radiantvisalia.com
An Introduction to First John (1 John 1:1-4)
Scripture References: 1 John 1-4, 1 John 1:4, 1 John 2, 1 John 5:13, John 20:31, Revelation 1-2.
Intro:
- Introduction to 1 John, a book addressing a church in crisis.
- Acknowledge the potential feeling of being overwhelmed in a church setting.
- Announce a Q&A segment to foster understanding.
- Begin with the concept of "buyer's remorse" as an analogy for spiritual regret.
Key Points:
- The Author and Context:
- John the Apostle, the "disciple whom Jesus loved," is the author.
- Written to Gentile believers in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
- Addresses the threat of Gnosticism, a false teaching.
- The Purpose of 1 John:
- To equip believers to discern true faith from false teaching.
- To combat division and lead the church back to foundational truths.
- To provide tests for believers to examine their own faith.
- The Tests of True Faith:
- Tests of integrity, humility, obedience, love, priorities, perseverance, Christology, sin, authority, and the Spirit.
- Emphasis on self-examination rather than judging others.
- The importance of understanding God's character before applying principles to life.
- Key Themes:
- God's nature as love (1 John 4:8).
- The importance of "knowing" God (gnosis vs. true knowledge).
- The reality of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
- The pursuit of joy, holiness, and confidence (1 John 1:4, 1 John 5:13).
- John’s Goals:
- Complete Joy.
- Holy living.
- Confidence in eternal life.
Conclusion:
- 1 John is a challenging but vital book for understanding genuine faith.
- It serves as a mirror for self-reflection and a guide for navigating spiritual confusion.
- The goal is to cultivate a church marked by joy, holiness, and confidence.
Call to Action:
- Approach 1 John with a willingness to self-examine.
- Seek to understand God's character and love.
- Pursue joy, holiness, and confidence through a deeper relationship with God.
- Share your needs with others in the church community.
Support the show
*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
Please notify us if you find any errors.
