John’s purpose:
to draw us into a deeper fellowship with God [1.3-4]
to bring us to enjoy full assurance before God [5.13]
Problem within: inconsistencies in our Christian living
Problem without: the world in which we live
A. THE TRUTH
1. Truth in the Gospel John 8.32
John 14.6
John 17.17
2. Truth in the First Letter 1 John 1.6, 8
1 John 2.4, 21
1 John 3.18, 19; 4.6
3. Truth as a summary of God’s revelation in Christ
B. THE PERSONAL DIMENSION OF THE TRUTH
1. The problem [19-20a]
2. The answer [20b]
a. God is greater than our heart
b. God knows all things
3. The evidence [21-22]
confidence
asking and receiving
keeping and doing
believing
Spirit
C. THE PUBLIC DIMENSION OF THE TRUTH
1. The problem [4.1-3]
a. Public
b. Spiritual
c. Doctrinal
2. The answer [4.4-6]