesus, and right fellowship with one another as new creations in Christ. Jesus alone is our advocate with the Father and propitiation for our sins. Those who truly know Christ forsake sin, pursue holiness and obedience in God’s commands, particularly love for God and one another in truth. Denial of Jesus, obedience in repentance, and following the God’s commandments is fruit of true faith. This faith in Jesus results in forgiveness of sins by God, eternal life, confidence in prayer, protection from the evil one, and understanding and knowing the true God.
So What?
Your theology (belief about God) matters and you have a theology. It is what can bring you to Christ and fullness of joy or keep you on the path of destruction that leads to Hell and wrath. I may not know you personally, but God has given me an opportunity to share these truths on this platform, I desire to fulfill the command to proclaim Good News to my neighbors (Matt. 28:18-20). Love compels proclamation. This is not love as the world speaks of it, but it is the same love that comes from God who is love (1 John 4:7-21).
John concludes his introduction in verse 4 that these things are written so that “our joy is complete.” Joy here is lasting, unchanging happiness in Jesus. John writes these truths because they will be for the joy of others and their joy is also his own joy, therefore together, seeing others treasuring Christ, while he also treasures Christ, brings joy that is complete. Your pursuit of joy in Jesus and others pursuit of joy in Jesus is not in competition with one another, but is a labor of mutual encouragement towards bringing glory to God. So, be in the bible often, reading and studying to grow in your faith and knowledge. Gather with believers who bear fruit according to the gospel in a local church. If you must drive to find a faithful church, do so, for it is better to travel and have a faithful church that attempt to walk faithfully alone (which is unbiblical). Walk worthy in your life according to Jesus Christ and His gospel.
So, friends. This letter (in fact the whole Bible) guides in discernment of truth – what is true vs what is almost true. God’s word is true, infallible, inerrant, inspired by God. Live in it. Sure, read other books, but live in the greatest Book. For it gives you all things for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). My challenge to you is 3-fold: read John’s gospel and may you behold Jesus as He is. Next read through 1 John as we journey through the word together. Finally, trust that God through the power of the Holy Spirit will bring you to treasure Jesus above all else. Next month we will look closer at the text in Chapter 1, verses 1-4. Until then, may God be with you in spirit and truth through His word.
As always, if you have questions, need prayer, a word of encouragement, or a cup of coffee, please contact me via my personal email: niloc1214@gmail.com
