62. 1 John (Bible Summary)

John’s Personal Testimony: John begins by affirming the reality of the incarnation, declaring that he and others have heard, seen, and touched the Word of life—Jesus Christ, who was with the Father and manifested to them. This declaration serves to establish the truth of Christ’s physical reality and eternal nature.

Moral Likeness (1:5–7): Fellowship with God is marked by walking in the light, as God is light. To walk in darkness, while claiming fellowship with God, is to live in self-deception. True fellowship involves walking in the light, as Christ is in the light, and living a life of purity and truth.
Confession of Sin (1:8—2:2): If anyone claims to be without sin, they deceive themselves. John emphasizes the importance of confessing sin, and assures that if we confess, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Christ is our advocate before the Father, serving as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Obedience (2:3–6): The true test of fellowship with God is obedience to His commands. Those who say they know Him but do not keep His commands are liars. The one who obeys God’s word truly shows the love of God is perfected in them.
Love for Fellow Believers (2:7–11): Love for others is a central command of the Christian life. John highlights that those who walk in the light love their brothers and sisters, and those who hate their brother are in darkness.

Encouragement to the Children, Fathers, and Young Men (2:12–14): John addresses the various stages of Christian life, encouraging them based on their spiritual maturity.
Warning Against Worldliness (2:15–17): John warns against loving the world or anything in it, as the world and its desires are passing away. True believers are those who do the will of God.

Contrast: Apostates versus Believers (2:18–21): John warns of the presence of antichrists, those who reject the true nature of Christ. True believers, however, abide in the truth they have received from the beginning.
Person of Christ: The Crux of the Test (2:22–23): The test of fellowship with God is the correct understanding of who Christ is. Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is an antichrist.
Persistent Belief: Key to Continuing Fellowship (2:24–28): The believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in the truth they have been taught, ensuring they continue in fellowship with the Father and the Son.

Righteousness (2:29—3:10a): The evidence of being a child of God is practicing righteousness. Those born of God do not continue in sin, as Christ’s seed abides in them.
Love (3:10b–24): True love for others, especially fellow believers, is the mark of sonship. John stresses that love is the defining characteristic of God’s children and that God’s command to love is inseparable from the command to keep His commandments.

Testing the Spirits: John instructs believers to test the spirits to see if they are from God, particularly concerning the message about Christ. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but any spirit that denies Christ is from the spirit of the antichrist.

The Source of Love (4:7–16): Love comes from God, for God is love. The ultimate demonstration of God’s love is the sending of His Son into the world to save humanity.
The Fruit of Love (4:17–19): Perfect love casts out fear, and believers are assured of their standing before God because of the love He has shown them.
The Relationship of Love for God and Love for One’s Fellow Christian (4:20—5:1): Loving God and loving others are inseparable. One cannot claim to love God and hate their brother, as love for God is demonstrated through love for fellow believers.
Obedience: The Evidence of Love for God’s Children (5:2–5): Love for God’s children is manifested in obedience to God’s commands, and this is the victory that overcomes the world.

The Testimony Concerning Christ: John asserts that the testimony about Jesus Christ is the basis of eternal life. The Holy Spirit, the water (baptism), and the blood (the crucifixion) bear witness to the truth of Christ’s identity and mission.

Assurance of Eternal Life (5:13): John writes so that believers may know they have eternal life and may confidently approach God in prayer.
Confidence in Prayer (5:14–15): Believers are assured that when they ask according to God’s will, He hears them, and they can have confidence that their prayers will be answered.
Victory Over Sin (5:16–18): John emphasizes the power of prayer for overcoming sin and that those born of God do not continue in habitual sin.
Certainty of the True God (5:19–20): Believers know they are from God and that the world is under the control of the evil one. They also know that Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life.
Final Warning (5:21): John closes with a simple exhortation: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”