False Claims of Fellowship
Category: Failure of truth
Could endure: Walk in the light.
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.” (1 John 1:7)
Cross-Refs: John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8.
Chose wrongly: Claimed fellowship while living in darkness.
“If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” (1 John 1:6)
Cross-Refs: Titus 1:16; John 3:19–20.
Endured (negatively): Lived in hypocrisy.
“…we lie and do not live out the truth.” (1 John 1:6)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 23:27–28; James 1:22.
Why (wrong motive): Desire to appear righteous without obedience.
“Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar.” (1 John 2:4)
Cross-Refs: Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21.
Result: Not in the truth.
“…the truth is not in that person.” (1 John 2:4)
Cross-Refs: 2 John 9; Revelation 21:8.
Lack of Love for Others
Category: Failure of love
Could endure: Love one another as Christ commanded.
“Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light.” (1 John 2:10)
Cross-Refs: John 13:34–35; Romans 13:10.
Chose wrongly: Hated fellow believers.
“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2:9)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 19:17; Matthew 5:22.
Endured (negatively): Walked in darkness.
“Anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness.” (1 John 2:11)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 4:19; John 11:10.
Why (wrong motive): Pride, selfishness, bitterness.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17)
Cross-Refs: James 2:15–16; Luke 10:31–32.
Result: No eternal life.
“Anyone who does not love remains in death.” (1 John 3:14)
Cross-Refs: John 5:24; Galatians 5:15.
Love of the World
Category: Failure of devotion
Could endure: Do the will of God.
“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:2.
Chose wrongly: Loved the world and its desires.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world.” (1 John 2:15)
Cross-Refs: James 4:4; John 12:25.
Endured (negatively): Corrupted by lust and pride.
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father.” (1 John 2:16)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 3:6; Matthew 4:8–9.
Why (wrong motive): Desire for pleasure, possessions, status.
“The pride of life.” (1 John 2:16)
Cross-Refs: Ecclesiastes 2:10–11; Luke 12:19–20.
Result: Passed away with the world.
“The world and its desires pass away.” (1 John 2:17)
Cross-Refs: 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 18:17–19.
Denial of Christ (Antichrists)
Category: Failure of faith
Could endure: Abide in the Son and the Father.
“Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23)
Cross-Refs: John 14:6; Hebrews 4:14.
Chose wrongly: Denied that Jesus is the Christ.
“Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist.” (1 John 2:22)
Cross-Refs: 2 John 7; Jude 4.
Endured (negatively): Left the fellowship of believers.
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.” (1 John 2:19)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 24:24; Acts 20:30.
Why (wrong motive): Rebellion, deception, false doctrine.
“This is the spirit of the antichrist.” (1 John 4:3)
Cross-Refs: 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4; Revelation 13:7–8.
Result: Condemned as liars without eternal life.
“No one who denies the Son has the Father.” (1 John 2:23)
Cross-Refs: John 3:36; Revelation 20:15.