1 John
The apostles declare their personal witness to the life of Jesus Christ and their fellowship with the Father and the Son, which they share with others to bring full joy. True fellowship with God requires walking in the light and acknowledging sin, which is forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. The writer emphasizes the importance of not sinning, but if one does, Jesus Christ is the advocate with the Father, and true knowledge of God is demonstrated by keeping His word. The writer warns against loving the world and its desires, and against false teachers who deny Jesus Christ, while encouraging believers to abide in Christ and love one another, demonstrating the love of God by laying down one's life for others.
Chapter 1
The apostles declare that they have personally witnessed the life of Jesus Christ, the Word of life, and have fellowship with the Father and the Son. They write to share this message so that others may also have fellowship with them and experience full joy. However, true fellowship with God requires walking in the light, as He is in the light, and acknowledging one's sin. Those who confess their sins will be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 2
The writer emphasizes the importance of not sinning, but if one does, Jesus Christ is the advocate with the Father. Those who claim to know God but do not keep His commandments are liars, and true knowledge of God is demonstrated by keeping His word. The writer also warns against loving the world and its desires, which are not from God, and against false teachers who deny Jesus Christ. Those who have received the anointing from God have no need for human teachers, as the anointing teaches them all things. The writer encourages believers to abide in Christ, so they may have confidence at His coming.
Chapter 3
The Father's love is evident in that believers are called the sons of God, and though it is not yet clear what they will be, they will be like Him when He appears. Those who have this hope in Him purify themselves, and those who commit sin do not know Him. The Son of God was manifested to take away sins, and those who abide in Him do not sin. Believers are to love one another, and those who do not are not of God. The love of God is demonstrated by laying down one's life for others, and those who have the world's goods and do not help their brothers in need do not have the love of God in them.
Chapter 4
To discern the Spirit of God, one must test the spirits to see if they confess Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh. Those who do not confess this are of the antichrist spirit, while those who do are of God. The love of God is demonstrated through the sending of His Son as a propitiation for sins, and those who love one another demonstrate that they are born of God. Whoever confesses Jesus as the Son of God has God dwelling in them, and they in God.
Chapter 5
Those who believe Jesus is the Christ are born of God and love both God and His children. Keeping God's commandments is a demonstration of love for Him, and His commandments are not burdensome. Those born of God overcome the world through faith in Jesus Christ, who came by water and blood, and the Spirit bears witness to this truth.
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