There are many false teachers today vehemently claiming that the first epistle of John was written either to Gnostics or to unbelievers, and therefore Christians may disregard the instructions given therein, particularly as regards sin in the believer’s life.
But an honest reading of this epistle with the help of the Holy Spirit will tell any discerning Christian that this epistle was written to believers, not unbelievers or heretics. Indeed none of the epistles are written to anyone other than believers.
1. Can unbelievers have fellowship with believers or with God? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John says that he has written this epistle so that we can have fellowship with him, and that our fellowship is with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (not mentioned but understood):
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... If we say that we have fellowship with him [God], and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. (1 Jn 1:3,6,7).
2. Can unbelievers have the fullness of the joy of the Lord? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John says that he has written this so that our joy may be full.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 Jn 1:4)
3. Are unbelievers ever called “little children”? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John addresses his readers as his little children, speaking on behalf of God and himself.
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. (1 Jn 2:1)
4. Does the apostle contrast believers (to whom he is writing) with the world of unbelievers? Absolutely
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 Jn 2:2)
5. Do the apostles always address believers as brethren? Absolutely
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. (1 Jn 2:7)
6. Can unbelievers have an “unction” (anointing) from the Holy Spirit? Absolutely not.
Yet John says that his readers have an unction from “the Holy One”.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things... 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.(1 Jn 2:20,27)
7. Are unbelievers ever called “sons of God”? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John addressed his reader as “sons of God” (including himself).
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. (1 Jn 3:1)
8. Does the world hate believers or unbelievers? Believers
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.(1 Jn 3:13)
9. Do unbelievers lay down their lives for Christian brethren? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John says that we ought to lay our lives down for the brethren.
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. (1 Jn 3:16)
10. Does the Holy Spirit indwell unbelievers? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John tells his readers that the indwelling Holy Spirit within them is greater than Satan (the one who is in the world).
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 Jn 4:4).
But an honest reading of this epistle with the help of the Holy Spirit will tell any discerning Christian that this epistle was written to believers, not unbelievers or heretics. Indeed none of the epistles are written to anyone other than believers.
1. Can unbelievers have fellowship with believers or with God? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John says that he has written this epistle so that we can have fellowship with him, and that our fellowship is with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (not mentioned but understood):
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... If we say that we have fellowship with him [God], and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. (1 Jn 1:3,6,7).
2. Can unbelievers have the fullness of the joy of the Lord? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John says that he has written this so that our joy may be full.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 Jn 1:4)
3. Are unbelievers ever called “little children”? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John addresses his readers as his little children, speaking on behalf of God and himself.
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. (1 Jn 2:1)
4. Does the apostle contrast believers (to whom he is writing) with the world of unbelievers? Absolutely
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 Jn 2:2)
5. Do the apostles always address believers as brethren? Absolutely
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. (1 Jn 2:7)
6. Can unbelievers have an “unction” (anointing) from the Holy Spirit? Absolutely not.
Yet John says that his readers have an unction from “the Holy One”.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things... 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.(1 Jn 2:20,27)
7. Are unbelievers ever called “sons of God”? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John addressed his reader as “sons of God” (including himself).
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. (1 Jn 3:1)
8. Does the world hate believers or unbelievers? Believers
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.(1 Jn 3:13)
9. Do unbelievers lay down their lives for Christian brethren? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John says that we ought to lay our lives down for the brethren.
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. (1 Jn 3:16)
10. Does the Holy Spirit indwell unbelievers? Absolutely not.
Yet the apostle John tells his readers that the indwelling Holy Spirit within them is greater than Satan (the one who is in the world).
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 Jn 4:4).
