1 John

1 John

 

WHEN YOU NEED ASSURANCE

 

You believed in Jesus. You turned from sin. You joined the church. You thought everything was settled.

 

But now you're having doubts. Troubling doubts.

 

Am I really saved? How do I know for sure? I still sin. Does that mean I'm not a Christian? What if I've been deceived? What if I'm not really God's child?

 

And it's not just you. Others in the church are struggling with the same questions. Some have left, claiming they have special knowledge. They say they're without sin. They say they love God but hate their brothers. They deny that Jesus came in the flesh.

 

You're confused. Uncertain. Anxious.

 

John writes to give you assurance. He's the last living apostle. He walked with Jesus. He leaned on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper. He stood at the cross. He saw the resurrected Christ. And now, as an old man, he writes to believers struggling with assurance.

 

First John isn't structured like a typical letter. It doesn't have a greeting or closing. It's more like a circular meditation on key themes: light and darkness, truth and lies, love and hate, life and death, children of God and children of the devil. John circles back to these themes again and again, building his case, giving tests of genuine faith.

 

This letter is about assurance. How do you know you're truly God's child? John gives clear tests: Do you walk in the light? Do you confess your sins? Do you keep God's commands? Do you love other believers? Do you believe Jesus came in the flesh? Do you overcome the world?

 

If you've ever doubted your salvation, if you've wondered whether you're truly saved, if you need assurance that you're God's child, read 1 John. John will give you tests to examine yourself and confidence that if you're in Christ, you're secure.

 

A note before we begin:

First John is five chapters of circular meditation on assurance and love. This summary covers the major themes, but John's pastoral care and repeated emphasis on key truths deserve your full attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all five chapters of 1 John yourself. Let John's tests give you assurance of your salvation.

 

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

That which was from the beginning, which we've heard, which we've seen with our eyes, which we've looked at and our hands have touched, this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we've seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we've seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

 

John and the other apostles heard, saw, looked at, and touched Jesus. The Word of life. Eternal life. He appeared. They testify to Him. They proclaim Him so you can have fellowship with them, with the Father, and with Jesus. This makes their joy complete.

 

Walking in the Light

This is the message we've heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there's no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and don't live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

 

God is light. No darkness in Him. If you claim fellowship with God but walk in darkness, you're lying. If you walk in the light, you have fellowship with one another. Jesus' blood purifies you from all sin.

 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth isn't in us. If we confess our sins, He's faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we've not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word isn't in us.

 

If you claim to be without sin, you're deceived. If you confess your sins, God is faithful and just. He'll forgive and purify you. If you claim you've never sinned, you make God a liar.

 

My dear children, I write this to you so that you won't sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He's the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

John writes so you won't sin. But if you do sin, you have an advocate with the Father: Jesus Christ. He's the atoning sacrifice for your sins.

 

We know that we've come to know Him if we keep His commands. Whoever says, I know Him, but doesn't do what He commands is a liar, and the truth isn't in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we're in Him: whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

 

You know you know Him if you keep His commands. If you say you know Him but don't obey, you're a liar. If you obey His word, God's love is made complete in you. If you claim to live in Him, you must live as Jesus did.

 

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

Dear friends, I'm not writing you a new command but an old one, which you've had since the beginning. This old command is the message you've heard. Yet I'm writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

 

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there's nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They don't know where they're going, because the darkness has blinded them.

 

If you claim to be in the light but hate a brother or sister, you're still in darkness. If you love your brother and sister, you live in the light. If you hate, you're in darkness, walking blind.

 

I'm writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. I'm writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I'm writing to you, young men, because you've overcome the evil one.

 

Reasons Not to Love the World

Don't love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father isn't in them. 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 but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever.

 

Don't love the world. If you love the world, the Father's love isn't in you. Everything in the world comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away. Whoever does God's will lives for ever.

 

Warnings Against Denying the Son

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you've heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it's the last hour. They went out from us, but they didn't really belong to us. For if they'd belonged to us, they'd have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

 

This is the last hour. Many antichrists have come. They went out from the church. But they didn't really belong. If they'd belonged, they'd have remained.

 

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I don't write to you because you don't know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It's whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist, denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

 

You have an anointing from the Holy One. You know the truth. The liar denies that Jesus is the Christ. This is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father.

 

As for you, see that what you've heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what He promised us: eternal life.

 

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. You'll remain in the Son and Father. This is the promise: eternal life.

 

I'm writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don't need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit, just as it has taught you, remain in Him.

 

Some are trying to lead you astray. But the anointing remains in you. You don't need anyone to teach you. The anointing teaches you. Remain in Him.

 

God's Children and Sin

And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.

 

If you know that He's righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that's what we are! The reason the world doesn't know us is that it didn't know Him. Dear friends, now we're children of God, and what we'll be hasn't yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we'll be like Him, for we'll see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us. We're called children of God. And that's what we are. The world doesn't know us because it didn't know Him. We're God's children now. What we'll be hasn't been revealed. But when Christ appears, we'll be like Him. We'll see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope purifies themselves.

 

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him there's no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.

 

Sin is lawlessness. Jesus appeared to take away our sins. In Him there's no sin. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.

 

Dear children, don't let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they've been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: anyone who doesn't do what is right isn't God's child, nor is anyone who doesn't love their brother and sister.

 

The one who does what is right is righteous. The one who sins is of the devil. Jesus appeared to destroy the devil's work. No one born of God continues to sin, because God's seed remains in them. They cannot go on sinning. This is how we know who God's children are: they do what is right and love their brothers and sisters.

 

More on Love and Hatred

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another. Don't be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Don't be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we've passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who doesn't love remains in death. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

 

Love one another. Don't be like Cain. Don't be surprised if the world hates you. We've passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who doesn't love remains in death. Anyone who hates is a murderer.

 

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 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? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

 

We know love because Jesus laid down His life. We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If you have possessions and see a brother in need but have no pity, how can God's love be in you? Don't love with words. Love with actions and truth.

 

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence: if our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts don't condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps God's commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: we know it by the Spirit He gave us.

 

This is how we know we belong to the truth: if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts. If our hearts don't condemn us, we have confidence before God. We receive what we ask because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. His command: believe in Jesus and love one another. Whoever keeps God's commands lives in Him. We know He lives in us by the Spirit He gave us.

 

On Denying the Incarnation

Dear friends, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they're from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that doesn't acknowledge Jesus isn't from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you've heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

 

Don't believe every spirit. Test the spirits. Many false prophets have gone out. Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. Every spirit that doesn't acknowledge Jesus isn't from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.

 

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They're from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We're from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever isn't from God doesn't listen to us. This is how we recognise the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

 

You're from God. You've overcome them. The one in you is greater than the one in the world. They're from the world. The world listens to them. We're from God. Whoever knows God listens to us. This is how we recognise truth and falsehood.

 

God's Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever doesn't love doesn't know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love amongst us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

 

Love one another. Love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever doesn't love doesn't know God, because God is love. God showed His love by sending His Son so we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us. Since God loved us, we ought to love one another.

 

This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we've seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

 

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete amongst us so that we'll have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we're like Jesus. There's no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears isn't made perfect in love.

 

We live in Him and He in us because He's given us His Spirit. We know and rely on God's love. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God. Love is made complete so we have confidence on judgment day. There's no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear.

 

We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever doesn't love their brother and sister, whom they've seen, cannot love God, whom they haven't seen. And He has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

 

We love because He first loved us. If you claim to love God but hate your brother or sister, you're a liar. If you don't love your brother or sister whom you've seen, you cannot love God whom you haven't seen. Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

 

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands aren't burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

Everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Everyone who loves the Father loves His child. We know we love God's children by loving God and keeping His commands. This is love for God: to keep His commands. His commands aren't burdensome. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory: our faith. Who overcomes the world? The one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

 

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. He didn't come by water only, but by water and blood. And it's the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it's the testimony of God, which He has given about His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever doesn't believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they haven't believed the testimony God has given about His Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever doesn't have the Son of God doesn't have life.

 

Jesus came by water and blood. The Spirit testifies. The Spirit, the water, and the blood testify, and they agree. God's testimony is greater than human testimony. Whoever believes in the Son accepts this testimony. Whoever doesn't believe makes God a liar. This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever doesn't have the Son doesn't have life.

 

Concluding Affirmations

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him.

 

John writes so you may know you have eternal life. This is your confidence: if you ask anything according to God's will, He hears you. If He hears you, you have what you asked.

 

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that doesn't lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin doesn't lead to death. There's a sin that leads to death. I'm not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there's sin that doesn't lead to death.

 

We know that anyone born of God doesn't continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we're children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we're in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

 

Anyone born of God doesn't continue to sin. Jesus keeps them safe. The evil one cannot harm them. We're children of God. The whole world is under the evil one's control. But the Son of God has come. He's given us understanding. We're in Him who is true. He is the true God and eternal life.

 

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

 

What This Means for You

First John is about assurance. John gives tests to examine yourself: Do you walk in the light? Do you confess your sins? Do you keep God's commands? Do you love other believers? Do you believe Jesus came in the flesh? Do you overcome the world?

 

Here's what 1 John teaches you:

If you walk in the light, Jesus' blood purifies you from all sin.

 

If you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and purify you.

 

If you know Him, you keep His commands. If you claim to know Him but don't obey, you're a liar.

 

If you claim to be in the light but hate a brother or sister, you're still in darkness.

 

Don't love the world. If you love the world, the Father's love isn't in you.

 

Those who went out from the church didn't really belong. If they'd belonged, they'd have remained.

 

You're children of God. When Christ appears, you'll be like Him.

 

No one born of God continues to sin. God's seed remains in them.

 

We've passed from death to life because we love each other.

 

Jesus laid down His life. We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

 

Test the spirits. Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus came in the flesh is from God.

 

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God.

 

Perfect love drives out fear.

 

We love because He first loved us.

 

Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory: our faith.

 

Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever doesn't have the Son doesn't have life.

 

You may know you have eternal life.

 

Your Next Steps

First John challenges you to examine yourself and gain assurance of your salvation.

 

Are you walking in the light? Or in darkness? Confess your sins. God will forgive and purify.

 

Are you keeping God's commands? Or claiming to know Him whilst disobeying? If you know Him, you obey.

 

Do you love other believers? Or hate them? If you hate, you're still in darkness.

 

Do you love the world? Or the Father? You can't love both.

 

Are you continuing in sin? Or has God's seed made you unable to go on sinning? Those born of God don't continue to sin.

 

Do you believe Jesus came in the flesh? Or are you denying the incarnation? Test the spirits.

 

Are you loving with actions? Or just words? Jesus laid down His life. We ought to lay down ours.

 

Do you have the Son? Then you have life. And you may know it.

 

Read It Yourself

This summary covers 1 John's major themes, but John's circular meditation on assurance and love deserves slow, careful reading. First John is five chapters of pastoral care for doubting believers.

 

Don't just read about 1 John. Read 1 John. Open your Bible and read all five chapters. Let John's tests examine you. Let his assurances strengthen you.

 

You May Know

That's why John wrote. So you may know you have eternal life.

 

Not hope. Not wish. Not guess. Know.

 

If you have the Son, you have life.

 

You may know it.

 

 

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer