1 John Themes
Themes of 1 John: Living Out the Truth
The First Epistle of John holds a unique place in the New Testament, offering deep insights into Christian life and the way believers should reflect God’s character in the world. In this letter, John invites us to consider not just the doctrinal truths of the faith, but how these truths should shape our everyday lives.
These themes speak to our identity as God’s children and our calling to live out God’s love.
1. God is Light and Love
John begins by vividly describing God’s nature. In the opening verses of the letter, he tells us that “God is light” (1 John 1:5). This isn’t just about the physical light we see but also about God's spiritual and moral purity. Light represents truth, righteousness, and holiness. This image connects us to the Gospel of John, where Jesus is also described as the Light of the world (John 8:12).
For John, living in the light means walking in truth, confessing our sins, and having fellowship with God. It’s not about perfection, but about honesty before God.
John also boldly declares that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). This is a profound statement that captures the heart of God’s interaction with humanity. Love isn’t just something God does; it’s who God is. God’s love is sacrificial, as seen in Jesus’ life and death (1 John 4:10). This love is meant to be reflected in the lives of believers. As we experience God’s love, we are called to love others—particularly fellow believers.
2. The Call to Fellowship and Obedience
A major theme throughout the letter is the relationship between fellowship with God and obedience to God’s commands. John doesn’t just want us to know about God; he wants us to experience true fellowship with God. Fellowship, in this sense, means an intimate, active relationship where we share in God’s life and presence. This fellowship is only possible when we walk in the light (1 John 1:7), meaning that our lives should reflect God’s holiness.
John also emphasizes that love for God is inseparable from obedience to God’s commands. To say we know God is to live according to God’s will (1 John 2:3-6). This is where the rubber meets the road in the Christian life. Obedience isn’t about legalistic rule-keeping but about a relationship with God that leads us to live in honorable ways. Loving God and loving others are two sides of the same coin. Jesus said that we are the light that shines in the world that causes people to praise God in heaven. Obedience is not just about us, it’s about showing the world how good God’s ways are.
3. The Centrality of Jesus Christ
The identity and work of Jesus Christ are at the heart of 1 John. John writes about the Word of life—Jesus Christ—whom he had seen and touched (1 John 1:1-3). This is a direct connection to the Gospel of John, where Jesus is introduced as the eternal Word (John 1:1). For John, Jesus’ humanity is essential to the Christian faith. Jesus is not just a spiritual figure or a divine being who appeared to be human—he is fully God and fully man, who came to bring eternal life.
Jesus’ work, specifically his death on the cross, is central to the letter. John reminds us that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2), meaning that we know God is at peace with us and God relates to us with mercy and grace. This truth is foundational for our understanding of salvation. Without Jesus’ work on the cross, there would be no way for us to stand in fellowship with God.
4. Love One Another: The Christian Life in Action
John’s command to “love one another” is repeated multiple times in the letter (1 John 3:11, 4:7-8, 4:21). Love is not optional for Christians; it is the defining characteristic of our new life in Christ. This love isn’t just an emotional feeling but a call to action. We are called to love others sacrificially, just as Christ loved us. In 1 John 3:16, John reminds us that Jesus laid down his life for us, and we are to lay down our lives for one another.
This love extends beyond just those who are easy to love. We are called to love even those who may not deserve it by our human standards. It’s a love that forgives, serves, and reflects the love God has shown us. This love is how the world will know we are Christ’s disciples (John 13:35).
5. Sin and Righteousness: The Tension of the Christian Life
While John makes it clear that believers are called to live righteously, he is also realistic about sin’s presence in the world. John acknowledges that even believers still struggle with sin. However, he doesn’t give us an excuse to remain in it. In 1 John 1:8-10, he writes that if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves. The goal is not sinless perfection but living a life that reflects Christ’s righteousness.
I love the words in our Reformed baptismal liturgy: through baptism Christ calls us to a new obedience: to love and trust God completely; to forsake the evil of the world; and to live and new and holy life. YET, when we fall into sin, we must not despair of God’s mercy, nor continue in sin, for baptism is the sign and seal of God’s eternal covenant of grace with us (Worship the Lord: Th Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America, page 24).
John encourages believers to confess their sins and rely on Jesus, who is faithful and just to forgive them (1 John 1:9). He also emphasizes that true believers are those who do not habitually practice sin but strive to live in a way that honors God (1 John 3:6-9). This tension between living in the world yet striving to live out righteousness is central to the Christian experience.
6. Assurance and Confidence in Christ
One of the pastoral purposes of 1 John is to provide assurance to believers. John wants Christians to know they are secure in Christ and to live with confidence before God. In 1 John 5:13, he writes, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Assurance is crucial for living a vibrant Christian life, and John offers it through the confidence we have in Jesus Christ.
This assurance comes not from our own perfection or ability to keep God’s commands but from the work of Christ and the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (1 John 3:24). We can have confidence that we are God’s children and that nothing can separate us from his love.
Conclusion: Living the Themes of 1 John
As we reflect on the themes of 1 John—God’s light and love, the call to fellowship and obedience, the centrality of Jesus Christ, the command to love one another, and the tension of sin and righteousness—we realize that this epistle speaks to our everyday lives. John’s experienced pastoral perspective is incredibly practical to how we live our lives.
We are to walk in the light, live in love, and pursue righteousness, all the while trusting what God has done' through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. These themes, when woven together, remind us that life is about living the reality of our baptism, a beloved child of God.
