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Lesson 10

The Overcomers

1 John 5:1-5

One of the real joys of life is the opportunity my wife and I have spending time with our two youngest grandchildren. They are twenty and 6 months old. Already we are beginning to see that each of them want her and his own way. The little girl wants the full attention of her mother and becomes a little jealous when things have to be done for her little brother. Even at six months old the little boy will fight against having to take a nap or go to sleep at night. He will definitely let you know when he gets hungry and wants his bottle immediately. Olivia has added a very important word to her vocabulary. She not only says no when things are going her way but emphasizes it by shaking her head.

These kinds of behavior make seem cute when we are little, but quite often we never outgrow wanting to have things go the way we want. From my own experience it is something we have to guard against all of our lives. I have from a very early age had a problem with people ordering me around. When someone tells me I have to do this or that something inside of me rebels. I want to know the reason they have to be so forceful. I have never liked the answer, which I have used with my own children, “Because I say so.” To hear those word, in my mind, implies that the speaker does not have a good answer or does not believe the person to whom they are issuing the command has the ability to act. I discovered a long time ago that the best way to get me to do something is to ask me to do it in a non confrontational way.

In life there are those in your face type of people. They try to use intimidation to carry out orders. I have seen the drill instructors standing in front of a recruit who could as well have been me. He stands there nose to nose with the poor guy yelling at him. I am not sure that I could have handle a situation like that very well. Although I have failed miserably at it many times there is a proverb that should be our guide. It says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace.”

When I think about the commands which are given by God, there is no wiggle room to say I will keep this one but not another one because it does not meet my agenda. Like being with my grandchildren the writing of these lessons has helped me refocus once again on the fact that God has my best interest at heart. If a person thinks about it the things God tells us to do are pretty demanding. So what is the difference between man made demands and God’s commands? Two different thoughts have crossed have my mind in regard to God’s Laws. Either I have just known they they are there and have accepted them without thinking of their great meaning or in a way ignored them as not of that great importance to me. Both of these reasons are dangerous. They were given because God loves us and knows following Him will keep us from stumbling. Maybe that is why I have reacted differently to the commands of man who wants me to serve the organization because of the benefit that comes to him if I do what he orders me to do. We can so easily become part of the machine that must be held in line. God never views us as unimportant. The purpose to which He has called us is for our benefit because there is joy in serving a loving God like Him.

The church by its very actions seems to quite often view God as oppressive. As the Bible is taught and preached the message that may come through as demanding. God may be pictured as that drill sergeant standing before ready to condemn us for any violation of His agenda for mankind. This has been the

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cause of many a person walking away from the church. Rather than facing up to the reality of their shortcomings they find it easier to leave. Those in the church may add to this picture by being judgmental and holding up the Bible as a club to keep people in their place. When the love of God is missing in a body a person will see no reason to follow the commandments of God. He or she will fail to see that the commandments were given because of God’s love. They are not to be restrictions but are protection against taking the wrong path in life. It is impossible to look at the Old Testament Law and not see that God was looking out for mankind. To drift away from any of them brought about dire consequences for God’s children. Jesus came and wrapped up the meaning of the commandments into two very concise statements. The second of those John opened for us and explored here in 1 John.

1 John 5:1

When this verse is laid beside what follows this seems to be almost an isolated statement by John. He had just talked of the commandment to love one’s brother. Now he comes at the same idea from a different angle. Man’s relationship completely depended on how he viewed Jesus. In order to be born again into God’s kingdom he must put his trust in and accept with his whole heart that Jesus is indeed the Messiah of the world. The person who has committed his life to love God will have have the same relationship with the Jesus believing that He is the only begotten Son of God.

1. What was the point that John was trying to make with the insertion of the idea in this verse? (The importance of our relationship with Jesus which evidenced by our belief and rebirth in Him.)

2. In what ways does our relationship with the Father depend on what we believe about Jesus?

3. In what way does this verse continue to emphasize the idea of the importance of love?

4. What is the decision you have made in your own life which makes this verse meaningful to you?

1 John 5:2

Then John carried the progression one step further, but at the same time brought the reader back to the main teaching of his letter. In reverse order the keeping of the commandments was evidence that a person loved God. If the person then kept the commandments of God which was evidence of his love then that man or woman would as a result love the ones God loves.

1. How do we know that a person loves God?

2. Which commandment has John most emphasized in his letter?

3. What was the source of John restating it and under what circumstances was it first spoken? (See John 13:34-35)

4. What is the result of keeping the word of God and loving Him and His Son? (We will love those who are the children of God.)

5. How have you done with this commandment in your own life?

1 John 5:3

God knew that it would be finite human beings who would be required to carry out His commandments in their lives. He therefore did not make them impossible to obey. They would not be a burden because each of them whether the Law in the Old Testament or the ones laid down by Jesus were for man’s benefit. Jesus said in Matthew to come to Him and the yoke he laid on mankind would be one that fit comfortably. Having said that God still expects man to show that He is thankful for the salvation and

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love he has received by keeping the commandments. It is to be emphasized that salvation is not dependent on keeping them, but man carries them out because he loves God. Love comes first then obedience which results in an ever increasing love for the Father.

1. In what ways do we show that we love our parents? (By obeying them out of love and not fear.)

2. What picture does this paint of what our relationship should be like with the Father.)

3. Why is this not about works? (Because we obey the Father out of our thankfulness for all that He has done for us.)

4. Why would we obey someone we do not love?

5. How different is this from the reasons that we love the Father?

6. On what does our salvation depend?

7. In what ways have you moved away from trying to earn the love of God by keeping the commandments found throughout Scripture?

1 John 5:4-5

The one who has been freed and is no longer in the grip of the world controlled by the devil has gained victory through the rebirth into God’s kingdom. It is the faith that man has in Jesus and the Father that has provided the strength to overcome the world. John emphasizes the point by asking the people a question. He asked them who has overcome the world? It was a rhetorical question because he immediately answered by stating what they should have known by then but bore repeating in light of what they were facing. The only way to overcome the world, the cosmos, was by becoming a true follower of Jesus Christ.

1. What is the only way to be freed from the grip of the world system of which John was writing? (By faith.)

2. What does it mean to have faith?

3. How does this idea line up with what John said in John 14:6?

4. How does man reach that pivotal point in his life?

5. Why can we depend on Christ to provide the freedom? (Because He, the only begotten Son of God has defeated the devil.)

6. In what ways have you sensed this freedom in your life? If not why?

• Search your life to see if there are areas where you have not been willing to follow the commandments of God.

• Confess those and ask for forgiveness.

• For those who have not sensed a freedom from the works of the devil turn from them toward the One who can provide a new victorious life.

• Look back at Matthew 22:37 to see if you are truly following them. Without the capacity to obey those two then you need to determine what your relationship with God is.

• Understand that your ability to love your brother depends entirely on your love for the Father.

In these five verses John wraps up the essence of what the church should be. Although it will never be completely true that everyone will accept Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, it should be our goal to make disciples who will multiply themselves by bringing others under the teaching of God. Only then will those who have come find salvation and the ability to overcome the ways of the world in which they have been caught up. We have been given a great privilege to serve alongside our Savior in

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proclaiming the good news of victory over the devil. Our faith must always be displayed so that the world can see the love that God has for mankind through us. We must never act in a way that we reject the spirit of His commandments. To keep the letter of the law and not the spirit will give the impression that it is a heavy burden to serve Christ. Just the opposite should take place. Our service and obedience should be done out of joy realizing all that we have received from Him. His commandments fit and are for our benefit. They are not to be restraints but the very means to serve Him more affectively. Let us be part of the God’s plan to sow freedom in this world.

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Lesson 9

Over and Over Again

1 John 4:7-21

Why repetition? What is it about the need to repeat something over and over again that is so important? It is said that in order for anything to be remembered for an extended period of time it must be said everyday for at least forty days. There is a concept called the half life of learning. I do not remember where I read it but it states that over a period of time a persons loses half of what they have learned about a particular subject. For instance how many of you remember most of what you learned in high school even in your favorite subject.

I always thought that I did not have a good memory. I could read a book and then not be able to tell many of its details. Even when I had studied the material it was soon gone, or at least I thought so, as I moved on to new things to learn. One of my greatest fears after being out of school for the summer was had I might have forgotten everything I studied the year before. That is one reason that students from other countries do so much better in school. They have not had the extended time off during the summer that we have in the U.S. Therefore their retention was much greater. I do not remember but the teachers probably had to review last years material before the class could move on.

When I began to memorize Scripture repetition became an important part of that exercise. Each day I would say what I said yesterday and add one or two verses. That routine went on from day to day. Review what had been learned while adding more to it and then repeating it again. After a while I surprised myself by the amount of the Bible I had memorized. Even though, because I have not said recited those books for a long time I still recognize verses as coming from certain books when I hear them.

Repetition is good. I say repetition is good. Paul even said in Philippians I do not mind telling you again because repetition buries what is being said deep within a person’s mind and heart.

If you look at it from a very practical point the church is at a great disadvantage when it comes to embedding God’s word into the life of its members. At best the exposure to God’s word takes up lest than three hours of every week. Considers this thought, that on average people attend church about half of the Sundays of the year and many of them only attend the worship service where the sermon last between twenty to forty minutes. I would say that we are not exactly being overwhelmed with the word of God.

What I am trying to say is that if we expect to live by the word, we must know it. Based on the information above the kind of repetition it takes to learn even a minute part of the Bible it is impossible to depend totally on the maximum of 156 hours spent in church every year. At best just a few important verses will be learned over a lifetime at the rate of attendance. Most are familiar with John 3:16 because it is heard even at football games. Exodus 20 lists the ten commandments. Psalm 23 is preached at many funerals. Some of you may have other favorites but this in no way constitutes an understanding of what is called the full counsel (All sixty-six books) of God. Much needs to be done outside the four walls of the church. John repeated one idea over and over again to the churches because he knew they needed understand that one idea above all else.

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1 John 4:7-8

After dealing with his desire for them to be discerning of the spirit of man, John was again returned to

the thread that is woven throughout the entire book. They were to understand that the love he has commanded them to have for each other has its source in God. He was well aware that the voice of the antichrist would bombard them every hour of every day. If they could make the love of God and the love of man a part of their spiritual DNA then they could face the challenges ahead of them. They needed to know without a shadow of a doubt the proof of man’s relationship as a child who truly knows his Father is reflected in the love they have for one another. If one does not love his brother he certainly cannot know God. It is impossible to be full of hate and know the God, whose very nature is love.

1. Why does John once again write about man’s love for one another?

2. Why is it extremely important that we understand what John was trying to teach the people? (We face a world that is propagating message 24/7 that is anti-Christ and anti-God.)

3. What are the two characteristics that are evident in those who love one another? (They love God and know Him in an intimate relationship.)

4. How do those two characteristics speak to your heart?

5. How can a person who lacks love in human relationships possibly love God? (He cannot because his life is absorbed in his own emotions.)

1 John 4:9-11

It is sometimes difficult to wrap one’s mind around Godlike love. God solved that problem by sending His Son into the physical world in which man lives. In that one act God revealed how much He truly cares for His creation, man. Because of what Christ did by taking on our sin we are able to have life eternal.

Even then the only way man can have the ability to love is because God loved him first. John said again that God’s love was manifested to man by the sending of His Son into the world who took man’s place before a holy God.

As a result of what God did through Christ John gave one command which summarizes the last six commandments. Man is to love each other because God loved him.

1. Why do we have such a difficult time understanding the kind of love God has for us?

2. Why is man incapable of truly loving without the example God has provided for us?

3. How did He show how much He loves us?

4. What was the greatest display of the love that came through Jesus? (He was willing to suffer the punishment for sin that we deserve.)

5. What is the most important commandment that came through John’s writings?

1 John 4:12-13

It is an accurate statement that no man has ever seen God the Father in person because He is Spirit. What can be observed is the evidence of His working in the hearts of man. Those who travelled with Jesus for the three and one half years of His earthly ministry witnessed firsthand the things God wanted to accomplish. The evidence that God is living in man is that man has a love for others. That love is being matured as the relationship with the Father grows.

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The fact that man can only know he has an intimate relationship, in which he dwells with God and God has taken up residence inside him, through the work of the Holy Spirit. John knew all of those things were true because he and the other disciples had lived with the Son of God and saw and heard Him. They believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that He had been sent by His Father to enter into the world which He had created.

1. If man has not seen God how can he believe in Him? (We see all around us evidences of His work among us.)

2. How do we know that God abides in us? (By the love we have for others because of the work He has done in our hearts.)

3. Who makes the evidence in our lives real? (The Holy Spirit who God has given to us.)

4. What does it mean to have His love perfected in us? (Our love becomes more Christlike as we grow in our experience with Him)

5. Why did John once again share the thought with which he began this book? (He wanted to reemphasize the reality of Christ being the evidence of God in the world.)

1 John 4:15-17

Again John made it clear that the only way to have the love of God and have Him live within a person was to confess the relationship of God the Father with His Son Jesus Christ. Through the experience they had with Jesus they came to a total belief that God truly loved them. They accepted that by His very nature God is love. Everyone who possessed that agape love dwelt with God and God lived within Him. John could not say these things too many times. That important teaching had to be buried deep in the heart and soul of the church members who were still facing false teachings and soon would experience terrible persecution at the hands of the Romans. By following his teaching that love would be matured in the lives of the people.

Again John brought up the subject of the day of judgment. He wrote about not being ashamed. Now he wanted them to know that if they were filled with the love of God and love for others they could face the day of judgment with confidence that they were indeed the children of God. Man should end his days on earth being like Christ.

1. Why did John again call the people to Confess Jesus as God’s Son? (Without this fact none of his other teaching in this letter could be trusted.)

2. Why were they so sure of that fact? (Look back at chapter one verse one.)

3. What did John want them to understand? (Love is the key that unlocks the relationship.)

4. What did John mean when he spoke of love that had been perfected? (It was a love that was maturing and becoming more like the nature of God.)

5. Why could that person who loved like that have confidence at the day of judgement? (The love was evidence that he belonged to God.)

1 John 4:18

The person who has confidence to stand before God with the love that has been instilled in him has no reason to be afraid of the judgment to come. As John had stated before if one does not love his brother he cannot love God. The one who does not walk in the Light of Jesus is walking in the darkness of the world in which satan reigns. All those apart from God will face the judgment day without hope of eternal life. See John 3:16 for the hope that lies within the followers of Christ.

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The only way that man can understand love is by the fact that God first loved him even when he did not deserve it.

1. Why do followers of Christ not have to fear the judgment that is to come? (They abide in His

   love.)

2. What is the source of fear? (Lack of love for God and brother.)

3. How can we avoid the fear of being judged by God?

4. How does John 3:16 fit into this teaching?

1 John 4:19

God is the source of love. Because He is pure love He is the only One from agape love can come. Paul wrote, “While we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6 Two verses later he said, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

1. In what ways do the two verses in Romans define what John said about God’s love?

2. Why is God the only possible source of agape love? (All of mankind is tainted by a sin nature that is unable to comprehend love in its own power?

3. Why would God even bother to love man kind?

4. What is the state of helplessness to which Paul wrote?

5. What is the hope of mankind? (God’s sacrificial love through Christ.)

1 John 4:20

After all that has been said in the proceeding chapters, John continues to drive home one point. No one can make the claim that he has genuine love for God and at the same time hate his brother whom God has created. He is a liar to even claim to love the Father. John had just shared that no man has ever seen God. He could see the evidence of His presence in the lives of those whom he loved. Since man cannot see the Father except in others then it is imperative that he love those whom God loved. If that was not possible in his life to love those with whom were part of his family or fellowship then it would be impossible to love the invisible God.

1. How do we think the love of God can be active in our lives if we are filled with hate for our brother?

2. Why are we to love our brother? (God loves him and died for him.)

3. What is hatred of one’s brother all about anyway? (Pride)

4. How can we be pleasing to God?

5. What are the major shortcomings in our own life with which we must deal before looking at our brother. See Matthew 7:3-5)

1 John 4:21

Here John rewords the commandment he had spoken about earlier. He is about to move on to another important teaching that must be upmost in man’s walk with Christ. The people needed to hear again the command about love. Here he placed God at the forefront of any and every relationship. Man who says that he loves God should have God’s kind of love for his brother.

1. Why did John issue a commandment here?

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2. What does the commandment tell us? (That love begins with God.)

3. What is man’s part in the relationship?

4. How can man make sure that he is a follower of Christ?

5. How important is this command today?

6. What happens in a church when we do not follow through with the teachings of John?

7. How are we going to make what John has said real in our own lives?

• The lesson that can be learned from this study is that you must continue to meditate on God’s word until you believe its message is for you.

• Understanding God’s word will be your protection against the attacks of satan from every direction, the home, school, workplace and even the church.

• If you only learn one thing from the lesson today let it be how important God’s kind of love is very important to Him.

• You have a responsibility to love in a way that is beneficial to those around you.

• Be prepared for the false teaching of those with a world spirit residing within them.

The church is to be the ambassador, the representative of God in this world. This can only be done if we understand what He expects of us. Two things come to mind very quickly. He expects us to make disciples because He loves the whole world. He told us so in John 3:16. Secondly, we are to show His love by reaching those who are outside of His kingdom. He loves the lost and commands to make them into disciples and then those who are willing to serve Him. It is obvious that the way we love our brothers and others is to do all in our power to steer them towards that special relationship His children have with Him.

To do so means we are to understand what it to be a learner and teacher ourselves. It cannot happen unless we are willing to spend time on our knees and His word on a daily basis. As John felt it was imperative to repeat his message over and over again we must be of the same mindset. Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer in “Transformational Church” emphasized that the churches that are dynamic and growing believe strongly that every member be part of a community whose main focus is discipleship. Discipleship is having a deep love for whom Christ died. Let us love one another and help each other grow into a truly godly body of believers.

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Lesson 8

The Truth is Truth

1 John 4:1-6

It may sound strange to a lot of people but I enjoy the notes found at the end of a chapter or book. My usual practice, unless something catches my attention, is to read the end notes or footnotes after I have finished reading the material. It has been a great help in finding different authors and subjects to read and study. When I find a writer that has meant a great deal to me, and I trust that his writings line up with the Bible, I look to see who they have quoted as authorities. One author leads to another who leads me to another and then another. This has opened my eyes to astronomy, psychology, philosophy, theology, church growth and Bible studies of different types. The primary thing that is so important to me is that I can find the truth in what has been written. The thinking of the person presenting the subject must always line up with God’s word.

There is one place to which I can go that needs no bibliography or footnotes. It has never failed to present the truth to me after multiple readings. I am of course referring to the ultimate truth, the Bible.

An example of what I have just said occurred more than twenty-five years ago. A publisher sent a book for review to me when I was working in Purchasing. It turned out to be on Paul written by a Scottish minister named Alexander Whyte. His perspective on the life of the great apostle and theologian intrigued me. Sometime later I was fortunate to find a biography on Whyte in a group of books being sold in the library at the International Mission Board. I felt I developed a true kinship with him. He overcame many adversities and had limitations which I can identify. His early schooling was sketchy at best. He struggled with that shortcoming all of his life. In spite of that handicap he rose to be a leader in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. In your search for what to study or read you might want to use the model I have found helpful after all of these years. It might work for you as well.

The church must be on guard against false teaching that can permeate the literature and study material that is available to its members. An example of the kinds of things that are thrust upon people would be the “Light Tower” publication from the Jehovah Witnesses. The bookstores, even those who call themselves Christian, are full of books and magazines that promote humanistic concepts such the health and wealth lie. There are even translations of the Bible who have removed all masculine references to God and Jesus. All of it is compromise with the world. They teach that we must be tolerant and respect everyone’s belief no matter how untruthful they may be.

Whole denominations have drifted into falsehood, condoning homosexual lifestyles and even marriage between members of the same sex as well as many more egregious sins society has accepted. Others have become political in nature thinking that through power of the ballot box they can change the world. Sadly this approach has been a failure. They have not learned that God has never acted in that way. One of the greatest dangers to the church is the acceptance of the big lie. That lie is the one taught in the public schools and colleges today. It is the theory of macro evolution. I call it a theory because in fact it has never been proven to be true but has been forced on all of us by self serving anti theist. Rather than the Utopia that they have promised their teaching has brought about chaos and disillusionment into the lives of a vast majority of people in the world. These men and women promote their anti God humanistic lifestyle. This thought has even infiltrated the church with many its members also accepting evolution while trying to say they believe the Bible. It must be understood that one

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cannot have it both ways. To believe the Bible is to refute the the lie of evolution. To believe evolution is to destroy the facts of the Bible.

There is one last point I would like to make that has been as a result of what has been taught so long. Sadly, many in the church no longer believe that Jesus is the Son of God nor is He the only way to heaven. Jesus said that “I am the truth the life and the way and no one can come to the Father but by Me.” John 14:6 It is disturbing that the one place in the world where the truth is to be taught has turned its back on the truth and the giver of truth. We should not be surprised at the fact because of the things mentioned above that churches are be pushed to one side to make room for those with secular ideas. John wanted the churches to whom he wrote to know how critical an issue this was.

1 John 4:1a
To understand what John is trying to say it is important what is meant by the spirit. The summary of the Law given first in Deuteronomy 6:4 and later repeated by Jesus in Matthew 22:37 speaks to how man is to relate to God. At the very beginning the writers said that man is to love God with all of his heart then soul, mind and strength. The heart or spirit is emphasized because it is the core of who man is from which flows everything else he says or does.

Dallas Willard in his book “Renovation of the Heart” defines the heart or spirit as being “that spiritual place within us which outlook, choices and actions come has been formed by a world away from God. Now it must be transformed.” (Pg. 14)

John wrote in John 2:24-25, “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”

John was writing to those for whom he had a deep love and concern. He knew how easy it was for them to be swayed by the latest teaching and fad. Therefore he was issuing a warning that they need to heed if there hearts were to remain right before God. Spiritual transformation comes when man aligns the human spirit with the Spirit of God and begins to live the righteous life before man and the Father.

The first thing he told them was not to believe or trust in everything they heard from mere man. Before one could trust in what he heard did that man have a godly or worldly spirit agenda. As he had said before there were those with the people were very familiar had chosen darkness over the light. He had called the believers to walk in the Light of Christ. In his day as it is today there were those who tried to lead followers of Christ astray with false teachings. New believers are especially vulnerable but no man is exempt from following into that trap. I spoke of some of those with we are familiar in our world in my opening remarks.

He then goes on to say that they are to examine everything that they heard in light of the revelation that God had given them in the Old Testament and the gospel. They were to lay the teaching of the Scripture side by side with what they were hearing from those within the church to determine whether what they were hearing was true.

1. Why did the writers of Scripture under the influence of the Holy Spirit believe it important to list the heart first? (It is from the heart or the spirit of man that every other aspect of man flows.)

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2. Why was John so concerned about what the people heard? (Because of his deep and abiding

   love for them.)

3. Why did Jesus not entrust Himself to any man? (He knew the evil that was in the heart of man apart from God.)

4. What does that say to us? (We are to be careful whom we trust with our spiritual life.)

5. What did John call the churches to do?

6. What did he mean by telling them not to believe every spirit? (There are those who would have harmed them with their teaching.)

7. What is the responsibility to which John called those early Christians, and which we must heed, in our day concerning what is put forth as truth today? (It is imperative that everything that is said or written be examined and tested against God’s word, for it is the only source of truth upon which man can rely.)

1 John 4:1b

Many of the teachers or members had proven themselves unreliable and had left the church to spread their false teachings in other places. John said they were not from God. They had been proven to be speaking the words of man and thus from the devil. The false teachers will always find a people willing to believe their lies especially if they are predisposed to that kind of thinking.

1. Why did John especially state that some men were not from God? (Their teachings were false.)

2. Why did some teachers who were not of God feel it necessary to leave the churches to whom God was writing? (They had been exposed as speaking things of darkness and not of God.)

3. What examples are there of these kind of men in the church world of today?

4. How do we expose them for what they are?

5. Why is so important to do so? (So their influence cannot lead people astray.)

1 John 4:2

There is a test John used to determine whether the person speaking or writing had the inner qualities of life in order to be believed. It would become very clear by what they were willing to state about their own lives whether they could trusted. John said the criteria for any man was his stand on Jesus Christ. If he or she was willing to confess that Jesus had truly come as man then that person was from God.

1. What was the litmus test for anyone sharing within the church? (Jesus had come in the flesh.)

2. Why was this so important? (Remember that there were those who were teaching that Jesus was only spirit and not truly man.)

3. How does this same test apply to your life?

4. Why must this issue being once and for all settled in your life? (Without believing that Jesus was the God/man who died for us one cannot be saved)

1 John 4:3

John emphasized that there were those of an opposite viewpoint. They did not accept either the humanity of Jesus or in some cases His divinity. In no way were they to be considered from God. He went on to use even stronger language by declaring that they were men how had the spirit of the antichrist. Once again he warned them that the antichrist was coming in the future. Although, the final embodiment of the antichrist was still far off in the future his spirit was alive in the hearts of men who

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were attempting to mislead the body of Christ. All one has to do is look at the chaotic condition of the world from John’s day until now to see the devil hard at work.

1. Why did John present the opposite viewpoint? (To reinforce the importance have making the distinction between those with a godly spirit and that of the antichrist.)

2. Why did John use the term antichrist? (Those who do not see Christ as He truly is are doing the work of the devil.)

3. Why did John speak of the antichrist who is to come at the end of the age? (To assure them that indeed the end was going to come and the events that were to be a part of it.)

4. Who are some today who are doing the work of the antichrist?

5. How did we recognize them?

6. How do we guard ourselves against the influence of them?

1 John 4:4

His next words to the people would be an encouragement to continue living as they were. He was emphatic that they were children of God. They had not heeded the false teachings and thus had victory over them. The greatest assurance that he could give them was that God was more powerful than any force that would come against them from the world system under the control of satan. Paul put it so well when he said, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) He went on to say that there is nothing or no one who, “will be able to separate us from the , which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39) Both men seem to be saying that the faith of man cannot be destroyed by anything that satan might try.

1. How were those words an encouragement to the churches? (He made sure they understood that they were God’s children.)

2. What was the result of being children of God? (They had overcome the attempts of the devil to enslave them.)

3. What did John mean by his statement about God being in them? (God is more powerful than anything that satan’s workers of evil can throw at you.)

4. In what ways do you show that you believe this fact?

5. What are some indications in your life that you have trouble accepting this fact that God is greater than the devil and the devil cannot touch you in a way to destroy your faith?

6. How does the teachings of Paul in Roman’s 8 line up with what John has to say here?

7. What other verses assure you that God has been victorious in your life?

1 John 4:5

Those who are not of God do have influence in the lives of like minded people. The antichrists are of the world and anyone who has a spirit opposed to God is willing to listen to them and follow their teaching of lies.

1. What did John want to make clear? (Not everyone is of God or is willing to listen to the good news that He has for them.)

2. Why are people willing to listen to the antichrists? (It suits their lifestyle and agenda.)

3. Why is it so difficult to reach people like that for Christ? (They are under the influence of the satan and his world system which appears to be so attractive.)

4. How can we refute their lies? (By showing how the true child lives.)

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1 John 4:6

Once again John reinforced the fact that they were of God because they are not like those who are of the world in their actions and willingness to listen to those promoting the world’s values. One of the evidences that a person was of God is that he or she listened to the teaching of men like John who had been with and heard all that Jesus had taught. Those who were opposed to God did not heed the words of men like John and Paul. It was evident that they were not part of God’s family.

John began speaking about testing the spirit of man. He concluded with the final verdict. The trial had taken place the exam given and those who listened to the truth were given the passing grade of belonging to God’s kingdom. Those who failed the test were condemned to live a life in a world system under the control of satan.

1. How does man who is not of the world compare to the one who has bought in its system?

2. How do we know if a man is of God? (He listens and makes His word a part of his life)

3. What do those of the world believe? (The lies and false promises of the devil that leads to death.)

4. What was John’s final verdict concerning the spirit of man?

5. What is the verdict for your own life?

6. In what ways do you continually tests the spirits?

7. What are the consequences of failure to past the test?

• Continue to seek discernment from God for the ability to test the words of man.

• Stay in God’s word and compare all that swirls around against it.

• Live a life that is an example of a person who is walking with God.

• Be careful that the seemingly attractiveness and pleasures of this world do not lure you away from God.

• Pray that your words and deeds will influence others to want to know Christ.

• Always, even in the face of great adversity, remember that greater is the God and Son who is in you than the antichrists who are trying to turn the world against God. The victory is ours because we are on the winning side.

We must be ever vigilant against the subtle ways that the devil attempts to worm his way into the church. Our teaching and preaching must be based solidly on the word of God. When we are not in the building it must be imperative that we understand that the church is wherever its people are dispersed into the world. The gathering place must always be where each person is strengthened in a way that he or she can be victorious in the world. This cannot happen where there is strife or division. It can only occur where the truth is taught bringing about the unity that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 4:4-6 where he said, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

We dare not fail the test of examining the teaching of man to make sure that they are speaking the true. To be led astray has consequences that are eternal. Our part is to make sure that we follow the example given to Timothy by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2. He wrote, “The things that you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses , entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Let us be those who are faithful disciples who are able to disciple others in the truth.

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Lesson 7

True Love on Display

1 John 3:11-24

The one thing that seems to be lacking in our world today is true agape love. Thankfully, there are some major exceptions where you would expect to find it. For example I love my family with all my heart and would do almost anything for them. That love would exclude doing what would be illegal or unethical. In other words I would never condone or do for them what I consider open rebellion to God. The other place that I find genuine agape and brotherly love is in the church. I truly believe that sometimes one becomes closer to those in the body of Christ than his or her own blood relatives.

My brother who is four years younger than I now lives in Arkansas. Growing up, the age difference meant we were pretty much went our separate ways. He had his friends and I was involved in activities with young people my age and he was not included because I considered him too young. We therefore, much to my sorrow and for which much of the blame falls on me, we never became really close. Both of us as Proverbs tells us have found that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24) and “Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.” (Proverbs 27:10) I know there are those to whom I can go when something goes wrong and they will be there for me. Of course this does not mean that I do not love my brother. I would never want to have the attitude of the men about which John spoke. I always want the very best for him even though I do not find myself a part of what is happening in his life.

Sadly churches today have not heeded the admonition found in John’s letter. We hear of church splits and strife all the time. Leaders are being asked to leave because influential individuals in the church are at odds with what they believe should be happening. It sometime erupts into open warfare that has the possibility totally destroying the body. This is not what Christ intended for His church to be. If those who are called the children can not get along how do we expect the rest of the world to act in kindness towards others. The seeded hatred that has been instilled into the very fabric of many cultures over hundreds and thousands of years is not easily changed. This same kind of hatred has sometimes been built up between members of churches for years. They not only have distain for each other but seeks allies to their way of thinking to the detriment to the expansion of God’s kingdom in the world. John was not going to have anything to do with men who had that kind of attitude toward others. He understood that those people did not have the proper relationship with each other or God. He wrote to bring attention to their failures.

1 John 3:11-12

At the end of verse 10 John wrote to the churches that the person who hates his brother had no relationship with the Father. He then goes on to point out that what he was saying was not a new message but one they had heard from all who had taught them over and over again. They were called to love one another. The perfect example of one who did not follow the command was Cain who killed his brother Abel out hatred brought on by jealousy. God had accepted the sacrifice of Abel but had rejected the one Cain presented. His response showed the kind of behavior of one controlled by satan. As John had said previously Cain took his cue from the devil who had been a murderer from the beginning of his existence. John could have not been clearer in his description of the action of two brothers. Abel was a righteous man and lived accordingly and Cain acted out of a evil mindset and lived a godless life.

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1. What was the important lesson John was trying to convey to the churches? (There is no place for hatred in the life of a believer?

2. What did Cain’s actions say about him?

3. Why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s? (Because Abel was a righteous man while Cain was a man of evil thoughts and intent.)

4. What are some of the ways that you find you are like both men?

5. How can we make sure that we have the character of Abel?

1 John 3:13-14

Using the picture of Abel and Cain. Cain would represent the world and therefore could never understand someone like Abel. In the same way the world in which the believer of John’s lived hated them because the followers of Christ lived in the light and not the darkness of evil. The one who truly loved his brother was the person who exemplified the one who had like Colossians 1:13 says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transfer us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Man was once dead but had been made alive because he loved the one who he could see. Again mentioned that to hate was to abide in death.

1. In what way does verse 13 paint a picture of the world in which every believer lives?

2. Why is there such a contrast between the followers of Christ and the world? (One is in the light the other lives in darkness?

3. What has God done for us? (See Colossians 1:13)

4. What is one of the reasons that man is called to love his brother? (We have to get along with those with whom we are in constant contact. If we cannot love them how can we expect to love the One we cannot see?)

5. Why did John continue to emphasize the fact that to hate excludes a person from going to heaven? (It may seem a strange answer, but the one who hates will never be happy in a place where love rules.)

1 John 3:15

John used pretty strong language when describing someone who hates his brother. That was the feelings that Jesus expressed over in Matthew 5:21-22 when he spoke of murder in terms of attitudes toward another person. Jesus said that to destroy someone in one’s mind is just as evil as committing a physical act against the other person. No one who hates someone enough to take their life has no room for God in himself. That person cannot possibility of eternal life with God in his future.

1. Why did John state that to hate was equal with murder?

2. Who is one who would be called a murderer? (See Matthew 5:21-22)

3. What does the future hold for such a person?

4. Why is there no room for God in the life of a person who hates his brother? (To hate is to focus on one’s self and is an attitude of pride. One who hates thinks himself better and the other person as not deserving to live)

1 John 3:16

The answer for what love looks like is wrapped up in what God wrote next to the people. He said to know what love looks like is to look at Jesus. First of all He was willing to lay down His life for us. Then he made the point that if man truly loves the way Jesus did that he should be willing to lay down his life for his brothers in Christ.

1. What does love look like?

2. Who is the source of genuine love?

3. What did Jesus do for us that we should be willing to do for others?

4. In what ways can this be done without actually giving up the physical life?

5. Who might be a person for whom you would sacrifice your life?

6. Why do you feel that way?

7. How do you translate that willingness to others?

1 John 3:17-18

Selflessness is a practical way that one is willing to give of himself to others. Selfishness is an indication that the only one a person cares about is himself. He has no concern for the needs of those around him. This mindset shows clearly that God’s love is not present in them.

The old saying that man is not only suppose to talk the talk but walk the walk reflects what John wrote here. The way that man truly shows his love is by the way he acts toward another. James spoke about the same thing when he wrote about turning away the hungry and those without clothing. (James 2:15-16) In Matthew 25:41-45 Jesus said that the way to show love for Him is to take care of those who were hungry, thirsty, naked, a stranger, sick and in prison. He covered many of the conditions of man for which we have the responsibility to provide in His name.

1. In what ways do we show that we are selfless?

2. What is the attitude of the selfish?

3. What does the saying above say to you?

4. How did John express the same idea?

5. How do the passages in James and Matthew speak to your heart?

6. How do they address the relationship that we have with the Father and Son?

7. What other conditions would you think could be added to the list about of which we need to be aware?

1 John 3:19-21

John continued on with the idea of loving in the way a man acts and according to the teachings found in the gospel of Christ. Man can assured if he practices God’s love that he is living according to the One who is all truth even when he believes that he has failed miserably and disappointed God. God knows the intent and commitment of a man’s heart and therefore sees the genuine love and truth that has taken up residence in his heart. God’s forgiveness and understanding of man is much greater than a person can even comprehend. It is a fact that His love and salvation is not dependent on feelings but the fact of who He is and what He has done for man. It is a guaranteed that cannot be undone.

1. As Pilate asked we must also try to understand, what is truth?

2. How does the realization that we can live in that truth give us assurance before God? (His promise is to all who love Him.)

3. When and in what ways do you sometimes feel that what you are doing or have done brings condemnation to you?

4. What does John tell us about God’s view of those feelings? (He looks beyond the surface to the depth of man’s heart.)

5. What is the difference between the way we view ourselves and God’s viewpoint? (Many times

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we see life through the prism of feelings God deals in facts.)

5. What is our guarantee?

6. How do we know that the guarantee is real?

1 John 3:22

With the relationship with God well established man can now come before God with the request of his heart. John said since that is true that whatever man ask of God he will receive. The man who keeps God’s commandments and lives righteously before God has aligned his heart and mind with the Father and therefore will request those things that are within His purpose for his children.

1. What does it mean to you to know that God answers your prayers?

2. What have been an occasion when you did not receive what you were seeking?

3. What was your response? What did you learn from the experience?

4. Why do we have the privilege to bring our petitions to God?

5. What does it mean to align one’s heart with God’s purposes for man?

6. What are those things that are pleasing in God’s sight?

1 John 3:23-24

Two commands are given here even though sees them as one. In his mind there were linked together in a way that man cannot separate them. If one looks at the summary of the Law which we call the great commandment given in Matthew 22:37-38 it is clear that Jesus saw the two working together in the life of His followers. John wrote first of all “that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ” and then that we are to love one another.”

Everyone who keeps these commandments has that intimate relationship that man truly needs. The way that man knows that he is in God and God is in him is the revealing work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts man of his sin and then draws him to the Father to receive His forgiveness.

1. In what ways are the two commandments really just one?

2. In what ways is this also true in the summary found in Matthew 22:37-38.)

3. How do these two verses summarize what John has said in the first three chapters of this letter?

4. What has been one important lesson that you have learned from what has been studied so far?

5. How do you expect it to change the way you view yourself and others?

6. What gives you the greatest assurance that God is at work in your life?

• Look at the life of Abel and Cain to see what hatred can do to a person.

• Seek to understand the kind of love that John is talking about in his letter.

• Realize that to be a true follower of Christ will often put you at odds with those around you.

• Learn to be generous with others in need.

• Work at not just loving in word but in deed and truth

• Knowing that when you have doubts about your faith know that God sees you through the work that Jesus has done for us.

We are here on this earth to first of all to love and worship God. Out of that love for Him comes the second reason. It is to love those He has created in the same manner as He does. This means that we have to put aside our self-serving approach to life. The world does not revolve around us but the

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Father. He gave us His commands so we can live in relationship to Him and others. Unless we understand this we will lose our credibility with those outside the church. This love must reach across the lines that separate us into denominations. The important commandment for the church today is to believe in Jesus and then as an extension of that love to care for and love one another.

Lesson 5

To Sin or Not to Sin that is the Question.

1 John 3:1-10

Recently during one of the lesson on 1 John a young lady stopped me midstream of a thought be presented. What she said reinforced a truth that I sometimes forget. Having read the Bible as much as I have there is a tendency to take some words for granted. Her point was that we should all stop and approach each thought seriously and not gloss over them just because they have become so familiar. Every word, phrase and even punctuation marks have made their way into the Bible I read for a reason. Each of them are important and loaded with meaning. To take them lightly could possibly indicate that they have longer have an impact on my life. I am thankful that she brought that fact to my attention. For a while I will be conscious of what I am studying and reading, but will need a reminder ever so often that I am falling back into the same trap.

Their are a couple of approaches that I have used that have been helpful to insure that all of Scripture continues to bring God’s light into my life. One way is to view the book or text as if it is the first time I have seen it. Over the years I have found to write notes on a particular passage has forced me to see what God is trying to say to me. These note taking sessions have often expanded into a major study of a theme that in evident from Genesis to Revelation. Whatever technique one uses I believe that great effort should be made in our understanding of the Bible. If I don’t understand the instruction manual how can I live by what it says.

This is especially important some of the primary teachings of God’s Word. God, Jesus, love eternal life, compassion, sin, personal sacrifice and forgiveness are just a few that should hold our attention.

As in one’s personal life, if the church does not take seriously the teachings of the Bible and especially those of Jesus and the writer’s of the New Testament it will become weak from the lack of spiritual nourishment. There is an epidemic that is occurring today. It is the illness of biblical illiteracy. Most church leaders and those who study what is taking place in the church believe that we living in the time of which Amos spoke over twenty-seven hundred years ago. In Amos 8:11-12 he wrote of a coming famine in the land of Israel. He told us that it was not to be a natural famine of one of “hearing the words of the Lord.” It will be sad day if the church no longer sees God’s word as the reason we are an unique people in this world, but are no longer able to share the meaning to be found in Scripture.

If we reach that point we will not longer be like the early church who took sin seriously. If we lose the message that through the love of God someone does not have to remain in that condition then we are no longer carrying out the mission of God. John deals with God’s perspective on man’s sin nature in today’s lesson. Jesus said in a number of places, “He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 9:15)

1 John 3:1

After all that John had said about what God had done for the people there was one more important attribute they needed to understand. They needed to come to grip with how much love God had poured out on them. Once again the word used for love is agapao which is the highest form of the word. It is that unconditional love which wants nothing but best for the recipient of it. God had looked on his people and given them His grace which brought them into the relationship of Father and children. John pointed out that in fact the followers of Christ were God’s children.

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Jesus had told the disciples in earlier days because they were different than those who lived according to the world standards, they would find themselves misunderstood and ostracized by those who had rebelled against God. (John 17) Now sixty years later John wanted to help his children see that they would find themselves rejected because of their beliefs. The world will never understand what makes a Christian live as he does because they have no idea who God is.

1. What is the greatest gift God has given man? (His agapao, godly love.)

2. What is the result of that love? (we have become His children.)

3. What does grace mean for us?

4. Why do true followers of Christ not fit into this world? (The world will never understand God because He is opposite of everything they believe.)

5. In what ways do you feel different than the world in which we live?

1 John 3:2

One thing John did not know even though he was sure that all of them were children of God, he did not know what his eternal body and nature would be like. There was no way that he could fully comprehend the total perfection man would experience upon the return of Christ. He had seen the resurrected Christ but was looking forward to being like Him.

1. What was the one thing of which John was sure?

2. Why could John not comprehend what the heavenly body of Jesus would be like upon His return? (He could only remember the physical, though resurrected body of Jesus.)

3. What can we not know? (What our resurrected bodies will be like.)

4. When we discover upon the return of Christ?

5. How can we be sure we will be like Jesus?

1 John 3:3

Every person who had given his life completely to God would have the desire to wants to make himself

pure without evil because He wants to be like the Father.

1. What is the meaning of hope? (See Hebrews 11:1 It is the assurance that what God has promised is true.)

2. What is to be the desire of a true follower of Christ?

3. How do we go about cleansing ourselves? (To live like Christ.)

4. On what basis are we cleaned? (God’s forgiveness and grace.)

1 John 3:4-6

Although it is absolutely true that we have the assurance of salvation because of God’s grace the law is still in effect as man’s standard of living out his faith each and every day. Every man sins, breaks the laws of God. John is not talking about man’s failure because he is human. Jesus dealt with those who lived in sinful life calling them to sin no more. The woman caught in adultery was a prime example. (John 8:11) as well as the man who was paralyzed (Matthew 9:2)

He was writing of the man who consistently and with without regard to God’s law violates it as a practice. It is the man who camps out in the position of rebellion without the thought of repentance. Christ came to take away the penalty of sin for those who have accepted Him as their Savior. He was

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able to accomplish it because He lived a life without sin. John once again pointed out that a true believers do not make it a habit of sinning in the manner of one rebels against the Father. The one who makes it his practice to transgress the law of God knows Him.

1. What does it mean to practice sin? (It is the habitual and deliberate rebellion against God’s word.)

2. What are some to the ways that man practices sin?

3. What does it say about a person who continually practices sin?

4. Why can God not abide in that person?

5. What some examples of people in the New Testament who were called out of a sinful lifestyle and given a new opportunity in life? (See Matthew 9:1-7; John 5:1-14; 8:1-11)

6. What are some of the things you may have to give up to have God’s forgiveness?

1 John 3:7

The churches faced a real challenge to their faith from those who were promoting the false teachings of those leaning toward gnosticism. The fact they denied the deity of Christ opened the door for those professing their belief in Jesus to slip back into the worldly lifestyle that John had just condemned. He wanted to make sure that they stayed on the right path. He called them to practice righteousness as opposed to habitually sinning. Righteousness is the relationship that brings man and God together. Righteousness is to live according to God’s commandments. God in another place said that man is to be holy like He is holy. John called man to walked in perfection, maturity in Christ. To do so leaves no room to practice sin.

1. Why did the members of the churches have to be on guard?

2. What was the deception of those who were in reality antichrists?

3. What does it mean to walk in righteousness?

4. Why does God have a right to demand that we live that kind of lifestyle? (He is holy, pure, perfect and righteous.)

5. Why was John able to say those who walk in righteousness do not practice sin? (There is no time for or room in one’s life for practicing sin.)

1 John 3:8

Once again John was very clear on the condition of the man who continually practiced sin. In his words they belonged to the devil. He controlled and dominated his or her life and there was no room for God. One who is committed to Christ knows the devil is the author of rebellion towards God. From the very beginning the devil has sinned and he wants to enslave every man under his control. John in his gospel gave a clearer picture of the very nature of the devil. (John 8:44) There was only One who could stop the works of the devil. With His death and resurrection Jesus destroyed the control that the devil had over the lives of people.

1. How do we know that a person is controlled by the devil? (He continually practices sin?

2. What is the nature and character of the devil?

3. Why is it impossible to defeat him in our own power? (He is the great deceiver.)

4. How long has the devil been operative?

5. What were some of his first acts? (Genesis 3)

6. Who is the one who has destroyed the works of the devil?

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1 John 3:9

Repetition is the one of the greatest teachers. John felt it necessary to say what he wanted to get across to the people a number of times. His writing is a good example of the importance of everyone who calls themselves Christian to read, study and meditate on God’s word every single day. John ends of this section of the letter by stating one more time that God’s children do not practice sin because His seed Jesus Christ is living in them. No one who is truly born again will practice what is alien to a believer because of that kinship of Father and child.

1. Why is repetition so important in learning?

2. What was the one thing that John wanted imprinted on the hearts of believers?

3. How important is that lesson for us?

4. What are some examples in your life of this kind of learning?

5. Why it so important to spend a great deal of time in God’s word?

6. Who is the one who helps us not to sin?

7. What is the evidence to you and others that you have been born of God?

1 John 3:10

Although in today’s world it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between those who call themselves Christians and those who do not claim to know Christ. John said it should be obvious by the way one lives to tell the difference. The lifestyle should as light compared to darkness. Again he pointed out to live unrighteously indicates that he is not part of God’s family. A righteous man is to love his brother. One who does not does not love the Father.

1. Why is it sometimes hard to tell whether a person is a Christian?

2. In what ways should it be obvious that we belong to Christ?

3. Why does John once again repeat the idea that a man who lives an unrighteous life cannot have a relationship with the Father?

4. Why did John reference that lack of love for one’s brother as a breach in the relationship with God?

5. What have been times when you have been guilty of not loving your brother or sister in your family or in the Church?

• Strive to show the world that you are indeed a child of God.

• Always be prepared to meet Christ upon His return.

• Purify your life by confessing and repenting of any sin in your life.

• Do not habitually live a life of sin. To do so would indicate that you do not belong to Jesus.

• Study and meditate on God’s word so the devil cannot deceive into living a sinful life.

• Know that you are victorious because Christ came to destroy the works of the devil.

The church must take heed to the responsibility it has to win as many as it can before God’s clock ticks its last second. Paul was passionate about winning the lost. (See 1 Corinthians 9:19-23) One of the ways that we can do so is by living righteousness lives before those within the sphere of our influence. If the world sees the church acting the same way it does, except when behind closed doors, it will be difficult if not impossible to bring people to the point of salvation. We must know who we believe then do everything in our power to behave in a righteous way. To be righteous is to have a special relationship with the Father because we carry out His teaching in the world He has given us.

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What does a church look like that takes sin seriously? There can be no compromise with what the Bible calls sin. In any form it is a violation of God’s commands and a rebellion against God Himself. Each person must take responsibility for that rebellion in his own life and to make sure that it does not undermine and destroy the work of the church.

It is one that loves the Word of God and uses every means at its disposal is a body that disciples all the people from the youngest to the oldest that they may grow in the knowledge in order to serve the Father in a godly manner. Let us show the world that we want to be that kind of church which is the light in our community and the sharer of the good news that we have in Jesus Christ.

Lesson 4

Where’s the Church Today?

1 John 2:12-28

Fourteen years ago I went with a group of youth on a mission trip to Venezuela. There was a couple incidences that have stuck in my mind all the years. Both involved the actions I observed during the week we were there. First was how seriously the young people took their quiet time with the Lord. It was nothing unusual to find them by themselves with their Bibles open. Obviously the practice had not started on the way to Venezuela. Almost all of them came from strong Christian homes that had provided them the solid biblical foundation they displayed in a strange place.

The second showed their understanding of putting others first. They had observed that each meal many rushed to be first in line to get their food. Since there was only so much food prepared those who came last found that most of the food was gone and they had to be satisfied with what was left. A unanimous decision was made by the the team to purposely allow everyone else go ahead of them even it meant they might not get much to eat.

Both of these things showed the spiritual maturity. They did not do them to draw attention to themselves. It pointed out to me was again that chronological age is no determiner of spiritual maturity. That maturity can only come as one seeks to know God through His word and the teaching of those who have spent years growing in their own relationship.

As I have mentioned several times in other lessons the Church is under attack by the forces of society. In the body are found all different levels of maturity. To help each with the struggles that all face it is important to learn where every person stands. Only by doing so can we all become strong when facing the enemy. Sadly the church has become somewhat apathetic. Just listen to the conversations that place in the building or homes. Look at those who have never have anyone to encourage them by meeting with them and sharing what God has written to give us strength for this life. Unless we build each other up the enemy will win.

1 John 2:12-14

John dealt with three different groups of people. Logically the characteristics might appear to relate to specific ages Most commentators believe that the author was referring to spiritual maturity. Young children in both cases would be those who are new to Christianity. They have been saved thus sealed by the Holy Spiritual. There sins were forgiven which is the first step to salvation. Following that initial step they have begun to know the Father. They had just begun to grow and hopefully would become like the fathers and the young men.

The fathers had come to know God and understood His eternal nation. They were mature and were in the position to lead their families and teach those who were coming behind them because of their knowledge. John repeated that same description because there was nothing more to say about them.

He then turned to the young men in the faith. They had first been saved. The second thing John would say about them was they were strong enough physically and spiritually to act out their faith. Like the young people described in the opening remarks, they had a firm grasp of the Scriptures and made them an important part of their lives. With that understanding they were able to stand up and defeat the devil.

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1. How would the three descriptions fit different age groups?

2. In what ways would they not be totally accurate? (Age has nothing to do with spiritual maturity or maturity in general. See examples in the opening paragraphs.)

3. What is a better way to address the three classes of people? (New believers, mature and those who put their faith into action.)

4. What is the foundation for each one? (Forgiveness and knowledge, Living out one’s faith over a number years and growing from those experiences, Having God’s word abide in one’s life.)

5. Why are these crucial in the warfare with satan?

1 John 2:15

John turns from the characteristics of followers of Christ to the challenges to their faith that are present in the world. He admonishes them to not get caught up in the cosmos. The world itself is God’s creation and is amoral. John was speaking of the world system under the controlled by the evil. In the twenty first century it is best described as a humanistic society which is in man is in rebellion with God. The person who has fallen into this trap is alienated from the Father and His love has no place in that person’s life.

1. What did John mean by saying to not love the world or the physical things found in it? (He was referring to all that places man at the center of everything that is taking place. It is a humanistic and atheistic philosophy that excludes God from man’s activities.)

2. What is the word that John uses to describe such a condition of man?

3. How is this different from how one would describe the world in which we live? (The world is God’s creation and is intended for man’s use?

4. Why is it not possible for God’s love to abide in a person with a humanistic perspective on life?

   (The cosmos becomes his God thus leaving God out.)

1 John 2:16

There are three aspects of what the world has to offer. John called them lusts. Lusts are the excesses to which natural desires can become unless man is in union with God. None of the following three can ever be satisfied. Appetites whatever they may be are insatiable like a forest burning everything in its path. They are:

• Lust of the flesh which focuses totally on satisfying a person’s physical desires without regard to others. It may include sexual immorality, gluttony, greed etc. It would be anything which would give a false impression of happiness.

• Lust of the eye sees the world and all it has to offer as more important than God. It boils down humanistic living believing that only the material world exists to make one happy. John Phillips in his commentary on 1 John calls it “showy appearance.” The devil has packaged the fame, fortune and material possessions as appealing to man.

• The boastful pride of life which causes man to look at who he is as greater than any other person or thing. It is the total opposite of humility which understands that man is the created being and God is the Creator and Lord of all. When man puts himself in the place of God as he views the world he is guilty of pride. It is the sin of exalting oneself above others. Proverbs tells that the prideful will fall.

John concludes by stating that all about which he has spoken is a product of man who has turned away from God. He explained that all of the above would not come from a God whose whole nature is pure.

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1. Why did John believe it necessary to explain man’s approach to the world? (The influence of this world can a trap from which it is difficult for man to escape.)

1. Why are lusts insatiable? (Man focused on man can never be satisfied.)

2. What is the lust of the flesh?

3. What is the lust of the eye?

4. What is the boastful pride of life?

5. Why are all of these destructive to man?

6. How do we know that the evil desires are from man and not God?

1 John 2:17

The world under control of satan is passing away. A new day of grace has dawned. Man no longer has to be a captive of the devil. Christ has won the victory. It may seem a long time coming but the kingdom of God is already present. It will have its culmination sometime in the future. All those who through Christ have turned their backs on this sinful world has the guarantee that he or she will live forever.

1. What can be say about the present day order? (It is not permanent.)

2. What promises have we been given?

3. What is to be our attitude toward this present world?

4. How do we know that we will live forever with the Father?

1 John 2:18-19

It would appear that John was mistaken when he spoke of the time in which they lived being the end of time. The followers of Christ of that day believed His return was imminent. For John the revelation given to him would have indicated that all things were being worked out according to God’s timing. For everyone living today that plan is unfolding in a way that would have been impossible during the lifetime of John. It has been over nineteen hundred years since John wrote those words and the world is still here. This phrase certainly could be interpreted in other ways.

• For every person does not know when the hour of his or her departure might be. It is important to make the decision to follow Christ while there is still time on man’s life clock. For many it is indeed the last hour but they keep waiting for the most opportune moment to make that life changing decision.

• The world as the early Christians knew it would soon be radically changed. Persecution like they had never experienced was about to occur under the Roman authority. For the next two hundred years Christianity would be considered an outlaw religion. During that time it would be the last days as many were killed for their faith. Here again the decision to follow Christ was not to taken lightly. It came at a high cost.

John predicated his belief on the fact that those who were turning from the church were antichrists. They had decided that the church, especially as it faced persecution was not the place for them. Their departure indicated that they were not part of the true Church otherwise they would have not departed.

1. Why would John believe that history was in its last days? (The Jewish Christians believed that Christ was going to return in their lifetime.)

2. In what ways is each hour and day possibly the last days?

3. How did he view those who left the church as examples of the antichrist?

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4. How was the coming persecution a picture of the last days? (The world as the Christian knew it was about to disappear. The way they had lived and worshipped was to be a thing of the past. They would have to worship in secret under the penalty of death as an illegal religion.)

1 John 2:20

There was clear evidence that a person was a true believer. He or she had been anointed by the Holy Spirit. Secondly, he or she knew God. They had committed themselves to Him in an intimate relationship which was the basis for the way they lived.

1. What is the result of a person coming to Christ? (He has been anointed by the Holy Spirit which is the sealing about which Paul spoke in Ephesians 1.)

2. What is the evidence in your life that this has happened to you?

3. What does it mean to know God?

4. In what ways and anointed life from the ones John called antichrist?

1 John 2:21-23

Here is another “I have written to you.” Each time he uses that phrase he was doing so to let them know that something important was about to follow. He had said much to them already. He wanted them to think about their spiritual condition. He told them that he has written them because they know the truth. He then used the negative to reinforce the positive. They know the truth and a lie cannot be the true. The one who does not know the truth but is a liar is the one who denies that Jesus was the Anointed One, the Messiah. He who rejects the Son is an antichrist and because he denies the truth about Jesus does not have a relationship with the Father. He went on further to explain that those who confessed Jesus had the Father indwelling them also.

1. Why did John use the phrase concerning his writing again?

2. What was he trying to emphasize in these verses? (Their spiritual condition)

3. What was the important characteristic that they possessed? (They believed the truth.)

4. What was the truth to which John was referring? (Jesus was the Anointed One, the Messiah.)

5. What are the characteristics of an antichrist? (They deny the truth and reject Christ and by doing so the Father.)

6. What are the things that you believe about Jesus?

7. What are the consequences of denying the truth?

1 John 2:24

The reason for the letter was to warn the churches against false teachers who were teaching a different gospel. John was again beginning in verse 24 is pleading them not to heed what they have been hearing. He wants to return to the instruction which they received from those like Paul and others who were true apostles. They needed for those truths to take up residence is their hearts and minds sinking deep down into their souls. Only by doing so will they find God and His Son indwelling in them.

1. Why had John written to the churches?

2. Why was it important for the people to return to the teaching of the early leaders of the church?

3. Why is God’s word so important in our lives? (They are our only source for truth?

4. How should we view every other writing outside of God’s word?

5. What relationship does one who heeds God’s word have with the Father?

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1 John 2:25

The promise from God from the beginning is eternal life. This is the truth to which John returned to over and over again. In the gospel of John he spoke of it seventeen times. Excluding John the eternal life or some derivation is used an additional twenty nine time. This is the gospel the good news that came through the work of Jesus Christ.

1. Why is this one verse so important? (It is the fulfillment of the promise from the Garden of Eden that God would provide a Savior for fallen man.

2. What shows that this one promise was important to John?

3. How did the other writers in the New Testament see it?

4. What does this promise mean to you?

1 John 2:26-27

The letter was to warn against false teachers. They were the ones who consider themselves the source of knowledge. John told them they had already received what they needed to know from the anointing and the indwelling of Christ. They need not listen to the false teachers that had made their way into the churches. As Jesus had told His disciples the Holy Spirit would be their teacher and from Him they would learn all they needed. The teaching from God was the truth and not a lie. What they had learned would bring them to the point of putting their full trust in Christ. If man puts his total confidence in Christ there will be no shame in him at His appearing. Salvation gives that assurance.

1. Why did John continually warn the churches against the false teachers?

2. What do we need to learn to have Christ abide in us and us in Him?

3. Who is the one teacher we should heed?

4. Why should He be our only teacher?

5. How does the Holy Spirit impart to us what we need to hear?

6. Why do we so times get off track?

7. What promise did John make that would bring joy to the readers of his letter and to us? (By abiding in Him we do not need to be ashamed to meet Him when He comes to take His children home.)

• You need to understand that the only way to grow in Christ is to heed what the gospel says about Him.

• You who are more mature in the faith should be an example for those who look to you for guidance.

• Put away those things that will disqualify you from walking in the Light.

• John spoke of three things you are to avoid that will destroy your relationship with the Father. They are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the boastful pride of life.

• Be on guard against those who out right reject Christ and deny that He is the Son of God.

• If you do not understand a great deal just know that God has promised eternal life through His Son.

If we take up residence in the kingdom of God which John calls abiding we can be assured of eternal life. The church needs to understand that the focus of each of us is to help others to have a true relationship with the Father. We are not to be mislead by false teaching but be people who adhere to the truth found only in God’s Word. It is so easy to go astray with all the pressures of a world that does

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not know Christ. There are so many today who would find no greater pleasure than to completely shut down the Church. The people of God therefore need to be a light shining in a dark world. The darkness must not be allowed to snuff out the light because of our actions. Let us continue to walk in God’s light in the same way that Jesus did while on earth. We can show the world what it means to be a follower of Christ by be an example of His love.

Lesson 3

More than an Advocate

1 John 2:1-10

The first time the word advocate is used in the Bible is in Job 16:19. In fact it is the only place that it is used in the Old Testament. Job speaks of there being a witness for him in heaven and then calls that individual an advocate. Even in the oldest book of the Bible, actually written before Genesis, a man speaks of a representative acting as his spokesman defending him before God. A little earlier he cried out for that advocate seeking an umpire to rule fairly on his behalf.

There have been a couple of occasions when I felt I was vulnerable as Job must have felt. Sadly, I found myself disappointed with a person who I believed would defend or at least understand my side of the issue. I may have told the story before of criticizing some software which was doing what the manufacturer had promised it would do. My vice president called me into the office with the director of the department and my manager. Expecting my manager to stand up for me because he had experienced the same frustration as I, he actually began to side with his bosses. I narrowly escaped that meeting with my job intact.

I learned as the Psalmist did from the events of his life that we are only to put our trust in God. In my life I have seen when my world seemed to be falling apart that God was still in heaven and everything was going to be worked out in the end. Nothing that happens catches God by surprise. The sooner all of us discover that fact the more we will realize just how much He is in control of the situations of our lives.

Probably, the greatest disappointment a person can have in a church is to believe that no one truly cares what is happening in their lives. Everyone is too busy to take the time and listen what is happening to that individual. So many walk away because the needed and advocate, one who would stand with them only to find that they were alone in the midst of a crowd. It is so easy for christians to so get wrapped up in their own little world that they do not recognize of someone who is hurting deeply. Man will disappoint but God will not. 1 John is full of promises. They are there so that we will trust God and then to help others who are just like us in so many ways.

1 John 2:1

When a person is as old as John was at that point in life he could have easily called all of those who had come him his little children. There was great affection for the church in the heart of John. Once again he alluded to the fact that he had written to them. It was a reference to all the evidence he had presented about Jesus. They were to understand extreme measures to which God had gone. He wanted to make sure by emphasizing those things that his children not take sin lightly. It came with a great cost to Jesus. They as children were to live a Christlike life. Both Paul and Peter admonish the readers of their letters to understand that just because they had received grace they should never use the freedom from sin and death as an excuse to be disobedient to God.

John goes on to use two important word in reference to Jesus. One has already been mentioned in the introduction. It is the word, advocate. In the Greek the word is parakletos. It describes who comes along aside in the situation in which he might find himself. The Holy Spirit is often often described as the Paraklete, the comforter. A present day analogy might been one who goes into a court of law to

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defend a person against charges made. Jesus plays this role for man. As the devil comes accusing man of sins as one writer put it Jesus only has to raise his nail scarred hands and the devil is defeated. Not only does Jesus defend man but He is also the propitiation for man’s sin.

John ended verse one with a very important statement about Jesus which he had been expressing all through the first chapter. He declared Jesus as righteous. Everything he had written as was going to write hinged on that one truth. Without the perfect relationship Jesus had with His Father advocacy and propitiation were impossible.

1. Why did John use the term little children?

2. What was his concern? (He did not want them to use their new found life in Christ as a license to sin.)

3. What did John mean when spoke of having an advocate when we sin?

4. Who has been one who has walked with you through a very difficult time in your life?

5. What did that person mean to you?

6. What important characteristic did John express about Jesus?

7. Why was it so righteousness so crucial for what Jesus was accomplishing among the little children of John?

1 John 2:2

The other word is propitiation. Hilasmos is the Greek word that John used. Through the work of Christ man’s sin has been removed. Using the courtroom analogy again. Propitiation comes when the one who has the right to pronounce a sentence on someone steps forward and takes the place of the guilty one when the sentence is actually announced. Man is the guilty one but instead of paying the price for his sin Jesus stepped in and took upon himself the judgment and punishment for that sin. Man as Paul said in Colossians, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13-14.

John then emphasized that the work of forgiveness on the part of Jesus was not just for those who were the recipients of his letter. It would carry over into every part of the world whenever a person was willing to confess and receive what God was offering to him.

1. How does one is the propitiation differ from an advocate? (One who is the propitiation actually takes on the burden that you may have had or is willing to suffer the consequences of your actions.)

2. Why is the courtroom scene a good analogy of what Jesus did for all of us?

3. What was the great work of God described in Colossians?

4. What was the good news that John shared that impacts us two thousand years after he wrote the words?

5. If it was important for John to write the good news how have they impacted your life?

1 John 2:3-4

The evidence that man has an intimate relationship with Christ is by keeping His commandments. Anyone who does not keep what Jesus has commanded but claims to be His follower is called out as a liar by John. If a person is a liar about the most important things then he is an untruthful and cannot be trusted.

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1. What does it mean to know Jesus? (it is to have a close and intimate relationship with Him in every area of our lives?

2. How does man show he has that kind of relationship?

3. What are some of the commands that come to mind that you should keep? (Start with Matthew 22:37-38)

4. Why does Christ call us to keep His commandments? (They are to our benefit.)

5. In what ways is it obvious that person does not really know God?

6. What is the most obvious way to remedy that situation?

1 John 2:5-6

The man who different than the one mentioned about keeps God’s word. By meditating on it, studying it and living by it man will find the love of God fleshed out in his life. He will become a mature follower of Christ. The evidence that a man is abides in God is by his walk. He should act and speak just as Jesus lived out His life on this earth. He needs to follow up his claims of being a child of God by the way he carries out God’s commandments.

1. How does a man become mature in Christ?

2. What does it mean to keep God’s word?

3. What are some of the ways that have indicated to you that a person is truly walking with the Lord?

4. What are you doing in your own life that shows the world that you indeed love Jesus?

1 John 2:7

John almost seems to be saying that what they have been taught from their earliest years as important for them to follow. The old commandments about which he is writing may be those of the Old Testament. Jesus used some of them as the basis for some of His teachings as are found in Matthew 5:27-28, 31-37, 43; 22:37. The Old Testament references are found in Exodus and Deuteronomy.

1. Why would John refer to commands found in the Old Testament? (Jesus did not invalidate them in His teachings.)

2. What are some of the Old Testament commands that you might find in the New Testament?

3. How important is the Ten Commandments to you in your life?

4. How did Jesus make them valid for those among whom He lived?

5. If they were true for those people how important are they today?

1 John 2:8

After saying he is not giving a new commandment he then wrote that indeed he was doing just that.

It is a new day. Jesus had brought new meaning to the old commandments. He had shed His light on them. To carry out His directives meant that the darkness of sin was being the true Light who had come into the world. Darkness will always flee when the true light arrives. A spirit of grace replaced a time of the Law.

1. Why did John immediately refer to a new commandment? (All Jesus had done gave new meaning to the old.)

2. How did He give new meaning? (He dealt with the intent or spirit of the law and not the letter of it.)

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3. What did John mean by the fact that the Light was shining? (The kingdom of grace had been come.)

4. What happens to darkness when light appears?

5. How has your relationship with Christ chased away the darkness from your life?

1 John 2:9-11

The final point John was making now moves into the horizontal relationships. He has clearly laid out the verification of the fact that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. Then he covered the work that Christ accomplished as the Light of the world. Next he spoke of each man’s responsibility for his own sin before God. He also included how God through Christ stepped in and took what man deserved becoming sin for him.

That fellowship with the Father and the Son is displayed in how man relates to man. John deals once again with the idea of light and darkness. To call oneself a follower of the Light and then hates those with whom he or she lives everyday proves that person is still walking in darkness. To love one’s brother shows clearly that one is walking according to the commands of God and his love of Christ. Jesus spoke much of friendship in the gospel of John especially in the chapters following 13. Hatred will keep man from seeing beyond himself. It is one of the characteristics of a fallen man and can consume every waking hour of the day. Although now mentioned hatred is pride because one looks to his own desires and lusts instead of caring for those around him. If there is no light in one’s life he certainly will stumble and not know the direction to take.

1. What are the factors that should draw every man to a fellowship with God? (God and His Son are light and have done everything to show their love for man.)

2. What is one of the clearest evidences that man has a right relationship with the Father and Son?

3. When John speaks of one’s brother to whom is he referring?

4. What actions show that a person does not care for others?

5. What evidences are there in society of the prevailing darkness?

6. In what way is hatred a picture of pride?

7. How can we overcome the attitudes of hatred in our own lives?

8. What reasons do you think give you the right to hate others?

9. Who are some examples of those who you believe you hate?

10. How did Jesus deal with those who hated Him?

11. What can we do to be like Jesus?

• Do not take sin lightly remembering that it cost the life of Jesus?

• Be thankful that Jesus took the penalty of death that you deserved upon Himself. It is called propitiation.

• Work to be one to whom a person can come and know that you will walk alongside them in the difficulties of life.

• Seek to always abide in Christ knowing that by doing so He abides in you?

• Put away all hatred and malice from your life?

• Know that pride is the source for hatred etc. and know that God is the judge of others. It is not our business.

If man did not have sin in his life there would be no need of church. We know as humans that we can

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not go through life with sinning at least once. Therefore we need what only Jesus has to offer to reestablish a relationship with His Father. He is both our Advocate and propitiation for bringing us into the presence of God. First He is the One who argues our case before the Father and is the comforter in time of need. Secondly, because there can only be a guilty sentence pronounced He has been willing to take our punishment upon Himself. The church owes such a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. We just have to accept what He has done for what it is, the gift of grace. Since all of us are under the same penalty we should treat each other as fellow travelers along the road of life. There is no room for hatred but only agape love in the fellowship. We have to be very careful that we are not guilty of judging those who need someone to lift them up out the darkness in which we once walked.

Our church needs to be a place of light in a dark world. The unchurched will only see that light if we live in the Light and project the light into the darkness. Remember, Jesus stated that those do there activities in the light of day will not stumble. This an important responsibility that we have been given. Let us carry it out to be best of our ability.

Lesson 2

Out of the Darkness into the Light

1 John 1:5-10

Two experiences that occurred a long time ago have affected the way I look at darkness. As a child one of our fears is being alone in a room at night. Darkness has a greater impact if you believe there is someone or something out there trying to harm you. I realize now that it was probably my imagination but I had just that kind of experience. My mother had sent me to a store at the end of the street. It was dark and as I made my way I thought I heard footsteps coming up behind me. Afraid to look back I began to run as hard as I could to the store. The harder and faster I ran the louder the footsteps became. To my relief I made to the store unharmed. Inside were the owner and a customer. I told them about what I thought was happening. One of them went out and looked down the street and came back with the news that there was no one to be seen. You can only imagine what the trip back home was like for me. I just knew that behind one of the trees that lined the street there was waiting the person who would grab me. Since that time I have never liked being in a strange place after dark. To this day I do not know if I was just imagining those footsteps or if they were real. It did not matter because I just knew they were.

The second incident took place in that same house. In the summer time before air-conditioning people left their windows open at night. It was the only way to cool the house down from the heat of the day. In the bedroom where I slept my bed was right under the window. We had sold our house and were getting ready to move. Some of the neighbors were not happy and someone had actually set the field next to our house on fire. One night as I was sleeping I heard a noise outside my window. I awoke scared thinking that someone was walking around on our back porch. It was one of those incidences where I was to frightened to cry out or move. Fortunately, the noise went away and I went on back to sleep. What or who was outside I do not know. It however did not diminish my fear of the night.

In one of these situations the light of that corner grocery store was a welcomed sight. It was a safe haven from whatever was waiting to harm me. In the second one I would have welcomed the sight of one of my parents coming into my room with a flashlight or just turning on the lights. In both cases light would have dispelled my fear.

Today the church faces a much greater danger than my imagined perils. The world is growing increasingly dark and hostile toward Christianity. On every side there are attacks from within and an apathy that is robbing it of its impact on the lives of its members. There are many who not only deny the truthfulness of God’s word but are attempting to undermine the teaching of the church. Without the light of each of us is to display the world will become a darker place to live. There is a great concern of how society is misleading the young people entrusted to our care. There are those who have spent their lifetime working with young people are now beginning to take note of the problem and what the church must do to insure that the light will not be extinguished. We have too long allowed our young people to be taught in ways that does not equip them to stay strong in an hostile environment. Sadly, in the world into which they are going to be moving at some point, there are some brilliant people who only want to indoctrinate them with a world viewpoint. John understood that the recipients of his letter were dealing with the same kinds of people teaching things that would keep Christians walking in darkness. Last week John laid out clearly why Jesus should be believed and and why we are to be part of His church. Today he will give further evidence.

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1 John 1:5

John had laid out the evidence concerning the life of Jesus. Now He then used those facts to called on the churches to listen carefully to the message that the apostles had heard from from the Son of God. His passed on what He knew first hand that His Father, God very nature is one of light.

There is much that can be said of this description and it is wrapped on man’s idea of light. Light is brilliant, warming, revealing, makes things visible that would other be hidden. It exposes the flaws and imperfections that may exist in an item under examination. Aptly described there is no impurity in it at all. In the case of focused light, like a laser, can penetrate into inaccessible places and can destroy things like tumors. The smallest source of light can dispel darkness. Conversely, darkness can never extinguish the light. The only way darkness gains the upper hand is the light is allowed to go out. Because God is the source of light and is light there is no darkness found in Him at all.

1. Why should we listen to John?

2. Why should we pay any attention to the message that Jesus gave to His disciples?

3. What are the important words of Jesus that John shared that will impact our lives?

4. What do you think of when someone mentions the word light?

5. Why is the description of God as light so powerful? (Light has the power over darkness.)

6. If God is light what is the darkness to which John referred? (Lives devoid of the light in other words those who are in rebellion and desire to do those things that are evil and sinful.)

1 John 1:6

Words are meaningless unless followed up back a godly lifestyle. In the previous verses John spelled out that fellowship was active participation with God in one’s daily walk. John wanted to make it clear that those in the churches could not live in a world of light and darkness at the same time. If anyone tries to make the claim that he is following Christ and the ways of the world he is a liar. Not only that he is not practicing the truth.

1. In what ways can our words prove to be meaningless?

2. Once again what does true fellowship mean?

3. How does this contrast to the idea of darkness?

4. Why does John called those who say that they can live in a world of light and darkness?

5. In what way is this trying to serve two masters?

6. What is the truth?

7. How does a man with split commitments defy the idea of living in the truth?

1 John 1:7

There are real positives for every man who walks in the Light. Jesus is the example for every person. He who is the Son of God spent His whole earthly life living in the light of His Father. To follow what Jesus did would lead the churches to have true fellowship with each other through Him. When man turns his back on the darkness he will find salvation through the blood Jesus shed on the cross. It is only through participation in His done deed can man truly walk in the light.

1. In what ways was Jesus the picture of One who walk in the Light?

2. Why did He believe it was necessary to walk in the Light of His Father? (There is no darkness or hint of evil in Him.)

3. Why is it a important to follow the example of Jesus?

4. Why is fellowship with each other so important? (It shows our relationship with the Father and His Son.)

5. What is the outcome of this kind of fellowship? (Being cleansed from the darkness that pervades all our lives at some point.)

6. Have do we show that we are in fellowship with each other? (All being focused on the same Person.)

7. What is salvation?

8. What is the result of salvation?

1 John 1:8

The opposite of walking in the Light is walking the darkness. One facet of gnosticism was the idea that because they had a special knowledge that they had reach a level of perfection and therefore were above sinning. To these and those of today that called evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) John said to them, any man who made such claim was deceiving himself and was not walking in the truth. Sadly, this condition is epidemic in our world today because man has decided to choose sin over righteousness. Notice that John did not exclude himself from those who might fall into that false belief. Today as in his day these individuals would be called hypocrites.

1. What is the opposite of darkness?

2. Which of the the ways have you chosen to walk?

3. What is the danger of thinking that we have moved beyond the capability of sinning?

4. When are we guilty of calling good evil and evil good?

5. How does this verse relate to to Romans 3:23?

6. How does this represent what is happening in our world today?

1 John 1:9

Man can overcome this life of darkness by confessing that he is a sinner. He has walked in darkness and needs to come into the light. If he agrees with God that he has rebelled against God and repents then he has the guarantee that the Light will forgive him and cleanse him of all of his unrighteousness.

1. What must a man do to get himself out of darkness?

2. What does it mean to confess one’s sin?

3. What does it mean to sin?

4. According to John what is the promise of God to everyman?

5. What does it mean to be totally cleansed? (We are viewed as in a restored relationship before a holy God.)

1 John 1:10

The flip side of the opportunity to have the relationship with God men choose to look at themselves as self-righteous. John wrote this again because he wanted to emphasize the need that man has. Man cannot forgive himself but can lie that he has no need of God. A liar will not believe the word of God because his sense of his own importance.

1. Why does John repeat the idea that some claim that they have no sin?

2. What is the consequences of this kind of mindset?

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3. In what way does it exclude God from one’s life? (There is no room for both God and self in one’s life.)

4. Why is this man a liar?

5. Why will a man like that not avail himself of God’s word.

• You are to understand that there is no way to walk in the way of righteousness unless you believe in the One who is the revelation of the true Light in the world, God the Father.

• As you come to trust what the writers of the Bible have said about Jesus then His word will give direction to your life.

• Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior

• By admitting that you are in no way perfect then you are to confess your imperfections agreeing with God that you have come short of His standards for your life.

• Believe with all your heart that God will keep all of His promises to you and will forgive confessed sins.

• His greatest promise is that you can be cleansed from all that is darkness in your life and can become part of His eternal family.

Throughout the New Testament the quality that the church is to possess is light. We are to be children of light be the reflection of Jesus Christ into the world. Colossians gives us the promise that we are no longer under the control of darkness but are part of God’s kingdom. (Colossians 1:13) Ephesians 5:8 that we are to walk as children of the Light. Jesus in Matthew tells us to be lights of the world. (Matthew 5:14) These are just a few of the many references that we are to be full of the light of Christ.

In many ways the church can fail Him if we do not live according to His teachings. The world does not want to see the light or have it expose its deeds therefore it hates those who expose what it is doing. We can be sure if we are walking according to the light that we are going to meet opposition. If the world is letting us alone then we are not being effective witnesses for the One who came to shine His light into the world. John very early gave us the purpose for Christ’s coming. He wrote, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5) The word comprehend carries with it the idea that the darkness could not overpower the Light. We have this guarantee that our Savior can never be defeated. It is our responsibility, therefore, to live a life that reflects the victory that has already been won. Our sins have been forgiven and we now have salvation that cannot be taken from us.

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Lesson 1

What is the Message?

1 John 1:1-4

There is a strange phenomena taking place in society today. Maybe it has been around for a long time but now is more exaggerated in our highly mobile and connected environment. It seems that the whole world has become narcissistic. Just look at facebook and the other social media to see how so much of it is self promotion. Everything that is done is for the moment with no thought of the long term conse- quences. There is is even a new term for photos taken with smartphones, Ipads and even computers. They are called “Selfies” and they are everywhere.

The second thing that amazes me are the number of biographies and auto-biographies available, even in Christian bookstores, written by or about celebrities as young as their early twenties. How is it that a story capture who a person truly is whose only claim to fame is that he or she is an athlete or actor or race car driver and on and on can go the list. Many of them become one year wonders and are never heard of again. We are to read about and listen to these individuals as if they have some corner on wisdom because they can run or throw a baseball or football.

There is a story about the great nineteenth evangelist D.L Moody of whom it was said that he refused to allow any one write the story of his life until after his death. His reasoning was that some where along the line he might do something to discredit his name and bring ridicule and criticism upon himself. He even went so far as to destroy the majority of the his sermon notes to make sure that his particular way of writing things down to jog his memory as he preached might be misinterpreted.

I think the “biographical selfies” may come back to haunt these individuals just as some of the personal material that is written on facebook and twitter will follow them. What is written down or shown will never go away and each of us will have to live with what has been put out there for all the world to see.

The church has had its share of people who have had a large following. Many of them have had moral failures that completely ruined their reputations and the ministries that they led. Sadly, some still continue on as if nothing has happened in their lives that would affect how they are viewed. Celebrity is a dangerous thing. Christian leaders need to be very careful of how they present themselves to the vulnerable and those with a lack of maturity to see through the false teachings they share. Every one of us need to be very careful and examine what they do in light of the Scriptures.

I believe that John was in a unique position in history. He was one of the original twelve disciples and outlived all of the others by at least two decades. God granted him a privilege that only one other man was allowed to see and return. Paul had his vision of heaven but God was given the panorama of all that God was planning to do in the future. Both Revelation and the book of John were written late in the first century. The letters that John wrote were penned even later possibly within the last decade of that world changing era.

He had experienced time with Jesus, seen persecution of the church under a number of emperors, and spent time in exile himself. John was at the time the letters were sent was beginning to see a change in the church that was not positive. We get a hint of the drift away from the truth especially in Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

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The beginnings of a false teaching broadly called gnosticism was leading some Christians astray. Gnosticism taught that there only a select number of people who were wise and had had a special revelation from God concerning the teachings of the church. As we look at them with a critical eye it is obvious the such doctrine would totally undermind the gospel that had been passed downed through the apostles about Jesus.

Some of the most dangerous ones in some cases took opposite viewpoints. One taught that Jesus was not God but only a human being. They did not believe that God could indwelt sinful man. Their conclusion took a couple of forms. Since all material was evil then it was only the spirit that mattered so one could do with his body as he pleased. This is somewhat the attitude of today that my body is mine and I can do with it what ever I want. To the extreme this teaching would have destroyed the notion of the divinity of Jesus. Some then taught that the Holy Spirit had come on Jesus at His baptism and left at the time He was put on the cross.

John of course knew about all these heresies that were popping up in the church and wrote the three letters to counteract them. One last point that I find interesting that by the time these letters were written He had been shown what would happen to the churches in Asia minor including Ephesus from which the three originated.

The problems that John faced in the first century are still prevalent in our time. Atheism and outright militancy against Christianity is on the rise. There are probably more anti-Christians books available today than at any other point in history. His letters should be viewed as not just for the churches surrounding Ephesus but relevant to us today.

1 John 1:1

John begins his letter with the kind of evidence that would be irrefutable in the best courts of public opinion. He laid out for the people his own personal experience which had been verified over and over again in the sixty plus years since they first occurred. Without a doubt he was convinced of what he wrote. His first statement could mean a couple of things. He may have been speaking of the eternal nature of Christ on when he and the others thirst were introduced to Him. Either way the real issue was the understanding that John had of the importance of the physical evidence that needed to be shared with those who were doubting that Jesus was the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

The disciples had heard John the Baptist describe Jesus as the Lamb of God. Following that first contact with Jesus many of them would spend the next three and one half years with Him. During that period of time they would have heard the words of Jesus over and over again. The next thing John spoke was to verify the physical reality of the man. They had seen Him as a flesh and blood human being. Just as important they had observed all that He had done gaining understanding that this man was also the Son of God. To further emphasize His presence among them they touched Him as everyone might do to another person in the normal activities of life. With all the evidence before them they came to believe with all of lives that Jesus was indeed the Logos, the very Word of God, living among them.

1. What was the evidence that you heard that led you to follow Jesus?

2. Why was it important for John to present such a detailed description of the relationship he and the other disciples had with Jesus?

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3. What are the things he listed that would be proof enough for anyone to believe? (He listed the five senses that all of us use every day.)

4. What gave credibility to the message from John that is lacking in so much we read today? (He had spent a lifetime focusing on the gospel and what it meant in his life and that of the others who would read his words.)

5. What makes a person believable in your eyes?

6. By what criteria do you judge a person as a genuine Christian?

1 John 1:2

What John was doing would fit a scene in a courtroom. He is continually laying fact upon fact until there is should be no room left of who Jesus was. In this verse he spoke of the manifestation of Jesus. The Greek word for manifested is “emphanizo” which means to “shine” “bring to light” or “show plainly.” God choice to reveal Himself in plain sight for all men of His day to see.

Jesus came and allowed Himself to be seen and heard was that man may come to understand the eternal life He was providing through His death and resurrection. Once again John stated that the information he was proclaiming was not third hand. He had seen and heard the One whom God had manifested to them. John and the others believed Jesus the revealed truth. Having served the Lord for years he was proclaiming the truth as it was given to them.

1. Why did John continue to repeat the same idea over and over? (He wanted to make sure that the people understood that what he was sharing was not what he had experienced first hand.)

2. Why did he use the word manifested? (It gave such a clear picture that God had been revealed through His Son.)

3. Why is it so important to continually spend time in God’s word?

4. Why is it so important to memorize the word? (Makes one ready to share God’s word anytime and anyplace.)

5. Why would you heed the words of someone like John? (He had stayed committed to Jesus for over sixty years even during very difficult times.)

6. How well equipped do you feel to share about Jesus?

7. Why is his message still effective? (It has stood the test of time sharing the truth that cannot be denied.)

1 John 1:3

Having spoken the word so the people would find eternal life because of John’s witness, He had one more step the followers of Christ were to take. They were to hear the word, believe it, gain eternal life through its truth which would lead to genuine fellowship with other believers. The fellowship spoken about here is more than meeting to eat fried chicken and mash potatoes. It is to be an active participant with other Christians in the service of Jesus Christ. Koinonia, the Greek word for fellowship has one more important meaning. The church is to be bonded together to serve a united purpose. The way for each person to participate is for each person to use the gifts and abilities that God has given him/her to the furtherance of God’s kingdom. As John so beautifully put it our ultimate fellowship is with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Every person longs for the time when what has started in this lifetime will be made complete. God calls man to be part of His body working alongside Him to bring all people to salvation. Without being an active part of the ministry it cannot be said that one is actively become part of the whole.

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1. How did the citizens in Asia Minor come to the place of finding eternal life according to this verse?

2. What are the steps to having fellowship with other believers?

3. What is fellowship of believers?

4. What is the ultimate example of fellowship? (The Trinity)

5. What does God truly want for each of us? (To be a part of His forever fellowship.)

6. How have we misused the idea behind the word? (We call every gathering a fellowship.)

7. How do we fulfill the idea behind fellowship? ( We use our gifts and abilities in working together for the common good of God’s kingdom.)

1 John 1:4

John took the time to write the letter for one purpose. He desired that our joy be made complete. There will never be final joy until each person is at home with the Father. Meanwhile John, as he did in his gospel, wants the recipients of his letter, which would include us today, to not allow the circumstances of this world destroy the happiness that we have found in Christ. The world buffets man but God through Christ gives a peace and joy that overcomes the world.

1. What thanksgiving can we find in John’s words? (The assurance that we can have in Christ for eternal life.)

2. What does joy mean for the Christian?

3. How is it different than happiness? (Happiness depends on what is going on around us. Joy is the peace and happiness that can even be found in the midst of trouble.)

4. Who is the giver of true joy?

5. Why can man not find it on his own? (Because there is always conflict even in the hearts of man that keeps him from resting in God.)

• Look to God’s word as proof that Jesus came to earth in the flesh to save mankind. See Philippians 2.

• Learn what true fellowship means for followers of Christ.

• Be willing to use all that God has done for you in His service that the body of Christ will be unified.

• Learn to rest in God. It is only by doing so will you find true joy.

• Study God’s word to learn what God means by His peace.

Today it is critical that we be able to give a strong defense for the person of Jesus Christ. The proof that God came to earth is found within the pages of His word. Even though there have been others like Josephus who have written of Him, the most conclusive evidence has come from men like John who lived and worked with Jesus for the three and one half years. Almost all of the men who wrote about Him gave their lives in belief that Jesus was indeed who He said He was.

Now is our time to witness to the facts of Jesus’s life. We must spend the necessary time meditating, studying and reflecting on God’s word. It is important for us to know what it says so that we can follow the commands given in Deuteronomy 6 to teach and share His word so that he next generation will have the same fellowship with the Father with which we have been blessed. 2 Timothy 2:2 is also a strong admonition to teach faithful men so they themselves can teach others. Let us not fail in this task.

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