1 John

I. Jesus- The Person Of John’s Message A. The Message Of Jesus- 1That which was from the beginning… 1. That phrase “from the beginning” is used 9 times in 8 verses. 2. 8 times, it speaks of “from the beginning of the ministry of Jesus”. a. 1:1; 2:7; 2:13; 2:14; 2:24;...

I. Fellowship With God A. The Nature Of God V. 5 1. God is light- John speaks metaphorically of the nature of God. 2. Light-purity, holiness. (metaphor) One can’t have fellowship w/physical light 3. No darkness- none at all. a. James 1 :17 Every good gift & every...

I. Encouragement To Not Sin V. 1a A. John’s Attitude Towards Them 1. 1My little children- Jesus used this same phrase with the disciples. 2. John warns and instructs them as a loving father. 3. Christians need to correct and exhort one another with love. (See 2 Cor....

Ray Stedman- The curse of the church has always been immature Christians, Christians who never grow up, Christians who cease their progress soon after beginning the Christian life. It reminds one of that familiar story of the little boy who fell out of bed. When his...

I. Love Versus Lust A. We Have A Choice 1. V. 15 “Do not love…”. Literally- “Stop loving the world”. a. We are told to choose to “not love” the world. b. We have a choice & the ability to either love or not love the world. c. A Christian may say, “I can’t help but...

I. Antichrist & Antichrists A. The Last Hour V. 18 1. It is the last hour- definite article “the” not in the Greek. 2. Describes a time period with certain characteristics. a. That time period leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. b. Last hour- As in…the final...

I. The Evidence Of Knowing God A. Obedience To God’s Word 1. Concern For And Love Of God’s Truth V. 3 a. Now by this we know- this is a particular evidence of knowing God b. Know- ginosko- to have experiential knowledge. c. Keeping the commandments of God is evidence...

I. The Evidence Of Knowing God A. Obedience To God’s Word 1. Concern For And Love Of God’s Truth V. 3 a. Now by this we know- this is a particular evidence of knowing God b. Know- ginosko- to have experiential knowledge. c. Keeping the commandments of God is evidence...

1Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! (and such we are NASB; And that is what we are! NIV)  Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  We are called to “behold” what manner of love...

I. Two People Groups V. 10 A. Children Of God 1. Children- teknon- “born ones”. Speaks of source, origin, and resemblance. 2. Christians, because of the new birth by the Holy Spirit, have God as their source and origin for life. The “seed” of Jesus is within them....

Brenda Roberts, a preschool teacher in Stone Mountain, GA was reading the story of Jesus' birth to her preschool class one morning. As she was reading she stopped for a moment to see if they understood. "What do we call the three wise men?" She asked. A bright...

I. Don’t Believe Everything, But Be Discerning V. 1-3 A. Don’t Believe Every Spirit 1. Do not believe every spirit- Literally, stop believing every spirit. (Visiting teachers) 2. There always have been and will continue to be false prophets, false teachers, false...

I. The Love Of God-A Family Resemblance A. Those Who Know God V. 7 1. Guzik- The Greek sentence begins in a striking way…“those who are loved, let us love.” 2. He says that they were born of God; born again; born ones of God. 3. If a person is born again, they know...

I. Loving My Brother/Sister A. Who is My Brother? V. 1 1. 5:1 answers a question that might arise from 4:20, 21 2. My “brothers and sisters” and those that believe that Jesus is the Christ. a. Christ- Messiah, savior, the One sent from God who brings salvation b. Not...

What if you really believed that God heard your prayers and would answer them? 1. Would you worry less, and have a more peaceful and joyful heart? 2. Would you have more faith to pray, & would your prayers be deeper and “bigger”? 3. Would you stop feeling...

I. Two Kinds Of Sin A. Sin Not Leading To Death Vs. 16a, 17 1. A “brother”- John is speaking of Christians in both cases re. life or death 2. We need to pray for Christians who are sinning a. James 5:19, 20 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and...

I. Love For God V. 3 A. Shown By Obedience 1. Compare/contrast with 1 John 1:6 a. John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. 2. Loving God means that one will consciously try to walk in consistent obedience. 3. Conscious, consistent disobedience is inconsistent...

The early church faced the challenge of the teaching of the Gnostics, who denied the humanity of Jesus. John writes to confirm their faith in the physicality of Christ, & that their faith was sure. There are many today that are more dedicated to asking questions...