Book Report-1,11,111 John

Notes taken from New Spirit Filled Life Bible-NKJV

Author: Apostle John
Date: About A.D. 90
Theme: Jesus is the Son of God. Those who follow Him must live righteously.
Key Words: Love, Know, Life, Light, Fellowship

John wrote much of this letter to expose the heresy of Gnosticism, 'which taught that matter is essentially evil and spirit is essentially good.' Thus, the false teachers denied the Incarnation of Christ and the Resurrection, because 'the true God, ...could never indwell a material body of flesh and blood.'

John sought to give reassurance of eternal life to those "who believe in the name of the Son of God." The false teaching of Gnosticism had unsettled the Christians and John pulled no punches as he reached out to the confused believers, calling the the teachings 'deceitful', and the teachers 'false prophets', 'liars', and 'antichrists.' These teachers were no longer in the church but had gone out into the world and John was cleaning up the debris left over from their teaching.

John relates to his readers in a fatherly, friendly way, and speaks often about the love of God, the light of God and the fellowship that believers have with God and each other.

"Three tests prove the genuineness of Christianity: the test of belief (1 Jn. 4:2), the test of obedience (1 Jn. 2:3), and the test of love (1 Jn. 4:20). The same affirmations are stated negatively. The one who professes to be a Christian, but who cannot pass the test of belief (1 Jn 2:22), the test of obedience(1 Jn 1:6), and the test of love (1 Jn. 4:20), is a liar. John brings all three tests together in 1 Jn. 5:1-5, where he indicates that a profession of Christianity is false unless it is characterized by correct belief, godly obedience, and brotherly love. The same tests are valid today."(Direct quote from Bible notes)

I really like Apostle John. The gospel of John is my favorite book in the Bible and I am also reading Revelation right now and Billy Graham's book on Revelation, called "Storm Warning".
Somehow, John knew how to stay at rest in the bosom of Jesus, even after Christ left this world. John has perspective and insight into the love of God that few obtain. I think it has something to do with where he rested. He could feel the heartbeat of God in the bosom of Christ.

Some of favorite Words are:

1 Jn. 1:1-4-
"That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-

the life was manifested,
and we have seen,
and bear witness,
and declare to you that eternal life
which was with the Father and was manifested to us-

that which we have seen and heard we declare to you,
that you also many have fellowship with us;
and truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with His Son Jesus Christ.

And these things we write to you that your
joy may be full."

The beginning of 1 John reminds me of the beginning of
the Gospel of John-
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God
and the Word was God."