|
Introduction
|
1) |
It
has always been the work of Satan to seek to confuse the minds
and hearts of people by counterfeits or corruption. This being
so, shortly after the church began erroneous teachings were
being taught. Jude tells one of the ways in which this was
done, “men
crept in unawares”
(Jude 1:4). The word “unawares” means to slip in sideways, by
stealth. It was by taking advantage of the trusting character
of believers in accepting those
who say they are saved. When their erroneous teachings were
accepted, it led to confusion among the saints and often times
heresy and apostasy. |
| |
|
|
|
|
2) |
As
today, the ancient cults denied one of the two major
fundamentals of the gospel, and sometimes both. They denied the
unchangeable deity and Godhead or the Lord’s true humanity. At
times there is the admittance of the deity of Christ, but with
it there would be a denial of His humanity. The argument is:
“How could God, who is pure spirit, have anything to do with a
material body which is vile?” Their solution was: either Christ
was not really human, but only apparently so; or else the Christ
spirit did not inhabit Jesus until baptism. Either Jesus was
too divine to be truly human, or too human to be really divine. |
|
|
|
|
3) |
As
with all doctrine, it affects lifestyle. Consequently, when
these teachings spread among the saints, the results are the
truths of God would then become academics for the mind, void of
any practical affect. |
|
|
|
|
4) |
Foremost among those who taught error were the precursors of the
Gnostics who, although they had not fully developed their false
seed, was being spread. They derived their name from the Greek
word "to know", professing to have superior knowledge. They
taught that material things belonged to one realm and spiritual
things to another, and there was no point of contact between
them. John will state unequivocally that they are intimately
connected both in Christ and the believer, therefore he will
emphasize: |
| |
|
a) |
The
Lord's incarnation (1 Jn. 4:2) |
| |
|
b) |
His being sent by the Father (1 Jn. 4:14) |
| |
|
c) |
Jesus was the Christ (1 Jn. 2:22; 5:1) |
| |
|
d) |
That which is done in the body effects the spirit, and one
cannot have a defiled body and a pure spirit (1 Jn. 3:3) |
| |
|
|
|
|
5) |
The New Testament was written by eight men: Matthew, Mark, Luke,
John, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude. Between them they were
twenty-seven books with three men either in writing or
influencing the writing of twenty-two of them. |
| |
|
a) |
Paul
wrote Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippines, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy,
Titus, and Philemon. Whether he wrote Hebrews or not is a
matter for discussion. |
| |
|
b) |
Luke
wrote the gospel that bears his name and the book of the Acts. |
| |
|
c) |
It is generally accepted that Peter worked with Mark in the
writing of Mark’s gospel. |
| |
|
d) |
It is also generally accepted that John wrote his gospel, three
epistles, and the Revelation |
| |
|
|
|
|
6) |
John
saw the church as a family (1 Jn. 2:12-14). John is very
careful in his terminology for while in the KJV he calls the
saints “sons” of God (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 8:14; 1 Jn. 3:1-2), the
Greek word is “teknon”, which ought to be translated
“children”. John never speaks of the believers as “sons of
God”, always “children”. The word “huios”, translated “Son”, is
reserved by John for the Lord alone. Furthermore, never in all
the scriptures is any believer called a “son of God”, they are
always called “sons” in plural. The title “Son of God” is
exclusive to Christ. |
|
|
|
|
7) |
Dean Farrar, with spiritual discernment, in his rich book “The
Early days of Christianity”, made the very astute observations
between Paul and John. |
| |
|
a) |
Paul
begins his writings with man (Rom. 1:16) but John begins his
writings with God (Jn. 1:1). |
| |
|
b) |
Paul
is practical, he dwells incessantly on faith, hope, and love (1
Cor. 13:13), whereas John deals mainly with love, life, and
light (Jn. 13:34; 5:40; 1:8) |
| |
|
c) |
Paul
is the theologian and John is a mystic. |
| |
|
|
|
i) |
Theology can be hard without mysticism, and mysticism is
sentimental without theology. |
Author
|
1) |
Of
the twenty-seven New Testament books there are only five which
have the appearance of being anonymous. They are Hebrews,
John’s gospel, and his three epistles. However, it is taken by
internal and external evidences that John, the son of Zebedee,
the brother of James (Matt. 4:21), ”the disciple whom Jesus
loved” and who “leaned on Jesus bosom” (Jn. 13:23), was the
writer. John and his father’s family lived in Bethsaida (Jn.
1:44). There were four in the family of Zebedee: Salome, James
and John, with the father and sons employed as fishermen (Matt.
4:18-22). From the end of the gospels John is mentioned three
times in the Acts (3:1; 4:13; 8:14; Gal. 2:9) and nothing more
until his own writings (Jn. 1:40; Rev. 1:1, 4, 9). |
|
|
|
|
2) |
The
internal evidence is from the similarity between John’s gospel
and his epistles in the use of the same words. Some of these
are: “life” (Jn. 3:36 & 1 Jn. 2:25); “light” (Jn. 3:21 & 1 Jn.
1:7); “love” (Jn. 10:17 & 1 Jn. 3:14, 16-18); “manifest” (Jn.
1:31 & 1 Jn. 2:19), “only-begotten” (Jn. 1:14 & 1 Jn. 4:9).
Clearly,
he is an eyewitness (1 Jn. 1:1-4), which would suggest an
individual who had been with Jesus from the outset of His
earthly ministry. |
|
|
|
|
3) |
The depth of his ministry indicates a very mature believer who
has a genuine compassion for the people of God, having gained
the “right” to be a spiritual guide. |
| |
|
a) |
His
compassion and tenderheartedness is manifested by such
expressions as: “my little children” (1 Jn. 2:1; 3:18);
“brethren” (1 Jn. 2:7; 3:13). He is also fiercely loyal to the
truth, and with him there are no “gray areas”, all is black and
white. He will expose error irrespective of who is offended(1
Jn. 1:6, 8; 2:4, 22), yet his admonitions are not done in a cold
“I’m right and you are wrong” or “This is the way we do it”
attitude, but, as the “apostle of love” (Jn. 13:23; 1 Jn.
2:5-6). |
| |
|
|
|
|
4) |
The
external evidence comes from a number of the early church
fathers who accepted this as the work of John the apostle. Men
such as Papias (c. 140), Polycarp (c. 110-120), Clement (c. 144-
215), and Irenaeus (c. 180). |
Unlike the book of Galatians which was written
to a particular church, and unlike 2nd
and 3rd John which are written to
individuals, the 1st Epistle John does not
specify his readers. This I see as divine
overruling, for the truths of 1 John are for
every saint of every age.
Why Was It Written?
|
As mentioned, the saints to whom John wrote were facing very
serious inroads of error. What those were can be detected in
viewing his first epistle as a book which gives answers to
questions concerning Christ and the Christian life. Satan has
his ministers as “angels of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), but John
speaks very clearly,
they are called
“antichrist” (1 Jn. 2:18) and “false prophets” (1 Jn. 4:1). |
|
|
1) |
They denied that: |
| |
|
|
a) |
Jesus
was the Christ, and John states what they are in character (1
Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:3). |
| |
|
|
b) |
Jesus
has or will come in the flesh, Christ is a spirit, a
consciousness, and he calls them what they are (2 Jn. 1:7). |
| |
|
|
c) |
Due to thoughts of their own enlightenment, they have superior
knowledge. To
this he answers (1 Jn. 2:6, 26-27). |
| |
|
|
d) |
They argued that what was done in the body of flesh was of no
account since it did not affect the spirit. To
this he answers (1 Jn. 2:9; 3:10-12; 3:17, 18; 4:8). |
| |
|
|
e) |
They
denied apostolic authority.
To
this he answers (1 Jn. 4:6). |
| |
|
|
f) |
The
defeat of Satan by the work of the Lord (1 Jn. 3:8).The reality
of sin within, and sins by action, to this he answers (1 Jn.
1:6, 8,10), and declaring that those who teach this are making
God to be a liar (1 Jn. 1:6, 8,10) |
| |
|
|
g) |
The reality of sin within, and sins by action, to this he
answers (1 Jn. 1:6, 8,10), and declaring that those who teach
this are making God to be a liar (1 Jn. 1:6, 8,10). |
| |
|
|
h) |
They profess love but are void of it. To this he answers in (1
Jn. 2:9; 3:10-12, 15, 17, 18; 4:8). |
| |
|
|
i) |
They are a separatist company having no fellowship with those
who hold apostolic doctrine (1 Jn. 1:18-19; 4:1). |
Keys
1)
Key Words
|
Key Word |
No. of Occurrences |
1st Reference |
Last Reference |
|
Gk. “Martureo” translated “witness
and its associates |
7 times in 7 verses |
Ch. 1:2 |
Ch. 5:10 |
|
Truth |
10 times in 9 verses |
Ch. 1:6 |
Ch. 5:6 |
|
I write |
7 times in 6 verses |
Ch. 2:1 |
Ch. 2:13 |
|
We write |
2 times in 2 verses |
Ch. 1:4 |
Ch. 2:1 |
|
I have written |
4 times in 4 verses |
Ch. 2:4 |
Ch. 5:13 |
|
He that saith |
3 times in 3 verses |
Ch. 2:4 |
Ch. 2:9 |
|
If we say |
3 times in 3 verses |
Ch. 1:6 |
Ch. 1:10 |
|
World |
23 times in 17 verses |
Ch. 2:2 |
Ch. 5:19 |
|
Light |
6 times in 5 verses |
Ch. 1:5 |
Ch. 2:10 |
|
Gk.
“Ginosko, translated as:
“Know” and its associates
Eido translated “know” and its
associates |
25 times in 21 verses
18 times in 15 verses |
Ch. 2:3
Ch. 2:11 |
Ch. 5:20
Ch. 5:20 |
|
Love / loveth |
41 times in 31 verses |
Ch. 2:5 |
Ch. 5:3 |
|
Commandment |
7 times in 5 verses |
Ch. 2:7 |
Ch. 4:21 |
|
Righteous / righteousness |
8 times in 7 verses |
Ch. 2:1 |
Ch. 3:12 |
|
Dwell/ dwelleth/ remain/ continue |
9 times in 8 verses |
Ch. 2:24 |
Ch. 4:16 |
|
Gk. “ akouo” translated as Hear /
heareth / heard |
14 times in 12 verses |
Ch. 1:1 |
Ch. 5:15 |
|
2) |
The Key Ideas |
| |
|
a) |
There
is propitiation for the world. (Ch. 2:2) |
| |
|
b) |
The
world has an undeniable attractiveness. (Ch. 2:16) |
| |
|
c) |
The attitude of the world is hatred against the truth of God and
His children. (Ch. 2:13) |
| |
|
d) |
The world and its appetites. (Ch. 3:5) |
| |
|
e) |
The world is under the authority of the evil one (lieth in
wickedness). (Ch. 5:10) |
| |
|
|
|
Inter-Relationship Between John’s Writings
1)
The five books in John are divided into three
distinct groups: his gospel, epistles, and the
Revelation.
|
The Gospel |
The Epistles |
The Revelation |
|
History |
Expository |
Prophecy |
|
In the world
(Jn. 1:10) |
In the life
(1 Jn. 4:16) |
In Heaven
(Rev. 4-5) |
|
Past |
Present |
Future |
|
Life received
(Jn. 3:36) |
Life revealed
(1 Jn. 2:29) |
Life rewarded
(Rev. 22:12) |
|
Salvation
(Jn. 3:16) |
Sanctification
(1 Jn. 3:3) |
Sovereignty
(Rev. 4:2) |
2)
The relationship between
John’s Gospel and his three Epistles
collectively.
|
John’s Gospel |
John’s 3 Epistles |
|
Historical |
Moral |
|
Christ |
Christian |
|
Who Christ is
(Ch. 20:30-31) |
Know that you have life
(Ch. 5:13) |
|
That men might believe
(Ch. 20:30-31) |
To those who believe
(Ch. 5:13) |
|
To show the way of life
(Ch. 3:16) |
To assure those who have life
(Ch. 5:9-11) |
3)
The relationship between
John’s Gospel and his epistles individually.
|
The Gospel |
1 John |
2 John |
3 John |
|
The pronouncement of the truth
(Jn. 18:37) |
The practice of the
truth
(Ch. 2:29; 3:7 & 10) |
The protection of the truth
(v. 10) |
The proclamation of the truth
(v. 7) |
4)
The relationship between the three epistles.
|
1 John |
2 John |
3 John |
|
Fellowship in the family
(Ch. 2:12-14) |
Fellowship in the home
(Ch. 1:10) |
Fellowship in the assembly
(Ch. 1:6,10) |
|
The danger of false profession
(Ch. 4:1) |
The danger of false doctrine
(Ch. 1:10) |
The danger of false practice
(Ch. 1:9-10) |
|
The theme is how to recognize truth
and error
(Ch. 2:19-23) |
That theme is to refuse them who do
not teach the truth
(Ch. 1:10) |
The theme is to encourage those who
teach truth
(Ch. 1:3) |
Structures
No. 1
The believer’s enrichment in fellowship with the
divine light (Ch. 1:1 – 2:27)
|
Conditions or Walking In The
Light |
Hindrances of Walking In The
Light |
|
Practical holiness self word
(Ch. 1:1 – 2:11) |
The grounds of appeal
(Ch. 2:12–14) |
|
Complete obedience God-ward
(Ch. 2:3–6) |
The evils that
threatens
(Ch. 2:15–23) |
|
Brotherly love man-ward
(Ch. 2:7–11) |
The secret of safety
(Ch. 2:24–27) |
|
The Evils Which Negate Love
(Ch. 2:28–4:6) |
The Love Which Negates Evil
(Ch. 4:7–21) |
|
Since opposing righteousness
(Ch. 2:28–3:10a) |
The revelation of love
(Ch. 4:7–10) |
|
Hate opposing love
(Ch. 3:10b–24) |
The inspiration of love
(Ch. 4:11–16a) |
|
Error opposing truth
(Ch. 4:1–6) |
The conservation of love
(Ch. 4:16b–21) |
The believers affinity when in fellowship with
divine life (Ch. 5:1–20)
|
The Blessing of Eternal Life |
The Confidences of Eternal Life |
|
The possession of eternal life
(Ch. 5:1–12) |
The confidence of eternal life
(Ch. 5:13–20) |
|
The bond of possession, faith
(Ch. 5:1–5) |
The boldness
of spiritual activity
(Ch. 5:13–17) |
|
The proof of possession, witness
(Ch. 5:6–12) |
The certainty of spiritual
knowledge
(Ch. 5:18–20) |
No. 2
The three major sections and their contrasting
beginnings and endings.
|
Section |
2nd Section |
3rd Section |
|
Ch. 1:1 - 2:29 |
Ch. 3:1 - 4:6 |
Ch. 4:7 - 5:21 |
|
It begins with a manifestation of
the life of God
(Ch. 1:1–2) |
It begins with a manifestation of
the Son and the children of God(Ch.
3:2–3a) |
It begins with a manifestation of
the love of God
(Ch. 4:7–9) |
|
It ends with a warning against false
Christ’s
(Ch. 2:18–29) |
It ends with a warning against
false spirits
(Ch. 4:1–6) |
It ends with a warning against
false gods
(Ch. 5:21) |
|
Fellowship with God’s light and the
dangers of darkness.
|
Fellowship with God who is Love and
the danger of hatred. |
Fellowship with God who is true and
the danger of idolatry. |
No. 3
The internal construction based on similarity of
truths (Companion Bible)
1)
The Word of life, eternal life, Ch. 1:1–2)
a)
Fellowship with God and his Son (Ch. 1:3–4)
i)
The question of sin in ourselves (Ch. 1:5–2:2)
1.
Obedience to God (Ch. 2:3–11)
(a)
Overcoming the world (Ch. 2:12–17)
(i)
The spirit of Antichrist and the Holy Spirit
(Ch. 2:18–29)
(1)
God’s love is manifested to us, changing us into
His likeness at His appearing and even now (Ch.
3:1–10)
a.
Love one another, do not kill (Ch. 3:11–15)
(i)
He laid down his life for us (Ch. 3:16)
(ii)
We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren
(Ch. 3:16)
b.
Love one another, don’t be stingy (Ch. 3:16)
(1)
Gods love manifested through us, we are changed
into his likeness with this presence and now
(Ch. 3:19–24)
(i)
The Holy Spirit and the spirit of Antichrist
(Ch. 4:1–21)
(a)
Overcoming the world (Ch. 5:1–8)
1.
Believing God (Ch. 5:9–15)
i)
The question of sin in others (Ch. 5:16–18)
a)
Fellowship with God and his Son (Ch. 5:19)
1)
The Son of God, and eternal life (Ch. 5:20–21)
Thoughts On The Various Truths Mentioned
|
1) |
Light
and Love |
| |
|
a) |
Christianity
is a “faith” religion, for it teaches that the individual is
saved by faith (Eph. 2:8-9) and such “walk (live) by faith” (2
Cor. 5:7).
That does not mean it is a non practical religion for the twin
truths of “ light and love” are not just an intellectual truths
of christianity but they are the practical tests of
christianity. |
| |
|
b) |
Humanity
always reverses the ways of God, for instance he will speak of
“body, soul and spirit” but the scriptures speak of “spirit and
soul and body” (1 Thess. 5:23). Being such man will put great
emphasis on the fact that “God is love” and ask “How could a God
of love send anyone to Hell” They fail to see that before God is
ever spoken of as God is love He is manifested as “God is Light”
(1 Jn. 1:5; 4:8, 16). |
| |
|
|
|
|
2) |
Love’s |
| |
|
a) |
Direction - it is toward us (Ch. 4:9) |
| |
|
b) |
Intention - it is to us (Ch. 4:16) |
| |
|
c) |
Habitation - it is in us (Ch. 2:15; 3:17) |
| |
|
d) |
Perfection - it is with us (Ch. 4:18) |
| |
|
|
|
|
3) |
Love’s Characteristics |
| |
|
a) |
The essential character of His love: “He that loveth not knoweth
not God; for God is love.” (1 Jn. 4:8) |
| |
|
b) |
The cause of His love: “Herein is love, not that we loved God,
but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
for our sins.” (1 Jn. 4:10) |
| |
|
c) |
The reciprocal
character of His love: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for
God is love.” (1 Jn. 4:8) |
| |
|
d) |
The fulness of His love: “Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 Jn. 3:1-2) |
| |
|
e) |
The Perfection of His love: “Perfect love casteth out fear.” (1
Jn. 4:18) |
| |
|
f) |
The maturity of his love in us: “But whoso keepeth his word, in
him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we
are in him.” (1 Jn. 2:5) |
| |
|
|
|
|
4) |
Faith |
| |
|
a) |
The first epistle of John is an advancement on the gospel. John
writes: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have
life through his name” (Jn. 20:31). That is to give a
foundation to faith. Then in his first epistle he writes:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life,
and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 Jn.
5:13). This is for the establishment of their faith. |
| |
|
|
|
|
5) |
Eternal life |
| |
|
a) |
Many
years ago in Belfast the believers pitched a large gospel tent.
Above the platform on a banner were the words: “Heaven or Hell
for eternity,
which”.
Only those who have eternal life are going to heaven, and this
leads to the question: “How do I know if I have eternal life?”
Interestingly he does not ask for “a time when, a manner how,
and a place where”, he deals with a matter far more sure and
comforting. Let me illustrate: if I were in front of you, how
would you know if I was alive or not”? Not by the giving of a
date, but because I have the characteristics of life manifested
in this body! It is the same with eternal life, for while most
people can say when, where and how; it is not a necessity, for
eternal life is manifested by the life. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
b) |
I
am aware it is sometimes said: “The Blood makes us secure, the
book makes us sure” which is very nice, but it is more assuring
when there is some tangible evidence. God gave the Children of
Israel tangible experiences, a real life experience at the Red
Sea. He does the same for us. Not only do we have the
scriptures but also real tests which John now enumerates for
me. They are in the form of seven questions: |
| |
|
|
|
i) |
In which sphere do I live, darkness or light? (Ch. 1:5-2:1) A
contrast of moral qualifications. |
| |
|
|
|
ii) |
What do I live for, that which is restricted to time or the
Father? (Ch. 2:3-17) A contrast of moral realities. |
| |
|
|
|
iii) |
Are my beliefs concerning Christ from Christ or antichrist? (Ch.
2:18-2:27) A contrast of persons. |
| |
|
|
|
iv) |
In the evaluation of God, are my works “good or evil?” (Ch.
2:28-3:24) A contrast of behavior. |
| |
|
|
|
v) |
Am I responsive to the Holy Spirit or false spirits?” (Ch.
4:1-4:6) A contrast of spirits. |
| |
|
|
|
vi) |
Is the love I have for all the saints or is it pious pretense?”
(Ch. 4:7-4:21) A contrast of attitude. |
| |
|
|
|
vii) |
Am I born of God or not? (Ch. 5:1-21) A contrast of birth. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
c) |
On
this point, four questions must be considered: |
| |
|
|
|
i) |
Is there a difference between “eternal life and everlasting
life?" |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
The answer is “No”. Both are used in the same context. (Jn.
3:15-17; Lk. 18:30; Matt. 19:29) |
| |
|
|
|
ii) |
Is there a difference between “eternal life” and “life eternal /
everlasting?" |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
If there is, it is simply a difference in emphasis with one
indicating the duration of the life, and the other the quality
of life. |
| |
|
|
|
iii) |
Is there a difference between “living forever and eternal life?" |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
The answer is “Yes”. The unsaved will live forever, eternally,
but do not have eternal life. Had man eaten of the tree of life
he would have lived forever (Gen. 3:22). Hell is not just an
existence. Those who are there, and will be there, will live
forever and will never die physically, although they have died
spiritually? |
| |
|
|
|
iv) |
What is eternal / everlasting life? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
It is more than being alive for evermore. Eternal life is a
quality of life. Our Lord said: “This is life eternal that they
might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou
hast sent” (Jn. 17:3). |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6) |
Sin
and Forgiveness |
| |
|
a) |
The
definition of sin. We are inclined to use words without
differentiating, but God never does. When God speaks of
“transgression” it means stepping beyond the law, it is failing
to come up to the law. When we see how holy God is and how
rebellious we are, there is the need for forgiveness which: |
| |
|
|
|
i) |
God alone can do: “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to
reason, saying . . . Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Lk.
5:21) |
| |
|
|
|
ii) |
God in mercy does it: “And refused to obey, neither were mindful
of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their
necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to
their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious
and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and
forsookest them not”. (Neh. 9:17) |
| |
|
|
|
iii) |
God does it abundantly: “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return
unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon”. (Isa. 55:7) |
| |
|
|
|
|
7) |
Christ |
| |
|
a) |
John’s
writings are saturated with the person of the Lord, for how
could one who lay in His bosom ever be anything other than
delighting in His fulness. John wrote: |
| |
|
|
|
i) |
Some of His offices: |
| |
|
|
|
|
1. |
Advocate (Ch. 2:1) |
| |
|
|
|
|
2. |
Propitiation (Ch. 2:2) |
| |
|
|
|
|
3. |
Saviour (Ch. 4:14) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
ii) |
Some of His works: |
| |
|
|
|
|
1. |
Destroyer (Ch. 3:8) |
| |
|
|
|
|
2. |
Example (Ch. 3:16) |
| |
|
|
|
|
3. |
Life Giver (Ch. 4:9) |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
iii) |
Some of His titles: |
| |
|
|
|
|
1. |
Word of Life (Ch.1:1) |
| |
|
|
|
|
2. |
Eternal Life (Ch. 1:2) |
| |
|
|
|
|
3. |
Son (Ch. 5:5) |
| |
|
|
|
|
4. |
Jesus Christ (Ch. 2:1) |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
iv) |
Some of His experiences: |
| |
|
|
|
|
1. |
His incarnation (Ch. 4:2) |
| |
|
|
|
|
2. |
His sinless life (Ch. 3:5) |
| |
|
|
|
|
3. |
His crucifixion (Ch. 3:16) |
| |
|
|
|
|
4. |
His second advent (Ch. 2:28) |
| |
|
|
|
|
8) |
God |
| |
|
a) |
God is Light, therefore all must be in conformity to his
character (Ch. 1:1-2:29) |
| |
|
b) |
God is Love, and love is jealous for the honour and glory of
another (Ch. 3:1-5:21) |
| |
|
c) |
When we see this, it becomes a very practical epistle, with us
abiding in God's light (Ch. 1:5) and his love (Ch. 4:16) |
| |
|
|
|
|
9) |
Fellowship
(the following are some of the verses) |
| |
|
a) |
Fellowship with God results in joy (Ch. 1:4) |
| |
|
b) |
Fellowship with God results in victory (Ch. 2:13-14) |
| |
|
c) |
Fellowship with God results in watchfulness (Ch. 2:15-29) |
| |
|
d) |
Fellowship with God results in knowledge (Ch. 2:27-29) |
| |
|
|
|
May God grant us good understanding as He, by His
Holy Spirit, deigns to guide us into all truth.
John 16:13
Copyright © 2012 by Rowan Jennings, Abbotsford,
British Columbia
|
