This Study is facilitated by Tera Brown & Lena Joseph
1 JOHN 1-3
STUDY
Overview of the BOOK: Written by JAMES a servant of GOD, to the churches scattered among the nations especially to the one's that are persecuted and The same John that wrote the Book of Revelations and the 4th Gospel of John, of the New Testement Book, written to the church of believers, for the purpose of EXHORTATION. Themes and subjects are centered around - How to know the truth - How to live a life of love - How to identify false teaching regarding the Christian Faith - Divine Life - the teaching of fellowship, and conduct of a believer
1 John 1:1-10
1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have 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. 4. We write this to make our[a] joy complete.This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you 5. God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7. 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[b] sin. 8. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
REFLECTION
Here John is explaining that he, Jesus himself whom he had seen, looked upon was the true God. John was concerned in this letter about Antichrists that brought new ideas and tried to lead God's people astray. He is saying Jesus is God. John explains that Jesus is who he says he is, our eternal Savior. He’s saying we have seen him ( as an apostle he walked with him) we have heard him, words our own eyes saw, heard, and felt him. John writes this letter because he does not want believers to lose their Joy by buying the lies of these Antichrist people. He says God is light and in him is no darkness, and that if we as believers, walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and Jesus' blood, covers us from all sins. We cannot say we have no sin, less we deceive our own self and the truth is not in us. But IF we Confess our sin, he is just to forgive us.
NOTE
Remember to not let nay-Sayers lead you away from the true living God, Jesus Christ. If anyone brings another gospel that is not preached by the apostles, do not even give ear to it. Believers must be able to sort out truth from falsehood, with the spirit of discernment.