Feed Yourself on the Truths Found in 1 John

My Study of 1 John

As you feed yourself on the truths found in 1 John may your heart, burn with love for the Lord Jesus Christ anew.

The writings of John are one of my most favorite to read. His heart is one I can relate to. For me it doesn’t matter what subject he speaks of you can sense the love and passion for Jesus Christ and for the followers of Christ.

Truly John was a man that understood the love and mercy of Jesus. It is this love that he uses to encourage and remind believers of what is most important in this short book of 1 John.

Moreover, the five chapters contained in this book are packed with truths that we need to keep in mind.

For my own study, I have separated the writings into easy-to-follow segments that help me focus on each particular area I want to study and meditate on. I hope you will find it useful for yourself also.

Lord stir your flame within us that we may burn with the passion to reach out to others and bring them into your loving presence and kingdom!

A Bit of Clarification

Since the scriptures in this post all come from the book of 1 john I have posted the chapter number before the verse for your reference. I have used the NKJV for the most part. However, there may be a few verses from the NLT.

For clarity in my study, there were a few times when switched a verse around. This did NOT change the context of the verse. I tell you this because after all, it is my study that I am sharing.

Therefore, It is your responsibility to search the scriptures yourself to be sure that what I have written is accurate. Moreover, if you find something that you believe is not portrayed correctly, please point it out respectfully in the comment section below.

Introduction

The Apostle John testifies concerning Jesus Christ. What he has seen with his own eyes, heard with his own ears, and touched with his own hands.

God is Light

^1.5This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

I Write to You Who Believe in The Name of The Son of God Because…

^2.12… your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
^2.13… you have known Him who is from the beginning.
^2.13… you have overcome the wicked one.
^2.13…you have known the Father.
^2.14… you have known Him who is from the beginning.
^2.14… are strong, and the word of God abides in you
^2.14and you have overcome the wicked one.
^2.21… you know it [the truth], and that no lie is of the truth.
^2.26…concerning those who try to deceive you.
^5.13… that you may know that you have eternal life,
^5.13and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords

The Apostle John is very clear concerning our soon returning King. In the book of 1 John, I have found 19 statements of the apostle concerning Jesus our Christ (Messiah). You may find even more…

^1.7… the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
^1.9…He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (If we confess our sins)
^2.1… Jesus Christ the righteous is our Advocate with the Father
^2.2He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and also for the whole world.
^2.25And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
^2.29He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
^3.5And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
^3.8 …For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
^3.16By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
^3.24Now he who keeps His [God’s] commandments abides in Him [Jesus], and He [Jesus] in him.
^4.9In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
^4.10… He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
^4.13… He has given us of His Spirit.
^4.14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
^4.19We love Him because He first loved us.
^5.3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
^5.11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
^5.14…if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
^5.20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true… His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

The Certainty of God’s Witness

^5.6This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness because the Spirit is truth.

^5.7For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

^5.8And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

^5.9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.

^5.11And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

God our Creator Knows our Hearts

We may call ourselves “Christians” and pull the wool over the eyes of others but our actions will reveal what is in our hearts. Likewise, don’t deceive yourself. God who created you sees your true heart.

For if we say we:

^1.6… have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
^1.8… have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
^1.10… have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
^2.4… “I know Him,” and do not keep His commandments, [this person] is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
^2.9He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

For the person who:

^2.11… hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
^2.15… loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
^2.23…denies the Son does not have the Father either.
^3.4…commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
^3.6…sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
^3.8… sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
^3.10… does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Whoever does not love…

^3.14… does not love his brother abides in death.
^3.15…hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
^3.17…has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
^4.8…does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Who is a liar?

^2.22Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
^4.20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
^5.10… he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

The True Followers of Christ…

Are Born of God

^4.19We love Him because He first loved us.
^5.1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
^5.1Everyone who believes [with a deep, abiding trust in the fact] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is born of God [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], and everyone who loves the Father also loves the child born of Him. (AMP)
^5.2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
^5.10He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself.
^5.12He who has the Son has life…
^5.18We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

True Followers are Action Oriented

If we:

^1.7…walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
^1.9…confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
^2.3… keep His commandments, we know that we know Him.
^2.5… keep His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
^2.6… say we abide in Him, we ought also to walk just as He walked.
^2.10… love our brother, we abide in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
^2.23…he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
^2.24Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Overcomers

^4.4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, [the spirit of antichrist] because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
^5.4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
^5.5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

True Followers do not love the world

^2.15Do not love the world or the things in the world…
^2.16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away, and the lust of it…
^3.13Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.
^5.19… the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

However, they do love one another

^3.11For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
^3.14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.
^3.16By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
^4.11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
^4.21And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Followers also have an anointing

^2.20… an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. ²¹I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
^2.24Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
^2.27But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Moreover, we have assurance and confidence

^2.28And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. ^2.29If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
^3.18My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him
^4.7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
^4.12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
^4.13By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
^4.15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
^4.16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
^5.18… he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

Such as confidence in our petitions

^3.20For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ^3.21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
^3.22And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
^3.23And 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.
^5.14Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
^5.15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

We always have hope

^3.2Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ^3.3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
^3.7Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
^3.9Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

We have boldness

^4.17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Likewise we have no fear

^4.18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Remember to pray for sinning brothers and sisters

^5.16If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.

Lies and Deceptions of the Last Hour

^2.18Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

^2.19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

^2.22Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. ^2.23Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either…

^4.5They are of the world [the spirits of the antichrist]. Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

^5.19… and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Followers of Christ are to test the Spirits

^4.1 Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
^4.2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
^4.3and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
^4.4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, [the spirit of antichrist] because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
^4.6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
^5.20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
^5.21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

In Closing – A Few Reminders

^3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
^2.1…if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
^2.17…but he who does the will of God abides forever.
^5.12He who has the Son has life.
^5.12…he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
^5.19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

Thank you Father for your Word of Life!

Maranatha! Until next time, I am Passionately Loving Jesus, the Anchor of my Soul.

Maranatha! Until next time, I am Passionately Loving Jesus, the Anchor of my Soul.

You may also like to read the article: Who was John the apostle in the Bible? by CompellingTruth.org

Feed Yourself on the Truths Found in 1 John