1 John

The apostle John wrote this letter during the late first century to churches around Asia.  They were being faced with false teachers who were denying Christ (2:22) and who had once known Him (2:19).  These “antichrists” were trying to deceive them (2:26).  John writes this letter partly to offer instruction, but mostly to offer them reassurance that they are secure in their salvation.  He tells them how they can be sure of their salvation.  The evidence of their salvation will be seen in their lives by way of the Holy Spirit (4:13) love (4:16) obedience (2:5-6) and sound doctrine (2:20-25).

This also may have been particularly important because he had previously sent these churches “Revelation”, a letter which brings the heavy reality of judgment.  These churches need to hear that they are guaranteed eternal life and to receive guidance concerning the false teachers: John gives them both.

The false teaching at this time was a sort of pre-Gnosticism, which reeks heavily of dualism.  So some popular beliefs at the time were Docetism, which claims that Jesus was divine, but not human, and Cerinthianism, which claims the opposite.  Cerinthus believed that Jesus was a human on whom “the Christ” descended after his baptism, and left his body just before his crucifixion, and that the world was not made by God, but a supreme power separated from Him.  Dualism produces two results (as we have found throughout the New Testament)- either asceticism, in which one punishes the “evil” flesh, or shameless indulgence in passions of the flesh, as it was believed that what is done in the body will have no impact on the soul- as a dualistic view sees the good soul and the evil body as separate things.

"You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him."- 1 John 3:5-6

OBSERVATION

What is true of those who abide in Christ?

They do not keep on sinning.

What is said immediately before that?

Christ appeared to take away sin and in him there is no sin.

INTERPRETATION
What does God’s heart behind this seem to be?

To transform believers to be like Christ.

Is this idea supported anywhere else in this letter?

3:3- everyone who hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

2:29- God is righteous, so all who practice righteousness have been born of him

2:6- whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked

1:7- if we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship and are cleansed from sin

3:16- he laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers

4:11- if God so loved us, so we ought to love one another

TIMELESS TRUTH

God’s desire for believers is to transform us all to be as he is.

Is this idea supported elsewhere in scripture?

Ephesians 5:1- be imitators of God

Ephesians 5:2-walk in love as Christ loved us 
Ephesians 4:32- forgive as God in Christ forgave you (Colossians 3:13 says the same thing)

Romans 2:1, Colossians 3:25- God does not show partiality

James 2:1- do not show partiality