October 2, 2022
Passage:  1^st John 1:1-4
Speaker:  Pastor Josh Holland
Main Point:  We should rejoice knowing Jesus lived and died and rose again.

I. 1^st John is a personal appeal for a firm confidence in Jesus.
         A. The author is John the Apostle, who wrote the 4^th Gospel.
         B. John defends the church family against Gnostic heresies.
                  1.  They claimed special knowledge from God.
                  2.  They denied Jesus was fully God and fully man.
                  3.  They denied the resurrection of the physical body.

II. What I believe about Jesus matters.
         A. The subject of John’s book is the original message about Jesus.
         B. All I need for salvation through Jesus is revealed in Scripture.
         C. Jesus is eternal, physical, risen and near the Father.

III. Believing in the real Jesus results in real change.
         A. The truth unites us with one another and with God.  (v.2)
         B. The real life of Jesus results in real joy.  (v.3; Psalm. 16:11; John 15:11)
         C. I can experience new life free from sin.  (2:1)
         D. Studying the Bible protects me from deception.  (2:26)
         E. I can experience the peace of knowing I am saved.  (5:13)


Additional Thought:

How do I identify a false teacher:
1.  What do they say about Jesus?  Do they deny or add to scripture?
2.  Do they preach the gospel?
3.  Does their character glorify Christ?