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CHAPTER 62 – 1 John: Approx. 93 A.D.

The First Epistle of John is the sixty-second book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek is Ioannou A meaning “of John 1.” The title in English Bibles is “The First Epistle of John.”

Authorship

John, a disciple of Jesus Christ, whom Christ chose as an apostle, is the author of the book, The First Epistle of John. It was probably written about 93 A.D.

Summary and Analysis

The book of 1 John is actually a letter (epistle) that was written by the apostle John in his old age to Christians everywhere, and there is no clear evidence of the location from which it was written.

The book opens with John saying that Jesus Christ, the Word of Life, was made clearly apparent to the ears, eyes, and hands of His disciples. Therefore, John says he is writing to the Christians to promote the fellowship of the Christians with John and his fellow disciples, with the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, and that the Christians might have fullness of joy. John then declares that God is light (truth) and we can have fellowship with God if we walk in the light, that is to say, if we live according to God’s truth.

Furthermore, John says, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. For Christ is humanity’s Advocate with the Father, in that, He is the merciful Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, we are to live our lives in accordance with God’s truth just as Christ did. That is, if we obey God’s new commandment of love, which is really an old commandment that God spoke from the beginning, we will not hate our fellow human being.

Next, John says he is writing to little children and fathers because they have overcome, Satan, the wicked one. He then cautions the Christians not to love the world, for such love is not from the Father. Also, John says, it is the last days of the world, and as they have heard that the Antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists in the world. These antichrist’s have left the Christian church and are liars because they deny that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the promised Deliverer from sin, and also deny the Father.

John then encourages the Christians to abide in the God’s truth knowing that God has promised them eternal life. Moreover, John is writing these things to them concerning those who try to lead the Christians away from God. The Christians, John says, should know that the divine, spiritual anointing which they have received teaches them all the truth from God, and they have no need for anyone to teach them. Therefore, they are to abide in God’s truth and, hence, be confident that when Christ returns to the earth, they shall not be ashamed in His presence. Also, knowing that Christ is righteous, they should know that everyone who does righteousness has been spiritually born again through Christ.

After this, John declares that the love which God has bestowed on the Christian, elevates the Christian to the status of children of God in God’s sight. And everyone who hopes to be thus elevated by God, purifies themselves from sin just as Christ is pure. For whoever abides in a spiritual connection with Christ, does not sin. Therefore, they should not allow themselves to be deceived by anyone, for those who commit sin and do not love their fellow human being, are of the devil. That is, God’s message from the beginning is that we should love one another and not be like Cain, who was of the devil. For Cain killed his brother because Cain’s own deeds were evil, and his brother’s deeds were righteous.

John then says that, if the world hates you, know that you have passed from eternal death (annihilation) to eternal life because you love your fellow human being. And the love of God for humanity is evidenced by the fact that Christ laid down His life for humanity, and therefore, persons should lay down their lives for the salvation of their fellow human beings.

That is, the Christians are to demonstrate love by their sacrificial deeds and not only by their words. Thus, the Christian can have the assurance of their salvation from God, and that God will answer their prayers because they do what is pleasing in God’s sight. And believing in Christ, loving one another as God has commanded, ensures that the Christian has a spiritual connection with Christ.

Next, John warns the Christians not to believe what every person says, but instead to put them to the test since there are many false prophets in the world who deny that Christ came into the world in human flesh. For the false prophets belong to the world which listens to them, but the Christians are of God and those who know God listen to the Christians. This is the difference between having the spirit of truth and having the spirit of error.

That is, John says, love is of God, for God is love. This love in the Christian’s heart causes them to testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. And perfect love in human hearts casts out all fear. For the Christian is able to love God because God first loved them and gave them the gift of love in their heart. And those who love Jesus Christ and believe that He is the Messiah, also love the Father who sent Him to the earth. Such persons demonstrate their love for God by keeping God’s commandments.

John then says that whosoever is spiritually born again by God has overcome the sins of the world by their faith in Christ. And there are divine witnesses in heaven and on earth who testify of the truth regarding Christ. Those who believe God’s testimony are witnesses to the truth, and those who do not believe make God out to be a liar. For God’s testimony is that God has given eternal life to the Christian through Christ, God’s Son.

Next, John says that Christians can have confidence that, if they ask God anything according to God’s will, God will grant them their request. And if anyone sees their fellow human being sin a sin that does not lead to eternal death (annihilation), they can ask God to grant them eternal life and God will do so. But they should not pray for those who sin a sin that leads to eternal death (annihilation). (Note that we can only know if a person has sinned a sin leading to eternal death if God reveals it to us.)

Lastly, John closes his letter by saying that those who have been spiritually born again by God do not sin, and Satan, the wicked one, cannot cause them to sin. For the whole world is wicked in God’s sight, but Christians know that Christ who came to the earth has caused them to have a spiritual connection with Him. Christ is the true God who gives eternal life, therefore, do not worship idols.

Themes

• The love of God.
• The evidence of God’s love in human hearts.
• Sin is of the Devil, that is, of Satan.
• Antichrists and false prophets.
• Fellowship with God and a spiritual connection with Christ causes the individual not to sin.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God whose character defines what is love.
• Christ who came to the earth in human flesh.
• Christ who is the merciful Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
• Christ who is humanity’s Advocate with God.
• God who commands us to love one another.
• God who answers prayers.
• God who gives eternal life through Christ.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

In the Bible, God describes the love in God’s own heart as follows: “Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [love] vaunteth not [does not boast] itself, is not puffed up [in pride], doth not behave itself unseemly [dishonourably], seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil [does not keep an inventory of evil]; rejoiceth not in iniquity [in wickedness], but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity [love] never faileth [never perishes].” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Get to know and understand the love of God for yourself through spending quality time in prayer to God, Bible study, sharing the gospel with others, and trusting in God.
• Examine yourself for the evidence of God’s love in your heart.
• Know that sin is of the Devil, that is, of Satan.
• Beware of antichrists and false prophets.
• Enter into fellowship with God and have a spiritual connection with Christ so that you do not sin.
• Know and understand that it is God’s character which defines what is love.
• Believe that Christ came to the earth in human flesh.
• Believe that Christ is the merciful Sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
• Believe that Christ is humanity’s Advocate with God.
• Obey God’s command to love one another.
• Know for yourself that God answers prayers.
• Believe that God gives eternal life through Christ.

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