1 John— Fellowship
6.21.23
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3)
Of this little epistle, D. Edmond Hiebert wrote “The forcible simplicity of its sentences, the note of finality behind its utterances, the marvelous blending of gentle love and deep-cutting sternness…and the majesty of its ungarnished thoughts, have made I John a favorite with Christians everywhere. The simplicity of its language makes it intelligible to the simplest saint, while the profundity of its truths challenges the most accomplished scholar. Its grand theological revelations and its unwavering ethical demands have left their enduring impact upon the thought and life of the Christian Church.”
Though John does not mention his name, he speaks with the authority of an Apostle. The book was written to Christians in general. He refers with tenderness to his readers as ‘little children’ and as ‘beloved.’
G. Campbell Morgan notes that if we compare John’s Gospel with this epistle we will find that the first was written that men might have life (John 20:31), while the latter that believers might know that they have life (1 John 5:13). The Gospel declares the way of life through God’s Son, while the epistle unfolds the nature of that life in God’s children.
John wrote this later in his life when he would have been the only living Apostle. He was writing to the believers in the churches in Asia Minor, the same to which he would write the book of Revelation. He was writing to mature believers as the church had been in existence now for 50-60 years.
As noted, the theme of the book is fellowship. God is life, and light, and love. To have fellowship with Him calls for holy living and brotherly love.
John often uses the term ‘little children,’ or ‘born ones.’ This is an intimate writing as a father to children. Salvation is settled for his readers—Jesus went to the Cross and is now their Advocate. Sin is treated as a family matter—a child’s offense against a Father.
The book is difficult to outline as John circles back to three main ideas: love, obedience, and truth. The key word is ‘know,’ used some thirty times.
He senses three major dangers within the church as a whole. First, there is a lack of deep Christian affection. He will later tell the church at Ephesus that it had “left its first love” (Revelation 2:4). The antidote to this is love.
Second, there seems to be a complacency about spiritual things. He will later tell the church at Laodicea that their spiritual temperature is ‘lukewarm’ (Revelation 3:15, 16). The antidote here is obedience.
Third, false teaching had begun to take root in the churches. He will tell the church at Pergamos to be wary of the doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14). The antidote is truth.
As for our Lord Jesus, John focuses on the present ministry of the Savior in the life of the believer and anticipates His coming again.
These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may continue to believe on the name of the Son of God. (5:13)