FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD JOHN
THE LEGACY BIBLE OUTLINE SERIES
8 Harvestime International Institute
THE LEGACY BIBLE OUTLINE SERIES
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For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line…
(Isaiah 28:10, KJV)
...His word burns in my heart like a fire. It's like a fire in my bones!...
(Jeremiah 20:9, NLT)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Number
Introduction To The Book Of First John3
Outline Of The Book Of First John
First John 14
First John 26
First John 311
First John 415
First John 518
Introduction To The Book Of Second John22
Outline Of The Book Of Second John
Second John 123
Introduction To The Book Of Third John26
Outline Of The Book Of Third John
Third John 127
Supplemental Studies30
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF
FIRST JOHN
AUTHOR: John.
TO WHOM: Believers who were falling into Satanic deception which was affecting their fellowship with God and fellow-believers. As with all of the epistles, this book is also applicable to all believers.
PURPOSES: To explain standards of proper conduct and fellowship of true believers and warn against deception. See 1 John 1:4; 2:1; and 5:13 for statements of purpose.
KEY VERSES: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLES: True fellowship with God and fellow believers is based on the standards of God's Word and maintained by confession of sin.
MAIN CHARACTERS: The author, John. An Old Testament reference is made to Cain.
A BRIEF OUTLINE:
Chapters l-2:2 God is light.
Chapters 2:3-5:3God is love.
Chapter 5:4-21God is life.
QUESTIONS ON THE INTRODUCTION:
1.Who wrote this book?
2.To whom is this book written?
3.What are the purposes of the book according to 1 John 1:4; 2:1; and 5:13?
4.What are the key verses?
5.What are the life and ministry principles of the book?
6.Who are the main characters?
7.Give a brief outline of the book.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF
FIRST JOHN
John 1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 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.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 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.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Outline 1:
I.John is writing about that which: (1)
A.Was from the beginning.
B.He had heard about.
C.He had seen.
D.He had looked upon (gazed intently upon).
E.His hands had handled (Luke 24:39-40).
(John's report is not a second-hand account. It was something he experienced.)
II.He is writing about the Word of life. (2)
A.The life was manifested.
B.We have seen it.
C.We bear witness of it.
D.We show unto you that eternal life:
1.Which was with the Father.
2.Which was manifested unto us.
III.The purpose of his writing. That which we have seen and heard, we declare unto you. (3-4)
A.That you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. (Fellowship is sharing a common life based upon shared beliefs.)
B.And these things we write unto you, that your joy may be full.
IV.The message. This then is the message which we have heard of Him and declare unto you. (5-10)
A.God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
1.If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.
2.But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light:
a.We have fellowship one with another.
b.The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.
(Fellowship with others is a result of fellowship with God.)
B.If we say that we have no sin:
1.We deceive ourselves.
2.The truth is not in us.
3.We make Him a liar.
4.His Word is not in us.
C.If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Confess means to say the same thing as God says. Confess the sins you know about, and He not only cleanses you of those but of all unrighteousness also.)
Study questions on chapter 1:
1.According to verse 1, what is the subject for this epistle?
2.How does verse 1 confirm this is an eyewitness account?
3.What was manifested unto whom by whom? (2)
4.According to verse 3, what is John declaring and why is he declaring it?
5.In whom do believers have fellowship? (3)
6.What is another reason for John's epistle, according to verse 4?
7.Summarize the message John heard and is declaring. (5-10)
8.Who is the light of which John speaks? (5)
9.What is the result of saying we have fellowship with God while still walking in darkness? (6)
10.What enables us to have fellowship with one another? (7)
11.What cleanses us from all sin? (7)
12.Contrast what you learn about spiritual light and darkness in verses 5-7.
13.Study more on spiritual darkness. It means:
-Being ignorant of God: Romans 1:21
-Doing evil deeds: John 3:19-21
-Living in hatred: 1 John 2:11
-Having an evil nature: Ephesians 5:8
-Being under Satan's influence: Acts 26:18
-Living an unfruitful life: Ephesians 5:11
-Evil spiritual powers: Ephesians 6:12
-The place of eternal punishment: Ephesians 6:12
14.Note the parallels between natural and spiritual light: Light reveals, reflects, guides, eliminates darkness, warms, purifies, and heals (lazar light).
15.What is the result of saying we have no sin? (8 and 10)
16.What is the result of confessing our sins? (9)
17.Study the "if we say" statements in verses 6-10 and summarize what you learn.
18.What did you learn in this chapter to apply to your life and ministry?
1 John 2
1 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:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 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.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 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.
28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Outline 2:
(John addresses various levels of spiritual maturity in this chapter: Children, young men, and fathers refer to new believers, young believers, and spiritually mature believers.)
I.My little children, these things I write unto you, so that you do not sin. (1-2)
A.And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ("Advocate" is a legal term that means representation in a legal matter.)
B.He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. ("Propitiation", as used here, refers to Christ's atonement for our sins.)
II.Hereby we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (3-6)
A.He that says, "I know Him", and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.
B.But whoever keeps His Word can know:
1.That the love of God is perfected in him.
2.That they are in Him.
C.He that says he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.
III.Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you. (7)
A.It is an old commandment which you had from the beginning.
B.The old commandment is the Word which you have heard from the beginning.
(It is an old commandment, but it is also new in that it was revealed and fulfilled in Jesus.)
IV.Brethren, a new commandment I write unto you. (8-11)
A.Which thing is true in Him and in you:
1.Because the darkness is past.
2.Because the true light now shines.
B.He that says he is in the light and hates his brother (a fellow-believer) is in darkness even until now.
C.He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.
D.But he that hates his brother:
1.Is in darkness.
2.Walks in darkness.
3.Does not know where he goes because that darkness has blinded his eyes.
V.Special admonitions to believers. (12-14)
A.To new believers. I write unto you, little children:
1.Because your sins are forgiven for His name's sake.
2.Because you have known the Father.
B.To mature believers. I write unto you, fathers because you have known Him that is from the beginning.
C.To young believers. I write unto you, young men:
1.Because you have overcome the wicked one.
2.Because you are strong.
3.Because the Word of God abides in you.
VI.Love of the world. (15-17)
A.Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. (This does not mean we should not love God's creation and the people of the world. It means we should not love the world system, its values, and philosophies.)
B.If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
C.All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (self-sufficient independence from God; the lust of the eyes (sinful desires motivated by visible splendor of worldly things); and the pride of life (one who boasts in what he is and what he possesses), is not of the Father, but is of the world. (Study the temptation of Eve in Genesis chapter 3 and of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11. These are the major appeals of the enemy in both examples.)
D.The world passes away, and the lust thereof.
E.But he that does the will of God abides forever.
VII.A warning about the antichrist. (18)
A.Little children, it is the last time and, as you have heard, the antichrist shall come.
B.Even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
(See also 1 Timothy 4. The last time refers to a period of time in God's timeline.)
VIII.An explanation regarding professing believers who depart from the faith. (19)
A.They went out from us, but they were not of us.
B.If they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us.
C.But they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
(The fact that these people departed from the faith revealed they were not sincere in their commitment.)
IX.Truth vs. error. (20-26)
A.You have an unction (anointing) from the Holy One, and you know all things.
B.I have not written unto you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it and that no lie is of the truth.