Bible Matters 258: Gospel According to 1 John

In the epistles of 1,2 and 3 John, the salvation message of Jesus Christ is presented.  It reinforces the words Jesus Christ spoke and taught in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Salvation by grace is offered to those that believe that Jesus is the propitiation for their sins, abide in the doctrine of Christ by walking in the light, living a righteous life, loving one another, doing the will of God and abideth forever.

1 John 2:15-17 – Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Let’s review John’s epistle.  Jesus is the Word of Life.  You are told to walk in the light, serving God and not the devil in sin.

1 John 1:1,3,5-7,9 – That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

You are told to live a righteous life and be born of God.  When you know him, you keep his words, keep his commandments and the love of God is perfected.

1 John 2:1-6,8-11,15,17,28-29 – My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

When you love of God, you purify yourself and sin not, living a righteous life.  Hearing from the beginning that you love one another.  Being born of God, not living a life of sin.  When you believe in Jesus and his doctrine, God promises you a gift of eternal life, with him in heaven.  Sin is of the devil.  Those who hate each other hath no eternal life in them.

1 John 3:3,6-11,15,23-24 – And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John 4: 20-21 – If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 5:11-13,17-18,20-21 – And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  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.  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. [21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

John glories in those that abide in the doctrine of Christ, love one another, doing the will of God and walking in the truth. 

2 John 1:5-6,9-11 – And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

John’s message from his epistle is the truth in God’s word.  When you repent of your sins, are doing the will of God by living a righteous life for Jesus Christ and loving one another, then you don’t serve the devil by abiding in darkness.  In the end the gift of eternal life.  Little children, keep yourself from idols.  Believe, Love, Serve with acts of Charity.

1 John 5:11,12,20 – And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.   And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

1 John 1:6 – If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

John 8:12 – Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46 – I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mark 13:13 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 18:30 – Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

John 3:17-21 – For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 5:34,38-39, 42 – But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.  But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.   But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

1 John 5: 21 – Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 2:17 – And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

To God be the glory in all you do. Amen.