
Radiant Church Visalia
Radiant Church exists to behold Jesus and put his brilliance on display. Radiant Church is a gospel-centered Christian church located in Visalia, California. We think that the best way to put Jesus' brilliance on display is by living obedient to the Word of God, surrendered to the Spirit of God, and devoted to the mission of God. To learn more, visit us at www.radiantvisalia.com
Radiant Church Visalia
An Introduction to First John
•
Travis Aicklen
radiantvisalia.com
An Introduction to First John (1 John 1:1-4)
Scripture References: 1 John 1-4, 1 John 1:4, 1 John 2, 1 John 5:13, John 20:31, Revelation 1-2.
Intro:
- Introduction to 1 John, a book addressing a church in crisis.
- Acknowledge the potential feeling of being overwhelmed in a church setting.
- Announce a Q&A segment to foster understanding.
- Begin with the concept of "buyer's remorse" as an analogy for spiritual regret.
Key Points:
- The Author and Context:
- John the Apostle, the "disciple whom Jesus loved," is the author.
- Written to Gentile believers in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).
- Addresses the threat of Gnosticism, a false teaching.
- The Purpose of 1 John:
- To equip believers to discern true faith from false teaching.
- To combat division and lead the church back to foundational truths.
- To provide tests for believers to examine their own faith.
- The Tests of True Faith:
- Tests of integrity, humility, obedience, love, priorities, perseverance, Christology, sin, authority, and the Spirit.
- Emphasis on self-examination rather than judging others.
- The importance of understanding God's character before applying principles to life.
- Key Themes:
- God's nature as love (1 John 4:8).
- The importance of "knowing" God (gnosis vs. true knowledge).
- The reality of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
- The pursuit of joy, holiness, and confidence (1 John 1:4, 1 John 5:13).
- John’s Goals:
- Complete Joy.
- Holy living.
- Confidence in eternal life.
Conclusion:
- 1 John is a challenging but vital book for understanding genuine faith.
- It serves as a mirror for self-reflection and a guide for navigating spiritual confusion.
- The goal is to cultivate a church marked by joy, holiness, and confidence.
Call to Action:
- Approach 1 John with a willingness to self-examine.
- Seek to understand God's character and love.
- Pursue joy, holiness, and confidence through a deeper relationship with God.
- Share your needs with others in the church community.
*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
Please notify us if you find any errors.