Why written
- I John 1:4; 2:1, 7-8, 12-14, 26; 5:13 – John tells us why he was writing. He was writing to combat Gnosticism.
Subject matter
- Jesus – The first 14 verses tell you everything you need to known about Jesus and sin.
- Sin
- False teaching / teachers
- What we know.
- How we know it.
- Love
- Action
- Conditions: if
Jesus
- From the beginning – I John 1:1; 2:13
- Manifested, historical figure – I John 1:2; 4:2
- Destroyed works of devil – I John 3:8
- With the Father – I John 1:2
- Blood cleanses from sin – I John 1:7; 3:6, 16
- Propitiation for sin – I John 2:2; 4:10
- Is righteous – I John 3:7
- Have spiritual life through – I John 4:9; 5:11
- Savior of the world – I John 4:14
- The Son of God – I John 4:15; 5:5
- Begotten of God – I John 5:1
- Came by water and blood – I John 5:6
- Gives us understanding – I John 5:20
- Is the true God and eternal life – I John 5:20
False teachers and teachingThe basics
- I John 4:1, 2, 6 – Don’t be naïve and gullible. Study for yourself!
- Strong language
- Liars – I John 1:6; 2:4, 22; 4:20
- Children of the devil – I John 3:10
- Antichrist – I John 2:18-19, 22; 4:3 – There are many antichrists. Those that deny Christ are antichrists.
Sin
- All are sinners – I John 1:8, 10
- What it is – I John 3:4; 5:17
- Two walks – I John 1:6-7
- How to avoid – I John 3:6, 9; 5:18
- Provisions for – I John 3:5; 1:7; 2:2; 4:10
- Consequences of – I John 3:6, 8, 10
- When we sin – I John 1:9; 2:1