The Lifestyle of a True Christian

Scripture: I John 1:1-4

C.I.: An Introduction to First John

We live in a time of rapid change (e.g., technology, culture, etc.) – R.U.A.N.T.Xn?- Today we begin a new series of lessons on the epistles (letters) of John. – John also lived during a time of great change (and not all of it good!). – Today = an intro & chapter 1.

•  John's Purpose for Writing First John

A. John's Five Purposes for Writing:

1. To Provide Fellowship:
a. ( 1:3 ), “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us ; and
indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
1) Explain “fellowship” (e.g., to share, have in common, participate).
2) Thus, the only way we can truly be in fellowship with God – is to participate in His word!

2. To Promote Joy:
a. ( 1:4 ), “And these things we write , so that our joy may be made complete.”
1) “Joy” = being in a right relationship with God.
2) The word “joy” is only used here – but the blessings of joy are seen throughout the epistle.

3. To Keep Us from Sin:

a. ( 2:1 ), “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. – And if anyone sins, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
1) Sins' penalty is removed when we are saved – but sin's power continues in our lives daily.
2) John is writing to us so that we may learn how to have victory over the power of sin!

4. To Overcome Error:
a. ( 2:26 ), “ These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.”
1) There were false teachers in John's day – just as there are false teachers today.
2) These taught: matter/flesh is evil – Jesus didn't come in the flesh – knowing truth is more
important than living the truth – only a “spiritual few” can understand God's truths!

5. To Give Us Assurance:

a. ( 5:13 ), “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God. in order that you may….”
1) One way Satan keeps us ineffective is to keep us unsure of our salvation. But we can know!!!

B. The Three Themes of I John

1. These 3 recurring themes are woven throughout John's letter (and thus, make it impossible to outline them.
a. “Light versus Darkness” – “Love versus Hatred” – “Truth versus Error
1) These actually act as “tests” for us as believers.
2) Indeed, we should ask ourselves, “Am I walking in the light, in love, and in truth?”
3) If the answer is yes, then I am in fellowship with God and with all other true Christians!
4) If the answer is no, then I need to begin making some serious changes!!!

•  Chapter One:

A. Jesus Christ: The Life of Believers, ( vs. 1-4 )

•  Christ's Life Revealed & Experienced!
a. ( vs. 1-2 ), “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we
beheld & our hands have handled, concerning the Word of Life – & the life was manifested, & we have seen
& bear witness & proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father & was manifested to us.”
1) John is an eye-, ear-, and hand witness – that God came in the flesh, ( Jn. 1:1, 14 ).
2) The false teachers who taught matter & flesh are evil – are shown to be in error.
3) In John's writings, Jesus is truly “The Eternal Life,” ( cf. Jn. 3:36; 14:6; I Jn. 5:13 ).

b. ( vs. 3-4 ), “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you may have fellowship with us;
and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. – And these things we write, so
that our joy may be made full.”
1) Explain: Fellowship with God depends upon our being in fellowship with God's word.
2) It is because of this fellowship – that a believer may be filled with joy (right rel. w/God).
a) Note: the apostle says that our responding to God – is a cause for his joy.
b) And we know that our joy is also found in being in a right relationship with God!

B. Jesus Christ: The Light of Believers, ( vs. 5-10 )

•  Fellowship is a matter of light or dark, ( vs. 5-7 )
a. The nature of God, ( v. 5 ), “And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that
God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
1) Light: It reveals truth, ( II Tim. 1:10 ), “…Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel.”
2) Light: It exposes sin, ( Jn. 3:20 ), “For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to
the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

b. “Talking and Walking” – ( vs. 6-7 ), “If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we
lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all unrighteousness.”
1) “Darkness” = the opposite of light (it hides, conceals & chills).
2) Notice that our “practice” is the same as our “walk,” i.e., it is our lifestyle!
3) When we are “Walking in the light” we are not living a “sinless life” (still need “cleansing” ).
4) Yet notice that our “talk” AND our “walk” need to agree, ( Matt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46 )!!
5) But when we are walking in the light – we have fellowship with everyone else who so walks.

•  “Talking but Not Walking” – (vs. 8-10), “If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us form
all unrighteousness. – If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
1) “If we say” = these were the words that were being used by the false teachers of John's day.
2) These teachers considered themselves “super-Christians” – better than other believers.
3) Yet notice those who “walk in the light” – who do not place their faith and dependence upon
themselves and rather puts it upon God!
a) Our personal experience calls us sinners – ( Psa. 51:3 ), “For I know my transgression
and my sin is ever before me” – Spoken by a “man after God's own heart” = David!
b) God's word tells us we have sinned ( Rom. 3:23 ) – thus, they call God a liar.