1 John Outline

I. Prologue: The Reality of the Incarnation (1.1-4)

II. Fellowship: Motivated by God’s Dealings in the Past (1.5–2.17)

A. The Principles of Fellowship: Walking in the Light (1.5-10)

B. The Provision of Fellowship: The Death of Christ (2.1-2)

C. The Imperatives of Fellowship: Obeying God’s Commands (2.3-11)

D. The Prerequisites of Fellowship: The Status of the Believers (2.12-14)

E. The Impulses against Fellowship: Loving the World (2.15-17)

III. False Teachers: Recognition of Deception (2.18-27)

A. First Proof: Their Abandonment (2.18-19)

B. Second Proof: Their Denial that Jesus is the Christ (2.20-23)

C. Third Proof: Our Anointing of the Spirit (2.24-27)

IV. Eschatological Hope: Motivation for Holy Living in the Present (2.28–3.10)

A. Hope Produces Holiness (2.28–3.3)

B. A Proleptic View of Sanctification (3.4-10)

V. Love as Basis for Assurance: Definition and Discernment (3.11-24)

A. Definition (3.11-17)

1. Negatively Stated: The Example of Cain (3.11-15)

2. Positively Stated: The Example of Christ (3.16-17)

B. Discernment: The Witness of the Spirit (3.18-24)

1. The Condemnation by our Hearts (3.18-20)

2. The Confidence we can have before God (3.21-24)

VI. False Teachers: Discernment of False Spirits (4.1-6)

A. Objective Test: Doctrine (4.1-3)

B. Subjective Test: The Witness of the Spirit (4.4-6)

VII. Love: Essential to Sanctification (4.7-21)

A. Love Displayed in the Death of Christ (4.7-12)

B. The Death of Christ Witnessed by the Spirit (4.13-16a)

C. Love Removes Fear (4.16b-18)

D. Divine Love Prompts Brotherly Love (4.19-21)

VIII. Faith: Assurance in our Hearts (5.1-12)

A. Faith and External Evidence: Overcoming (5.1-5)

B. Faith and Internal Assurance: Witness of the Spirit (5.6-12)

IX. The Advocacy of Christ: Basis for Present Confidence before God (5.13-21)

A. The Advocacy of Christ (5.13-17)

B. Summary: Assurances Restated (5.18-21)