Key verse: 1 John 2:6 “The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. (HCSB)

Introduction

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope for a fallen world and the Christian is the primary tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel. 1 John 2:1-6

Background

The purpose of this book is to address some serious doctrinal heresies which caused some division in the church.

The belief system being promoted at that time was Gnosticism. This belief system is centered on the idea that two equal forces existed in the world, one good, one bad. The good was attributed to the spiritual while the bad was attributed to the physical.

John’s Approach to the Problem

Provide a contrast between believers and unbelievers to assure those who claim to be in Christ.

1. Obedience

a. Ecclesiastes 5:1 “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong.”

b. 1 Samuel 15:22 “Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of the rams.”

c. Mathew 5:23-24 “So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

2. Love (greatest commandment)

a. John 15:12 “This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.”

b. 1 John 3:10-12“This is how God’s children-and the Devil’s children-are made evident. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother, and why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brothers were righteous,”

c. John 13:34-35 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

3. Abide (remain) “meño”

a. John 15:4-6 “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

b. Romans 11:22-23 “Therefore, consider God’s kindness and severity: severity toward those who have fallen but God’s kindness toward you-if you remain in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23And even they, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, because God has the power to graft them in again.”

Conclusion

If the world is to respond to God’s plan of salvation, the Gospel must be lived not just preached!

Romans 2:4 “Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”