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 The first epistle of John is an intensely practical letter addressed to Christian readers. It warns against the dangers of false teaching and exhorts believers to lives of obedience to God and love for their brothers and sisters. Its controlling theme is fellowship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1:3). o Zane C. Hodges  Author: John the Apostle  Date: likely between AD 60-65

 Once upon a time… o Remember how exciting those words used to be? They were the open door into an exciting world of make-believe, a dream world that helped you forget all the problems of childhood. o Then POW! You turned a corner one day, and “Once upon a time” became kid stuff. You discovered that life is a battle ground, not a playground, and fairy stories were no longer meaningful. You wanted something real.  John had discovered… o That satisfying reality is not to be found in things or thrills, but in a Person-Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without wasting any time, he tells us about this “living reality in the first paragraph of his letter.

 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— o 1 John 1:1  How has God revealed himself to mankind? o Creation (Romans 1:20) o His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:9) The Word of Life—1 John 1:1 Son of the Father-the Son of God (1 John 1:3) Denial of Jesus makes one a liar (1 John 2:22) and earthly (1 John 4:2-3).  “If a man is wrong about Jesus Christ, he is wrong about God, because Jesus Christ is the final complete revelation of God to men.” Wiersbe

 False teaching is so serious a matter that John wrote about it in his second letter too, warning believers not to invite false teachers into their home (2 John 2:9-10). And he makes it plain that to deny that Jesus is God is to follow the lies of the Antichrist (1 John 2:22-23).  The Doctrine of the Trinity… o Tri=three -- Unity=one -- Three in One o God is One (Deuteronomy 6:4) in three persons (Mt. 28:19-20, John 14:15-17; Acts 5:3,4). o God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are the co-equal, co-eternal God.  Try to explain the Trinity and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away and you will lose your soul!

 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— o 1 John 1:2  Read the first four verses of 1 John and you will realize that John had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.  Signs of a life-changing encounter with God o 1 John 2:29-righteous life o 1 John 4:7; 5:1-love for God and His people o 1 John 2:15-17-no love for the world system around them o 1 John 5:4-overcome the world  Have you experienced this life-changing encounter (1 John 5:9- 15)?

 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. o 1 John 1:3-4  Why share Christ? o That we may have fellowship (v. 3)—the answer to loneliness o That we may have joy (v. 4)—the answer to emptiness o That we may not sin (1 Jn. 2:1)—the answer to defeat o That we may not be deceived (2:26)—the answer to ignorance, deception and untruth o That we may know we are saved (5:13)—The answer to doubt

 A Spirit-controlled mind knows and understands truth  A Spirit-controlled heart feels love  A Spirit-controlled will inclines us to obedience.  This life begins with sonship and continues in fellowship. First we are born of God; then we walk (live) with God.

 “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”  What is the basis for a life that is full of joy in verses 1-3.  What are some counterfeit sources of joy that believers and unbelievers seek out?  Fellowship with other believers rooted in a growing fellowship with God is the only true source of joy. Why might a believers fellowship with God be broken?  If a true believer is out of fellowship with God, it is usually for one of three reasons: o He has disobeyed God’s will o He is not getting along with fellow believers o He believes a lie and therefore is living a lie

 Three important themes of 1 John: o Obedience o Love o Truth