The Significance of 1 John

As part of the requirements for one of my seminary classes, all students were required to follow a guided template in explaining the significance of certain books of the Bible. Below is the third one about 1 John.

The summary follows four main parts: The purpose of the book (including the argument), a short summary of the book, what I want the audience to know regarding knowledge and action, and finally how this book will affect my personal character development. Each of us will be different in how 1 John challenges us to grow and it is also dependent on the season of life we are in. Certain themes are more prominent in different seasons that help us grow and stick out more to us. God will speak into our lives through Scripture to tell us what He wants us to hear. You can read the same passage a year later and be reminded of a different truth that is important.

This post will focus on the significance of 1 John.

The Significance of 1 John to Your Life & Ministry

1. State briefly the purpose and argument of the book? (Give references to support your statements). What I want you to do here is (1) discern the importance of what this book teaches well enough to remember it; (2) the argument is trying to assess how the author develops and accomplishes his purpose.
   1. Purpose (Major Theme or Purpose): First John is made up of two main purposes: to confirm the readers in their faith and to refute false doctrine and practice. John encourages the readers to examine their lives by a test of fellowship to determine if they are walking in fellowship with other believers and with God (1:3-4). Fellowship with one another is possible because believers share a common life (1:2-3). John gives them recurring test to see if they are truly believers. He gives them tests to test their obedience or morality (2:3-6; 2:28-3:10), love (2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-12), and their belief or doctrine (2:18-27; 4:1-6, 13-15). Also, John writes this letter to combat the false teaching that was happening due to Gnosticism, specifically intellectualism and dualism (1:6, 8, 10; 2:9, 11, 18, 22-23, 26; 3:4, 8, 10, 15, 17; 4:1-3, 5, 8, 20; 5:10). The errors centered on the incarnation of Christ, and the nature of sin and the believer’s responsibility. The theme of 1 John is to counteract the pressures that the false teachers were bringing upon the readers and emphasizes the life of a believer in Christ (5:13).
   2. Argument (What is the author trying to accomplish and how is he doing it?):John accomplishes his purpose by employing a method of contrast. He contrasts between the saved and unsaved (2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-12), as well as heresy and truth (2:18-27; 4:1-6, 1315), communion with God (1:2-5) and a lifestyle of heresy (2:3-6; 2:28-3:10). John also warns his readers that if they follow the ways of the false teachers that they will suffer serious consequences (2:28; 3:8-15). John’s approach is more positive though and refutes the false teaching by answering their teachings with truth showing the readers a better teaching (2:9-10; 3:10-20; 4:7-12, 17-21; 5:10-11). John also employs a series of “tests” to see if they are walking in fellowship with each other and God (1:2-4), obeying God (2:3-6; 2:28-3:10), love (2:7-11; 3:11-18; 4:7-12), and faith (2:18-27; 4:1-6, 13-15). John also reinforces his main points by using certain words over and over. The frequency that John uses certain words helps his readers see and remember the main points, for example “know” is used 40 times, “love” is used 35 times, “sin” (as well as “sins” and “sinned”) is used 22 times, and “born of God” eight times.
2.  Give a short paragraph of how this book fits into the overall message or argument of the whole Bible. Support your statements with passages from the OT & NT. Give cross-references from both Testaments—(like chapter and verse, 2:12 for example; “passages” means more than one)?3. What do I want my congregation, audience, or study group to apply after studying this book? What would I want them NOT to forget? What does it do for YOU?

3. KNOWING/MEMORY – Give four (4) PRINCIPLES (values; ethical standards; doctrines; main beliefs) that you gleaned from this book and that you and your congregation will think of and remember when the book is named. These should be appropriate to the text, so GIVE REFERENCES (chapters and verses) for each. 
   • The incarnation of Jesus was real. He truly came, lived, died, was resurrected, and will come again.
     • I would like the audience to remember that sin is real and contrary to God’s nature (1:8-10; 2:1; 3:8). I want the audience to see how sin disrupts fellowship with God (1:6). Sin cannot continue to be practiced by believers (3:6-10) because Christ appeared to take away sin (3:5). Believers should not practice the system of severe discipline on oneself for sin, nor should they allow themselves to freely exhibit or give in to sin. I want the audience to see the severe effects of sin, how it hurts our fellowship with God and others, and how Jesus provided forgiveness for our sins.I want the audience to remember that Jesus is God’s Son, and truly came to this world and was fully man and fully God (2:22; 4:15; 5:6). John spoke of Jesus being sent (4:9-10, 14), His coming (5:20), His appearing (1:2; 3:5, 8; 4:9), His coming in the flesh (4:2), and by water and blood (5:6). While this world and other religions deny Jesus’ incarnation or the union of His deity and humanity, I want the audience to see how John defended the Gospel and explained the incarnation. I want the audience to be prepared to answer questions from those who deny Jesus or deny His deity. spiritual life that knows and obeys God is far superior to growing in knowledge of God. Christian knowledge, possessed as the result of the anointing from the Spirit and His teachings (2:20), is a knowledge which involves holiness of life and conduct as well as intellectual knowledge (1:5-2:5).
   • Communion with God means realizing one’s sinfulness and fleeing sin.True knowledge leads to greater fellowship with God
     • I want the audience to remember that believers have an “anointing” of the Holy Spirit (2:20; 3:24; 4:13). Believers are able to obtain knowledge because they are taught by the Spirit (2:27; 3:24; 4:13; 5:6-10). I want the audience to know that while it is great to have knowledge of God and about God, it is greater to know God. Living a spiritual life that knows and obeys God is far superior to growing in knowledge of God. Christian knowledge, possessed as the result of the anointing from the Spirit and His teachings (2:20), is a knowledge which involves holiness of life and conduct as well as intellectual knowledge (1:5-2:5).
   • Our love for God should be reflected in our love for others
     • The audience should remember that John challenges his readers that faith lived out is exercised in love. Love is intrinsic with God and must be reflected in and through believers (3:16-21). Love for other Christians is a necessary outcome and evidence of knowing God (2:9-10; 3:10-20; 4:7-12, 17-21). Love is validated by one’s actions, not just expressed in words (3:17-18). As John emphasizes this to his readers, so modern Christians need to have it emphasized to them that faith and love go hand in hand with each other. God initiated love and expressed it in the Incarnation (4:9) and Christ’s sacrifice (3:16; 4:10). The believers love reflects God’s love and provides evidence of a relationship with God (3:14; 4:16, 20-21).

4. DOING/ACTION – What you will lead others to do that is based on the text or passage that suggested this action. You are required to do two (2) of these and be sure to give references It must be supported by a particular text, so be sure to give chapters and verses, example 2:12.

• Develop a curriculum for people to better understand the sin and our sin nature (1 John 1:6, 8-10; 2:1; 3:5-10).
  • • Develop a short teaching series on sin. This will include what sin is, the difference between sin and flesh, how sin impacts our fellowship with God, and how a believer cannot continue to live in sin. This will also include ways we try to permit certain sins and how to break these certain permissible sins.
    • Create a prayer guide for confession of sins. This will include what proper confession looks like and how we are to confess our sins. o Work with community groups to create accountability partners where the individuals can talk openly about sins in their lives and not be or feel judged.
• Develop a guide for love – God’s love for us and showing His love to others (1 John
  • Create a guide and bookmark of all the ways God loves us and we are loved by God. This will be especially helpful on tough days when we do not feel loved o Create several volunteer opportunities for members to be able to express their faith and love to the community
  • Encourage small groups and Sunday school groups to do a supplemental teaching and discussion on love and how Christians can live out their love for believers and non-believers. o Work with the technology group to have a page on the church website about different ways/examples to express love for others each day.

5. BEING/PERSONAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT –What one (1) thing touched your heart, as you were reading/studying this book? Tell what it was and what text influenced you – Scripture reference(s) required. What you are going to do about it?

• The thing that touched me most about 1 John was how much God loves us (1 John 1:5; 4:7-8, 16) and how we are to show that love to others. I like how John started with God’s expression of love and how God is love. Then, he showed how a believer who loves God reflects that love to others. Love is the outcome of faith and is an evidence of a relationship with God (3:14; 4:16, 20-21). Love is expressed by obedience and calls believers to unity (5:3-5). First John was convicting for me to see how much God loves us and how I need to show His love to others better.

  What am I going to do: First, I want to reflect on God’s love daily. During my quiet time and throughout the day, I will write down ways that come to mind about the way God loves me and shows me his love. Second, in an effort to reflect that love to others, I will volunteer at a homeless shelter to show God’s love to them. Finally, I will ask the church for practical ways to express love to other believers that are in need of help.