I John

Author – John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee
“…*the disciple whom Jesus loved…who also had leaned back on His breast at the suppe*r…” John 21:20 John the Apostle wrote the Gospel of John, I, II, and III John, and The Revelation.

John 1:1 - In the beginning… Speaks of eternity past, before time began

I John 1:1 – From the beginning… Speaks of the beginning of the Christian revelation

“We” = The apostolic circle of witnesses

Heard

Seen - To look upon

Beheld - To gaze intently

Handled

Subject Of I John– The Word of Life, the truth about eternal Life.

Manifested – An important word that occurs 9 times in I John.

1) To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal

3) 2) To be evidence of; prove

Historically – Eternal life was manifested in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ

To us (the Apostles) – Eternal life can also be manifested among Believers

Verse 1 Heard Seen Beheld Handled

Verse 3 Seen Heard

Purpose Of I John – Fellowship

Joy – Only used 3 times in John’s epistles:

I John 1:4, “…that our joy may be made complete.”

II John 12, “…that your joy may be made full.”

III John 4, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Contrasts in I John

• Light – darkness

• Love of God – love of the world

• Children of God – Children of the devil

• Spirit of God – spirit of the antichrist

• Love – hate

Our Journey through I John:

Week Two - Living In Fellowship

Walking In God’s light, 1:5 – 2:2

Knowing the God of Light, 2:3 – 11

Week Three – Resisting Antichrists

Recognize spiritual assets, 2:12 – 14

Recognize spiritual adversaries, 2:15 – 27

Week Four – Boldness through Abiding, part 1

Learning to see God’s children, 2:28 – 3:10a

Learning to love God’s children, 3:10b – 3:23

Week Five – Boldness through Abiding, part 2

Learning to see the God of love, 3:24 – 4:16

Boldness at the Judgment Seat, 4:17-19

Week Six – Learning to live Obediently

What loving our brothers means, 4:20 – 5:3a

What empowers our love, 5:3b-15

What love does for our brothers, 5:16-17

Week Seven – Certainties of the Faith, 5:18-21

We Know…