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