This is a presentation we did on Monday for a new ministry we are starting called GRIT, the Grace Reformed Institute of Theology. We will be launching GRIT on July 10th with a class over the book of First John.

2. Overview of First John

3. First John Overview

 Assurance, the theme of  First John 5:13: “I write
First John, is always these things to you who
based in the present not believe in the name of
in the past. In order to the Son of God that you
have assurance we may KNOW that you
need to examine our have eternal life.”
everyday lives.

4. First John Overview

 John is writing to a community of believers whose
faith had been shaken by some within their midst
who adhered to a false view of Jesus and they began
to teach this with in their midst.
 John then writes to assure this community that what
they were taught from the beginning was true and
these teachers were false.
 We can KNOW that we have salvation. This is not an
issue we have to flip flop on. We can have certainity.

5. First John Overview

 Assurance starts with who Jesus is and what He has
done for us
 Jesus was a real historical person (1:1-3)
 Jesus is God (1:3, 2:1,5:20)
 He proclaims truth (1:5)
 He is the believers propitiation (2:2, 4:10)
 An expression of God the Father’s Love (4:9)
 Because of Jesus we have no fear of punishment
(4:17-18)

6. Three Tests

 John writes and gives us three tests to give us
assurance:
 Truth (What one believes about Jesus)
 Obedience (How does one respond to Jesus)
 Love (Love for God WILL lead to love of others)
 It is important to remember that if one fails one of
these tests they fail ALL three of them. Remember
John writes so they may KNOW they have eternal
life.

7. Three Tests: Truth

 In order to have assurance of salvation we must start
with the purchaser of salvation: Jesus. If you have an
incorrect view of who Jesus is and what He has done
you can have no assurance. (Slide 3 Reviewed)
 False Teachers: Did not believe Jesus really came in the
flesh. Flesh, the material world, could not mix with
divinity in their view.
 Salvation came not from the accomplished work of
Jesus and His person but through special knowledge.

8. Three Tests: Obedience

 The indicative (truth) before the imperative
(command)
 Example in 1:5-7
 How does one respond to who Jesus is?
 Walk in the light as He in the light (1:5-7)
 Obey Him 2:4-6
 Practice righteousness (3:7-10). Verse ten tells us it is
evident who are the children of God by the way they
practice righteousness.

9. Three Tests: Love

 A Christian will have love for God which will be
manifest in their love for others.
 Love is active (3:16-18)
 Whoever does not love God has not been born of God
(4:7)
 If we do not love our brother who we can see we
cannot claim to love God who we cannot see (4:12)
 Whoever abides in love abides on God and God abides
in them (4:16)

10. Tying it all Together

 How should we respond to what we have learned?
 Love Jesus for what He has done on our behalf.
 Obey Jesus as a natural response to Him being our
Lord.
 Love others.

11. It has been a pleasure to have you.
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