1st John Chapter 3-5 - The Johns Bible Study

1st, 2nd, and 3rd John

1 John Chapter 3-5

This is an AI Recap of the class.
Some things may be incorrect.

Short Summary of the Class

The class continued its study of 1 John, transitioning from the theme of "God is light" to "God is love." Reading from 1 John 3 through 1 John 5, the discussion centered on the apostle's core message: our love for fellow believers is the tangible proof of our salvation. We explored the nature of this love, defining it not as a sentimental feeling but as active, sacrificial agape love, shown through forgiveness and practical deeds. This was contrasted with the world's hatred, using Cain as an example of what a lack of love produces. The discussion also covered the need to "test the spirits" to discern true, Christ-centered teachings from false ones, specifically those denying that Jesus came in the flesh. The session concluded by affirming the assurance of eternal life that comes from believing in Jesus and loving one another.

Detailed Class Summary

Introduction and Transition to "God is Love"

The class began by recapping its progress through the books of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. The previous sessions, which concluded before Thanksgiving at 1 John 3:10, focused on the theme of "God is light." The speaker noted how this theme, particularly the verse "if we say we have no sin... we deceive ourselves" from 1 John chapter 1, connected well with a recent sermon. The study now transitions to the next major section of the book, which focuses on the theme that "God is love," picking up at 1 John 3:10.

Section Summary: The study is moving from the first major theme of 1 John, "God is light," into the second major theme, "God is love." The class is picking up where they left off at 1 John 3:10.

Bible Verses: 1 John 1

The Struggle and Misconception of Christian Love

We started our discussion by addressing a common, almost cartoonish vision of Christian love—a "sunshine and unicorns" feeling of constant affection for everyone. It was quickly acknowledged that this is an unattainable and inaccurate picture. The reality is that loving everyone is hard. The conversation touched on the idea that our actions matter because the biblical vision is of a renewed creation where we will live face-to-face with each other forever, making forgiveness and how we treat people now incredibly important. Drawing from C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce, we considered the idea that hell is a state of ultimate loneliness that results from a refusal to forgive.

Section Summary: We began by deconstructing the idealistic but unrealistic view of Christian love, recognizing the real-world difficulty of loving others and emphasizing that our present actions have eternal significance in a renewed creation, making forgiveness essential.

Stories: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Defining Love: Affection vs. Action (1 John 3)

The discussion then moved to better define what "love" means in this context. It was pointed out that the command to love everyone doesn't necessarily mean we must have a warm affection for them. The biblical command often refers to agape love—a selfless, sacrificial action, exemplified by Jesus. The text in 1 John 3 makes a stark distinction between the children of God, who practice righteousness and love, and the children of the devil. The Greek word used for "love" in verses 10, 11, and 18 is agape, reinforcing that the focus is on a selfless, willed love, not just a feeling.

Section Summary: We clarified that the biblical command to "love" is not about feeling affection but about demonstrating agape—a selfless, sacrificial love shown through action, as modeled by Christ. This is the kind of love 1 John calls us to.

Bible Verses: 1 John 3:10-11, 1 John 3:18

Stories: The sacrifice of Jesus

The Consequence of Hate: The Story of Cain and Abel (1 John 3)

The passage in 1 John immediately uses the story of Cain and Abel as the primary example of what a lack of love looks like. Cain murdered his brother because his own works were evil. This act is presented as the ultimate consequence of hate—death. Verse 15 drives this point home: "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer." This hatred is contrary to the eternal life that should be abiding in us. The passage extends this concept to sins of omission. Verse 17 asks how the love of God can be in someone who has worldly goods, sees a brother in need, and does nothing. This is what it means to love in "deed and in truth," not just in words.

Section Summary: Using the story of Cain and Abel, we identified hatred as a form of murder where we usurp God's authority. This "murder" can be an active desire to harm or a passive refusal to help someone in need, both of which are antithetical to the love of God.

Bible Verses: 1 John 3:12, 1 John 3:14-15, 1 John 3:17

Stories: Cain and Abel, The Parable of the Good Samaritan (alluded to)

The Commandment of God: Belief and Love (1 John 3)

The discussion centered on the commandments of God. Verse 23 summarizes this perfectly: "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another." The two are inextricably linked. We are called to believe in Jesus and, out of that belief and the forgiveness we receive, to love one another. We concluded by acknowledging how incredibly difficult this is. Yet, as verse 20 reminds us, even when our own hearts condemn us or fail us, "God is greater than our heart," and His love empowers us.

Section Summary: We concluded that God's core commandment is twofold: to believe in Jesus Christ and to love one another. This love is the natural outflow of our faith and forgiveness. We can take comfort that God's power to love is greater than our own heart's limitations.

Bible Verses: 1 John 3:20, 1 John 3:22-23, Matthew 7:12

Testing the Spirits (1 John 4)

The class then moved into 1 John, Chapter 4, beginning with the instruction to "test the spirits." The term "spirit" was interpreted not as literal angels and demons, but as the underlying motivation, attitude, or teaching that moves a person. The Bible teaches that you will know them by their fruits. The passage in 1 John 4:2-3 specifies the primary test: "every spirit that confesses that Christ has come in the flesh is of God." John was directly combating the Gnostic heresy, which taught that the physical world was evil and that Jesus was only a spirit. To deny that Jesus came in the flesh is described as the "spirit of the Antichrist." While we are called to love everyone, we must also be wise and protect the community from harmful, divisive, and false teachings.

Section Summary: The instruction to "test the spirits" from 1 John 4 means we should discern the teachings and motivations of others. The key test is whether they confess Jesus came in the flesh, a truth that counters the Gnostic heresy and identifies the "spirit of the Antichrist."

Bible Verses: 1 John 4:1-6

God is Love and Overcoming the World (1 John 4-5)

This section of 1 John contains the central declaration: "God is love." Our ability to love comes from God, because He first loved us by sending His Son. Therefore, if God loved us so much, we must also love one another. The passage argues that it is impossible to claim to love God, whom we cannot see, while hating a brother, whom we can see. The reading concluded with the theme of victory from chapter 5. Belief that Jesus is the Son of God is what "overcomes the world." This belief is tied to keeping God's commandments, which are described as "not burdensome." John writes these things so that believers may "know that you have eternal life."

Section Summary: The class read through the foundational truth that "God is love" and that our love for others is a response to His love for us. This faith in Jesus Christ is the victory that overcomes the world and gives us the assurance of eternal life.

Bible Verses: 1 John 4, 1 John 5

Medium Length Summary

This week, the Bible study group continued its journey through the epistles of John, shifting its focus from "God is light" to the profound concept that "God is love." Beginning at 1 John 3:10, the class read aloud through 1 John 5:17, immersing themselves in the apostle's passionate plea for genuine, active love among believers. The discussion dismissed a simplistic, sentimental notion of love, acknowledging the real-world struggle to love difficult people. Instead, love was defined as agape—a selfless, sacrificial love demonstrated through actions and forgiveness.

The discussion highlighted John's central argument: the most reliable evidence of being a "child of God" is the tangible practice of loving one's brother. This was starkly contrasted with the world's hatred, using the biblical story of Cain and Abel as a prime example of how a lack of love leads to death. The session emphasized that love must be more than words; it must be demonstrated "in deed and in truth," such as by providing for a brother in material need. The study also covered the importance of spiritual discernment from 1 John 4, "testing the spirits" to identify false prophets. The ultimate test is the confession that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, a direct refutation of the Gnostic heresy. The session concluded by touching on the assurance of eternal life and the victory over the world that believers have through faith in Jesus, all rooted in the foundational truth that God first loved us.

Main Points

• The study transitioned from the theme "God is light" to "God is love."

• The biblical concept of love is not a sentimental feeling but a difficult, active, and sacrificial choice (agape).

• Loving your brother is the primary evidence that you are a child of God and have passed from death to life.

• Hate is characteristic of the world and is equated with murder, as exemplified by Cain. This can be active harm or passive refusal to help.

• God's primary commandment is to believe in Jesus Christ and to love one another as a result of that faith.

• Believers are called to "test the spirits" to discern truth from error, with the central test being the confession of Jesus Christ in the flesh.

• The foundation of our love is that God first loved us and sent His Son.

• Faith in Jesus Christ is the victory that overcomes the world, and believers can have assurance that they possess eternal life.

• When we find it impossible to love, we can trust that "God is greater than our heart" and can work through us.

Scriptures and Stories Mentioned

• Bible Scriptures:

  • 1 John (Chapters 1, 3, 4, 5)

  • 1 John 3:10 - 5:17 (Main reading)

  • Matthew 7:12 (The Golden Rule)

  • Ephesians (Chapter 5)

• Bible Stories:

  • Cain and Abel

  • The life and sacrifice of Jesus

  • The Parable of the Good Samaritan (alluded to)

• Other Stories and Analogies:

  • The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

  • The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

1st John Chapter 1:1-3:10 - The Johns Bible Study

1st, 2nd, and 3rd John

1 John Chapter 1:1 - 3:10

This is an AI Recap of the class.
Some things may be incorrect.

Short Summary of the Whole Class

We revisited the Christian hope of bodily resurrection and read through 1 John 1:1–3:10. John grounds faith in Jesus’ tangible incarnation and calls us to walk in the light through confession, fellowship, and love. We discussed Jesus as our Advocate and atoning sacrifice, the “old yet new” command to love, identity as God’s children, resisting the world’s desires, discerning “many antichrists,” abiding in the truth by the Spirit’s anointing, and practicing righteousness. Along the way we connected Genesis, Isaiah, Revelation, Gospel texts, and practical stories—from “sunshine laws” and cockroaches scattering in light to C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce, everyday neighbor-love, church leadership dynamics, and a discussion challenging closed communion. We concluded by celebrating Christ’s victory over darkness and our invitation to keep walking in the light together.

Section-by-Section Summary

Opening Context: Death, Suffering, and the Hope of Resurrection

• What we discussed:

  • We acknowledged pastoral concerns around death and suffering and emphasized that Christian hope centers on bodily resurrection, not a disembodied escape.

  • Seeing Scripture through this lens clarifies passages and aligns with the goodness of creation and the incarnation.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • Allusions to Genesis 1:3 (“Let there be light”) and Revelation’s new-creation light.

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Contrast between popular notions of a disembodied soul and the biblical picture of embodied resurrection.

• Short summary:

  • Framing our study with the hope of bodily resurrection shapes how we understand suffering, creation’s goodness, and the incarnation.

1 John 1:1–4 — The Word of Life, Manifestation, and Fellowship

• What we discussed:

  • John’s eyewitness language (“heard,” “seen,” “handled”) asserts Jesus’ tangible, historical reality.

  • Purpose: fellowship with the Father and the Son and fullness of joy.

  • Pushback against Gnostic ideas: the physical is good; Jesus is truly human.

  • Faith is active life in God’s kingdom, not mere cognitive assent.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 1:1–4

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Gnosticism explained; The Da Vinci Code as a popular reflection of Gnostic themes.

• Short summary:

  • John grounds the gospel in tangible reality to secure fellowship and joy, opposing any denial of Jesus’ real humanity and creation’s goodness.

1 John 1:5–10 — God Is Light; Walking in the Light Through Confession and Fellowship

• What we discussed:

  • “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all”: holiness, truth, and life versus evil and falsehood.

  • Walking in the light involves fellowship, confession, and cleansing by Jesus’ blood.

  • Claiming sinlessness is self-deception; confession brings forgiveness and renewal.

  • Transparency builds trust and community.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 1:5–10

  • John 1:1–9 (alluded), Isaiah 9:2, Genesis 1:3 (alluded), Revelation’s light imagery

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Florida “sunshine laws”; cockroaches scattering when the light turns on; C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce.

• Short summary:

  • God’s light exposes and heals; confession and fellowship mark a community walking in the light.

1 John 2:1–6 — Advocate and Propitiation; Obedience and Imitation

• What we discussed:

  • Comfort: If we sin, Jesus Christ the Righteous is our Advocate and atoning sacrifice for our sins and the whole world.

  • Knowing Christ is evidenced by keeping his commandments; abide in him by walking as he walked.

  • Counters antinomianism and disembodied spirituality.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 2:1–6

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • None specific in this segment.

• Short summary:

  • Christ advocates and atones for us; true knowledge of him is seen in obedient, Christ-like living.

1 John 2:7–11 — Old and New Commandment; Love Versus Hate

• What we discussed:

  • Love is both “old” (from the beginning) and “new” (true in Christ and believers).

  • Darkness is passing; the true light is already shining.

  • Test of living in the light: loving our brothers and sisters; hatred signals darkness and blindness.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 2:7–11

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Practical neighbor-love in ordinary settings (e.g., self-checkout story, helping an elderly person).

• Short summary:

  • Love is the concrete mark of the light; hatred exposes darkness and causes stumbling.

1 John 2:12–17 — Identity and Not Loving the World

• What we discussed:

  • Poetic address to “children,” “fathers,” and “young people”: forgiveness, knowledge of God, strength, overcoming the evil one.

  • “Do not love the world”: desires and pride are passing away; doing God’s will abides forever.

  • Identity as “little children” calls us to humility and belonging.

  • Translation note on “overcome/conquer” (nikaō) and its resonance with Revelation.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 2:12–17

  • Cross-references: 1 John 4:4; 5:4–5; Revelation 2–3; Hebrews 5:12–14; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Jesus welcoming little children; metaphors of milk vs. meat; Gladiator’s emperor-as-father trope contrasted with God’s true fatherhood.

• Short summary:

  • As God’s children we overcome by abiding in his word and rejecting worldly desires that fade.

1 John 2:18–27 — Antichrists, Abiding Truth, and Anointing

• What we discussed:

  • “Last hour”: many antichrists—those denying Jesus as the Christ and departing the fellowship.

  • Abide in what you heard from the beginning; remain in the Son and the Father.

  • Anointing from the Holy One grants discernment to resist deception.

  • Antichrist attitudes: self-exalting puffery versus childlike humility and love.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 2:18–27

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • HOA and church leadership dynamics; a young man leaving St. Andrew when his contractor wasn’t chosen; leadership vacuums and notoriety seeking.

• Short summary:

  • In an age of deception, abide in the original gospel and rely on God’s anointing to remain in the truth.

Community Health, Power, and Healing (Applied Themes of Fellowship)

• What we discussed:

  • Patient, gracious leadership rebuilds community health; resisting power grabs leads to durable fellowship.

  • Example of long-term reform leading to care initiatives (e.g., Alzheimer’s daycare).

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • Fellowship themes implied from 1 John 1:3

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Mark’s church slowly becoming healthy through gracious reform and communal care.

• Short summary:

  • Healthy churches grow through patient, gracious leadership and care-oriented practices.

Light vs. Darkness: Choosing the Kingdom’s Reality (Applied to Daily Life)

• What we discussed:

  • The Kingdom’s reality invites us to forgiveness and fellowship rather than insisting on our own way.

  • Isolation and self-will reflect darkness; humility and unity reflect light.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 1:5–7 (implied)

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce as a picture of choosing isolation over fellowship.

• Short summary:

  • Living in the light means forgiving and belonging; self-centered exclusion drifts toward darkness.

Sin, Confession, and Relationships in the Light (Applied Pastoral Care)

• What we discussed:

  • Mistakes don’t fix identity; confession and truth illuminate relationships for healing.

  • Healthy marriages and friendships keep communication open; counseling helps “let the light back in.”

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 1:8–9 (implied)

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Personal testimony: friendship forged through disagreements handled in the light.

• Short summary:

  • Open confession and communication sustain relationships and keep communities in God’s light.

Violence, Politics, and the Darkness of Contempt

• What we discussed:

  • Violence and contempt reject God’s light and place us above others, undermining love of neighbor.

  • Political polarization tempts us to label neighbors as enemies.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • Love-of-neighbor themes implicit; 1 John’s light/darkness framework

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Observations about polarization and contempt for those who vote differently.

• Short summary:

  • Love and humility resist polarization; contempt and violence are expressions of darkness.

Communion and Togetherness: Challenging Closed Communion

• What we discussed:

  • Strong disagreement with closed communion; Jesus’ invitation and Paul’s teaching emphasize unity.

  • Communion expresses togetherness; exclusion undermines fellowship.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • Matthew 26:27; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:17–20 (Words of Institution)

  • 1 Corinthians 10–11 (unity and discernment)

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Personal story of being turned away from communion at a Lutheran church.

• Short summary:

  • The Lord’s Supper should embody unity and shared fellowship; exclusion contradicts the gospel’s togetherness.

1 John 2:28–3:10 — Children of God, Hope, Purity, and Practicing Righteousness

• What we discussed:

  • Confidence at Christ’s appearing through abiding in him.

  • “Behold what manner of love”: we are God’s children now; we will be like Christ.

  • Hope leads to purity; practicing righteousness and love shows new birth; persistent sin reflects darkness.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • 1 John 2:28–3:10

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • None specific beyond overarching contrasts.

• Short summary:

  • As God’s children, we live with hope and purity, practicing righteousness and love because Christ destroys the devil’s works.

Christ’s Victory Over Darkness: Creation Imagery and the Cross

• What we discussed:

  • Jesus’ death and resurrection as decisive defeat of darkness; new-creation light.

  • Ongoing confession keeps us in the light and in fellowship.

• Bible verses mentioned:

  • Genesis 1:3; Genesis 15:5 (imagery); 1 John 1:9 (implied)

• Stories/Illustrations:

  • Teaching metaphor: Abraham’s stars coalescing into tomb’s darkness; God speaking “Let there be light again.”

• Short summary:

  • Christ brings new-creation light into our darkness; confession keeps us walking together in his grace.

Medium-Length Summary of the Class

Our study in 1 John 1:1–3:10, framed by the pastoral realities of death and suffering, reaffirmed the Christian hope of bodily resurrection and the goodness of creation. John’s eyewitness testimony anchors faith in Jesus’ tangible incarnation to secure fellowship and joy. We explored the light/darkness motif: God is pure light, and walking in that light means transparent confession, mutual fellowship, and cleansing through Christ’s blood. We received comfort in Jesus as our Advocate and atoning sacrifice, while hearing the call to obey his commands and walk as he walked. Love—both old and new—is the decisive mark of living in the light; hatred reveals darkness.

John’s poetic identity language (“children, fathers, young people”) reminded us we overcome the evil one by God’s word abiding in us and by not loving the world’s desires. We discern “many antichrists” as patterns that deny Christ and depart the fellowship, and we remain anchored by the anointing that teaches us to abide in the truth. Practically, we applied these themes to church life, leadership, and daily choices: patient, gracious reform builds healthy communities; insisting on our own way fosters darkness. We discussed confession as relational light, resisted polarization and contempt, and challenged closed communion in favor of unity and togetherness. We ended by celebrating Christ’s victory over darkness and God’s new-creation light, committing to ongoing confession and fellowship as children of God who practice righteousness and love.

Main Points

• Christian hope centers on bodily resurrection, affirming creation’s goodness.

• Jesus’ incarnation is tangible and real; faith is lived, not merely believed.

• God is light; walking in the light means confession, cleansing, and fellowship.

• Claiming sinlessness is self-deception; confession brings forgiveness and renewal.

• Jesus is our Advocate and atoning sacrifice; grace empowers obedient imitation.

• Love of brothers and sisters is the decisive mark of living in the light; hatred signals darkness.

• Our identity as God’s children calls us to humility, hope, purity, and practiced righteousness.

• Do not love the world’s desires; those who do God’s will abide forever.

• Many “antichrists” deny Christ and depart; abide in the original truth and rely on the anointing.

• Healthy church life resists power grabs and nurtures gracious, patient reform.

• Communion should embody unity and togetherness; closed communion was challenged as divisive.

Bible Scriptures Mentioned

• 1 John 1:1–4 — Manifestation of the Word of Life; fellowship; full joy

• 1 John 1:5–10 — God is light; walking in the light; confession and cleansing

• 1 John 2:1–6 — Advocate and propitiation; obedience; walking as Jesus walked

• 1 John 2:7–11 — Old/new commandment; love vs. hate; darkness passing, true light shining

• 1 John 2:12–17 — Identity poem; overcoming; not loving the world

• 1 John 2:18–27 — Antichrists; abiding; anointing and truth

• 1 John 2:28–3:10 — Children of God; hope; purity; practicing righteousness

• John 1:1–9 (alluded) — Light shining in darkness

• Genesis 1:3 (alluded) — “Let there be light”

• Isaiah 9:2 (quoted/alluded) — Great light for those in darkness

• Revelation 2–3 (alluded) — Overcoming (nikaō)

• Matthew 22:37–40; Mark 12:29–31 — Greatest commandments: love God and neighbor

• Matthew 25:31–46 — Sheep and goats (Christ the King emphasis)

• 1 Corinthians 10–11 — Communion, unity, and discernment

• Hebrews 5:12–14; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2 — Milk and meat (growth and humility)

• Genesis 15:5 (alluded) — Abraham’s stars

Stories and Illustrations Mentioned

• Gnosticism explained; The Da Vinci Code noted for Gnostic themes

• Florida “sunshine laws” as a transparency analogy

• Cockroaches scattering when the light turns on (exposure and cleansing)

• C. S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce (isolation vs. fellowship)

• Self-checkout anecdote (choosing neighbor-love and humility)

• Gladiator movie reference (emperor-as-father vs. God’s true fatherhood)

• HOA/church leadership dynamics; a young man leaving St. Andrew over a contractor decision

• Mark’s church: patient, gracious reform leading to an Alzheimer’s daycare and healthier community

• Personal testimony: friendship strengthened through disagreements handled in the light

• Experience of being turned away from communion at a Lutheran church (closed communion debate)

• Teaching metaphor: Abraham’s stars coalescing into the tomb’s darkness; God speaking new-creation light again

1st John Chapter 1 - The Johns Bible Study

1st, 2nd, and 3rd John

1 John Chapter 1

This is an AI Recap of the class.
Some things may be incorrect.

Short Summary of the Class

Our class began with an overview of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, establishing their context as letters written to combat false teachings and encourage believers. We focused on the opening chapters of 1 John, discussing the foundational themes of God as light, the necessity of walking in that light, and the command to love one another. This discussion on light versus darkness naturally transitioned into a deep and personal conversation about the Christian understanding of death. We challenged the idea that death is a release, instead affirming it as an enemy overcome by Christ. The class concluded by exploring the robust, hopeful vision of the resurrection, where grief coexists with the joyful promise of a renewed creation and reunion with our loved ones.

Detailed Class Summary

Introduction and Overview of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John

The class started with a brief overview of our plan to study 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, along with some housekeeping notes about our upcoming schedule around Thanksgiving and Christmas. To get a big-picture view, we watched a Bible Project video on the letters of John. The video explained that these letters were written by "the Elder" (likely the apostle John) to a network of house churches facing a crisis from a group that had broken away and denied that Jesus was the Messiah.

• 2nd John warns a church not to support these "deceivers."

• 3rd John encourages a man named Gaius to welcome legitimate missionaries.

• 1st John is a poetic, sermon-like letter written as "damage control" to remind believers of the truth they already know.

The video highlighted 1st John's unique literary style, which uses "amplification" to cycle repeatedly around core ideas like life, truth, and love, using stark contrasts like light vs. darkness. The sermon is structured around two main declarations: "God is light" and "God is love."

Summary: We established our study topic and holiday schedule. A video provided crucial context, explaining that John's letters were written to combat false teachings and encourage believers to hold fast to the truth of Jesus, with 1st John being a poetic sermon centered on the themes that God is light and God is love.

Reading and Discussion: 1 John 1:1 - 2:11

After discussing the video, we read the first portion of the letter, focusing on the foundational concepts.

• The Word of Life and Fellowship (1 John 1:1-4): John begins by establishing the apostles' authority as eyewitnesses to Jesus, the "Word of life." Their purpose is to bring readers into koinonia (fellowship) with the Father and the Son, which is the source of full joy.

• Walking in the Light (1 John 1:5-10): John delivers the first core message: "God is light." True fellowship requires us to "walk in the light." This means living truthfully, which includes confessing our sins. We noted how the phrase from 1 John 1:8-9, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves," is a familiar part of Christian liturgy. The path forward is confession, and God is "faithful and just" to forgive and cleanse us.

• Christ Our Advocate and Keeping His Commands (1 John 2:1-11): John addresses his readers as "my little children," assuring them that when we sin, we have an "advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Jesus is the "propitiation" (atoning sacrifice) for our sins. True knowledge of God is proven by obedience, specifically to the "old" yet "new" commandment to love one another. This love is the practical test of whether we are walking in the light or stumbling in darkness.

Summary: In this section, John establishes that fellowship with God requires walking in the light. This involves honestly confessing our sins, for which Jesus is our advocate and atoning sacrifice. The primary evidence that we know God and are walking in His light is our obedience to His command to love one another.

Gnosticism, Death, and the Problem of Suffering

The discussion of light versus darkness, and John's use of the term "my dear children" in 1 John 2:1, led to a deeper theological conversation. John was addressing a serious heresy known as Gnosticism, the belief that the spiritual realm is good while the physical realm (including our bodies) is evil. This ancient heresy still influences modern thought, often surfacing in phrases like someone being "released from their body of captivity" at death.

The class challenged this idea, affirming the biblical truth from Genesis 1 that creation, including our physical bodies, was made "good." The pastor shared a pivotal realization from his early ministry: "Death's the problem. Why are we celebrating death?" We concluded that death is not a victory but the ultimate consequence of sin and brokenness. The true victory is the resurrection. While it's comforting to say someone is "free from pain," the reality is they have succumbed to it. Our hope is not in death itself, but in the fact that, as Paul writes in Romans 8:38-39, nothing—not even death—can separate us from the love of God.

Summary: We identified and deconstructed the heresy of Gnosticism, which wrongly views the physical body as evil. The class concluded that death is the ultimate problem and the result of sin, not a release. Our true hope is in the resurrection and the promise that even in death, we remain with Jesus.

The Hope of Resurrection and Our Resurrected Bodies

The conversation then explored the nature of our future resurrected bodies. The example of the resurrected Jesus, who still bore the wounds of his crucifixion, was central. His scars were not a sign of diminishment but a testament to his victory and identity. This led to a reflection on how our own scars and wounds shape who we are. Erasing them might mean erasing a part of ourselves.

Instead of a flawless existence, the resurrection promises a renewed creation where "life is on the loose," ruled by life and light. In this new reality, our scars may still be part of our story, but the pain associated with them will be gone. To illustrate this, a story from C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew was shared, where a talking animal's fall into a mud puddle in pre-fallen Narnia results in innocent, joyful laughter, not shame. This paints a picture of an existence where mishaps are simply part of a full life of learning.

Summary: We contemplated what our resurrected bodies will be like, using the image of Jesus's post-resurrection scars. Our scars are part of our identity, and in the resurrection, they will exist without pain in a world where life is unencumbered and God's light reigns supreme.

Grieving with Hope

The class concluded by reinforcing the central message: death is the problem, but light and life are the answer. Our ultimate Christian hope is in the "resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." We do not grieve like those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13); we grieve honestly, but with the profound hope of the resurrection. A Christian funeral, therefore, is not a denial of sadness but an acknowledgment of loss coupled with a powerful declaration of hope in Jesus's victory.

The church community plays a vital role in this, gathering to support the grieving and affirm their shared hope, often through the simple act of sharing a meal. This robust, resurrection-focused view of death and the afterlife provides a deep and lasting encouragement, grounding our faith in the promise of new life.

Summary: The final focus was on our ultimate hope in the resurrection. We grieve with hope, and the church community gathers to support one another, affirming that light and life triumph over darkness and death.

Final Summary

In our study on the letters of John, we established the historical context, learning they were written by the apostle John to a community of churches facing false teachings that denied the truth about Jesus Christ. 1st John, in particular, is a pastoral and poetic sermon written to reassure the faithful.

Our study focused on the first part of this sermon (1 John 1:1–2:11), where John grounds his message in the apostles' direct experience of Jesus, the "Word of life." He presents the foundational truth that "God is light," which has immediate practical implications: to walk with God, we must also walk in the light. This means living truthfully, which includes acknowledging and confessing our sin. John provides comfort by reminding us that when we fail, we have an advocate in Jesus, whose death is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The ultimate proof of walking in the light is concrete obedience to Christ's command to love one another.

This theme of light versus darkness led to a profound discussion on the Christian understanding of death and suffering. We confronted the ancient heresy of Gnosticism, which wrongly views the physical body as evil and death as a welcome release. The class firmly rejected this, affirming the biblical view that our bodies are created good and that death is the true enemy. Our hope is not in escaping our bodies, but in the promise of the resurrection. Using the example of Jesus, who retained his crucifixion scars, we considered that our own scars might remain as part of our story, but without the associated pain. We concluded that our hope is not in death, but in the life and light that flows from Christ's victory over the grave, trusting that we and our loved ones will be reunited in a new creation.

Main Points

• The letters of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John were written to address a crisis of false teachers who denied Jesus.

• The two central themes of 1st John are "God is light" and "God is love."

• Walking in the light is necessary for fellowship with God and involves honest confession of sin and obedience to His command to love one another.

• Gnosticism, the belief that the physical body is evil, is an ancient heresy that wrongly frames death as a release.

• Death is not a victory; it is the problem and the consequence of sin that Christ came to overcome.

• Our ultimate hope is not in death, but in the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come.

• The resurrected Jesus retained his scars, suggesting our resurrected selves may retain the marks of our story, but without the pain.

• Christians grieve, but we grieve with hope in the resurrection, which fundamentally changes our experience of loss.

Scriptures and Stories Mentioned

Bible Scriptures:

• 1 John (entire book)

• 2 John (entire book)

• 3 John (entire book)

• 1 John 1:1-10

• 1 John 1:8-9: "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

• 1 John 2:1-11

• Gospel of John (Referenced for similar themes and language)

• John 13-17: Jesus' final speech, which provides the key ideas for 1 John.

• Genesis 1: The creation story, specifically God's command, "Let there be light."

• Genesis 3: The introduction of sin and death into the world.

• Genesis 4: The story of Cain and Abel.

• Proverbs 8 (Referenced in comparison to John's prologue)

• Romans 8:38-39 (Paraphrased): "Neither death nor life... will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (Paraphrased): "We do not grieve like others do [who are without hope]. We grieve, but we grieve with hope in the resurrection."

• Revelation (General): Mentioned in reference to the theme of light and the final victory over death.

Stories and Illustrations:

• The Story of Creation: God speaking light into darkness on the first day.

• The Story of Cain and Abel: Mentioned as an example of hatred leading to murder, contrasted with Christian love.

• The Last Supper: Mentioned as the context where Jesus gave the "old/new" command to love one another.

• The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus: The ultimate story of light overcoming darkness, with Jesus retaining his scars after his resurrection.

• The Story of Abraham: God telling Abraham to look at the stars in the night sky as a promise.

• C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew: A story where a talking animal falls in a mud puddle in pre-fallen Narnia, and the reaction is innocent laughter rather than shame.

• C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce: The image of souls journeying closer and closer to the mountains in heaven.

• The pastor's personal story: A realization after a funeral early in his ministry that death is the problem, which reshaped his entire approach to funerals and grief.