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?

Today’s passage: 1 John 1:5-10

Helpful thoughts:

• We are all sinners.  To say that I am not a sinner is to lie (even to myself) and to call God a liar.  We all need the blood of Jesus.
• Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
  • God is faithful to forgive in that anyone who would confess and repent will never be turned away.  When we repent, God always forgives.
  • God is just to forgive our sins in that Jesus death on the cross paid the penalty on our behalf.  God’s forgiveness does not nullify His justice.  Our sin debt has been paid in full!
• Walking in darkness means to continue in sin.  A characteristically unrepentant person cannot assert themselves as being in fellowship with Christ and with the Church.
  • Believers of the truth will progressively grow in practicing the truth.

Questions to consider:

1. Does verse 7 teaches us we must live a good life in order to get saved?  How would this verse compare to James 2:14-20?
2. If we believe we must be good enough to be saved, what will be our motivation for good works?  When we know and believe God has saved us by grace, what becomes our motivation for good works and righteous living?  Which one is rooted in love for God and for others (The greatest commandments)?
3. Whose faithfulness and justice do we rely on for our forgiveness and salvation?

Today’s passage: 1 John 1:1-4

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus, God the Son, has existed eternally.  He was always with the Father and then took on flesh to fulfill the will of God.
• God uses His people, communicating His Word, to bring others to faith.
• Christians experience joy in sharing the truths of our faith with others.

Questions to consider:

1. What similarities do you see in this passage and the Gospel of John 1:1-18?
2. How many different ways did the Apostle John refer to Jesus and how does each reference teach us about Him?
3. If you are struggling to find joy in your faith, what should you do?  Who do you know who needs to hear the truth today?