1 John

AUTHOR:

John, the apostle

AUDIENCE:

Several Gentile congregations around Ephesus

PURPOSE:

To reassure Christians in their faith and to counter false teachings.

John cared about people’s salvation, particularly those he loved. No wonder the church called him “the apostle of love.” John firmly grasped the reality that although most people will suffer in this life, some will also suffer for eternity. This offers hope for believers, but a future of unthinkable tragedy for others.

To encourage his spiritual family, John wrote a Gospel and sent three letters. He wrote the Gospel of John “so that you may continue to believe” (John 20:31), but he wrote this first letter “so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 Jn 5:13). We all need confidence that our belief in Jesus Christ is enough both to save us from eternal suffering and to strengthen us for endurance this side of heaven.

SUFFERING AND DISABILITY THEMES

  floral bullet  Assurance of salvation. We do not have to live in fear and doubt about our salvation. Even as we live with a disability or endure hardships in life, we can have the hope of heaven and eternity with Jesus Christ. This is a confident hope, not wishful thinking or a game of chance. It is an expectation rooted in God’s promises. Maybe people have disappointed you and broken promises they had made to you. God has never broken a promise. You can trust him.

  floral bullet  Perfection awaits each one of us. Are you curious about the perfect you? At the Resurrection you’ll have your own body, but it will be perfect in every way—no more disease, disability, struggle—no more tears (Rev 21:4)! You may feel weak right now, but you have immeasurable strength available to you in Christ. And because you’ve become God’s child through faith in Christ, you will one day be like him (1 Jn 3:1-3).

  floral bullet  Guaranteed victory over suffering and death. Suffering comes in a variety of forms. We may suffer from inaccurate Bible teaching or at the hands of self-centered, thoughtless people. Living in fear that we’ll miss out on heaven and be doomed to a Christless eternity is a particularly miserable form of suffering. Ultimately, all suffering is due to the presence of sin in this world. John reminds us that, in Christ, “every child of God defeats this evil world” (5:4). This is our greatest hope for everlasting victory!