Our first lesson focussed on the fact that "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" (1Jn 4:1-3). In this second lesson, we look at John's view of Jesus in a more general way.

John's view of Jesus Christ "is true" because Jesus Christ was manifested to him in two very special ways:

Let us consider the various facts about Jesus to which John draws attention in his letter:

1. The eternal nature of Jesus Christ

John claims that Jesus was "from the beginning" and he was "that eternal life which was with the Father" (1Jn 1:1-2). In his gospel account John states this more strongly: "In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made" (Jhn 1:1-3).

2. Eternal life is in Jesus Christ

John says, "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life" (1Jn 5:11-12).

3. Jesus Christ is truly human

John uses a careful form of words, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son" (1Jn 1:7). This form of words acknowledges that THE MAN JESUS was not separate from CHRIST GOD'S SON. The essential confession, "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" is a similar form of words. Christ God's Son was Jesus the man of flesh who shed his blood.

4. Jesus is the son of God

When John speaks of fellowship "with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1Jn 1:3), he acknowledges Jesus as the Son of God. He twice uses the exact title "the Son of God" when he tells us that we must believe and confess Jesus to be such (1Jn 4:15 and 5:5).

5. Jesus is truly God

John finishes his letter with an extremely strong and clear statement: "and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life" (1Jn 5:20).

6. Jesus is the Christ

There are three confessions in First John:

NOTE In his second letter, John uses a full title for Jesus: "The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Father" (2Jn 1:3). Incidentally, the word "Christ" (Greek kristos) means the Anointed or the Messiah.

7. Jesus is our Advocate

"We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1Jn 2:1). An advocate, intercessor, or paraclete [Greek parakleetos] is a helper called alongside. His role is to stand up for you when you are required to account for yourself under charge of wrongdoing, or speak for you when you are making a plea to someone in authority.

NOTE The Holy Spirit is "another helper" [parakleetos] according to Jhn 14:16 (cf Rom 8:26,34).

8. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins

John makes a number of statements about the sacrifice of Christ:

The word "propitiation" (1Jn 4:10) means that which, through the love of God, makes atonement to appease the wrath of God.

9. Jesus committed no sin

John calls him "Jesus Christ the righteous" (1Jn 2:1). John later says, "He was manifested to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin" (1Jn 3:5).

10. Jesus is greater than Satan

John encourages us by pointing out the supremacy of Jesus Christ: "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world" (1Jn 4:4). This is the main idea in the Book of Revelation. Jesus's purpose is to "destroy the works of the devil" (1Jn 3:8).

11. Jesus will one day be manifested again

John speaks of "when he appears... at his coming" (1Jn 2:28). John believes that Jesus is coming again, but he will be manifested not as he was on earth, but as he now is in glory. He has "not yet been revealed" but we are assured that "we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is" (1Jn 3:2 compare 4:17).