Today’s passage: 1 John 3:16-24

Helpful thoughts:

• Christ set the standard for measuring love.  We know love because Jesus exemplified it for us in the Gospel!
• Our sins were not washed away because Jesus had feelings for us.  He did something!  Christ’s action in going to the cross paid the penalty of our sin.
  • In the same way, our love is exemplified not just in how we feel, but in what we do.
• When we see our lives changed and changing by the grace of God, we also see the Spirit of God working in and through us for the benefit of others.  It’s hard to see this happening in our lives and simultaneously doubt whether or not we have been saved.

Questions to consider:

1. We do what we do because we want what we want.  If we truly have a desire to be pleasing to God and to love people, what will we do?
2. How would you answer the question, “Can we get anything we ask God for?” based on the context of this passage?  What is true of the one asking and what kinds of things does a fully devoted follower of Jesus ask for?
3. How could this passage (Among others in 1 John) help you to minister to a person who is struggling with assurance of their salvation?

Today’s passage: 1 John 3:11-15

Helpful thoughts:

• In this passage, Cain is representative of unbelievers (The children of the devil) and Abel represents believers (The children of God).
• John 15:18-25
• Verse 15 does not imply that no believer could ever be guilty of the act of murder.  The point in this context is that no Christian will be characterized as being hateful toward others.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did Cain hate Abel?  What did Cain want?  What did Abel want?  Why was Abel right and Cain wrong? (Genesis 4)
2. What is the great dilemma for the Christian struggling with the fear of man when reading verse 13?
3. What must be true of my view of my identity in Christ to remain content knowing that I will be hated by others?

Today’s passage: 1 John 3:4-10

Helpful thoughts:

• Making a “practice of sinning” is ongoing, unrepentant living.  This is a person who will not submit to the Lord and is therefore acting as though they are under no authority (“Lawlessness”).
• Jesus did not come to give a free pass for sin.  He came to take away sins and to destroy the works of the devil.
• Christians do not stop sinning because we decided one day we really didn’t want to do bad things anymore.  We grow in righteousness because God brought us to life (“Born of God”) and His Word and the Spirit reside in us.   This is the work of God by the grace of God.
  • The use of the word “seed” helps us to remember that this new life is growing and changing.

Questions to consider:

1. Why does it make sense to call sin, “Lawlessness”?  What do we do first (In relation to God’s authority) before we commit a sinful act?
2. Is it possible to be a child of God and to live a life of lawlessness?  Is it possible to be a child of the devil and live a life of increasing righteousness?  Why or why not?
3. How could this growing “seed” in us be compared to the idea of being filled with the Spirit?  How do the two concepts communicate the same truth regarding our submission to God’s will?

Today’s passage: 1 John 3:1-3

Helpful thoughts:

• It should amaze us all the time that God has allowed us to become His children!
  • We are His children because God loved us (1 John 4:19)
• When we behold the glory of God in Christ through the Gospel message, it changes/purifies us.  The world does not know this love and therefore will not understand the change taking place in us.
• God promises that our purification will be completed. We will see Jesus in all His glory and be made to be just like Him. (Romans 8:29)

Questions to consider:

1. When we think about the Gospel message and God’s plan and execution of it, how much time and action was required on God’s part? (2 Timothy 1:8-14)  When did the decree and plan and work of your salvation begin?  When will it be completed?
2. What are some helpful ways we can think about/meditate on God’s love for us in the Gospel? (If you are looking for help in this, check out Milton Vincent’s A Gospel Primer or John Piper’s Seeing and Savoring Christ)
3. If what changes us is the glory of God’s love in the Gospel, what do we need to tell the world?  If we only tell them what we do, how often we go to church, what we abstain from, etc. they won’t understand…and that makes perfect sense!  What changes us will also be what changes them.  What do they need to hear?

Today’s passage: 1 John 2:26-29

Helpful thoughts:

• One of the methods of the false teachers was to declare they had received a special “anointing” from God.  Therefore, everyone had to listen to their instruction. (As if it were more significant than the Word of God or others’ teaching.)
  • John’s response?  You all received the same “anointing” when you were saved.  You don’t need special super-anointed people to do the teaching.
  • This practice of claiming special anointing and revelation from God is still far too common and accepted today.  Watch out!
• To say that no teachers are necessary at all would contradict other passages of Scripture.  What we don’t need is anything that goes beyond God’s people gathered together, learning from the Word of God.
  • God has given spiritual gifts to people for teaching (Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-16).
  • God has given everyone the Holy Spirit who illumines our understanding of the Word (1 Corinthians 2:14).
    • So, if a pastor or teacher teaches false doctrine, Christians have the ability to hear it, compare it to Scripture, and know it is right or wrong.
• Teachers who claim this special anointing and teach things that contradict the Word of God are false teachers living in active rebellion against God as they continue to practice unrighteousness.

Questions to consider:

1. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Why would we ever need more than what the Holy Spirit and the Word of God have given to us?  What is true about our desires, patience and attention that would drive us to look for something “quicker” and “easier”?
2. If a person claims a special “anointing” or “filling” of the Holy Spirit and proceeds to teach false doctrine, and/or practice Christianized fortune telling,  what should be our first concern? (Verse 29)
3. What happens to the proclamation of the Gospel message and the joy of our salvation when we begin accepting/preferring false teachers and their methods?  If our hunger and thirst for teaching starts to focus on the things of this world (“Do not love the things of the world”) what has happens to our mission and goals as a church?

Today’s passage: 1 John 2:18-25

Helpful thoughts:

• The last hour is being used as a term for the time after the first coming of Christ (Think BC and AD, AD being the “Last hour”)
• In the end, the one usually referred to as the Antichrist will rise (Revelation 13:1-10).  Until then, there will be many who oppose Christ.  The way John is referring to them, these are not worldwide known powerful people.  They are people who come and go out of our churches, all over the world, spreading lies about Jesus and God’s Word.
• Over time, if a church is holding fast to and abiding in what we heard from the beginning (The Gospel message/The truth of God’s Word) those who are truly followers of Christ and those who are against Him will be exposed.

Questions to consider:

1. What is the key to the church’s integrity (Integrity meaning, it wouldn’t take that long for us to identify if someone is a genuine follower of Christ or not…we would not be affirming people as Christians who are not actually Christians)?
2. What ways can you see churches in our culture struggling to maintain and uphold God’s instructions for us?  What is behind those struggles (The end of verse 21)?
3. Does this passage convey the idea of peacetime or is there spiritual warfare going on?  How do we possess the peace of God which surpasses understanding in our hearts while also maintaining a war-time mentality when it comes to the truth and the souls of people?  How does God’s peace equip you for the battle?

Today’s passage: 1 John 2:15-17

Helpful thoughts:

• It is impossible to love the things of this world and to love God at the same time.  You will always be loving one and hating the other. (Matthew 6:24)
• John gives three avenues for sinful desire:
  • The desires of the flesh – This is the natural internal desire of sinful man.  Another way to say it; “Follow your heart.” (Jeremiah 17:9)
  • The desires of the eyes – This world seeks to stimulate through visual appeal.  (Psalm 101:3-4)
  • The pride of life – We naturally desire full autonomy.  “I will be my own master! I can do whatever I want!” (Proverbs 16:18)
• Since this is how we are in our natural sinful condition, it will feel right to the natural person to pursue the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life.  People can feel empowered and free when they do the very things that will bring about their destruction.

Questions to consider:

1. If God called his Creation of the world, “Very good” and if He commanded us to “love your neighbor as yourself”, what does “Do not love the world” mean?
2. What are some aspects/agendas of the world concerning morality and society that are directly at odds with God’s will and design?
3. How many different places have you seen or heard the encouragement to “follow your heart”?  Why does it make sense that the world would encourage this?  Why is it such terrible counsel?

Today’s passage: 1 John 2:7-14

Helpful thoughts:

• The old and new commandment is, love one another.
• Love is giving of myself sacrificially for the benefit of others.  This passage is not encouraging simple fondness for one another, but serving one another.
• Verses 12-14 contain reasons for and the provision of ability to love.

Questions to consider:

1. If love is more than fond feelings for one another, what does love actually look like in the church?
2. Why is John right in saying that this new commandment is not new at all?  What other commands can you think of that tell us to love?
3. Why do the truths in verses 12-14 enable us (and those who are older and younger) to love?  (e.g. How does our forgiveness enable us to love others? How does the strength of a young man enable him to love others?)

Today’s passage: 1 John 2:1-6

Helpful thoughts:

• Christians strive for holiness.  But when we do sin, Christ advocates (He intercedes) on our behalf.  Our sin is covered.
• Christ being our propitiation means that God’s wrath against our sin was completely satisfied.  There is no wrath left for us to face!  Christ has paid it all!
  • “…and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” could mean a few different things:
    • That the sins of everyone one in the world have been propitiated and therefore EVERYONE is saved (Universalism)
    • That Christ’s death made possible the salvation of anyone and everyone if they will believe.
    • That Christ’s death wasn’t just the propitiation for John and the original audience of this letter, but also for people around the world.
      • The first option (Universalism) cannot be true.  This same passage would disagree with that view.
      • The second and third options could both fit.
• When Christians do sin, we are going to characteristically be repentant.  When someone is being characteristically unrepentant, they cannot confidently back up their claim if they are trying to call themselves a Christian.

Questions to consider:

1. How does this passage help in the discussion of assurance of salvation?  What would help a person to have assurance?  What would give a person reason to lack assurance?
2. How does the finished work of Christ give you motivation to pursue righteousness?
3. How does the finished work of Christ give you comfort when you fail and need to repent?