Is your faith built on information or experience?
- Thad DeBuhr
- 3 days ago
- 17 min read
Study Guide: 1 John 1:1-4
Imagine two people are talking about a famous mountain trail.
One person says, “I’ve heard it’s amazing. I’ve watched videos about it. I’ve read reviews. I’ve seen photos.”
Then another person says, “I’ve walked it. I felt the rocks under my feet. I smelled the pine trees. I saw the sunrise from the ridge. I know where the trail gets steep. I know what it feels like to finally reach the top.”
Both people are talking about the same trail, but one is speaking from information and the other is speaking from experience.
That is close to what John is doing at the beginning of 1 John.
He is not talking about Jesus like someone who heard rumors. He is not passing along a religious idea. He is saying, “We heard Him. We saw Him. We looked at Him closely. We touched Him.”
John wants his readers to understand that Jesus was not a myth, a symbol, or a spiritual thought. Jesus was real. He stepped into real history. He had a real body. He spoke real words. He ate real meals. He walked real roads. He died a real death. He rose from the dead.
This matters because some people in John’s day were making Jesus less real than He actually was. They wanted a spiritual-sounding faith that did not have to affect everyday life.
John begins by saying, “No. The Jesus we follow was real. And real faith in Him becomes visible in real life, real fellowship, and real joy.”
As you go through the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the Bible passages in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
Learn more about our exciting out-of-the-box ministry here
Setting the scene:
1 John was likely written near the end of the first century, around A.D. 85–95. By this time, John was probably an older man. He had followed Jesus as a young disciple, had watched the church grow, and had seen many challenges come against the followers of Jesus.
John was likely connected to the region around Ephesus, a major city in western Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. Ephesus was an important Roman city. It was full of trade, money, temples, idols, public life, and pressure to fit into Roman culture.
Following Jesus in a city like Ephesus was not easy.
People were expected to take part in normal city life. That often included honoring Roman gods, joining public festivals, and showing loyalty to the emperor. For Christians, that created tension. They believed Jesus was Lord. But Rome wanted people to act like Caesar was lord.
There may also have been pressure from Jewish communities. Many of the first Christians were Jewish, and they believed Jesus was Israel’s Messiah. But many other Jews rejected that claim. So Jewish believers could face pressure from family, friends, and synagogue communities to step away from Jesus and return to the old way of life.
This helps us understand the pressure behind 1 John.
John is writing to believers who have been shaken. Some people who once seemed to be part of their community had left. John later says:
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us.”1 John 2:19
We are not told every detail about why they left. Maybe some were tired of the cost of following Jesus. Maybe some wanted to fit back into Roman society. Maybe some wanted to fit back into Jewish synagogue life. Maybe some were drawn to new spiritual ideas that sounded deeper or more advanced.
Whatever the exact reason, their leaving caused confusion.
The believers who stayed may have wondered:
Did they discover something we missed?
Are we taking this too seriously?
Maybe we are the ones who are wrong.
Maybe we should stop standing out and just blend in.
So John writes to steady them.
He begins his letter by taking them back to the foundation: Jesus Himself.
Not a theory about Jesus.
Not a tradition about Jesus.
Not a symbol of Jesus.
The real Jesus.
He says this Jesus was heard, seen, looked at, and touched. That is very physical language.
This matters because some false teachers seem to have separated spiritual life from real life. They may have claimed to know God while denying the full reality of Jesus coming in the flesh. They may have acted like what they believed about Jesus did not have to affect how they lived.
John will not allow that.
If Jesus came in a real body, then real life matters.
Our choices matter.
Our relationships matter.
Our love matters.
Our obedience matters.
Our fellowship matters.
John begins with the real Jesus because everything else in the letter flows from Him.
Summary of the Main Teaching
Before John talks about sin, obedience, love, false teaching, or assurance, he starts with Jesus.
That is important.
When people are confused, John does not begin with arguments. He begins with the One he personally knew. He brings believers back to the foundation of their faith.
In 1 John 1:1–4, John gives us a clear opening message:
The Jesus we follow was real.
The life of God has appeared in Him.
The apostles saw Him and now proclaim Him.
This message brings us into fellowship with God and one another.
And that fellowship leads to deep joy.
Let’s walk through the main ideas.
1. John Starts with the Real Jesus
John opens with these words:
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched...”1 John 1:1
This is not a normal letter opening.
John does not start with his name. He does not name the church. He does not give a greeting.
He starts with Jesus.
And he describes Jesus in the most concrete way possible.
We heard Him.
We saw Him.
We looked at Him.
We touched Him.
John is making a strong point: Jesus was not imaginary. He was not only a vision. He was not simply a religious symbol. He was a real person in real history.
This connects closely with the Gospel of John:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”John 1:14
That word “flesh” matters. It means Jesus truly became human. He entered the physical world. He had a body.
This was important because some people in John’s day were likely downplaying the physical reality of Jesus. They may have liked the idea of a heavenly Christ but struggled with the idea that God’s Son truly came in human flesh.
John says, “No. We touched Him.”
That is hard to misunderstand.
This also reminds us that Christian faith is not built on vague feelings. It is not built on private spiritual opinions. It is built on the real Jesus who came into the real world.
For modern readers, this is a needed reminder.
Many people today are comfortable with Jesus as a moral teacher, a symbol of love, or an inspiring example. But John gives us more than that. He presents Jesus as the Word of life who truly came from the Father and entered human history.
The Jesus we follow was real.
2. “From the Beginning” Means This Message Is Not New
John begins with the phrase:
“That which was from the beginning...”1 John 1:1
That phrase has layers of meaning.
It echoes the opening words of Genesis:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”Genesis 1:1
It also echoes the opening of John’s Gospel:
“In the beginning was the Word...”John 1:1
John wants us to see that Jesus is not a random teacher who appeared out of nowhere. Jesus is connected to God’s eternal plan. He is not a side note in the story of God. He is at the center of it.
But in 1 John, “from the beginning” also points to the message these believers first received when they came to faith.
Later John says:
“See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you.”1 John 2:24
That helps us understand his concern.
Some people were offering a different version of faith. Maybe it sounded deeper. Maybe it sounded more spiritual. Maybe it sounded more open-minded. Maybe it sounded easier to live with in Roman culture.
John says, “Stay with what you heard from the beginning.”
This does not mean believers should never grow or learn. Of course we should grow. But real growth never moves us away from Jesus.
False teaching often sounds like an upgrade.
It says:
You have moved beyond the old message.
You are ready for something deeper.
You do not need to take Jesus so literally.
You can keep the spiritual parts and leave behind the costly parts.
John says no.
Do not trade the real Jesus for a newer, softer, easier version.
3. Jesus Is the Word of Life
John says his message is about:
“the Word of life.”1 John 1:1
This is a rich phrase.
In the Bible, God’s Word is active and powerful. God speaks, and creation happens. God speaks, and light breaks into darkness. God speaks, and people are called back to Him.
In Genesis, God creates by speaking:
“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”Genesis 1:3
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is called “the Word”:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”John 1:1
So when John calls Jesus the “Word of life,” he is saying that Jesus reveals God and brings the life of God to us.
Jesus is not only a messenger from God. He is God making Himself known.
If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.
John also says:
“The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it.”1 John 1:2
That phrase “the life appeared” is powerful.
John is saying that eternal life is not only a future promise. Eternal life has shown up in Jesus.
Many people think eternal life only means “going to heaven when you die.” That is part of
Christian hope, but John means more than that.
Eternal life is the life of God shared with us through Jesus.
It begins now as we trust Him, follow Him, walk in His light, and share life with God and His people.
This is why John will later say:
“God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”1 John 5:11
Life is not just a reward Jesus gives.
Life is found in Jesus Himself.
4. John Is Giving Eyewitness Testimony
John says:
“We have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life...”1 John 1:2
The words “testify” and “proclaim” matter. John is speaking like a witness.
A witness does not invent a story. A witness tells what they saw and heard.
John is saying, “We are telling you what we actually experienced.”
This is important because John’s readers were hearing other voices.
Some people had left the community. They were likely making claims that sounded spiritual. They may have claimed to know God in a deeper way. They may have sounded confident and wise.
But John brings the church back to eyewitness testimony.
He says, “We saw Him.”
That does not mean faith is only for people who saw Jesus physically. It means our faith is built on the testimony of those who did.
This is how the New Testament works.
The first followers of Jesus saw His life, death, and resurrection. Then they told others. The message was passed on, written down, and shared with the churches.
John is not asking people to believe a made-up story. He is calling them back to the trustworthy witness about Jesus.
This connects with the way Jesus sent His followers:
“You will be my witnesses...”Acts 1:8
John is doing exactly that. He is bearing witness to the real Jesus.
5. The Goal Is Fellowship
John says:
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.”1 John 1:3
The word “fellowship” can sound like church language, but it simply means shared life.
It is more than coffee and snacks after a church service.
It means people are joined together because they share life with God through Jesus.
John says:
“And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”1 John 1:3
That is the center.
Christian community is not built first on personality, hobbies, age, background, politics, or taste in music. It is built on shared life with God.
This mattered because John’s readers had experienced broken fellowship. Some people had left. Relationships had been damaged. Trust had been shaken.
John does not try to rebuild the community around human effort alone. He brings them back to Jesus.
Real fellowship starts with Him.
A helpful picture is a wheel.
The spokes connect to the center. The closer the spokes move toward the center, the closer they move toward one another.
Jesus is the center.
As we move closer to Him, we learn how to share life with one another in truth and love.
This does not mean fellowship is always easy. It is not. But real Christian fellowship is possible because we share life with the same Lord.
6. The Result Is Joy
John says:
“We write this to make our joy complete.”1 John 1:4
This may surprise us.
John’s letter deals with serious topics: sin, lies, false teaching, hatred, division, and people walking away.
Yet John says one of his goals is joy.
Not shallow happiness.
Not pretending everything is fine.
Not ignoring pain.
This is deep joy that comes from being anchored in the real Jesus.
When believers know Jesus, share life with God, and walk together in truth and love, joy becomes possible even in hard times.
John is not trying to make sincere believers afraid. He is trying to steady them.
This matters because many people read 1 John as if its main purpose is to make people question whether they are truly saved.
But John says near the end:
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”1 John 5:13
John wants believers to know. He wants them to have confidence. He wants them to have joy.
The opening four verses set that tone.
John is writing so shaken believers can be brought back to the real Jesus and restored to real fellowship and real joy.
Will you partner with us to help more people understand the Bible, grow in community, and follow Jesus?
Learn more about supporting this ministry here.
Why We Look at "Wrong" and "Right" Applications
1 John 1:1–4 is short, but it is easy to misread.
Some people use it only to argue about doctrine. Others make it only about personal feelings. Some treat John’s eyewitness language like it is just a poetic way of speaking and miss how strongly John is emphasizing the real, physical Jesus.
Good application starts with good context.
John was not writing a random religious thought. He was writing to real believers who had been shaken by confusion and division. Some people had left. Some were likely teaching a distorted view of Jesus. Some may have claimed to know God while living in ways that did not line up with Jesus.
So John begins by saying: the Jesus we proclaim is the real Jesus.
He was heard.
He was seen.
He was touched.
He is the Word of life.
He brings fellowship with God and with one another.
He brings joy.
If we miss that setting, we may use the passage in ways John never intended.
The goal is not to force this passage to support our favorite argument. The goal is to let John lead us back to Jesus.
❌ APPLYING IT WRONG
1. Treating Jesus Like Only an Idea
Some people read this passage and still reduce Jesus to a symbol, example, or religious idea.
They may say Jesus represents love, justice, kindness, or hope.
Those things matter, but John says more.
Jesus was heard, seen, and touched.
John is not pointing us to an idea about God. He is pointing us to God’s Son who came into the world in real flesh and blood.
If we turn Jesus into only a symbol, we miss John’s point.
2. Separating Faith from Everyday Life
Some people want a spiritual faith that does not affect their real life.
They may claim to know God but act like their choices, bodies, relationships, and obedience do not matter.
John pushes against that from the very first verse.
If Jesus came in a real body, then real life matters.
Faith is not just something we think or feel. It shows up in how we live.
That will become one of the main themes of the whole letter.
3. Using Truth Without Love
Some people love being right but do not love people well.
They may use a passage like this to win arguments or look down on others.
John does care deeply about truth. But his goal is fellowship and joy, not pride.
If our use of truth makes us harsh, cold, or arrogant, we are not applying John correctly.
Truth should lead us closer to Jesus and help us love people more faithfully.
4. Using Love Without Truth
Others may say, “As long as we love people, it does not matter what we believe about Jesus.”
John would not agree.
For John, love is rooted in the real Jesus.
If we lose the truth about Jesus, we eventually lose the foundation for Christian love.
John holds truth and love together.
We should not separate what John keeps united.
5. Reading This Passage as Fear Instead of Reassurance
Some people read 1 John and feel only fear.
They think John is trying to make every believer doubt whether they belong to God.
But in 1 John 1:1–4, John says his goal is fellowship and joy.
And in 1 John 5:13, he says he writes so believers may know they have eternal life.
John’s goal is not to crush sincere followers of Jesus.
His goal is to steady them.
✅ Applying it the Right Way:
1. Start Where John Starts: With Jesus
John does not begin with rules, debates, or church problems.
He begins with Jesus.
That teaches us something.
When faith feels confusing, start with Jesus.
When people walk away, start with Jesus.
When culture pressures you to blend in, start with Jesus.
When spiritual ideas sound impressive but pull you away from truth, start with Jesus.
The foundation of Christian faith is not our feelings, traditions, or effort.
The foundation is the real Jesus.
2. Read the Passage as Eyewitness Testimony
John is speaking as someone who knew Jesus personally.
He heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him.
That means this passage is rooted in history.
Christian faith is not based on myths or private visions. It is based on the witness of people who encountered Jesus and then gave their lives to proclaim Him.
This gives us confidence.
We are not following a made-up story.
We are trusting the testimony about the real Jesus.
3. Let the Physical Reality of Jesus Shape Your View of Faith
John’s words remind us that the body matters.
Jesus came in the flesh.
That means faith is not about escaping real life. It is about following Jesus in real life.
How we use our bodies matters.
How we treat people matters.
How we handle sin matters.
How we love matters.
How we live in our homes, churches, workplaces, and communities matters.
Real faith is visible.
4. Understand Fellowship as Shared Life
John says the message about Jesus creates fellowship.
This is not casual church attendance. It is shared life with God and with one another.
That matters for modern readers because many people want faith without community.
But John connects the two.
To receive the real Jesus is to be brought into the family of God.
Following Jesus was never meant to be done alone.
5. Let Joy Be Part of the Goal
John writes so their joy may be complete. That does not mean life is easy. It does not mean pain disappears. It does not mean all confusion is gone overnight. But it does mean there is deep joy in knowing the real Jesus and sharing life with God’s people.
As you study 1 John, do not only look for warnings.
Look for reassurance.
Look for confidence.
Look for joy.
John is writing to help shaken believers become steady again.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage and help guide your discussions in your Journey Groups and Me & 3 small groups.
THE FACTS — What Does the Passage Say?
What physical words does John use in 1 John 1:1 to describe his experience with Jesus?
What does John say appeared in 1 John 1:2?
According to 1 John 1:3–4, what are two reasons John proclaims this message?
THE MEANING — What Does It Mean?
Why is it important that John says Jesus was heard, seen, and touched?
What does the phrase “Word of life” teach us about who Jesus is and what He brings?
Why does John connect the message about Jesus with fellowship and joy?
THE HEART — What Am I Hearing?
Where have you been tempted to treat Jesus more like an idea than a real person to follow?
Have you ever felt shaken because others drifted away from faith? What did that stir up in you?
What part of this passage gives you the most reassurance right now?
THE HANDS — What Will I Do?
What is one practical way you can start with Jesus this week when life feels confusing?
How can you move toward real fellowship instead of isolated faith?
Who is one person you can encourage this week with the reminder that Jesus is real and worth following?
Journey Group OR ME & 3 Small Group Discussion Starters:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
Option 1
John says Jesus was heard, seen, looked at, and touched.
Why do you think he starts the letter that way?
How does the realness of Jesus change the way we think about faith?
Option 2
John connects Jesus with fellowship and joy.
Where have you experienced real fellowship with other believers?
What makes Christian fellowship different from simply being friendly or spending time with people?
🧩 SUM IT UP
John begins his letter by pointing people back to the real Jesus.
He wants shaken believers to remember that their faith is not built on rumors, ideas, feelings, or traditions.
It is built on Jesus.
The One who was heard.
The One who was seen.
The One who was touched.
The One who came from the Father.
The One who brings eternal life.
John writes as an eyewitness and a pastor. He wants believers to have fellowship with God, fellowship with one another, and deep joy.
This passage reminds us that real faith starts with the real Jesus.
And because Jesus came into real life, our faith must show up in real life too.
Real faith is not just something we say.
It becomes visible in how we live, how we love, how we walk in truth, and how we share life with God’s people.
The Jesus we follow was real.
And real faith in Him leads to real fellowship and real joy.
Experience the God of the Wilderness
Throughout the Bible, the desert isn't just a place of heat and sand; it is God’s favorite classroom. It’s where He took Moses to see the burning bush, where He shaped the Israelites into a nation, and where Jesus was prepared for His ministry.
There is something about stepping away from the "safe structures" of the city and into the stillness of the high desert that clears the noise and lets you hear God's voice.
Are you willing to come to the wilderness for a time of preparation and growth? If you feel God moving you out of your comfort zone and into a deeper dependence on Him, we invite you to join us on our off-grid property in Northwest Arizona.
Arizona Bible Experience Retreat 📅 Dates: October 17-23, 2026 📍 Location: Meadview, AZ
Incredible scenery, excellent teaching, and friendships forged from slot canyons to campfires. We have limited spots available to keep the experience intimate and impactful.
Several lodging options. Daily excursions. Shared meals, campfires, and more! Includes a day at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon and so much more.
Save the Date: The Pig Out-Play & Praise
Every September, the whole YJJ community rallies together in beautiful North Idaho for our annual gathering. We call it "The Pig Out-Play & Praise"—and for good reason! We smoke a whole hog and briskets for a week of incredible food, deep fellowship, and powerful worship led by two different teams.
The Biblical Connection:
Did you know that God actually built "big meet-ups" into the very rhythm of life for His people? From the Appointed Feasts to the harvest gatherings, the ancient Israelites were commanded to stop, gather, and celebrate what God was doing. The value of these rhythms remains true for us today. We need these "mountain top" moments to refuel and reconnect.
Registration is OPEN now! Get your tickets here:
HAVE YOU WATCHED THIS VIDEO YET?
MORE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
Read Our Full Statement of Faith: CLICK HERE
Your Jesus Journey is an independent, non-denominational Christian ministry. We're fueled by God's grace and the generosity of our supporters. Our team—led by Pastor Thad and his wife Kaila—is made up of dedicated disciples from all over the United States. Together, we work to help people understand the Bible, find Christian friends, and grow as disciple-makers.
Be sure to grab our free E-Book, "Stop Reading the Bible Wrong: 7 Strategic Shifts that Change Everything." Just click the Free Gift button at the top of our website, and we'll send it to you today!
Go to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more about Journey Groups, get connected in one, or even learn how to start your own. It's like a spiritual potluck, but instead of questionable casseroles, we share insights and grow closer to God. See you there!
You can also get our FREE in-Depth Bible-Study Guides delivered to your inbox: https://forms.wix.com/r/7330608166566101604.
To learn more about YJJ, Thad and Kaila, and Your Jesus Journey, check out our ABOUT US section: https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/learn-about-thad-and-kaila-and-the-journey-church-online.
There's lots more to see and learn on our website, from our "what we believe" page to hundreds of blogs. We encourage you to swing on by and take a look around at www.YourJesusJourney.com!
Comments