Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation

“General Epistles” Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation “General Epistles”

First John General Epistles: James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude. These general letters, bearing the names of their presumed authors, were written for a broad Christian readership and not, as most New Testament letters, to an individual or local assembly (2 and 3 John are exceptions). Also known as Catholic Epistles (“catholic” means general or universal). -Zondervan Dictionary of Bible and Theology Words

First John Author: John Date: 90’s Recipients: Churches in Asia Minor Occasion: Wrong beliefs about Jesus and wrong practices for Christians

This Is the Gospel Message

This Is the Gospel Message Obedience characterizes true Christians

1 John 1:5-7 (NET Bible) 5 Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. 7 But 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.

This Is the Gospel Message “If we say….But if…

This Is the Gospel Message “If we say….But if… If we say we have fellowship with God and walk in darkness, we are lying…. But if we walk in the light we have fellowship with each other and Jesus’ blood cleanses our sins.

This Is the Gospel Message Light symbolizes purity and holiness. Darkness symbolizes impurity and sin.

This Is the Gospel Message “ Walking” = Ordering one’s behavior.

This Is the Gospel Message We cannot walk in darkness without disrupting fellowship with God.

This Is the Gospel Message We cannot walk in darkness without disrupting fellowship with God. Darkness cannot fellowship with light.

This Is the Gospel Message Obedience characterizes true Christians

This Is the Gospel Message Obedience characterizes true Christians Contrition characterizes true Christians

1 John 1:8-9 (NET Bible) 8 If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

This Is the Gospel Message “If we say….But if… If we say we don’t sin, we deceive ourselves…. But if we confess our sins he who is faithful and just will forgive them and cleanse us.

This Is the Gospel Message We are not finished with sin in this life, and sin is not finished with us.

This Is the Gospel Message Nonbelievers Confess sins Receive Forgiveness Begin relationship

This Is the Gospel Message Nonbelievers Confess sins Receive Forgiveness Begin relationship Believers Confess sins Receive forgiveness Restore fellowship

This Is the Gospel Message “Big F” Forgiveness deals with our relationship with God and secures eternal life. “Little f” forgiveness deals with our fellowship with God and secures quality of life.

This Is the Gospel Message Keep short accounts of sin.

This Is the Gospel Message Obedience characterizes true Christians Contrition characterizes true Christians

This Is the Gospel Message Obedience characterizes true Christians Contrition characterizes true Christians Dependence characterizes true Christians

1 John 1:10–2:2 (NET Bible) 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. 2:1 (My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, 2 and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.

This Is the Gospel Message “If we say….But if… If we say we have not sinned, we call God a liar…. But if we do sin, we rely on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus our Advocate.

This Is the Gospel Message “Atoning sacrifice” (1 John 2:2; 4:10) means “propitiation,” which underscores the idea that the Father’s wrath has been satisfied.

This Is the Gospel Message Forgiveness is available for those who depend on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to appease the wrath of the Father.

This Is the Gospel Message “If God had perceived that our greatest need was economic, he would have sent an economist. If he had perceived that our greatest need was entertainment, he would have sent us a comedian or an artist. If God had perceived that our greatest need was political stability, he would have sent us a politician. If he had perceived that our greatest need was health, he would have sent us a doctor…

This Is the Gospel Message …But he perceived that our greatest need involved our sin, our alienation from him, our profound rebellion, our death; and he sent us a Savior.” –D.A. Carson