Theme

The main thrust of John's letter is to declare the love of God, and to make clear how that love differs from the lusts of the world. His recipients are warned that their actions must match their declarations, if they are to be believed truly sons of God. They are warned that much falsehood comes in the name of Christ, and given the tools of determining the truth from the lie. The core of the message is that we must abide in God's love, by the power of the Holy Spirit, given through the work of the Son, evidenced by our willing obedience to His commands - especially that we evidence His love in our treatment of others.

Outline

  1. Introduction/Apostolic credentials (1Jn 1:1-1:4)
  2. Light and Darkness (1Jn 1:5-2:24)
    1. Warning against false / prideful self-assessments (1Jn 1:5-1:10)
    2. Test of Obedience to God (1Jn 2:1-2:6)
    3. Test of Love (1Jn 2:7-2:17)
      1. Call to love one another (1Jn 2:7-2:11)
      2. Merits of stages of Christian growth (1Jn 2:12-2:14)
      3. Love vs. Lust (1Jn 2:15-2:17)
    4. Test of Truth (1Jn 2:18-2:24)
      1. Danger of false teachers and Antichrist (1Jn 2:18-2:19)
      2. Safety of truth and Holy Spirit (1Jn 2:20-2:24)
  3. Call to Righteousness (1Jn 2:25-2:29)
  4. Obedience to Christ's Example (1Jn 3:1-3:24)
    1. We obey in hope of being like Him (1Jn 3:1-3:6)
    2. Our actions show what leader we obey (1Jn 3:7-3:15)
      1. Righteousness vs. Sin (1Jn 3:7-3:11)
      2. Sinfulness hates righteousness (1Jn 3:12-3:15)
    3. We obey in active love (1Jn 3:16-3:24)
  5. The Test of Truth (1Jn 4:1-4:6)
  6. The Rule of Love (1Jn 4:7-4:19)
    1. God is love (1Jn 4:7-4:10)
    2. We must operate in love by the Holy Spirit (1Jn 4:11-4:16)
    3. Love is our confidence of His guidance (1Jn 4:17-4:19)
  7. The Test of Love (1Jn 4:20-5:1)
    1. Love brings obedience (1Jn 5:2-5:5)
    2. The Witness to Christ (1Jn 5:6-12)
    3. Obedient love brings confidence of salvation (1Jn 5:13-5:15)
  8. Love and the Fallen Brother (1Jn 5:16-5:17)
  9. Conclusion/Our Confidence (1Jn 5:18-5:21)