Overview:
Selections from 1 John
When the apostle John finally sat down to gather his thoughts and express his convictions on parchment, he was an old man. So much had changed since he had walked with Jesus as one of the original Twelve. Those simple yet powerful three-plus years John spent with Jesus were followed by six long and painful decades. Erosion had set into the life of the church. The newness of fresh faith had begun to wane, now that the church was in the hands of second- and third-generation Christians. A subtle, lethargic boredom had replaced the excitement modeled by those early followers of Jesus. The first thrill was over . . . the hot flame of devotion reduced to a flicker. In a setting like that, the subtle seeds of heresy are easily sown and quickly grown. Cults feed off complacent churches, where dynamic enthusiasm is replaced by ho-hum indifference. Tragically, that is exactly what was happening to the church in John’s day—and that is precisely what led him to write this letter. He hoped to revive his younger readers to return to an authentic, contagious walk with Christ. His message was relevant then and remains vital today. Let’s hear it and heed it!
Message Summary:
Message Key Facts:
- The Author’s Profile: Swindoll corrects the artistic misconception of John as effeminate. He was a fisherman and business owner who Jesus nicknamed Boanerges ("Sons of Thunder") because of his violent temper. By the time he wrote this letter, he was approximately 90 years old, having outlived all other apostles.
- The Four Purposes of 1 John: Swindoll identifies four distinct reasons John wrote the letter, explicitly stated in the text:
- Fullness of Joy: Fellowship with God results in an overflowing joy (1 John 1:4).
- Victory over Sin: Writing so believers "may not sin," while presenting Jesus as the defense attorney (Advocate) when they do fail (1 John 2:1) [25–26].
- Discernment: Warning believers about those trying to deceive them (1 John 2:26).
- Assurance: Writing to those who believe so they may know they have eternal life (1 John 5:13).
- The "Thief" Illustration: To explain deception, Swindoll notes that a thief does not arrive at noon wearing a chartreuse suit and ringing a bell. Like heresy, a thief comes when least suspected, often disguised, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment.
- Six Benefits of Truth: Swindoll lists six practical benefits of knowing biblical truth:
- It gives stability to your faith.
- It strengthens you through times of testing.
- It enables you to handle the Bible accurately.
- It equips you to detect and confront error.
- It allows you to live with confidence.
- It releases you from fears and superstition (e.g., fear of black cats or ladders) [30–31].
- The "Selah" Principle: Swindoll references a mentor from his Marine Corps days who taught him that when reading the Psalms, the word Selah means to "pause and let that sink in".
- Religious Syncretism: Swindoll illustrates modern confusion with a story of a woman on a plane wearing a cross, a Star of David, and a Hindu symbol, believing that spirituality is preferable to specific beliefs. He contrasts this with Jesus’ exclusive claim to be the only way to the Father [36–37].
Message References:
- 1 John 1:1–4: The prologue describing the "Word of Life" and the purpose of writing: "so that our joy may be made complete".
- 1 John 2:1–2: The purpose regarding sin: "I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin," and the presentation of Jesus as the Advocate.
- 1 John 2:26: The warning regarding false teachers: "These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you".
- 1 John 5:13: The assurance of salvation: "These things I have written to you who believe... so that you may know that you have eternal life".
- Mark 3:17: The appointment of the twelve, where James and John are named "Boanerges," which means "Sons of Thunder".
- 1 John 4:1: The command to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
