Key Verse 5
Believers are urged not to sin, but if they do, they have an advocate with God the Father. Believers are told to have love for one another, thereby showing that they are followers of Christ.
Verses 1-2:
Apostle John is now on up in years
Has spent most of his life in ministry
Undoubtedly has brought many to Christ
He offers reassurance to believers that might have sinned
The Spirit of Truth, the Comforter convicts us of sin
Jesus is our propitiation; He took our place on the Cross of Calvary
Jesus is our mediator to God, not only for believers but the entire world
No one is beyond forgiveness
Verses 3-6:
How do we know that we are a Christian?
We do as Christ instructs
Live as Christ wants us to live
1 John 3:23; John 14:23; 1 John 4:12
True Christian faith is in loving one another
We are to walk as Christ walked
We cannot copy Christ by finding disciples or by being crucified, those are things only He could do as the Son of God
We are to live as Christ lived, follow His teachings, show obedience to God, and serve others
Verses 7-8:
The command to love is from the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18) as well as the New Testament (John 13:34-35)
John 15:13; Matthew 5:43-48
Love is key to the Christian walk
As our relationship with God grows, so does our relationship grow with others
Verses 9-11:
There will be people we dislike or disagree with
The focus is on our attitudes that make us treat others negatively, as enemies
We are to show concern, compassion, and respect to others
Individuals who walk in disdain and ill will to believers, do so in a darkened state
Christian love instructs us to esteem others soul's
If spiritual darkness is in our hearts, our conscience will be obscured
