Imagine a scenario where a group of Christians decided to create a new version of Christianity. Rather than centering their “church” in the life, death, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus Christ, this group claimed to have a special knowledge of Jesus. This special knowledge allowed them to make claims about ethics, relationships, theology, politics, and values that were at odds with the fundamentals of Christian belief and life. This new group had preachers and leaders who asserted the name of Christ to teach a different understanding of Christianity.
In this kind of scenario, the church of Jesus Christ would need to practice discernment: distinguishing between truth and falsehood, sound doctrine, and heresy. The Apostle John writes to a church in just such a circumstance.
He speaks as an elder, and eyewitness to Jesus Christ, and as a shepherd to the community, helping them to sort out trustworthy teaching from new ideas that could lead them astray.
He writes because he loves them and he wants them to experience abundant, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
This summer we will study the book of 1 John in our Sunday morning sermon series. We will see what practices make for good discernment, the reason for confidence in Jesus Christ, and how to avoid becoming confused by those who claim the name of Jesus Christ, but teach deception.
