HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW?

The First Epistle of John

Context

False Claims• We have fellowship with God - but walk in the

darkness so they lie (1:6)• We have no sin – they deceive themselves and truth is

not in them (1:9) • We have not sinned – they make God a liar and his

word is not in them (1:10)• We know him – but do not keep his commandments,

they are liars and the truth is not in them

Context – False Claims

We are in the light – but they hate their brothers so they are still in darkness (2:9)

We know God – but deny that Jesus is the Messiah so they are antichrists (2:22)

We are children of God – but they do not practice righteousness or love the brethren so they are not born of the Father (3:10)

We know God – but do not believe that Jesus the Messiah has come in the flesh so they are not of God (4:3)

We know God – but they do not love the brethren (4:8)We love God – but they hate their brother or sister so

they are liars (4:19-21)

The Doctrinal Tests

Jesus Christ was fully human and fully God (4:1-4)

Jesus is the Messiah – not only for the Jewish people but for the whole world and all creation. He is God’s final word and to know the Son is to know the Father and to be born of him. (2:18-3:1)

Jesus the Messiah has come in the flesh (4:1-6)

Jesus is the Son of God sent from the Father to be the savior of the world (4:14-15)

The Moral Tests

Since we know God we keep his commandments and walk as Jesus walked (2:3-7)

Since we know God we do his will and abide forever (2:17)

Since we have new life now in Christ we purify ourselves/live righteously in anticipation of the day when God will restore our full humanity (3:2-10)

The Social Tests

If we walk in the light we love our brothers and sisters in Christ(2:9)

Because Jesus laid down his life for us we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters in Christ (3:16)

We love because he first loved us. Whoever loves God must love their brothers and sisters in Christ in word and in deed (4:19-21)

We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who sin with confidence that God hears our prayers (5:14-17)

Comfort for those who fail?

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (2:1)

God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything so we have confidence in his presence (3:20-21)

There is no fear of judgment or punishment in God’s love – we love because he first loved us (4:18-19)

They have eternal life because they believe in the name of the Son of God (5:13)

The Core of Christian Life

Believe

• Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (5:1)

• The Father loves you because you have loved me and believe that I came from God (John 16:27)

Love

• Whoever loves the Father loves whomever has been born of him (5:1)

• My command is this: love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12)

Obey

• This is love for God: to obey his commands (5:3)• If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just

as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love (John 15:10)

The Outcome of Christian life: from defense to offense

Tests

Faith

Overcome

What does the Church look like?

John’s Epistle People who

understand what it means that Jesus is the Messiah

People who are committed to a life of obedience

People who are committed to a life of love towards one another

Mark Dever – 9 Marks of a Healthy Church Expositional Preaching Biblical Theology The Gospel A Biblical Understanding of

Conversion A Biblical Understanding of

Evangelism A Biblical Understanding of

Church Membership Biblical Church Discipline A Concern for Discipleship

and Growth Biblical Church Leadership