John's first epistle is so different from Paul's. As we read through the New Testament, we get used to the approach Paul uses in most of his letters:
Part 1: Here are some amazing theological truths.
Part 2: Here's how you should live in light of those truths.
1John, on the other hand, ping pongs back and forth between foundational beliefs and the life Christ expects from us. There's an important lesson for us in that.
"Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist" (1John 2:22). John has very strong opinions about what you ought to believe. You need to believe the gospel is true, that it really happened (1Jn 1:1-3). You need to believe that Jesus is the Christ (2:22), that he is the Son of God (4:15), and that he came in the flesh (4:2-3). You need to believe God's testimony about Christ: "Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son" (5:10).
"I believe in Jesus" means you believe these things. They are not optional. There were some who denied these truths about Jesus. "This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (4:3b).
But there's another liar in John:
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (1:5-6)
John's strong opinions about our beliefs are matched by equally strong opinions about how we live. For example, we are not to love the world (2:15). We have to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, being willing to share what we have with those in need (3:16-18). God expects holiness from us. "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin" (5:18).
In John, these elements are interleaved, and that reinforces that it's not either/or. Our beliefs matter. Our actions matter. The question is not what it takes to be saved but who is a true follower of Christ. The name "Christian" means something to John, and he wants us to know it. As Paul Tripp put it, "Faith in God is more than believing the right things. It's living the right way because you believe the right things."
Our society offers a few alternatives. First, some would say anyone who believes, or even says they believe, is a Christian. This is all too common in the Bible belt. They want to know your theology. And as long as your theology matches theirs, they don't really care how you behave; you can sin all you want. But John says you're walking in darkness.
The second we find is those who are entirely concerned with how you live. Are you properly loving? Do you care about those in need? If so, your beliefs really aren't important. This is common among so-called "progressive" Christians. You can believe whatever you want about Jesus; you can even believe Jesus was merely a good teacher. But John says you're a liar.
A third option in our society is whoever "identifies" as a Christian. We don't want to judge. If you say you're a Christian, you're one of us. John does not permit that. There are requirements, and everyone doesn't make the cut.
So many people today don't like that. Americans love two Bible verses: "Judge not" and "God is love". This violates both of those. Clearly John wants us to judge; the whole letter is about judging yourself and others, holding them up to the proper standard.
What about "God is love"? The only book in the Bible that contains the phrase "God is love" is John's first epistle. John wants us to know God is love, but that same God does not lower his standards.
It's not loving to tell people there's nothing wrong with them when there very much is. John wants us to know that God cares what we believe and how we act. Because he is love.
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