God’s Little Children
An overview of 1 John shared at the FMSA Easter Conference 2026 by Kurai Chitima
John, one
of Jesus's twelve Apostles, authored five books in the New Testament, including the
book of John, which invites people to Jesus, the Savior, and the book of 1
John, which focuses on walking with Jesus and overcoming
falsehoods. The book of Revelation deals with the last days and eternity with
Christ.
John
provided four reasons for writing 1 John. 1) That your joy may be complete (1
John 1:4). 2) That you don't sin, even though you have an advocate, and
that you love God and others (1 John 2:1; 7). 3) That they stay alert against
false teachings (1 John 2:21, 4:1) and that they be confident of eternal life
(1 John 5:13).
John stands
out among the Apostles as the longest-lived. He called himself the disciple
whom Jesus loved (13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20). He, Peter, and James
formed the inner circle of the Lord. He was called to the transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1–8). They were also present when Jesus entered a house to raise
Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:50). At the last supper, he reclined next to Jesus
(John 13:23). He was present at the crucifixion when Jesus asked him to care
for his mother, Mary, as his own (John 19:26-27). He ran with Peter to the tomb
after the resurrection (John 20:1-10).
Transformation
John and his brother James, also an Apostle, were nicknamed
the "Sons of Thunder" (or Boanerges) by Jesus (Mark 3:17, Luke
9:54). For example, they displayed an anger problem when they wanted to call
fire down to burn the Samaritan village for not accepting Jesus. Jesus changed
John from a "son of thunder" to an Apostle
of love. This illustrates the transforming power of God and Christ
when people follow Him.
The church
is not a place for the perfect but for the flawed to be perfected. It is where
the weak, the needy, the failed, sinners, the dejected, and others like them
can come (2 Corinthians 12:9). The church is a transforming community. There is
a place for everyone among sinners saved by grace. The church fails when it
does not welcome people as they are and support them during their
transformation as they follow Jesus. Unlike the world, which judges, compares,
and excludes some, the church should be drawn to those considered hopeless and
demonstrate or celebrate the transforming power of God. The world makes choices
based on past records, but God sees the potential in everyone through Christ.
To God, no case is hopeless. He isn't looking for stars; He's in the business
of making them.
Little Children
John often referred to his audience as little children. An
example is 1 John 4:1-4 KJV - Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The verse emphasizes that believers belong to God. It
answers the question: "Who/Whose are you?" He wants them to remember
they are of God, not of themselves or anyone else. This makes them overcomers
because, through the Holy Spirit in them, God is greater than any threats from
the world. Faith grows when you remember whose you are (Acts 27:23). Believers
are God’s children (John 1:12). Believers are always like little children. This
speaks of having a childlike faith. Jesus favors such faith (Matthew 19:14). He
also taught that when we pray, we should address God as our Father (Matthew
6:9). Little children are powerless, helpless, ignorant, and vulnerable. Like
sheep, they are not the smartest or the strongest among animals. They depend
on their shepherds. So should believers depend on God, who cares for
their well-being and fights for them.
HOW TO WALK WITH CHRIST
1. Walking in the light
1 John 1:6 – ‘If
we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do
not the truth.’
John emphasized that God is light and is revealed in Jesus
Christ. It is impossible to fellowship (have commonness) with Him and fellow
believers when walking in darkness (1 John 1:7). The light exposes what is
right and wrong. Walking in the light means avoiding sin by choosing to do what
is right in God’s eyes.
Sin breaks fellowship with God, but it can be restored. 1
John 1:9 - 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ' Also 2:1, 12; 5:1, 18. 3:3,
5, 6, 9.
2. Walking in love
1 John 3:232 - 'And
this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus
Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. '
1 Joh 4:19
- 'We love because he first loved us.' God is love (1 John 3;10; 4:8, 15, 16,
20). It was not the nails that held Christ to the cross nor the stone that kept
him in the tomb, but love (1 John 3:1, 16, 18). 1 John 4:11 - 'Dear friends,
since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.' When John was very
old, his constant message was ‘Little children love one another’
(Skio Heitzg). When asked why he kept repeating the same message, he
replied that if that’s all they do, that is good enough.
3. Walking in truth
1 John 4:1 - 'Beloved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because
many false prophets are gone out into the world. ' also 5:6
"God is not a man that he should lie" (Numbers 23:19) speaks volumes about God and, also, about man. Man can lie, and believers should not believe everything they hear. Today’s world is filled with fake news, misinformation, and disinformation for various deceptive and manipulative purposes. Verify what you hear. Search the scriptures to confirm if what you hear is true (Acts 17:1). According to the UN Global Risk Survey for 2025, the top threats to the world are misinformation and disinformation—lies. There is a need for vigilance even when something is popular. The old story "The Emperor's New Clothes" teaches that even if something is believed by the powerful and many, it can still be false.
4. Walking in victory
1 John 4:4 'Ye are of God, little children,
and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is
in the world. ‘ also Romans 8:37; Isaiah 54:17
Believers overcome through the Holy Spirit who dwells in
them, in power, and teaches all truth. They are positioned for victory and must
trust the Holy Spirit with childlike faith in God's word. They are more than
conquerors in the face of falsehoods, threats, fears, worries, giants,
mountains, sicknesses, temptations, condemnation, sins, devils, and malicious
people. The battle belongs to the Lord, and the victory is theirs. In Jesus'
name, they can resist, reverse, reorder, refuse, or override anything the enemy
attempts against them. 1 John 2:14 – the word within, new nature. 1 John 2:20,
27 – anointed. 1 John 5:4 – faith in Jesus. 1 John 2:16; 3:13 – overcoming the
world. 1 John 5:21 – from idols. 1 John 3:20 – from condemnation.
5. Walking in confidence
Assurance of eternal life: 1 John 5:12, 13 - 'These things
have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may
know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son
of God.' Also 1 John 2:25; 3:2, 24; 4:13, 17; 5:13.
Assurance of answered prayer: 1 John 5:14, 15 - 'This is the confidence we have
in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we
asked of him.'
Response
You know God saved you by faith - trusting his word. In the same way, be assured God has answered your prayer made in his will. Trust like a little child and start thanking Him.
Ask for the grace to walk in the light, in love, in truth, in victory, and in confidence, thank God for it, and for anything else you
have been praying for. Nothing is too hard for Him.
