Throughout 1 John, John has emphasised the need for Christians to love one another. But where does that leave the obligations of the Law? Is there a tension between the two? In the final chapter he addresses both, and brings the letter to a surprising conclusion.
In the way he constructs his letter, John seems to be telling us that the opposite of being deceived by some antichrist, indeed the strongest protection against being deceived, is to love one another. So, in 4:7-21 he answers three questions: Where does love come from? What is love? Why should we love?
The community John is writing to has been shaken, not only by people denying Christ and leaving the church, but also by people staying and lying to the church. And he shows us, in 1 John 4:1-6 … How to Recognise the Fakes How to Defeat the Fakers
In his opening chapters John has been at pains to call us to remain in Christ, to remain in the light. Chapter 3 begins to address what it looks like to do that and the heart of it is this appeal, See what great love the Father has lavished on us 1 John 3:1 In…
In 1 John 2:15-29 we come to an event which has profoundly shaken the confidence of the believers, and which may well be the reason why John wrote. Some of their number had left them, denying Christ and trying to lead them astray. And the question they are facing is, What does this mean? John…
In 1 John 2:7-14, having called on his readers to walk in the light, John assures them that they can do exactly that because – in Christ – something has changed. Jesus has changed our capacity to keep the law Jesus has changed the signs by which God’s people are known Jesus has changed all…
In 1 John 1:5-2:6 we are presented with a spiritual catch-22, we cannot claim to have fellowship with God while we are walking in the dark, but if claim to be without sin we are lying … so how can we come to God. John’s answer is Christ, because Christ is … A Light A…
John begins his letter, discussing How to Know, by making three simple points Something has happened What has happened has made us one Our joy depends on what has happened
John explains his motivation in writing 1 John towards the end of the letter, and he says it was … 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. 1 John 5:13 But one of his dominant themes…
Just before Christmas the Church of England produced a 60 second advert as part of their Just Pray campaign, showing people reciting the Lord’s Prayer. The media company that represents the majority of the UK’s cinemas refused to show it on the grounds that it might cause “offence”. What does this say about the society we…