INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN
1, 2, & 3 John • Sermon • Submitted
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1. WHO WROTE 1 JOHN?
1. WHO WROTE 1 JOHN?
John the son of Zebedee, one of the Twelve chosen as apostles (Matt. 10:2).
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
2. WHEN WAS 1 JOHN WRITTEN?
2. WHEN WAS 1 JOHN WRITTEN?
Last third of the first century a.d.
3. WHERE WAS 1 JOHN WRITTEN TO?
3. WHERE WAS 1 JOHN WRITTEN TO?
Since 1 John does make reference to a city or region, it is most likely that John is speaking to problems that have arisen in the churches where he has leadership power
Which probably are the churches he addressed in the book of Revelation—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (Rev. 2–3).
which leads me to....
4. WHY WAS 1 JOHN WRITTEN?
4. WHY WAS 1 JOHN WRITTEN?
Since 1 John is not addressed to any specific leader or location, we can assume it was meant for a group of churches facing similar challenges.
To reaffirm teaching about Jesus Christ and the Christian life. (Acts 2:42)
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
To confront false teachings and practices that were harming churches.
First John reveals a problem that people are seeking to lead churches in a direction different from that laid out by Jesus Christ. (1 John 2:18–19; 4:6)
But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
At Ephesus there are “wicked men … who claim to be apostles but are not” (Rev. 2:2).
Also in Ephesus were the Nicolaitans: (2:6), a group that apparently rose within the church and promoted pagan sexual morals.
In Smyrna we read (Rev. 2:15).
Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
In Thyatira a similar crisis has arisen.
A woman who John calls Jezebel claims to have prophetic gifts.
John says she teaches people “deep secrets” of Satan (2:24).
Like the Nicolaitans she lures followers toward immoral sexual expression (2:20).
This seems to have been a widespread problem in certain segments of the early church (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11).
The danger is still here today… there are people who seek to take the church in a new direction…
Most of the time it is for what seems to be good reasons… better fellowship, deeper commitment to God.
They say things like “
To create a way to prove people’s claim to know Christ. (love)
5. WHAT ARE THE THEMES TO 1 JOHN?
5. WHAT ARE THE THEMES TO 1 JOHN?
The person of Christ.
The work of Christ.
The importance of both right belief and right practice in the Christian life. James 1:22–24
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Christlike love is the badge of true knowledge of God.
6. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT 1 JOHN
6. OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT 1 JOHN
John’s first letter is one of the best attested letters in the New Testament. (see video)
Arnold, Clinton E. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Hebrews to Revelation. Vol. 4. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002. Print.