Fellowship with God
The Goal: Assurance.
"I write these things... that you may know that you have eternal life."
Written by the Apostle John (author of the Gospel of John) around 85-95 AD. He was an old man, addressing believers as "little children."
False teachers claimed the physical body was evil and only the "spirit" mattered. This led to two errors:
John emphasizes physical reality ("...which our hands have touched"). Why is it important to your faith that Jesus was physically real, not just a spirit?
You cannot have fellowship with God while walking in darkness. John destroys the idea that we can hide secret sins while claiming to be close to God.
Homologeo (Greek): To "say the same thing." Confession isn't just admitting you got caught; it's agreeing with God that your action was sin.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us..." (1:9)
Is there an area of your life you are keeping in the "dark"? What stops you from bringing it into the light today?
John writes so we do not sin. But if we do, we aren't hopeless. We have a defense attorney.
A big theological word. It means Jesus didn't just cover the sin; He satisfied the wrath of God associated with it. The debt is fully paid, not just ignored.
How does knowing Jesus is your "Advocate" (Lawyer) change how you feel when you make a mistake? Does it lead to freedom or fear?
The "New Commandment" is actually old: Love one another. But John pivots to a warning: You cannot love the Father and the World simultaneously.
The 3 Enemies (v16)
Greed, materialism, coveting.
Sensual pleasure, gluttony, laziness.
Arrogance, status, self-sufficiency.
Which of the "Three Enemies" competes most for your heart right now?
This is the core identity slide. We are not just servants; we are family. This identity demands a lifestyle change.
John uses stark language: "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning."
He isn't claiming perfection (remember 1:9). He is describing trajectory. A child of God cannot be comfortable in habitual, unrepentant sin.
Does your life show a "family resemblance" to the Father? What recent victory over sin gives you assurance of this?
Love is not a feeling; it is a sacrifice. John contrasts Cain (murder/hate) with Christ (sacrifice/love).
Hated his brother because his own deeds were evil.
Laid down his life for us. We ought to do the same.
Identify one person you can love "in deed" this week. What specific action will you take?
Not every spiritual experience is from God. We must be discerning.
Does it confess Jesus?
"Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." (4:2).
If a teaching diminishes Jesus' divinity OR his humanity, it is the spirit of the antichrist.
In an age of "spiritual but not religious," how do you personally vet the content (podcasts, books, influencers) you consume?
The most famous definition of God in the Bible. But John clarifies: We love, only because He first loved us.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." (4:18)
Fear has to do with punishment. If you are afraid of God's judgment, you haven't fully grasped His love for you in Christ.
Are you motivated to obey God by fear of punishment or by love? How would your daily life change if fear was completely removed?
Faith isn't just a mental assent; it is the engine of victory. It makes God's commandments not "burdensome."
God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
"Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (5:12)
Do you view God's commandments as a heavy burden or a pathway to life? What makes them feel burdensome?
The book concludes with assurance. We can KNOW we are saved. We can KNOW he hears our prayers.
After 5 chapters of theology, he ends with this abrupt command. Why? Because anything that replaces the true God (as defined in this letter) is an idol.
What is the biggest "idol" (something you trust for happiness or security more than God) threatening your spiritual life today?
As you read 1 John, tap these buttons whenever you encounter these themes to track the emphasis of the book.