APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE HOUR: THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN

The Pastor's Teaching Outline

(As studied at the Church of Pentecost, BNWC, from September, 2011)

Letter Summary

The evidence of our being born again is that we live in love through faith.

In 1John 1, we note the following:

1. John is telling us the what he got from His experience with Jesus, a first hand witness

2. The force of the life and message of Jesus is that God is light

3. Man has fallen short of God’s glory, but will find forgiveness and strength to live up to the glory of God, if he owns up and accepts that what Jesus has done, is for His sake.

In coming into 1 John 2, we note that:

4. Our proof of partaking in the benefits of Christ, is our obedience to Him (6,29)

5. The chief indicator of our obedience to Him is our love for others, as Jesus Himself gave His life for us (John 15:13)

6. The love of the world wastes the love of God, in that whereas the love of God is selfless, the love of the world is carnal and selfish

1. What proves that we have accepted Christ and what He has done for us?

2. What is the major proof of our obedience to Christ?

3. According to John, why should we not relax in doctrine, etc.?

7. We need to note further that false teachers will try to infiltrate us, but we will walk in safety if we open our eyes to:

i. Those who purport to be our teachers, but eventually leave us (and those whose present lifestyles are like theirs) (19)

ii. Those whose teaching strike us as falsehood, and not consistent with the character of Christ. His Holy Spirit in us remains a strong witness that we must pay absolute attention to in order to reject doubtful ways (20, 27)

iii. Those who refuse to acknowledge Christ for who He is, and who He says He is (22,23)

e. g.

a. The Word with God, God (John 1: 1-4,14; 14:9; 20:28; Isaiah 9:6, Php.2:6, Rev. 15:3)

b. The Son of God (John 1:34, 49: 3:16, Matt. 16:16,17)

c. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World (John 1:29)

d. The Son of Man (John 1:51, 1John: 4:2, 3)

4. In this chapter, what three (3) characteristics mark out antichrists?

In 1John 3: 1 - 10, we are given reasons for righteous living:

8. We are children of God! Think about it. So why are people not celebrating us? Should we be discouraged because we are not celebrated? No. in keeping with our designation, we ought to walk purely, identifying with our Father, God. (1-3)

9. Christ came, so that the results of Satan’s work, sinful living, will come to an end. (4-8)

10. Righteous living distinguishes us (the children of God) from the children of the devil. e.g. The world (those of the evil one, like Cain) hate, but we love as a chief indicator of our transformation/translation (9-15) Our distinction is made clear in two ways:

· Kindness: This love is palpable in acts of kindness (16-18)

· Boldness: The expression of this love gives a us clear consciences before God (19-24)

5. What three (3) reasons motivate our righteous living and make us avoid sin?

6. In what two (2) ways is our love made known

In 1 John 4, we are taught to identify and reject antichrists, and to live in the love of God so as to be very distinct from them.

11. In order not to be misled by the ever-present antichrists, we should test teachers before we accept them:

i. Do they accept the incarnation of Christ? (2,3)

ii. Does the world receive their doctrine (and continue to be worldly)? (5)

iii. Do they listen to us, who are from God? (6)

12. The love of God is the first to act and is self-sacrificing (7-11). In similar fashion, we should be the first to show our love to others (not wait to be loved before we love back), plus we should be prepared to sacrifice our self-interest for others.

13. The reasons why we should live in the love of God are:

a. It is the only testimony of God to the world which has not seen Him (12)

b. God has equipped us by His Holy Spirit to live this way (13-16)

c. It is our insurance in judgment (17 – 20)

7. What three (3) tests should be applied in detecting antichrists?

8. What two (2) characteristics of God’s love should we imitate?

9. Give three (3) reasons why we should make every effort to live in the love of God?

In 1 John 5, He develops three main points and concludes:

14. Our love for others in obedience to God’s commandments is possible because we have believed in Christ Jesus. Such a faith that brought us our higher birth is able to overcome the world and its systems of (being encouraged or discouraged by) sight. (1-5)

15. Our faith in Christ has the strongest basis in God Himself who testifies through at least six irrevocable avenues that He has given us eternal life in Christ:

i. His (The Father’s) own declaration, e. g. at His baptism and transfiguration;

ii. The Word of God which is from the beginning and by which all things were made;

iii. The Holy Ghost, e.g., who descended on Jesus like a dove, at His baptism;

iv. The coming, remaining and activity of the Holy Spirit in/with us;

v. The water (of baptism), by which we continue to usher believers into the body of Christ, making them symbolically partake of His death ( and resurrection unto new life)

vi. The blood of Jesus, whose shedding wrought supernatural changes (of rending the temple’s curtain and covering the earth with darkness) and has proved to be the only and perfect atonement for our sins.

16. We have further proof and encouragement, in the fact that He answers all our in-His-will prayers. For example, if we intercede for people who have sinned ignorantly and not willfully (against us), God also lets go. To ask Him to forgive willful sin however, is against His will, and we intercede in vain. (14-17)

17. CONCLUSION

Three powerful truths (that this whole letter expounded) should keep us from being devoted to any one or any thing apart form God:

i. People born of God do not sin;

ii. We are in God, and the rest of the world is in sin;

iii. The Messiah has come, the True God, in whom we have eternal life.