Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study

The Book of 1 John
 


This letter was written by John.  It is not clear to whom he was writing, but it was probably one of the churches near Ephesus. John was the only one of the original apostles who was not killed for his faith.

John spent his later years in the city of Ephesus. He probably wrote this letter from there.  He wrote this letter to correct wrong teachings.

John was an evangelist.  Later, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There, he wrote the book of Revelation.
 

Main points of 1 John.

God is light.
Jesus takes away our sins.
Jesus intercedes for us with God.
We should not follow the world.
Christians have the Holy Spirit in them.
We are children of God.
Christians should love each other.
God is love.
We love because God loved us first.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 John 1

The Word of Life (Jesus) has existed since the beginning. We have heard Him. We have seen Him with our eyes. We have looked at Him. We have touched Him.
1
] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

The Life was manifested. He became human. We have seen Him. We can witness and show you about living forever. He lived with the Father God and then came to us.
[2] (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

We have told you what we have seen and heard. So, you can share with us. We can all fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
[3] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We write these things to you so that you will feel joyful.
[4] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

This is what we are telling you. God is light.  There is no darkness in Him at all.

[5] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say we follow Jesus, but we don't obey Him, we are just lying.

[6] If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

If we obey Him and walk in the light, we can share with each other.  The blood of Jesus has cleaned us all from sin.
[7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we do not sin. we are only fooling ourselves. We do not have truth. If we say we sin, He is faithful and will forgive our sins.  He will make us clean and righteous. If we say we have not sinned, we are making God a liar, and His word is not in us.   
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
 


1 John 2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you don't sin.  If anyone sins, Jesus Christ is our advocate with our Father. Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins. He was the sacrifice for the sins of everyone in the whole world.
[1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
[2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
 

This is how we know that we know Jesus:  we obey His laws.
[3] And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

If someone says they know Jesus, but they don't obey His laws, that person is a liar. He does not tell the truth.
[4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

If someone keeps God's laws, they love God. They share in God's love.
[5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Anyone who says they belong to God should behave the way that Jesus did.

[6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Brothers, I am not writing you a new commandment.  It is an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. But it is really new because now you know Jesus. The darkness is gone, and the true light shines.
[7] Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
[8] Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

A person might say he is in the light, but he hates his brother. He is really in the dark.

[9] He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

A person who loves his brother lives in the light. He doesn't sin. But a person who hates his brother lives in the dark. He walks in the dark and doesn't know where he's going. The darkness makes him blind.
[10] He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
[11] But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Little children, I am writing you because your sins are forgiven
[12] I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Fathers, I am writing you because you know Jesus. He has been alive since the beginning.
Young men, I am writing to you because you are strong. God's words lives in you. You have defeated the Devil.
Little children, I am writing to you because you know the Father.

[13] I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

I have written to you, Fathers, because you have known Jesus. He has been alive since the beginning.
I have written to you, young men, because you are strong. The word of God lives in you. You have defeated the Devil

[14] I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.


Don't love the world, and don't love the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, God's love is not in him.

[15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

The things that are in the world are not of God. Things like sexual sins and too much pride are the world, not God.
[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The things in the world will pass away. But the people who do God's will will live forever.
[17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Little children, it is the last time. You have heard that the antichirst will come. Now, there are many antichrists. That is how we know it is the last time.

[18] Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.


These people were once in our group, but they were not really sincere. If they had been sincere, they would have stayed with us. But they left. They left to show that they were not really part of us.

[19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

You have been anointed by the Holy One. You know all things.
[20] But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

I have not written you because you don't know the truth. I write you because you know the truth. It does not lie.
[21] I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a liar. If he denies the Father and the Son, he is against Christ.

[22] Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

If someone denies the Son, he does not have the Father. But the person who knows the Son also has the Father.

[23] Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Continue to remember what you heard from the beginning.  If you continue to believe, you continue in the Son and Father.
[24] Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

He has promised us to live forever.

[25] And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

There are people trying to trick you. But God's anointing is in you. It is true.  It is not a lie. You should continue to believe in Christ.

[26] These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
[27] But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Now, little children. Stay with Christ.When He comes back, we will be confident.  If you know that He is good, you know that everyone who does good believes in Him.

[28] And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
[29] If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
 

 


1 John 3

The Father loves us so much that we are called His sons.  The world doesn't know us because the world didn't know Him.
[1] Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Loved ones, now we are God's sons.  We don't know yet what we will look like in the future.  But we know that when He appears again, we will be like Him. We will see Him as He truly is.
[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.


Everyone who hopes in Christ makes himself clean like Christ is clean.
[3] And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Sinning is breaking the law.  Anyone who sins breaks the law.

[4] Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Christ became a man to take away our sins. He has no sins.

[5] And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Sinners don't know Jesus. But believers in Jesus do not continue to sin.

[6] Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Little children, don't let anyone trick you.  The person who does good things is good just like Jesus is good.

[7] Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

The person who sins belongs to the devil  The devil has been sinning since the beginning of time.  That is why Jesus came to earth. He came to destroy the devil's work.

[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.

The person who is a child of God does not sin.  God's lives in him.  He is God's child, and he cannot sin.

[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.

This is how we know who belongs to God and who belongs to the devil. The people who do bad things are not God's children.  The person who loves his brother belongs to God.

[10] In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

You have heard this from the beginning -- we should love one another.
[11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

We should not be like Cain. He belonged to the devil. He killed his brother. He killed him because the things he did were evil, but the things his brother did were good.
[12] Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

My brothers, don't be surprised if the world hates you.
[13] Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

We know we will live forever because we love our  brothers. The people who don't love their brothers will die.

[14] We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

If a person hates another person, it is the same as being a murdurer. You know that no murdurer can live forever.
[15] Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Here is how we know about the love of God: He died for us. We should die for other people.
[16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

A person might be rich. If he sees someone who needs help but he doesn't help him, how does God's love live in him?

[17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, we should not just say good words. We should do good things and be honest.

[18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

We know the truth about God.  Our hearts feel this.  If our hearts make us feel that we are wrong, God knows everything.  He is greater than our feelings.
[19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
[20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Beloved children, if our hearts do not feel we are wrong, we are confident for God.

[21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

He will give us whatever we ask of Him because we obey Him and do things that he is happy about.

[22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

This is His commandment:  we should believe in God's Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love other people.

[23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

The people who obey God's commandents live in Him, and God lives in them.  We know He lives in us because He gave us the Holy Spirit.

[24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
 

 

1 John 4

Loved ones, don't believe everyone who says they are of God. There are many people who lie. They are false prophets.  This is how you know if someone has the Spirit of God: they are true if they say that Jesus Christ had a true human body. Anyone who doesn't say that is not from God. Those people have Satan's spirit. You have heard that Satan's spirit would come, and it already is here.
[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.
[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
[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.


You are part of God, little children.  You have defeated the evil spirits. God's spirit in you is stronger that Satan's spirits that are in the world.

[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.

Satan's spirits are part of the world. That's why they talk about worldly things, and the world hears them.

[5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

We are God's people.  Other people who know God will listen to us.  People who don't know God won't listen to us.  This is how we know what is true and what is not true.

[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.

Loved ones, we need to love each other. Love comes from God. Everyone who loves is from God and knows God. The person who does not love does not know God. God is love.

[7] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

This is how God's love is shown to us. God sent His only Son into the worl so that we can live through Him.

[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.

Here is love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us.  He sent His Son to take the punishment for our sins.  Loved ones, if God loved us like that, we should also love one another.

[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.
[11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No one has ever seen God.  If we love one another, God lives in us. His love becomes perfect in us.  

[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.

You can know that we live in Him and He lives in us. We know that because He has given us His Spirit.

[13] Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

We have seen, and we tell others that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

[14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

If God lives in someone and that person lives in God, he will say that Jesus is the Son of God
[15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

We have known and believed in God's love for us.  The person who loves lives in God, and God lives in him.

[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.

If we love like God loves, we will be bold on Judgment Day.

[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.

Love does not make fear. Perfect love throws off fear.  Fear torments us. That shows we are not yet perfect in love.  We love God, because God first loved us.

[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.
[19] We love him, because he first loved us.

If a person says he loves God but he hates his brother, he is a liar.   If he hates his brother whom he has seen in person, how can he love God whom he has not seen in person?

[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?

And this is a commandment from God:  the person who loves God also loves his brother.

[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
 

1 John 5

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. If we love God, we will also love God's children.
[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.

This is how we know that we love God's children - we obey God's commandments. We show our love by obeying God's commandments. His commandments are not hard to follow.

[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Whoever is God's child overcomes the world. Our faith gives us victory over trouble in the world.

[4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

No one can defeat the world unless he believe that Jesus is God's son.

[5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Jesus Christ came to us by water and blood.  The Holy Spirit tells us the truth.

[6] This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

There are 3 in heaven - the Father, the Word (Son), and the Holy Spirit. These 3 are 1.
[7] For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.


There are 3 that tell us this on earth - the spirit, the water, and the blood.  These 3 agree in 1.

[8] And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

The things that God tells us are greater than the things that men tell us.  God told us this through His Son.

[9] If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

The person who believes in God's Son has the truth.  The person who does not believe in God's son is a liar. He doesnt't believe what Jesus said.

[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.

God has given us eternal life in His Son. The people who have the Son will have life.  The people who do not have the Son will not have life.
[11] And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
[12] He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

I have written these things to you who are believers. I write them so that you will live forever. I write them so you will believe in the Son of God.

[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.

We can be confident in this -- if we ask anything that is in His will, He will hear us. Since we know that He hears us, we know He will give us what we ask.

[14] And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
[15] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

A man might see someone else sin, but the sin does not lead to death.  He can ask God to give that person life.  There is sin that leads to death. I am not saying to pray for that sin.

[16] If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

Everything that is not good is sin. Every sin does not lead to death.

[17] All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

People who are born again in God do not sin. Jesus keeps them safe and doesn't let Satan touch them.

[18] We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

We know we are children of God.  The whole world is in wickedness.

[19] And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

We know that God's Son has come. He has made us understand so we know Him.  He is true. If we are in Him, we are true in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God. This is life forever.

[20] And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Little children, keep away from idols.  Amen.

[21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.




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