Themes in 1 John: Love, Themes in 1 John: Love, Righteousness, and BeliefRighteousness, and Belief

Theme #3 - BeliefTheme #3 - Belief

Forest Hills Bible Chapel4 October 2009

Some Key Views of GnosticismSome Key Views of Gnosticism

1.1. Humanity’s great problem is not sin; Humanity’s great problem is not sin; it is a lack of knowledge, secret it is a lack of knowledge, secret knowledge, that God reveals to only knowledge, that God reveals to only a select few. But see 1 John 1:5-10; a select few. But see 1 John 1:5-10; 2:20-21, 26-27 2:20-21, 26-27

2.2. The world, the created order, is The world, the created order, is inherently evil, because it is material inherently evil, because it is material in nature. But see 1 John 2:15-17.in nature. But see 1 John 2:15-17.

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief

1. We must understand the distinction 1. We must understand the distinction between Christ and the antiChrist – between Christ and the antiChrist – 2:18-23.2:18-23.

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief 1818Dear children, this is the last hour; Dear children, this is the last hour;

and as you have heard that the and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. know it is the last hour. 1919They went They went out from us, but they did not really out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.them belonged to us.

Studies in 1 John #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John #3 - Belief 2020But you have an anointing from the Holy But you have an anointing from the Holy

One, and all of you know the truth. One, and all of you know the truth. 2121I do I do not write to you because you do not know not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. because no lie comes from the truth. 2222Who Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Messiah. Such a person is the antichristthe Messiah. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. —denying the Father and the Son. 2323No one No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. – acknowledges the Son has the Father also. – 2:18-232:18-23

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief

1.1. We must understand the distinction We must understand the distinction between Christ and the antiChrist – between Christ and the antiChrist – 2:18-23.2:18-23.

2.2. We must believe in the incarnation of We must believe in the incarnation of Jesus – 1 John 4:1-3Jesus – 1 John 4:1-3

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but

test the spirits to see whether they are from test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. gone out into the world. 22This is how you This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, has come in the flesh is from God, 33but but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. - 4:1-3and even now is already in the world. - 4:1-3

Some Key Views of GnosticismSome Key Views of Gnosticism

1.1. We must understand the distinction We must understand the distinction between Christ and the antiChrist – between Christ and the antiChrist – 2:18-23.2:18-23.

2.2. We must believe in the incarnation of We must believe in the incarnation of Jesus – 1 John 4:1-3Jesus – 1 John 4:1-3

3.3. We must believe that Jesus is the Son We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God – 1 John 4:13-15of God – 1 John 4:13-15

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief

1313This is how we know that we live in him This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. Spirit. 1414And we have seen and testify And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. the Savior of the world. 1515If anyone If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God, God lives in them and they in God.God.

Some Key Views of GnosticismSome Key Views of Gnosticism

1.1. We must understand the distinction We must understand the distinction between Christ and the antiChrist – between Christ and the antiChrist – 2:18-23.2:18-23.

2.2. We must believe in the incarnation of We must believe in the incarnation of Jesus – 1 John 4:1-3Jesus – 1 John 4:1-3

3.3. We must believe that Jesus is the Son We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God – 1 John 4:13-15of God – 1 John 4:13-15

4.4. We must believe that Jesus is the We must believe that Jesus is the Messiah – 5:1-5Messiah – 5:1-5

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as who loves the father loves his child as well. well. 22This is how we know that we love This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. carrying out his commands. 33In fact, In fact, this is love for God: to keep his this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not commands. And his commands are not burdensome, burdensome, 44for everyone born of for everyone born of God overcomes the world. God overcomes the world.

Studies in 1 John: #3 - BeliefStudies in 1 John: #3 - Belief

This is the victory that has overcome This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. the world, even our faith. 55Who is it Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.of God.