1 John

John declares that he and other apostles have witnessed the Gospel firsthand and now share it so believers can have fellowship with God and each other[1]. The central message is that God is light with no darkness, and believers must walk in the light; if they confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive them through Jesus' blood[3][4].

John urges believers not to sin, presenting Ιησους Χριστος the righteous as their parakletos (advocate) with the Father and propitiation for sins of the whole world. He teaches that true knowledge of God is shown by keeping his commandments, loving brothers to abide in light, warns against loving the world or antichrists, and encourages fathers, young men, and children in faith.

1 John 3 emphasizes believers as children of God through the Father's love, the hope of being like Christ at his appearing which purifies them, defines sin as lawlessness, states Christ appeared to take away sins, distinguishes children of God from the devil by righteous living and brotherly love rather than habitual sin, and urges love in deed and truth with confidence before God.[1][2][6]

Believers must test the spirits to discern false prophets, recognizing those from God by their confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, while the spirit of the antichrist denies this; believers overcome because He in them is greater than he in the world.[1][2] God is love, demonstrated by sending His Son as propitiation; perfect love casts out fear, and loving God requires loving one's brother.[1][3]

John teaches that believers born of God overcome the world through faith in Jesus as the Son of God, and that God has given us eternal life through His Son.[1][3] The chapter emphasizes God's threefold testimony to Jesus through the Spirit, water, and blood, assures believers of eternal life and the ability to know they possess it, and encourages confident prayer according to God's will.[1][3]