PONDERING... Why 1 John?

Why 1 John?

Scripture: Various

GIST: Salvation is founded on truth and results in transformation.

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTER

A Trained Teacher: 

     There is some debate over who wrote the letters of John. Most generally agree it was the same person who wrote the gospel, but there is still some division there. However, tradition and numbers are on the side of the author being John the apostle. 

     The timing of this letter would have been late in John's life. Most agree it was late in the first century. At this point, he is a much older man, and possibly the last living apostle.

     We have come to know John as the apostle of love. However, when I was listening to John MacArthur teach on this text, he pointed out this was not the case from the beginning. He was more headstrong and vain. God changed him. Late in his life and ministry, he shares that wisdom with the churches that are around his current home, Ephesus (a huge and very pagan city). 

A Treacherous Time:

     In general, this letter was written to combat Gnosticism or some similar heretical sect that was breaking away from the church and trying to destroy it from within. You don't need to understand the specifics of their false teaching to appreciate this letter. They were questioning the purity and person of Jesus. Our world does the same, and these words are equally valuable.

A Twisting Trail:

     Again, most will acknowledge that this letter is not a conventional Hebrew letter in format (missing a developed introduction and conclusion), but is more of an exposition, or mini-sermon, or conversation. Furthermore, it follows a more circular than linear pattern...aways looping back to this main purpose-->

AN OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER’S PURPOSE

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

     You have to love John’s direct approach. We really have no reason to question why he wrote this letter. He tells us. This was written that we may know that we have eternal life/salvation. Now, this isn’t the only “I write these things” statement in the letter. However, they are all tied to this truth.

• 1 John 1:1-4 Eternal life is proclaimed so that all believers might have complete joy in true fellowship with Christ.
• 1 John 2:1 He is writing that we might not sin, but if we do we can have forgiveness through Christ which is what begins eternal life.
• 1 John 2:7-11 This section is a little more confusing upon the first read, but focuses on the connection between living love and walking in the light both of which should spring forth from those who truly have eternal life.
• 1 John 2:12-14 There are six “I am writing because” statements in these verses. Will break these down in more detail when we get to them, but it is important to note that although each statement addressed one of three groups of people. Yet, each statement says essentially the same thing: because “your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake” (12), “you know Him who is from the beginning”(13, 14), “you have overcome the evil one” (13), “you know the Father” (13), “you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one” (14). Sins are forgiven; sins are overcome; strength is given; the Word of God is abiding in you; and all of this is because you know God—which is eternal life.
• 1 John 2:21 They know the truth. Cross reference this with John 14:6 and 17:3…and you”ll see that this is, again, about eternal life.
• 1 John 2:26 He is writing them about those who are trying to deceive them, but deceive them about what? Look at the previous verse (1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that He made to us—eternal life.”)

     Just to make sure we don't miss out on what this means, let's look, at a verse from his Gospel account that defines eternal life.

"And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3

     Thus, eternal life is saving, intimate knowledge of Jesus. This book is about knowing you have this kind of relationship. There are several themes that will be coming up continuously as we read this, but I think it can be best summarized in two words: truth and transformation.

Truth: To experience eternal life, salvation, we must understand the truth about Jesus. This is foundational. He dives into the character of God. Among others, we'll be looking at the fact that He was truly 100% God and 100% man in the incarnation, He is light, and He is Love. 

Transformation: An evangelist friend of mine named Luke Johnson once said that 1 John was the best book to read to test to see if you are truly saved. One side of that is that it tests your perception of God's character, of truth. The other side is that it shows you the kind of love-saturated, obedient life that will result. ...And that is what makes this letter so challenging. It will force us to look critically at ourselves.

     Let's do that together.  Salvation is founded on truth and results in transformation. Do you know the truth? Have you been transformed?