John’s
Teaching on Love
(God is
Love, Light and Life)
We will be studying about John’s teaching on love
found in 1 John 1-5.
John testifies about Jesus (1 John 1:1-2)
1 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, of the Word of life (a Name of Jesus);
2 For the life was manifested, and we have seen it,
and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the
Father, and was manifested unto us; (Jesus was with the Father long before the
world began, and then was manifested on the earth 2000 years ago)
Our Fellowship is With the Father and His
Son Jesus Christ, and there is Fullness of Joy in the Presence of the Lord - Psalms
16:11 (1 John 1:3-4).
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto
you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy
may be full.
God is Light and in Him is no darkness at
all (1 John 1:5-6)
5 This then is the message which we have heard of
him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and
walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.
When we walk in the Light, as Christ is in
the Light, we can have true fellowship with others, and Jesus’ Blood cleanses
us from all sin (1 John 1:7-10)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his
Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a
liar, and his word is not in us.
Jesus Christ is the Advocate to the Father
and the Propitiation (placation, appeasement) for our sins. Also, we can make
the decision to not sin. Sin is transgression of the law, or missing the mark
(1 John 2:1-2).
1 My little children, these things write I unto
you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the Righteous.
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not
for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
If a person claims to know God, then they
must keep His commands. He who fails to keep God’s commands, does not really
know God (1 John 2:3-4.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
The love of God is perfected (made mature
and complete) in the person who keeps God’s commands (1 John 2:5-6)
5 But whoso keepeth his Word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself
also so to walk, even as he walked.
The person who says they are walking in the
light, yet hates their brother, is walking in darkness. He that loves his
brother walks in the light (2 John 2:7-11).
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you,
but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is
the Word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which
thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true
light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his
brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,
and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness,
and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that
darkness hath blinded his eyes.
John addresses three groups of Christians:
Spiritual fathers (spiritually mature or of full age, leaders in the Body of
Christ), spiritual young men, and spiritual children or babes in Christ (1 John
2:12-14).
12 I write unto you, little children, because your
sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known
him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have
overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have
known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye
have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men,
because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome
the wicked one.
Love not the world, nor the things of this
world. He who loves the ways of this world, the love of the Father is not in
Him (2 John 2:15-17).
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
Anti-Christs, False Prophets and False
Teachers have come into the world. He that denies the Son also denies the
Father (1 John 2:18-19).
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye
have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists;
whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us;
for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but
they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye
know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not
the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is
the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the
Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Continue (abide) in the Son and in the
Father, and in the Anointing. The Anointing will teach you all things (1 John
2:24-28).
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have
heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall
remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised
us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning
them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him
abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same
anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as
it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that,
when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at
his coming.
The Lord is Righteous in all His ways, and
every person who lives righteously is born of Him (1 John 2:29).
29 If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that
every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.
We are now Sons of God because of the love
the Father has lavished on us. God is pure and wants us to live pure in heart
and body (1 John 3:1-3)
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the
world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we
shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as He is pure.
He that is born of God does not commit sin,
for God’s seed remains in him. Whoever [habitually, as a lifestyle] commits sin
is of the devil, for the devil has sinned since the beginning (1 John 3:4-9).
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away
our sins; and in Him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever
sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that
doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the
devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for
his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Children of God versus children of the
devil. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal
life dwelling in him. We have passed from death to life because we love the
brethren (1 John 3:10-15).
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and
the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God,
neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the
beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and
slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil,
and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto
life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in
death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and
ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
If you have the love of God dwelling on the
inside of you, it will manifest in your deeds of compassion, and ministering to
the needs of your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Love is more than just
telling someone you love them, but by proving it in your actions. Jesus doesn’t
just want to hear us tell Him we love Him, but He wants us to demonstrate our
love by keeping His commandments and feeding His sheep (John 14:15,21; John
21:15-17; 1 John 3:16-18)
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he
laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Try the spirits to see whether they are of
God; identify the spirit of anti-Christ; Greater is He who is in you than he
who is in the world; Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:1-6).
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit
that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of
antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is
it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore, speak they of
the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he
that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth, and the
spirit of error.
Everyone that loves is born of God and knows
God. He that does not love, does not know God, for God is Love (1 John 4:7-8).
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of
God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love.
Not that we loved God, but that He loved us
and sent His Son to the be propitiation for our sins. If God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another. If we love one another, God dwells in us and
His love is perfected in us. We know we dwell in God and He in us because of
His Spirit that dwells on the inside of us (1 John 4:9-13).
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live
through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that
he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to
love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one
another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in
us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God,
then God dwells on the inside of him and he in God. God is love, and when you
dwell in love, you will have sweet communion with God. We can have boldness on
the Day of Judgment when we stand before Jesus and give an account of our life,
because we walked in love (1 John 4:14-17).
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father
sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of
God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God
hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God
in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may
have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this
world.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love
casts out all fear. Fear involves torment, and he that struggles with fear has
not experienced the fullness of God’s love. God’s love involves joy and peace
and total acceptance (1 John 4:18).
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made
perfect in love.
We can only love God because He first loved
us. If a person says they love God, yet hates their brother or sister, then
they are a liar. He who loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:19-21).
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he
who loveth God love his brother also.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah
is born of God. Every person that loves the Father must also love the Son, and
everyone who loves the Son must also love the Father. The Father and Son are
one. We know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His
commands. And His commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:1-3).
1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is
born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Whatsoever is born of God, and whomever is
born of God, overcomes the world. The victory that we have is that our faith
has overcome the world. You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God to
overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5).
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the
world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit because
He is the Spirit of Truth. There are three that bear record in Heaven: the
Father, the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. There are
three that bear witness in earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and
these three agree in one (1 John 5:6-9).
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even
Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit
that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth,
the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of
God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his
Son.
God has given us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son (1 John 5:10-13).
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the
witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he
believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to
us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath
not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that
believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
We can have confidence that if we ask
anything according to God’s will, that He hears us and will grant our petitions
and desires (1 John 5:14-15).
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If any man sees his brother commit sin that
is not unto death, then he shall ask the Lord, and God will give him life. All
unrighteousness is sin, but there is a sin that does lead to death. Whoever is
born of God does not continue to sin, because he is begotten of God and the
wicked one (Satan) cannot touch him. The Son of God has come to give us eternal
life. To the babes in Christ, keep yourselves from idols. An idol could be a
person, money or anything that you worship or place before God. The Lord said
to have no other gods before Him. He wants you to put Him first in your life.
He wants you to love Him more than you love your spouse, your parents, your
children or your friends (1 John 5:16-21).
16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is
not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not
unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin
not unto death.
18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth
not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one
toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole
world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and
hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are
in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and
eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.
Amen.
For God so loved this world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God did not send His Son into this world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him would be saved.
The thief (Satan the devil) comes only for to kill, steal and destroy. But Jesus has come to give us life, and life more abundantly, until it overflows.
I urge you to come to the Cross today and receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. He will wash away all your sins and make you as clean and white as fresh snow.
Just pray this prayer and mean it with your heart:
Dear Lord Jesus (if you are not able to call him Lord yet, then just say "Jesus")
I receive You as my Savior and Lord. I give my life over to You. I believe that You died and rose again, and that if I call on the Name of the Lord I shall be saved.
I accept you into my heart right now, and confess that You are Lord and have risen from the dead and forever live to make intercession for me.
Thank You for washing my heart pure and clean and making me whole, and for giving me peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Thank You that now I am a new creature in Christ Jesus. The old has gone and the new has come.
And there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (carnality and sin), but walk after the Spirit. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, I believe you got born again and are now heaven bound and will be with the Lord forever and have eternal life. Your sins are now forgiven. You are accepted in the Beloved.
I would encourage you to find a good Bible based local church to help you grow in your faith, to learn the Word of God, to praise and worship Him, and to have fellowship with the saints.
Serving Christ is the best decision you will ever make.
God bless you!!!
