The First Letter of John was written by the Apostle John probably between AD85 and AD95. The recipients were young and old believers probably living in Asia Minor. The purpose of the letter was to assure believers of their salvation (1 John 5 v13).

In his letter John focuses on three tests to show someone is saved:-

1. The knowledge of Jesus -> truth.
2. The desire to obey God’s commandments -> righteous living.
3. The new relationship with other believers -> love.

John wrote after a group had left the fellowship which would have brought insecurity among the believers (1 John 2 v19). It was also a time when the false teaching of Gnosticism was beginning to impact the church. Gnosticism taught that knowledge was supreme and their name came from the word to know.  They taught that physical matter was evil and the spirit alone was good. They denied the importance of moral conduct.

John’s response to the Gnostics was to regularly teach the believers using the phrases ‘You know’ or ‘we know’ (2 v5, 21; 3 v14, 24; 4 v13; 5 v2, 18-20).

In this opening section John teaches that Jesus is the Gospel (v1-2). It is all about who Jesus is, what He has done and knowing him. This Gospel they are to proclaim (v1-3), is more than a belief system; it is the person of Jesus.

John speaks of hearing, seeing and even touching the Word of Life. This is to get across that Jesus was a truly physical human being and not just a spiritual entity. This is counteracting the false teaching of Gnosticism which denied the truly human nature of Christ (see 4 v2-3). Jesus became fully human to lift fallen humanity. Has this been your experience?

Jesus is described as ‘the eternal life, which was with the Father’ (v2). Jesus; the one Mediator between God and man is fully God and fully man. We must be careful never to deny or diminish either natures in our thinking.

The word ‘life’ dominates as it is mentioned three times (v1-2). Christianity is vibrant as it is about life. Jesus gives true and eternal life (John 17v3).

This life is in a relationship and through fellowship with God (v3). Fellowship with God creates fellowship with God’s people (v3) and a life of joy (v4).