Studies Through 1 John Lesson 1

                         Studies Through 1 John  Lesson 1
 
                           Background/ Intro

   Who wrote 1John?
   
            Obviously John (the apostle) right? James wrote James, Peter wrote Peter, Jude wrote Jude, Mark wrote Mark, Luke wrote Luke, Matthew wrote Matthew, Timothy wrote... Got you! But it isn't that clear. 1John and Hebrews are the 2 epistles where the author doesn't mention his name. How do we know it is John?
     External evidence - early 2nd century writers such as Clement, Justyn Marter, Polycarp, Ireneus, Tertullian all attribute the epistle to John.
     Internal evidence -
       1. Like the gospel of John there are stark contrasts with no middle ground (per John MacArthur)
           Light                                     Darkness
           Life                                       Death
           Love                                     Hate
           Truth                                     Lies
           Love of the Father                Love of the world
           Children of God                   Children of the Devil
           Know God                            Don't know God
           Have eternal life                   Don't have eternal life
      2. Similar phrases only found in this and John's gospel
      3. Similar themes
      4. Claims to be an eyewitness with intimate access to Jesus
          1John 1:1-4 (seen, heard, studied, touched)

     Where was it written? Probably Ephesus (will discuss later)

     When was it written? Probably 90-94AD(will discuss later)

      Why was it written?
            1. To combat heresy - John probably had the oversight of many churches in his area (Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Laodocea, Pergamum, Sardis, Philadelphia) and heretical doctrines were sneaking in. One was Gnosticism which says the Spirit is good and the body is bad. Therefore they said Jesus couldn't have had a physical body which undermines the incarnation and the atonement as He would not have been a suitable sacrifice for our sins. Also sinful behavior is not that bad as that's what the body does and it doesn't affect the Spirit. John confronts these views throughout 1John.
         2. To assure the believers of their salvation

       Who was John? (The thrust of this lesson is a character study on the Apostle John and the lessons we can learn from his life from internal sources and external)

     Internal Evidence

      John 1:35   Disciple of John the Baptist who when introduced to Jesus followed Him instead
      Matt. 10:2 Son of Zebedee probably the younger son
     John 13:23 Probably the youngest disciple according to traditional Sadir
      Mark 1:18-20 Fisherman. Family well off enough to own boat(s) and servants
      John 18:25  Because of that probably had connections
      Acts 12:2 Those connections didn't help his brother James
      Mark 3:17 Somewhat graceless in early life (nicknamed sons of thunder)
               Luke 9:49-54 Didn't want non-apostles to preach and wanted to call fire down on Samaritan town for not receiving them
               Mark 10:35-41  Wanted best seats in heaven ticking off the other disciples
       Matt 20:20-24  Godly mom wanting spiritual best for her son
                Matt. 27:55,56  Mom followed Jesus too and met His needs
                Mark 15:40  Her name was Salome
                John 19:25,26  Possibly Mary's sister making John Jesus' cousin
        John 2:12  Knew Jesus' family
       Mark 5:37, Matt 17:1, Mark 13:3, Mark 14:33 Part of Jesus' inner circle

       Peter's best friend
         Luke 22:8 went with Peter to prepare Passover
         John 20:3-6 went with Peter to explore tomb (had to include he beat Peter there but Peter bold enough to go inside)
         John 21:7 back to fishing with Peter. recognized Jesus first, told Peter, Peter jumped in water
         John 21:20,21 Peter asked Jesus about John's future as John followed the two of them
         Acts 3:1  With Peter as he healed the lame man
        Acts 4:1  Arrested with Peter
         Acts 8:14 Sent with Peter to Samaria to impart Holy Spirit
        Notice, the two of them always go everywhere together but Peter always does the talking!

      External evidence

    As mentioned previously there are outside sources that give us information on John. These, unlike the Bible, were written over a century after his death so certain historical data could have become legend. Aren't you glad you can believe everything in the Bible! So take these facts with" a grain of salt."
    In Acts 12 persecution breaks out and John is said to have traveled to Ephesus where there was a church in existence with Aquilla and Priscilla and Apollos. Mary is even said to have spent time there. He oversaw the churches in the area until Domitian came into power and had John arrested and thrown in boiling oil at the coliseum. When it didn't harm him the whole coliseum  was converted.  This day was celebrated in the Catholic church on May 6th until 1960. Domitian, realizing that failed sentenced him to the isle of Patmos where he wrote John 90AD, 1,2,3John 90-94 AD and Revelation 96AD. He was allowed to go back to Ephesus in 98AD where as an old man he was carried to church and his message was always, "brothers, love one another". Finally people got tired of that and asked him, "Don't you have anything else to say?" and he replied. "This is the Lord's command. If you do this you do well." He died in the year 100AD and was buried outside of Ephesus.


    Lessons to be learned from John's life

1. Are you raising Godly kids?
     The way I see the Bible passages is like this. John and James were raised in a God - fearing family and taught the law and the promised Messiah to their kids at home. When John the Baptist came to town, they went out to hear him and sensed he was of God and encouraged their kids, at least John who was younger and less helpful with fishing than his older brother, to listen to him and learn from him as a disciple. When the time came for them to follow Jesus, Zebedee let them go without protesting although the family business would end with him. Salome left  home and followed Jesus committing her life to meeting His needs.
     Are you teaching your kids about Jesus at home or are you relying on Church to do it. I remember my wife teaching high school girls in Sunday School about Cain and Abel. When she got to the point, "and then cain killed his brother Abel" one of the girls, a daughter of a stalwart deacon in the church gasped and said, "NO!!" It was obviously a new story to her. How does that happen!? You must have family devotions. Also you must point your kids to follow the right people. Find Christian athletes, actors, musicians, authors to follow. Start young while you have an unparalleled influence on their life.

2. If God said to you, "Leave everything behind and follow me" - could you? Would you? "He who gains his life in this world will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will gain it!"

3.  Who is your child's best friend?
       James and Peter were best friends; they were Frick and Frack. They probably knew each other from fishing prior to Jesus calling them. They were inseparable both during Christ's life and after His death. John was the quiet one and Peter did all the talking and always got in trouble, but John went through the trouble with him. John probably knew just what to say to set Peter off. "I think it is the Lord on shore" and there goes Peter jumping out of the boat in the water. John runs up to the tomb and peaks in timidly and says, "I think it is empty" Suddenly Peter is inside.
     I had periods of my life where my best friend was a Christian and we spurred each other on to greatness.(including marriage) Then there were times when I didn't have a Christian best friend and I did things I regret now. My kids all had Christian best friends and they are all following the Lord. Parents, direct your kids to Godly friends and try to make close friends with their parents so when you hang out , they hang out.
     One modern day example of best friends are Louie Giglio and Andy Stanley the founder of Passion and the pastor of the largest church in America. Here is a hilarious two part story from their teenage years as recounted by Andy Stanley in a message.

 

   

4. Are you growing?
       The son of thunder was without grace and self - righteous. Later in life his only words and theme of his books is Love One Another! If you look back 5-10 years, are you becoming more Christlike?