Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
1 John
The Book of 1 John is written to strengthen assurance, protect truth, and define what genuine Christian faith looks like in daily life. Authored by John the Apostle, the letter addresses believers facing confusion caused by false teachers who distorted the nature of Christ and minimized the seriousness of sin.
From the opening verses, John emphasizes the reality of Jesus Christ—fully divine and fully human. He insists that the gospel is not abstract philosophy, but lived experience rooted in historical truth. Any teaching that denies Christ’s incarnation or separates belief from obedience is firmly rejected.
A central theme of 1 John is assurance. John repeatedly states that believers may know they have eternal life. This assurance is not based on emotion or perfection, but on evidence—right belief about Christ, obedience to God’s commands, and love for one another. Faith is revealed through transformation, not mere profession.
The letter speaks plainly about sin. John rejects both denial of sin and hopelessness in the face of it. Believers are called to walk in the light, confess sin honestly, and trust in Christ’s ongoing work as advocate and atoning sacrifice. Grace does not excuse sin; it restores relationship.
Love is the book’s defining hallmark. God’s nature is described simply and powerfully: God is love. Those who know God reflect His love through sacrificial care for others. Love is not optional or theoretical—it is the visible evidence of new life in Christ.
1 John also addresses discernment. Believers are warned to test spiritual claims and teachings, recognizing that not every voice speaks from God. Truth matters, and love must be grounded in truth rather than sentiment.
The book concludes with confidence. John writes so believers may stand firm against deception, remain in fellowship with God, and rest in the certainty of eternal life. Obedience, love, and truth are not burdens, but signs of authentic faith.
The Book of 1 John offers clarity in confusing times. It reassures believers that genuine faith produces real change, and that life with God is marked by truth, love, and confident hope.
1 John 3:8
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.
1 John 3:9
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.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:13
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16
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. Reflection This verse gathers the heart of Christian faith into a single confession. Writing with pastoral clarity, John the Apostle does not argue for God’s love—he […]
1 John 4:17
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.
1 John 4:18
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.
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:20
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?
1 John 4:21
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 4:3
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.
1 John 4:4
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.
1 John 4:5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1 John 4:6
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.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:9
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.
1 John 5:1
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.
1 John 5:10
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.
1 John 5:11
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13
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.
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: