INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN
Dave Anderson, Guest Speaker
1 John 1:1

INTRODUCTION

All of us long to be loved and admired by at least one person. But before admiration we want to be loved. And another word to express a love relationship is intimacy. If our love for another is growing, so is our intimacy.

In a world without sin there would be no problem with intimacy. Adam and Eve had complete intimacy, total love. But there is sin in this world, and sin is a barrier to intimacy and therefore to love.

1 John is a book about how to have intimacy in a world full of sin. It is dedicated to the young, the old, the married, the unmarried – to everyone, for everyone has the need to be loved.

But not all agree on the theme of 1 John. Popular writers like John MacArthur, James M. Boice, and R.C. Sproul think this book gives us tests on how to know we are true Christians. Others like C. I. Scofield, L. Sperry Chafer, Charles Ryrie, Dwight Pentecost and John Walvoord think it is about our fellowship/intimacy with God.

I. TESTS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
(1 JN 5:13)

A. Eleven Tests to know if you are going to heaven

B. Questions

a) Must I experience all eleven?
b) What if I don’t keep all the commandments?
c) What if I used to experience these things but haven’t for years?

C. Conclusion – if these are the tests to see if you will get into heaven or not, you won’t know until you die.


II. TESTS OF OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
(1 JN 1:3-4)

A. Gospel of John – primarily about Relationship, but includes truth about Fellowship


B. 1 John – primarily about Fellowship, but includes truth about Relationship


CONCLUSION


1 Jn 1:1 teaches us about force of God.

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