1 John 4:7-5:21 "The Recap"

Read 1 John 4:7-5:21.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." NIV

Yes, I am covering a long passage today, but most of the end of John's letter is a recap of all the beginning. Obey His commands and walk in the light; God loves us; we love God and one another. Jesus is God's Son, and His Spirit guides us in the Truth. If we love God and believe in Jesus Christ, we have confidence at the time of judgment. If we live in love with the Trinity, we have nothing to fear in the life to come. Our future is secure. We have hope.

With the uncertainties of today, so many people who were living for the moment or at least the gratifications of this life are floundering. They had placed such hopes in money, jobs, position, possessions and the permanency of it all. The philosophy reigned, "I work hard, I'll make more money. The more I make, the more I can invest in the money market or in land and possessions. The more I invest, the happier I will be in the here and now and secure for the future." That idea and false hope has fallen flat. Now, when you take these temporal pleasures away, what's left?

That's not to say that believers are not suffering with the economic crisis. We see people hurting every week from lost jobs and homes. But for those who believe, although disappointed, they can live in the hope of the Father's hand and a future not built on capital gains, but on a life walked in His light and an eternity in His presence. We will face troubles and discouragements here, but this is just a temporary home. We are made for so much more. 

Further Thoughts:

1. What do the Scriptures say about our security in our salvation? (Living without fear.)
   
2. Do you live in fear about judgement? If yes, why?
   
3. What does Jesus say about our responsibility in helping those who are in need?
   
4. So many people are hurting from the economy. What can you do this week to help relieve their pain?
   

1 John 4:1-6 "The Truth"

Read 1 John 4:1-6.

"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God...." NIV

It's interesting how history does repeat itself. John had Gnosticism to contend with and we have relativism. They take different paths, but end up at the same conclusion. They desire a religion that works for them rather than a relationship that is based on Truth. And John very clearly shows us how to recognize them. The Divinity of Christ is the key. I know many people who believe Jesus existed. They even admire Him and want to emulate His life. But that He is God and the only way to salvation? No way. That's where they reveal their true love -- self. The way of the cross is easily gained, but difficult to walk. It requires self-denial, sacrifice. It's a place for humility, not boasting. 

Relativism picks and chooses the parts of a spiritual life that appeal to them. God says that the path to Him is narrow and we must walk it if we are to live by His Spirit.

Dear Lord, open eyes so they can see the real Truth.

Further Thoughts:

1. What does Jesus say about the path of righteousness? List specific passages.
   
2. Is Christianity supposed to be easy? Explain and support with Scripture.
   
3. In what way did Judas and the Pharisees choose relativism?
   
4. Do you have someone you know trapped in the falsehood of relativism? Pray for them and share from your heart when the opportunities arise. There is hope.

1 John 3:11-24 "Selfless Love"

Read 1 John 3:11-24.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." NIV

John wraps up this section with a "So what?" So love one another like Christ showed love to us. People all around us today are hurting -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There are so many more hurts than "Band-Aids" to fix them. Sometimes, it can seem really overwhelming. There are some people who can think globally and start organizations that help many people at one time. Not all of us are equipped to do that. But we all can love one person at a time. Today, in this moment, I can make a difference for this one.

I thought I knew how to love people and that I was actually doing it. But I was wrong. I have always been a bit of a hermit. Being an introvert, spending time with people exhausts me. I have to plan in alone time afterwards just to recharge. Therefore, I tend to limit a lot of "people" time. God is teaching me the selfishness of that thinking. He is all about people and therefore so should I.

The Lord has strongly been working on this with me over the past 6 months or so. But it really came home when my mom died. I shared back then about what it meant for me to have so many people praying for me during those last 10 days with Mom. I literally felt the prays holding me up like I have never felt others' prayers before. Then the outpouring of sympathy and love was overwhelming. It truly showed me the value of "being there" for others. Well, I couldn't walk away from being the recipient of such love and not find ways to give back.

Since then, the Lord has really opened my eyes to people and their needs. He's helped me to stop and take the time to really listen and not offer solutions, but to give empathy, a hug, a tear, and a heart melting with another's heart. Don't misunderstand; I've not got this all dialed in. I feel like I'm just taking baby steps. But I know I'm walking in the right direction.

Further Thoughts:

1. Flip through the gospels and review how Jesus saw people's needs and met them. Does this challenge your paradigm of loving others?
   
2. Read this story.
   
3. I know I posted this song recently, but it really fits here. So here it is again. Give Me Your Love by Brandon Heath.
   
4. Have you prayed for God to open your eyes to others' needs? It's an amazing step to take. Just be prepared -- the floodgates will open, and it's messy.

1 John 2:28-3:10 "A True Heart Set On Love"

Read 1 John 2:28-3:10.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" NIV

This passage is a "Therefore" section of the book up to this point. We have been taught by the Word and walk in His light. If we do not walk as Christ walked, we are not of Him and need to confess. How did Jesus walk? - in love toward all men. He did not love the world, nor the things in it, but loved people. He lived out the Truth and now that Truth lives in us and we should never listen to anyone who says otherwise.

Therefore, the Father has lavished His love on us to make us His children, and we now are to live lives of purity for Him. Do we do that through totally sinless lives? No. We will all sin, but what separates the Truth-follower from those who play church is whether you occasionally succumb to temptation or you continually seek out sin. If you are seeking it, Christ cannot be in you because He does not dwell in the hearts of those who do not desire what He desires. Living in complete 180 degree contrast to the character of Christ just displays a self-gratifying, self-loving value and does not fall in line with the "right" of Christ.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us...." And I want to lavish my love on Him with my life.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is a biblical definition of love?
   
2. Do you desire sin and actively pursue it? Why? Do you truly want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
   
3. Look up passages where Jesus addresses sin and it's desires.
   
4. Listen to this amazing song about God's lavishing love.

1 John 2:18-27 "Truth Never Changes"

Read 1 John 2:18-27.

"I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray." NIV

This is an interesting passage because it is one of those that to be totally understood, you must know the context in which it was written and to whom it was written. Remember that one of the main purposes of this letter is to refute Gnosticism.

I want to focus specifically on verses 24-27. John says that we need to be sure that "what you have heard from the beginning remains in you." In their case it was the truth that the apostles taught them. The same is true for us through the written Word, but it can also be through preaching, teaching, and discipling that we have received. Keeping the Truth of Jesus Christ hidden in our hearts and not opening the door to distortion or doubt is our first objective. Truth does not change; our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. So anyone that tells me this is not Truth is claiming an evolution of Truth which is not possible. And that's a trick of the enemy.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit is our daily teacher. It is through the anointing within us that we are to be guided through the process of daily living. He is our True Counselor and Guide. The Gnostics believed that they had a higher anointing, but Jesus told us that each of us would receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He lives within us. There isn't a higher anointing than that.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is your initial action when you need Truth? Do you seek it from your family and friends? the Bible? Oprah? 
   
2. Can we have an absolutely complete understanding of the Bible? Why or why not?
   
3. What is the relationship between our understanding of the Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
   
4. Are you allowing any Truth doubters into your life? Why? (I'm not speaking about non-believers you are trying to develop a relationship with. I'm talking about people who are trying to convince you that Truth is not Truth.)
   

1 John 2:15-17 "The Pull of the World"

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

"Do not love the world or anything in the world." NIV

If we are to love God and walk with Him in His light and if we are to follow His commands from a heart focused on His love and surrender to Him, then we cannot love the world. John lists the things "of the world": 

"the cravings of the sinful man": These cravings would include desires that would satisfy the flesh but which do not honor God -- adultery, drunkenness, drugs, gluttony, rape, incest, rioting, etc. These actions are against God's laws and do not bring Him honor. 

"the lust of his eyes": This would include lusting after another sexually, coveting objects or position, all envy. Anything that would draw us away from God and focus our attention on craving personal gain that we don't have.

"the boasting of what he has and does": Rather self-explanatory -- pride. Placing your self-worth in your own accomplishments and possessions rather in the fact that you are a child of God and making sure everyone knows what you have and have done.

All three points -- the things of the world -- center on selfishness. It's all about me. Oh, when following this path, how close we come to mirroring Lucifer when we wanted to be equal with God. If it's all about me, then I am my own god and the "love of the Father is not in" me.

But this stuff here - the temporary pleasures - all lead to the same path eventually: pain and destruction, either in this life or the next. But if we keep our focus on God and His will, we will live FOREVER with Him. The choice to me seems simple. 

Precious Lord, help me to never forget the clear path you have laid out and why. Protect me, Holy Spirit, from the lusts of the world that pull on me. I desire nothing else but to serve You and You alone. Open the eyes of those who have not made that choice and use me to lead them to You.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is the pull of the world? Why is the enemy so successful -- even among professing Christians?
   
2. Would a consciousness of Satan's involvement behind the lusts of the world make them repulsive to those who continually succumb to its pull? How do we help others see the evil behind the desire without appearing judgmental and condemning?
   
3. Look up other passages on the Lusts of the World. 

1 John 2:1-14 "True Love and Devotion"

Read 1 John 2:1-14.

"Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."NIV

As I was reading this, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a friend the other day. We were talking about the way we were raised, and we both were inundated with do's and don'ts in the Christian walk. Everything was centered around if you did good. And I don't mean necessarily doing good for others, just doing good. Following every commandment perfectly and following some commandments that were man-made.

The problem with this kind of upbringing is it's getting the cart before the horse. This philosophy instills a mindset that "If I do right, I'm a Christian and God will love me." First of all, God loves us all no matter who we are -- believers and unbelievers. So there is one false belief.

Secondly, the order is not 1) Do good, 2) I will be loved by God. The priority is loving God. Then out of loving Him, I desire to follow His commands.

As I was reading this passage, I could see why it might be misconstrued to mean the opposite. But then I had this thought. In those days marriages were often arranged. Therefore, commitment to a spouse would often come before the love for that spouse. They would marry out of respect for their fathers and duty to their family. They would faithfully go about the daily actions of being married until one day they realized they love that person. I think we've brought this mentality into the Christian faith and it fights against out mentality of love coming first.

The order of events is NOT 1) I want God to love me. 2) I don't want to go to hell. 3) I will follow  all the "Christian" requirements and rules. 4) That will show God that I love Him.

If you take Christianity in this order, you will fail. There's no foundation for what you are doing. Eventually the reality of hell begins to fade; doubts come in because the enemy knows you are resting your faith on a house of cards. And you eventually stop following the "rules" because, why bother? 

The true order of events is 1) God loves me enough to die on a cross for my sins. 2) I love Him and want to surrender my life to Him as my Lord. 3) Because I love Him so much, I want to follow His commands. I know that He has my best interests at heart and created boundaries because He loves me.

Can you see how this process will last so much longer? There's a foundation that will stand and a message of hope and love. Unfortunately, I was 30 years old before I figured this one out and truly began living a victorious and productive Christian life -- one out of love for my Father, not duty to my religion.

Further Thoughts:

1. Are you trapped in the wrong mindset? Have you put duty to following right before actually loving and surrendering to God?
   
2. Compare and contrast the way I was raised (and the way many people view the Church and Christianity) with the Pharisees. 
   
3. Read how Jesus addressed this problem in Matthew 22:34-40. And read my blog post on this passage. Find other passages that support this same thought.
   
4. How has the Church become know for what it doesn't do rather than for what it does? How do we change this?

1 John 1:5-10 "The Light of Forgiveness"

1 John 1:5-10.

"This is the message...." NIV

I love this passage. It's so full and rich. First, if we are to have fellowship with God, we are to be walking in the light because He cannot abide in darkness. Can you visualize what we so often try to do? We are walking down a road side-by-side and God is bathed in beautiful light while we are trudging through inky blackness. It just doesn't work. To be in relationship with God, we must be walking in that same light. That means we need to shun the evil of the world that is darkness. We are to not be part of it in any way, but remain in the light as He is in the light. Calling ourselves believers and still walking in darkness just proves we are liars. It isn't possible.

Now I can immediately hear the retort I've so often heard from people claiming to be Christians yet clearly not desiring to live as one. They will say, "No one can walk in the light because no one is perfect. We all sin." Well, the second statement is absolutely true. We do all sin, and that's why the second half of this passage is so wonderful. You see, even if we are surrendered to Christ -- daily taking up our cross to following Him -- we are also human and daily fighting against the temptations the enemy throws at us. We are not successful in dodging those fiery darts 100% of the time. We do sin. BUT, when we confess those sins, He has promised to forgive us. Why is that? Because He is faithful and just.

He is faithful in forgiving us because that is what He promised He would do and He is never a liar. He knew we couldn't live an absolutely perfect life. That's why He has made a provision for us to ask forgiveness through the blood sacrifice of our Lord. If our confession is true and we want to repent of our sin, He will forgive us for our sin.

Because He is just, He will honor His promise of using His Son as the final sacrifice. Justice, in God's eyes, says that someone must pay for the sin. If we haven't confessed with a repentant heart nor truly desire to follow the Lord, then the Savior's sacrifice is useless in our lives. If we are not going to claim the power and sacrifice of Jesus Christ by yielding to Him, then we must accept the responsibility of being the ones to endure the sacrifice. Someone has to pay. The Judge has spoken. The choice of who will pay lies with us.

We all have the opportunity to walk in the amazing light of our Lord and Savior. He already paid the price. Don't make Him watch his sacrifice go unused. Surrender.

Further Thoughts:

1. Are you trying to straddle light and darkness? 
   
2. What changes do you need to make in your life to be walking in the light?
   
3. Is there sin that you need to confess blocking your way? He is patiently waiting.
   
4. Why can't we separate what we do with our bodies from our spiritual being? How are they tied together? (support with Scripture)
   

1 John 1:1-4 "The Witness"

Read 1 John 1:1-4.

"... we have seen it and testify to it...." NIV

John jumps right in to counter the false teachings of Gnosticism with an eye-witness testimony to the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. John and the apostles heard Him, saw Him, and touched Him and could say that Jesus truly was "the Word of life." So John and the other apostles were proclaiming it to The Church so they would not turn away from the truth to the lies being planted among them.

In a similar way this is exactly what we are doing today, but in a spiritual realm. If we have received Jesus as our Lord and spent time growing with Him, we have seen Him, heard Him, and even felt the touch of His Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who lives within us, testifies to His existence every day. And the power of His death and resurrection is lived out in the lives of millions who follow Him. So many want to deny the divinity of Christ, but His work in our lives and indwelling in our hearts is part of the proof of His divinity. We are the living examples of who He is and why He came.

So, like the apostles, since we can testify to the power and truth of Jesus Christ, we have the same responsibility that they had in proclaiming to others "what we have seen and heard." Our Lord is alive and well. He is still at work in millions of lives, and we must share the hope and direction that He can bring through a relationship with Him. We are the body, and we are His Plan A. There is no Plan B. If we don't tell them, who will?

Further Thoughts:

1. Why does John call Jesus "the Word of life?" Where else in the Bible is He called this?
   
2. What statement does John make to give evidence that Jesus was with God from the beginning of time? For what reason does he emphasize this point?
   
3. What of Jesus that you have "seen and heard" could you proclaim to others? 
   
4. What would have happened if the person who proclaimed the power of Jesus to you hadn't?
   

1 John 1-5 "Preview"

Read 1 John 1-5. 

1. Read background material on John. Who was he and who was he writing to? 
   
2. What is gnosticism?