Episode 24
1 John — Read the NT in 90 Days
How do you know what's real when your world—and your faith—feel like they're on shaky ground? In this episode of Seek Go Create, Tim Winders guides us through 1 John, a letter written during chaos and confusion, tackling questions of truth, love, and the meaning of genuine faith. Discover what the early church faced as antichrists emerged from within and learn the three tests John gives to steady believers in uncertain times. Whether you're looking for spiritual assurance or fascinated by the historical context of early Christianity, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity and confidence in their faith.
"The Antichrists have arrived, and they came from inside the church." - Tim Winders
Access all show and episode resources HERE
Episode Resources:
- NT90 Hub – This is the central website for the 90-day New Testament reading plan, with downloadable, printable plans, background information, and links to all episodes and resources.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 The Last Hour: Antichrists Rising from Within the Church
00:19 Series Intro + Where to Find NT90 Resources
01:01 1 John Overview: Author, Dates, Audience, and Why It Matters
01:44 66 AD Crisis: Jewish War, Apostles Dying, and the Temple Countdown
03:35 The Church Fractures: Denying Jesus’ Humanity and the Rise of ‘Antichrist’
05:00 What You’ll Encounter in 1 John: Light, Truth, Love, and Assurance
06:37 How to Read It + What’s Next (2 John Preview)
07:05 Setting the Scene: John Writing from Ephesus
08:02 Three Tests for Shaken Believers + Transition into the Reading
Transcript
It is the last hour John says So himself, the antichrist have arrived
Speaker:and they came from inside the church.
Speaker:Now the last apostle writes to tell you how to know what's real.
Speaker:This is Seek Go Create.
Speaker:You're listening to read the New Testament in 90 days, 27 books in order in context.
Speaker:We're walking through the New Testament, the way it was written in the order
Speaker:it was written, so you can hear it the way the early believers, the early.
Speaker:First churches did.
Speaker:we're about to dive in here.
Speaker:Don't forget to go to K two M Foundation slash NT 90 just
Speaker:to get background information.
Speaker:That's a hub where you can kinda circle back and listen to some
Speaker:of these previous episodes.
Speaker:And, uh, all of those.
Speaker:Are there plus some other notes and information.
Speaker:K two M Foundation slash 1990.
Speaker:Today we have First John, a letter from the Beloved Disciple
Speaker:to Churches Under Threat.
Speaker:I always like to.
Speaker:Sort of smile when I hear that term, the beloved disciple, because
Speaker:John pretty much gave himself that name, the one that Jesus loved.
Speaker:And so, anyway, I always smile a little bit.
Speaker:I like that.
Speaker:Here's some key facts.
Speaker:The alter is John, we just finished last episode with the Gospel of John.
Speaker:Now we're in his first letter and the next two episodes will be John.
Speaker:Two, second John and third John, the letters that he continues to write.
Speaker:So the dates of these were right in 66 AD in the mid sixties, the
Speaker:turbulent sixties of the first century.
Speaker:The audience is the Asian churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, PERGAM,
Speaker:and the surrounding region.
Speaker:The setting we're about.
Speaker:36 years past the resurrection, John has been shepherding churches in this area.
Speaker:The Jewish war has begun, and the world that Jesus warned about.
Speaker:It is collapsing the warnings that Jesus gave way back from
Speaker:Matthew 24, and he mentioned this generation would see all that we're
Speaker:at the tail end of that timeframe.
Speaker:Historical context, the founding generation is almost gone.
Speaker:Peter was crucified in Rome last year, the year before this came out.
Speaker:Paul sits in chains awaiting trial, and then John is the last one
Speaker:standing that we will hear from.
Speaker:In the New Testament.
Speaker:There may have been some others of the 12 that scattered in
Speaker:other parts of the world.
Speaker:John is the last one that we will hear from in Jerusalem.
Speaker:This is significant.
Speaker:The rebellion has begun.
Speaker:Jewish rebels have seized the temple.
Speaker:60,000 Roman soldiers are marching south.
Speaker:The countdown that Jesus warned about is a. Underway, the
Speaker:temple stands, but not for long.
Speaker:In Revelation, when we hear about the seven years and the two, three and
Speaker:a half segments that has started, in other words, 80, 66 is the beginning
Speaker:of that timeframe that we will hear about when we get to Revelation.
Speaker:So, the temple does still stand, but not for long.
Speaker:We know historically.
Speaker:It's got just a few years, about three and a half years inside the
Speaker:church believers it's fractured.
Speaker:Some who shared worship with these believers have walked out.
Speaker:They're now teaching that Jesus wasn't truly human,
Speaker:that he never really suffered.
Speaker:Never really died.
Speaker:They're denying the resurrection.
Speaker:John calls them what they are.
Speaker:Antichrist.
Speaker:Not one individual, but groups of people that deny the
Speaker:resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Speaker:Those are antichrist.
Speaker:Their departure, he says, proves it's the last hour, the last
Speaker:hour that Jesus mentioned.
Speaker:This is letter number one of John's prolific season.
Speaker:He's writing his gospel in these letters almost simultaneously we believe.
Speaker:Same vocabulary, same heartbeat, light life, love, truth.
Speaker:He's anchoring the church before the old order.
Speaker:The old covenant collapses.
Speaker:These Asian churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and the surrounding
Speaker:region will hear from John again.
Speaker:He's already released his gospel.
Speaker:We believe his letters, and then eventually revelation all flow
Speaker:to the same network of believers.
Speaker:Here's what you'll encounter in one John.
Speaker:It's pastoral, and studying a spiritual father, settling a
Speaker:shaken family, and it reads like a companion piece to his gospel.
Speaker:Same vocabulary, same heart.
Speaker:It is the last hour in chapter two verse 18.
Speaker:John names, the moment the antichrist have come, many have already left.
Speaker:He'll mention walking in the light.
Speaker:God is light.
Speaker:Walk in it and you have fellowship, confess, and he cleanses
Speaker:the testing of the spirits.
Speaker:Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.
Speaker:Is from God.
Speaker:That's the line.
Speaker:Antichrist, we hear that.
Speaker:We've already mentioned it.
Speaker:John introduces this term.
Speaker:Not a single in times figure or person, but anyone that's
Speaker:denying Jesus came in real flesh.
Speaker:Many.
Speaker:Antichrist have already appeared.
Speaker:Love one another, whoever loves has been born of God.
Speaker:And if you say you love God, but hate your brother, you are a liar.
Speaker:Strong words from John Assurance.
Speaker:I write these things that you may know you have eternal life.
Speaker:In chapter five, verse 13, John wants.
Speaker:Certainty, not anxiety.
Speaker:A test of genuine faith isn't mystical knowledge.
Speaker:It is love made visible.
Speaker:Alright, you're gonna read First John in one session.
Speaker:Nice short letter.
Speaker:And what's next?
Speaker:We're gonna see Second John, truth and love with boundaries when
Speaker:hospitality enables false teaching.
Speaker:Kind of a warning there.
Speaker:All right.
Speaker:Don't forget, go to K two m.foundation/nt 90 for the order
Speaker:and for links and resources.
Speaker:Make sure you do that.
Speaker:And let's do this.
Speaker:Before we read, let's set the scene for this letter from John.
Speaker:It is a 66 salt air off.
Speaker:The agin drifts through the window of John's room in Ephesus, lamp
Speaker:flickers on the table where his gospel scroll lies unfinished.
Speaker:But tonight, he reaches for a smaller sheet, not a gospel, but a letter urgent.
Speaker:Pastoral direct.
Speaker:He dips his pen and begins that which was from the beginning, which
Speaker:we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon
Speaker:and have touched with our hands.
Speaker:He touched the risen Lord.
Speaker:He leaned against Jesus' chest at the last supper.
Speaker:He ran to the empty tomb.
Speaker:Now he writes to children who never saw any of it and who are
Speaker:watching people they trusted, walk out the door and deny it all.
Speaker:John will give them three tests to hold when everything shakes.
Speaker:Do you walk in the light?
Speaker:Do you confess?
Speaker:Christ came in the flesh.
Speaker:Do you love one another?
Speaker:When this letter reaches the churches of Asia, minor believers
Speaker:who feel the ground giving way will find something solid to stand on.
Speaker:Now, let's read.
