Introduction to 1 John

The Apostle John is writing to a group of believers who are being attacked by false teachers who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. John writes in order to defend the truths of his gospel, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. But he also writes in order to help assure the believers that they have believed the truth. He wants them to know that they have eternal life (1st John 5:13). In order to accomplish this, he gives tests of faith, so that they can know that the Holy Spirit is truly at work in their lives.