What Does God Expect of Me?
1 John was possibly written around 90-95 A.D. and is commonly referred to as a general epistle because no specific audience is mentioned in any of these three letters. It’s likely that John, one of the twelve disciples and known as the beloved apostle, is the author.
1 John 1
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
1 John was possibly written around 90-95 A.D. and is commonly referred to as a general epistle because no specific audience is mentioned in any of these three letters. It’s likely that John, one of the twelve disciples and known as the beloved apostle, is the author. This makes sense as the first couple verses of 1 John start like the first few verses of John’s gospel.
1 “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us."
Jesus Christ is the essence of eternal life. He has always existed, revealed himself to humanity, and is the only hope for experiencing eternity in God's presence. As this epistle progresses, it becomes apparent that John is dealing with serious issues within the church. Most predominant is the teaching of a belief called Gnosticism, which originates from the Greek word “knowledge.” A Gnostic was someone who believed that matter was evil and spirit was good.
Author John Stott points out three major denials held by some of the false teachers John was addressing. One was the denial that sin breaks our fellowship with God. The second was the denial that sin even exists in our nature. And the third was the denial that sin shows itself in our conduct.[1] In response, John writes:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 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 sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
