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Description

Key word: Know 

Twenty-five or so years after the completion of the rest of the New Testament, the Apostle John begins to add 5 inspired books: the Gospel of John detailing the life of Jesus and the foundation of Christianity; three epistles, which inform of faith; and the Revelation, which looks to the future and the conclusion of our faith, as our faith is turned to sight at the coming of Christ and establishing of the eternal kingdom. 

The first epistle is an interesting study, as it is filled with repetition of key words that help us understand John’s theme and purpose. Know (or knowledge), appears 35x, love 21x, world 23x and light 6x. John’s burden is that we must know the truth if we are to have the life God intends for us. Our key verse (5:13) sums up this message very clearly. 

There are three powerful statements about God, that we must know: 

1. God is light (1:5), that is, He is the essence of holiness and purity. If we are His people, our life is to be an imperfect reflection of that light. 

2. God is righteous (2:29; 3:7), that is, God is just and whatever He does is right. Again, our lives should reflect righteousness as His followers. 

3. God is love (4:8), that is, He relates to people in unselfish compassion and grace, and our lives should too. 

John tells us the great hindrance to this understanding of God, and subsequent life that glorifies Him, is a trinity of enemies that seek to keep us in the darkness and living wasted, fruitless lives. These three enemies spring from one sinful source – the love of the world, rather than a love for God (2:15): 

1. The lust of the flesh (2:16a) desires of our fleshful nature 

2. Lust of the eye (2:16b) placing value on the superficial 

3. Pride of life (2:16c) living for selfish ambitions All of these things will perish but the one who does the will of God abides forever.

Key verse: 1 John 5:13 – These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.