The Book of 1^st John

Author and Title

Manuscript evidence is unanimous that someone named "John" wrote this little treatise, which is consistently labeled the "first" of his extant letters in titles found in ancient copies. But who is this "John"? For a number of reasons, John the son of Zebedee, author of the Fourth Gospel, is the most likely candidate.

First, the style and vocabulary of John's Gospel and 1 John are so similar that a common author is extremely likely. This is particularly evident in the opening verses of the respective writings, but the language of the Gospel echoes across the whole epistle.

For example, only verbal forms of "believe" occur (about a hundred times) in John's Gospel; the noun "faith" never appears. First John follows suit, with nine occurrences of a verbal form of "believe" and just one use of the word "faith" (5:4).

Second, major themes and emphases of the writings overlap. These include Christ's simultaneous full humanity and divinity, the close relationship between believing (faith, doctrine) and obeying God's commandments (ethics), and the primacy of love as marking authentic knowledge of the true God through trust in his Son.

While John is not mentioned by name in the Fourth Gospel, he is likely to have been "the beloved disciple" who reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper (John 13:23; arguments that he was Lazarus, an "elder" John, or a fictional creation are unconvincing). He stood at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified; Jesus entrusted his mother Mary to John's care (John 19:26-27).

Along with Peter he witnessed the empty tomb on the first Easter morning (John 20:2-10). He also saw, spoke with, and ate breakfast at a lakeside fire kindled by the resurrected Jesus (John 21:7, 20). He was therefore highly qualified to write of what he and others had heard, seen, gazed upon, and touched (1 John 1:1).

As Jesus' "beloved disciple," he was also well suited to plumb the depths of the meaning of Jesus' coming (1:2; 4:9), life (2:6; 4:14), death (1:7), resurrection (5:11; "eternal life … in his Son" implies his death was not final), intercessory ministry at the Father's right hand (2:1), and eventual return (2:28)-all matters playing a role in the witness, instruction, and admonition of this rich and highly concentrated letter.

Date

Early post-apostolic figures like Polycarp and Papias (c. A.D.100) presuppose or cite 1 John in their writings. This suggests a date of composition no later than the 90s A.D.

This dovetails with the testimony of church fathers that, shortly before A.D. 67, John joined other Christians in departing from Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the city by Rome.

John reportedly resumed his apostolic ministry in the vicinity of the great but highly idolatrous city of Ephesus (in modern western Turkey). He likely wrote 1 John as an elder statesman of the faith in the last third of the first century, perhaps to churches in the surrounding region.

This might have included towns like those mentioned alongside Ephesus in the opening chapters of Revelation: Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Rev. 2:8-3:22).

Outline

I. God Is Light and Christ Is the Way (1:1-2:6)

A. Prologue (1:1-4)

B. God's nature and human sin (1:5-10)

C. Jesus Christ in everyday life (2:1-6)

II. The Abiding Commandment in a Transient World (2:7-17)

A. The primacy of love (2:7-11)

B. The confidence of God's people (2:12-14)

C. The lure of this fleeting age (2:15-17)

III. Overcoming Antichrist by Confession of the Son (2:18-3:10)

A. Warning and assurance (2:18-27)

B. Christians as children of God (2:28-3:3)

C. Children of God and the forsaking of sin (3:4-10)

IV. Overcoming Evil by Listening to the Apostle (3:11-4:6)

A. Overcoming Cain's malice (3:11-24)

B. Overcoming the Antichrist's deception (4:1-6)

V. The Assurance of God through the Love of God (4:7-21)

A. The perfecting of God's love (4:7-12)

B. The assurance of God's Spirit (4:13-21)

VI. Faith in the Son as the Way to Life (5:1-12)

A. Faith keeps the commandments of God (5:1-5)

B. Faith receives the testimony of God (5:6-12)

VII. Final Call to Faith and Understanding (5:13-21)

A. The confidence that faith furnishes (5:13)

B. The prayer that faith enables (5:14-17)

C. The understanding that faith grants (5:18-21)

1^st John Chapter 1

1. The Word of Life

a. "¹ 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- ² 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-

i. I want you to first notice the emphasis that John puts on His personal interaction with Christ; heard, seen, touched. This is an emphatic point that is pertinent to John obviously because it is the first thing that he mentions.

ii. What is also very interesting about this opening portion of text is the similarities that John also notes in his Gospel text found in the Gospel of Saint John chapter 1:1-5, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

iii. Both the Gospel and the Letter place a focus on Christ having existed from the beginning. Why is this so important? Because the Apostle John is combatting Gnosticism which is a form of mysticism.

iv. Jesus was a creation of God; Jesus is the manifestation of God in the Flesh hence the reason why Jesus said that He and the Father were ONE. (The Gospel of Saint John 10:30)

b. "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. ⁴ And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."

i. In verse 3, we have a continuation of this emphasis of first person engagement and connection; John is seeking to ensure that his audience understands that this is not second hand information but a first-hand encounter with Christ.

ii. And furthermore, John desires that others hear what they've heard and others receive the Gospel! As well as the definitive nature of the God that John taught about is noted as "The Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ".

iii. The Early Church Fathers nor the Apostles taught a unitarian view of God but a multi-nature or manifold nature of God found in the Father and His Son as such is noted in verse 3.

iv. In verse 4 john records, "⁴ And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." This verse denotes a sort of selflessness tethered to the Gospel Message because they found joy in others finding Christ; they did not keep their message to themselves nor did they operate with a mentality of "our four and no more". They were not a Cult claiming Christ, but the Church demonstrating Christ!

v. Church family, it is called the Good News for a reason and it should be our joy to fulfill the great commission and see the Gospel impact those around us!

2. Walking in the Light

a. "⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

i. John shares with us that the message they are preaching is not from themselves but from the Lord and thus they proclaim it to the Church! May I also suggest that John's reference to God is Light perhaps could put the truth of what they are preaching and is not birthed out of deception.

ii. John goes on to record that if we say that we have fellowship with the Lord and yet live in sin, we are a liar and do not practice truth.

iii. Again, as followers of Jesus, our life must be found in line with the Scripture or we are in error. If we claim to be of the Light of Christ then let us walk in His Disciplines as Disciples of Christ!

iv. Verse 7 records, "⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

v. I reference this verse because of the dichotomy found between verses 6 and 7. Verse 6 makes it clear that sin will keep us in darkness but then verse 7 exposes us to the fact that righteous living will not only connect us with Christ but also with one another. "We have fellowship with one another"

vi. Friends, Christ not only reunites us with the Father but also reconnects us with one another of like precious faith!

b. "⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

i. In closing of chapter 1, John is driving us to one truth. We need Christ. None of us are perfect. If we say we are perfect then we have deceived ourselves. We all need to repent and confess.

ii. And if the Word of God is in us then we will be humble because we know us better than anyone else knows us.

iii. Verse 9 is such an encouragement to me, "⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

iv. Friends, we have an advocate with the Father and His Name is Jesus!

1^st John Chapter 2

1. Christ Our Advocate

a. "¹ 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. ² He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. ³ And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ⁶ whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked."

i. John is counseling his hearers to take caution in what he is sharing with this to protect them but if anyone does fall into sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus the Righteous!

ii. John then goes on to make note that Christ is our propitiation for our sins. The word "propitiation" means, "The act of propitiating or appeasing a god, spirit or person"

iii. Thus Christ's actions upon the Cross has positioned Jesus as our advocate and His death upon the Cross is our propitiation. Jesus is not only our advocate but He's also our sacrifice.

iv. Furthermore, he goes on to record that our life of faith and commitment to Christ is judged by our commitment to HIs Word and Teachings! John notes in verse 4-5, "⁴ Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, ⁵ but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:"

v. And it is these few verses that create scales upon which we can judge ourselves. If we are in Him then we will keep His Word.

2. The New Commandment

a. "⁷ Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. ⁸ At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. ⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

i. In verse 7, our writer is making it clear that what he is sharing with us is not a new teaching but actually something that has historic connection. It reminds me of the Apostle Paul in Galatians chapter 5 when he makes reference to "I've told you before and I tell you again".

ii. John then seems to shift gears a bit and speaks to the culture of the church family in regards to community health and a healthy relational dynamic in the church.

iii. "⁹ Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness…"

iv. Friends, we have to guard our Faith in Christ as much as we are willing to guard out hearts against unforgiveness or bitterness or hatred towards others. If we love our brother, we are in the light but if we are in hate then we are in darkness.

b. "¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. ¹³ I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. ¹⁴ I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one."

i. Pay close attention the notations of progression; children, young men, fathers. (Teach)

3. Do Not Love the World

a. "¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

i. The challenge of verse 15 is idolatry versus pure relationship with God! John points us to three potential points of weakness in our lives that we must guard over: the desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.

ii. Fleshly sin, covetous eyes of things that draw us away from God and the pride that comes with success in life without giving Christ the glory for our successes. Like Lucifer, if we are not careful we will fall into the trap of thinking that we are the source of the light and not the reflection of it.

iii. Verse 17 warns us that this world will pass away along with all that is in it but God has called us to eternal things and not temporal things!

4. Warning Concerning Antichrists

a. "¹⁸ Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. ²⁰ But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge."

i. The grammatical structure of verse 18 is very important to pay attention to for two reasons: firstly, it doesn't record "the antichrist" but rather "that antichrist". This is an agenda and not a person; we are introduced to "The Antichrist" as a concept or person in the Book of Revelation.

ii. Verse 19 makes reference to people who went out from the church or its leadership but were not of them; thus there was a falling away even in the first century church.

iii. We must understand that even though Paul warned Timothy of a great falling away, there has always been a time when the Lord cleans house and removes those who are not of Him. I know this sounds harsh but its biblical.

b. "²¹ I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father."

i. The interesting focus of John in the midst of his letter is how he shifts from those who left them or, as he noted, went out from them but then shifts slightly to address truth versus deception or lies. Perhaps what John is implying is that those who went out from them had denied the fundamental teachings of the Faith and went after another gospel or another way.

ii. John makes reference to his audience knowing the truth and then makes notation to anyone who denies the father and the son is of the antichrist spirit.

iii. Antichrist - Strong's Greek 500 = Anti and Christos noted as to mean "an opponent of Messiah" Christos and Messiah reference to the Anointing thus an antichrist spirit is anti the anointing of the Christ and of His Church.

c. "²⁵ And this is the promise that he made to us-eternal life. ²⁶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. ²⁷ But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie-just as it has taught you, abide in him."

i. Now we see why John is noting those who have left as well as drawing a hard line between truth and lies; there are those who are trying to deceive the Church.

ii. Verse 26 tells us that John is writing these things to the church to address those who are trying to deceive them. And the one thing that is protecting them is the anointing.

iii. Friends, nothing replaces the Anointing of the Holy Ghost! Not only will the Holy Ghost lead us into truth, He will also check us in our spirit man when things are not kosher.

5. Children of God

a. "²⁸ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. ²⁹ If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him."

i. Verses 27 and 28 instruct us to abide in him and the point of abiding is to be present with! John is instructing us to be present in Christ and not absent; our state of abiding will determine whether we have confidence at Christ's coming or we shrink back from Him in shame!

ii. Again, if we practice righteousness and strive in keeping His commandments then we can be sure that we are born of God!

iii. Not perfect in all manners of life and conduct, but as disciples, developing in our faith and trust Christ to help us in our weakness! Thus I close with the words of John, abide in Him! Jesus is our Safe Place.

1^st John Chapter 3

1. Continuation of "Children of God" emphasis from chapter 2

a. "[1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

i. John opens with an emphasis on our adoption as children and not being loved as an object of creation. And it is this adoption as sons and daughters of God that causes the world to not know us; why? Because we are a different creature now that we are born of God.

ii. And not only are we born of God but we shall be like Him at the point of His righteous return to bring us unto Himself. Therefore, we should strive for purity in life and thought because if we hope in him then we must purify ourselves with His help as He is pure.

iii. Our Life is the truest fruit of our conversion thus let it be true to the One we claim to know and trust in.

b. "[4] Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. [5] You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. [6] No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. [7] Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. [8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

i. In addressing lifestyle and one's own personal activity, the Scriptures instructs us that if we make a practice of sin, if we perpetuate a matter when we know it is wrong, then we are manifesting lawless deeds.

ii. Thus, if we are in Christ, then we choose to die to our passions and lusts because we abide in Him who first loved us; how we live matters and what we manifest is from the inside out and not the outside in. This is the reason why the text notes in verses 7 and 8, "Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. [8] Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil…"

iii. We can't claim to be of Christ and live like the Devil. The text notates that the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil; not affirm them or tolerate them. And if the Lord shall destroy the works of the Devil, shall he not also turn and deal with us in our rebellion as He has with the Devil himself?

iv. This is a challenging question but a necessary one to ask in light of this passage of Scripture. If Christ is not destroying the works of the devil in us then to whom do we belong?

c. "[9] No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

i. Note the word "practice" in verse 9; John uses the same word in verse 4 of practicing lawlessness. The Greek word used in verse 9 is the Greek word, "poiei"; Strong's Greek 4160 which means to "make, manufacture, construct; to make or to do".

ii. This word is imperative to understand because this type of "practice" is premeditated or manufactured; it is not an accident. Friends, there is a difference between a mistake and a manufactured sin. If we are making a practice of a sin, then we are premediating the action of said sin thus it is not an accident. It was an intentional action.

iii. John goes on to record in verse 10, "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, …"

2. Love One Another

a. "[11] For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. [12] We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. [13] Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. [14] We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. [15] Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

i. Shifting gears from sin and lifestyle, John brings us back to focus upon the Love of God being our hearts and our actions towards ourselves and towards others. Friends, love heals but hate destroys; hence John's reference to Cain and Abel. And it is interesting how John correlates each brother's deeds to be evil and the other to be righteous. Lifestyle tells us our origin; are we of God or of the Devil?

ii. And it is more than our lifestyle but also how we treat others; especially those who are of the household of faith! Love one another. Forgive one another. Walk in Unity. Put aside fleshly matters and walk in the Spirit with one another.

iii. Verse 15 is strong medicine but necessary for us all to stomach, "[15] Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

b. "[16] By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17] But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? [18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

i. And not just love our brother, John applies even more pressure upon the Household of Faith to lay down our lives for one another as Christ laid down His life for us! How we treat one another matters.

ii. How we talk to one another and walk with one another matters. What we say to one another matters. Why?

iii. Because verse 18 tells us, "18] Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." Simply put, don't just talk a good game but live what you say and not just say what you say.

iv. It is as the Book of James 2:18-19 records, "[18] But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-and shudder!"

v. Church, it is time we do better than demons and stop settling for a belief in God and choose to serve Him as the one true and living God!

c. "[19] By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; [20] for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. [21] Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; [22] and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him."

i. In closing of this chapter, John instructs us to reference back to acid test of knowing that we are in truth… "[21] Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; [22] and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him."

ii. Do you keep his teachings and commandments and is your life pleasing unto Him? Friends, we can reassure our hearts that we are in the faith when we manifest the tenants of the faith and not just the requirements of religion.

iii. Only you can answer the following questions: Are you doing what pleases Him? Are you keeping his commandments?

iv. If not, then you cannot reassure yourself but if you are then you know that you are in faith! But if you are then you can rest assured that your faith is fruitful.

d. "[23] And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. [24] Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us."

i. Believe in Christ and Love One Another; sounds familiar to the Scripture when it instructs us to Love the Lord our God and Love our neighbor as ourselves!

ii. Verse 24, "[24] Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us."

iii. May we Abide in Him and He in Us by the Holy Spirit! Dear Hearts, Abide in Him.

1 John 4

1. Test the Spirits

a) "[1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

i) In verse 1, the Apostle John begins by warning of us the influence of spirits that would seek to infiltrate the church through people who claimed to be prophets or otherwise. This is the reason why you should never trust titles but rather the fruit of the person's life; test the spirit of the person.

ii) He then goes on to instruct us that a demonic spirit could never confess what the Holy Spirit would confess in the earth in regards to the Christ having come in the flesh being from God. Again, John is battling the influence of Gnosticism and mysticism that taught that Jesus was a spirit only and not a man of flesh as well as being God Himself.

iii) The latter half of verse 3 gives us some good insight as well as perspective in regards to the matters of the end times. In the Book of the Revelation, the Apostle John speaks in regards to what he sees as the Antichrist, the man of sin, who would lead a one world government etc.

iv) In the Book of the Revelation, John is pointing to a specific person or man; in 1 John 4 is speaking to the Spirit of Antichrist. John states that the Spirit of the Antichrist was coming but was also now in the world. John is implying spiritual influences that are antichrist in nature and not specifically stating the Antichrist, the man of sin, had arrived on the scene yet.

v) According to church history regarding timelines, John wrote his Gospel text in 85-95 AD; he also wrote his letters (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd John) in the same time frame of 85-95 AD. He wrote the Book of the Revelation between 95-96 AD. Thus his reference to the Spirit of the Antichrist and its influence in the world and the Church predated his vision of the Last Days as found in his vision that he recorded while on the Isle of Patmos.

b) [4] Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

i) In verse 4, John reminds his audience that they are from God and have overcome the wickedness of that age and they are greater than he that is in the world. John draws a clear distinction between those who are of the World and those who are of God.

ii) He then affirms his and other's apostolic function to lead, love and guide the church forward and to not allow the influences of the world shift their influence from light to darkness.

iii) John notes in the last part of verse 6, "By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." And with that text in mind, who you allow to influence you will determine truth or error. Be care of who or what you listen too; not everything is from God nor good.

2. God Is Love

a) "[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

i) What seems to be a central tapestry of the community of faith that all of the Apostles always woven into their letters is the need for the church body to love one another.

ii) John challenges the mindset of the church when he states, "[8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9] In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."

iii) Friends, one of the greatest oxymorons is the existence of a "hateful Christian"; you can't say you love Jesus and mistreat people. Period. If you don't love people then you don't know God.

iv) Verse 11 speaks so clearly on this matter, "[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

v) Friends, it's a fundamental teaching of Christ! Love the Lord and love your neighbor as yourself. If we do this, then we do well.

vi) As verse 12 states so wonderfully, "[12] No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

b) "[13] By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. [15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. [16] So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. [17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world."

i) I want to note the differentiation between John's opening statement to test the spirit of people but then states that we know that we are in Christ because of the Power of the Holy Spirt in our lives.

ii) Friends, the Holy Ghost is referred to as the Promise of the Father by Jesus Himself thus it would seem to reason that the Same Holy Ghost, that same promise of the Father, would be the very thing to vindicate us from being of this world!

iii) The Holy Ghost is what makes the difference, the anointing of Christ upon our lives is what makes the difference. We need the Power of the Holy Ghost!

iv) Note verse 17 with me, "[17] By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world." Friends, as Jesus is so are we in this world… How? By the Power and Presence of the Holy Ghost.

v) Why? For it is just as verse 15 states, "[15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." And God abides in us by His Spirit!

c) "[18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. [19] We love because he first loved us. [20] If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. [21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."

i) In closing of chapter 4, John concludes his thoughts with addressing love and how we should be willing to define what true love is and false love is. For example, John records in verse 20, "[20] If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen."

ii) The premise of John stating this is that he is seeking to drawn a line of difference between true love that has come from repentance and regeneration versus religious love that demands love for God not tolerates hatred for others.

iii) Hence the reason he states as he does in verse 21, "[21] And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."

iv) Simply put, if you are born again then you'll love people…