1, 2, + 3 JOHN

1 JOHN 1

JESUS, THE WORD ALIVE + THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John introduces his case for Jesus by testifying that he has known Jesus in the flesh, seen Him with his own eyes, touched Him with his own hands, and heard Him speak. John refers to Jesus as God’s Word manifest, attesting that Jesus has been with God from the very beginning. These words emulate John’s opening verses of his gospel account where he calls Jesus the Word become flesh. (John 1:1-5) John’s purpose in writing is to unify people with God, encouraging them to have fellowship with the Father through Jesus.

Stating his first major theme of the letter, John writes that God is light and in him there is no darkness. Followers of Jesus are called to walk in light and leave behind sin and darkness. John states that the blood of Jesus has cleansed believers of sin. John argues that everyone needs a Savior because everyone has sin. Whoever says they are without sin has deceived themselves and has not believed the truth of Jesus. John urges believers to confess their sins and trust that they are forgiven by God.

1 JOHN 2

JESUS ADVOCATES FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIS COMMANDS

John states that the purpose of his writing is so that followers of Jesus will not sin. Knowing they will not be able to avoid sin entirely, John states that Jesus serves as their advocate and atones for the sins of the world.

For those who know Jesus, John calls them to a life of obedience. Following Jesus’s new commandment, to love God and love others, is a marker of genuine belief. For those who claim to believe, but ignore God’s commands, John calls them liars. For those who abide in God’s law and genuinely love God, God’s love is perfected in them.

John notes that Jesus’ command is both old and new. From the beginning, God desired for His creation to love Him and love one another. Jesus has shed light on what it means to love sacrificially and value others more than yourself.

John urges followers to not love the ways of the world. All of the desires of the world, pride, greed, and lust, will all pass away. In the end, the world itself will pass away, but those who abide in God will have eternal life.

John informs believers that there are anti-christs among them. John explains that these people deny God and oppose the truth. John clarifies that those who renounce the faith were never truly in the faith. Although they may have claimed to believe, only God truly knows the posture of their hearts. John wants to protect the faith of believers so that it will not be distorted by false teaching. He encourages God’s people to cling to their faith and not be ashamed of the gospel.

1 JOHN 3

EMBRACING SACRIFICIAL LOVE + REPENTANCE

John reflects on God’s loving nature and His adoption of believers into His family. When Jesus returns, God’s glory will be on full display and God’s people will be purified and unified with God. John warns against those who live continually in sin. God’s grace is not a license to sin, but a calling to respond with righteousness and love. Sin originates from the Enemy, who Jesus came to defeat.

Summarizing the message of Jesus, John calls followers to love one another. John references Cain, who murdered his brother Abel (Genesis 4). John uses Cain as an example of the opposite of what God’s people are instructed to do. Because Jesus laid down His life for sinners, we are called to respond with sacrificial love. Love cannot only be accomplished through words or thoughts, but through actions of love and selflessness. John says that those who are convicted by their sins are God’s people. Recognizing sin leads to repentance, which results in forgiveness from God.

1 John 3:24 - Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1 JOHN 4

PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR 

Advising against believing false teachers, John teaches believers to test what they are hearing to discern if it is true. Whoever claims to speak on God’s behalf but does not focus on Jesus does not speak the truth. Because John believes that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, he does not trust false prophets who do not confess that Jesus is God in the flesh. Since God’s people have been given access to God’s Holy Spirit, they are able to discern God’s Word and not be swayed by lies. John calls the distorted message of the false teachers “the spirit of error.”

John credits God as the source of love. Whoever does not love does not know God; they cannot exist without each other. God loves his creation so much that he sent Jesus, the perfect embodiment of love. For those who have accepted God’s love, John calls them to love one another like Jesus loved them. God’s love for humanity is revealed through the cross. Because of God’s perfect love, believers no longer have to fear death or judgment.

1 John 4:19 - We love because he first loved us.

1 JOHN 5

THE TRIUMPHANT TESTIMONY OF JESUS

John states that those who have received God’s love are called to keep His commandments. Once believers have been influenced by God’s great love, keeping the law will not be burdensome. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has displayed His victory over the world. Because of God’s promise for eternal life, God’s people have also overcome the world. These words of John resemble his gospel message, where Jesus encourages His disciples to take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Providing witnesses for the message of Jesus, John states that the spirit, water, and blood testify for Christ. John is referencing the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3), the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27), and Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1). Whoever believes in the testimony of Jesus also believes in God, which leads to eternal life.

John desires for believers to spread the news of Jesus and have confidence in their salvation. Jesus has given God’s people understanding, so that they can acknowledge Him as the true Son of God. John says that Jesus is the true God and source of eternal life. Ending his letter abruptly, John urges his audience to stay away from idols. After advocating for the supremacy of Jesus, John does not want believers to be distracted by anything less than God.

2 JOHN 1

FOLLOW JESUS’S EXAMPLE OF TRUTH + LOVE

Continuing the main ideas of 1 John, John’s second letter is written to a more specific audience. John addressed the letter to the elect lady, who is either a woman within the church or a symbol of the church as a whole. John is the most likely author of this letter, but he refers to himself as “the elder.” Because believers were facing persecution, pen names or code names were sometimes used for protection.

John rejoices that more people have begun walking in truth. He reminds readers of the new covenant, which has been God’s desire all along, for followers to love one another.

John’s letter also serves as a warning to a specific church community, telling them to beware of those who are hostile to the faith. Believers are called to love one another, but John teaches them not to support those who are false teachers or deceivers of the faith.

This message serves as a practical application of John’s two main ideas: truth and love. John guides believers in following the example of Jesus by exemplifying both grace and truth.

3 JOHN 1

PROVIDING HOSPITALITY + SUPPORT FOR MISSIONARIES 

Similar to the letter of 2 John, John wrote to a specific audience, this time a man named Gaius. It’s possible this was the same Gaius who traveled with and was baptized by Paul (Acts 19:29, 1 Corinthians 1:14) or simply a man who was a believer within a church that John was familiar with. In 2 John, John warns against providing for false teachers. In the same way, this letter encourages God’s people to support and provide for one another.

John rejoiced upon hearing that Gaius was sharing the gospel and bringing others to the truth of Jesus. Continuing the work of the gospel, John instructs Gaius to support fellow missionaries. John wants Gaius to show hospitality to other believers sharing the gospel and send them on their journey in a way that honors God.

John warns against a specific individual, Diotrephes, who was selfish and opposed the church. John states that he plans to visit and confront Diotrephes himself. John teaches that whoever does good is from God, but whoever does evil does not know God. Lastly, John tells Gaius that he has received a good report of Gaius’s church and encourages him to continue in good works.

3 John 1:4 - I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.