The Bible Recap - Day 360 (1 John 1-5) - Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: December 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps and explores the core themes of 1 John 1-5, focusing on the identity of Jesus, the nature of true faith, challenges from false teachers, and the central role of love within the Christian life. She guides listeners through John's messages to early believers, encourages faith and perseverance, and underscores the transformative love of God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Authorship and Major Theme (00:02-02:30)

• The author of 1 John remains anonymous but shares clear stylistic and thematic links to the Gospel of John and 2-3 John; likely John the Apostle.
  • “He’s less concerned with us knowing who he is and more concerned that we know who Jesus is.” (00:40)
• Central focus: Jesus’ identity as fully God and fully man (“100% and 100%, not 50/50”).
• Context: Audience facing false teachers who distort Jesus’ identity and cause division.

The Nature of Jesus and Community (02:30-04:10)

• Jesus’ eternal existence as God and his physical humanity (“We saw him and touched him…”).
• God is light—complete goodness, devoid of darkness.
• Walking in the light: Living openly, fostering healthy, confessing community. Hiding and lying undermine unity.
• Sin remains a big deal, but “Christ advocates for us to the Father because He has already made atonement for our sins.” (03:30)

Relationship with Sin and Markers of Faith (04:10-06:10)

• Knowing Jesus liberates us not just from sin’s penalty, but also its bondage.
• Benchmarks of knowing Christ:
  • Obedience to God
  • Loving others
• “You are God’s forgiven children. You know God and His strength and His Word abide in you, empowering you to overcome evil.” (05:10)

False Teachers and Perseverance (06:10-09:10)

• John warns about false messiahs, echoing Jesus’ warnings (Mark 13, Matthew 24).
• Not all who leave the faith were ever truly part of it:
  • “They went out from us, but they were not of us … it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (2:19, ~07:30)
• Perseverance in faith as evidence of true belief. Presence of the Holy Spirit as a sign of belonging.
• Encouragement: “You have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” (2:20, ~08:50)

Hope in Christ’s Return and Living Now (09:10-11:30)

• Refuting false claims about Jesus’ return—encouraging hope for transformation and receiving resurrection bodies.
• “When Jesus shows back up on the scene, we will be transformed… we will be like him.” (10:25)
• Living in righteousness and purity now is central, not just hoping for eternity.
• “God’s kids aim to walk in purity now… abiding with him now, walking in righteousness now.” (10:50)

Litmus Test for Truth: Jesus’ Identity (11:30-12:50)

• How to discern true faith: Confession that Jesus is both fully God and fully man is crucial.
• Absence of this confession signals “the spirit of error, the Spirit of lies.” (12:20)

The Power and Definition of Love (12:50-16:00)

• Detailed breakdown of 1 John 4:15-18, the connection between abiding in God and living in perfect love.
  • “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God…” (13:15)
• Perfect love removes fear—believers can live with confidence, free from punishment.
• “We can live fearlessly in the world because he abides in us in perfect love. What do we have to be afraid of anyway?” (15:30)

Mark of Victory: Overcoming the World (16:00-17:00)

• What it means to “overcome the world” isn’t material success—it's resisting sin and loving in adversity:
  • “I can resist sin and temptation… I can love like Jesus loves even when treated with contempt, like he was.” (16:30)

The Three Witnesses (17:00-18:45)

• John provides three witnesses to Jesus’ identity: the Spirit, the water, and the blood.
  • “The Spirit … the water (Jesus’ baptism) … and the blood (his death and resurrection).” (17:30)
• Jesus’ death and resurrection are fundamental proof of his divinity and victory over death.
  • “Whoever has the Son has life. Whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (18:20)

Assurance of Salvation (18:45-19:30)

• John’s purpose: “I write these things to you… that you may know that you have eternal life.” (18:55)
• Emphasis on clear knowledge and confidence in faith.

God’s Pursuing Love – Host’s “God Shot” (19:30-21:00)

• Highlights 1 John 4:10 and 4:19:
  • “‘In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’” (19:35)
  • “‘We love because he first loved us.’” (19:55)
• Tara-Leigh reflects:
  • “His love was the catalyst for our love. The only reason I can love him at all is because all of this was his idea. I never would have sought him out.” (20:15)
  • “I'm so glad he loved me and made a way for me to abide with him forever because he’s where the joy is.” (20:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jesus’ Divinity and Humanity:
  • “The identity of Jesus as both fully God and fully man. 100% and 100%, not 50/50.” (00:40)
• On Community and Sin:
  • “To walk with this God means we walk in the light… We can even confess our sins in the light. And it actually serves to enrich our unity.” (03:00)
• On Abiding and Love:
  • “Confessing Jesus as God is a sign of our unity with him. And our unity with him is evidence that he loves us… Him abiding with us is how love is made perfect.” (14:10)
• On Assurance:
  • “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” (18:58)
• Personal Reflection:
  • “The only reason I can love him at all is because all of this was his idea, I never would have sought him out.” (20:15)
  • “I'm so glad he loved me and made a way for me to abide with him forever because he’s where the joy is.” (20:40)

Important Timestamps

• Authorship & Theme: 00:02–02:30
• Jesus’ Identity & False Teachers: 02:30–06:10
• Perseverance & Faith: 06:10–09:10
• Hope in Christ’s Return: 09:10–11:30
• Test for True Belief: 11:30–12:50
• Love Defined: 12:50–16:00
• Overcoming the World: 16:00–17:00
• Three Witnesses: 17:00–18:45
• Assurance & Purpose: 18:45–19:30
• God Shot – God’s Pursuing Love: 19:30–21:00

Final Takeaway

This recap of 1 John centers on assurance: assurance of who Jesus is, of God’s transformative love, and of the reality of eternal life. Listeners are encouraged to abide in God’s truth and His love, live fearlessly, and remember that all faith and love begin with God’s initiative—not ours. As Tara-Leigh puts it, “He’s where the joy is.”