The Book of 1 John

A  Introduction – Eternal Life (1:1-4)

B  Those who make God a Liar (The emphasis on “walking”) (1:5—2:2)
  • God is made a liar by improper claims regarding one’s walk with Him.

C  The New Commandment – Love (2:3-17)
  • The connection of keeping God’s commands and loving one another.  
  • The affirmation of forgiveness of sins and the promise of overcoming the evil one.

D  Antichrists (2:18-27)
  • Anointing received from the Holy Spirit allows the ability to discern between the truth and the lies.
  • Confession is critical in understanding what it means to be a child of God. 

E  Confidence Before God – Do Not Sin (2:28—3:10)
  • The connection between confidence before God and moral purity.
  • The seed of God remains in the believer

F  Love One Another (3:11-17) Love is expressed in word and in deed.

E’  Confidence Before God – Keep the Commandments  (3:18-24)
  • The connection between confidence before God and moral purity.
  • The Spirit of God remains in the believer

D’  Antichrists and False Prophets (4:1-6)
  • Testing every spirit to see if they are from God or not.
  • Confession is critical in understanding if one is “of the Spirit.”  

C’  God’s Love and Our Loving Response (4:7—5:5)
  • The connection of loving God and loving one another.
  • The affirmation of forgiveness of sins and the promise of our victory that overcomes the world. 

B’  Those who make God a Liar (The emphasis on the “testimony”) (5:6-12)
  • God is made a liar by improper belief to God’s Word. 

A’  Conclusion – Eternal Life (5:13-21)