1. Christians live the faith
I John 1:2:2
Christians live the faith

2. Authentic Christianity
The Tests of Faith
1:1-4 – Introduction
1:5-2:28 – Christians Live the Faith
2:29-4:6 – Christians Know the Faith
4:7-5:5 – Christians Express Faithful Love
5:6-21 – Review of Christian knowledge

4. I John 1:1-4
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 joy complete.

5. 1 John 1:1-4 Why did John emphasize his relationship to Jesus Christ?
What is his purpose in writing this letter?
How does a person enter into fellowship with God? With John?
What would make John’s joy complete?

6. 1 John 1:5-10
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by 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 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 has no place in our lives.

7. 1 John 1:5-7
in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
What seems to be the basic error that Cerinthus and those like him were proposing?
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 sin.
In vs 5 John said “God is light.” Here he says that God is “in” that light.” Does God ever act in a way that is inconsistent with who he is (the Light)? Do his followers?
What does “the blood of Jesus” have to do with our fellowship with God and with fellow Christians? And How does this “blood” mark the Christian life? What danger do we fall into if we minimize sin and the grace of God?

8. 1 John 1:8-10
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.
Is the forgiveness of sins conditional upon our confessing of them? (present general condition)
One error that was lurking around was the claim that a person may have no sin in his nature – do we or do we not have a sinful nature? What is the lie being combated in verse 8?
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Does a “little sin” break my relationship with God? In what way are we in danger of giving God the name Christ gave to the devil in John 8:44?

9. 1 John 2:1-2
2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

10. 1 John 2:1-2
There are two extremes that might arise from some straight talk about sin and forgiveness:
1) think too lightly of sin
2) judge the sinning Christian too harshly
John uses the phrase “children” for his readers 7 times in 1 John. What does that title indicate and how is it used different here?
John describe Jesus as “speaking to the Father in our defense”
Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24 = How is Christ’s work described here?
and “the Righteous One” = How is the Father described in 1 John 1:9?
The “atoning sacrifice” = set aside God’s anger by his sacrifice (propitiation)
How does John express the universal nature of Christ’s propitiation?
What comfort do these verses give the troubled sinner?