Love is the test.
Obedience required
1 John 2:1-14
Warning against worldliness and unbelief
1 John 2:15-23
Abiding in him
1 John 2:24-28
God’s love for us
1 John 2:29, 3:1-2
Righteousness and sin
1 John 3:3-10
Love in action
1 John 3:11-24
Overcoming the world
1 John 4:1-6
Love is of God
1 John 4:7-21
Our victory
1 John 5:1-12
Our confidence and security
1 John 5:13-21
John writes to encourage people to hold fast to the truth of Christ, to reject any false teaching that they might have heard (sound familiar?). He reminds his hearers that they are God’s children, and what a privilege that is. What matters more than anything is that we love, as God has first loved us. Love is the supreme test that shows whether someone is truthful or not - if they don’t exhibit that authentic, sacrificial divine love, then we shouldn’t listen to them. So people whose lives don’t bear out their teaching are suspect from the start.
John’s last words sum it up: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” (5:21)
Obedience required
1 John 2:1-14
Warning against worldliness and unbelief
1 John 2:15-23
Abiding in him
1 John 2:24-28
God’s love for us
1 John 2:29, 3:1-2
Righteousness and sin
1 John 3:3-10
Love in action
1 John 3:11-24
Overcoming the world
1 John 4:1-6
Love is of God
1 John 4:7-21
Our victory
1 John 5:1-12
Our confidence and security
1 John 5:13-21
John writes to encourage people to hold fast to the truth of Christ, to reject any false teaching that they might have heard (sound familiar?). He reminds his hearers that they are God’s children, and what a privilege that is. What matters more than anything is that we love, as God has first loved us. Love is the supreme test that shows whether someone is truthful or not - if they don’t exhibit that authentic, sacrificial divine love, then we shouldn’t listen to them. So people whose lives don’t bear out their teaching are suspect from the start.
John’s last words sum it up: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” (5:21)
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