Small Group or Individual Bible Study First Letter of John ...

1 -7- Small Group or Individual Bible StudyFirst Letter of JohnChapter 1 John opens his Letter by stating that he is writing what he has seen, heard and touched. That heknows Jesus was a real person and that he really died and rose from the dead. God is light andanything opposed to God and the Gospel of Jesus is darkness. The message from God is that theblood of his son Jesus and only that cleanses us from three ways in which John had contact with the Word of proof does John offer the believer that Christ was manifested?1 is one of John s purposes for telling about Christ?1 Cor 1:9 - call to fellowship; I Jn 5:13 - reason he wrote1 two of the members of the Trinity having fellowship with one reason that John is writing this message is John passing on to his readers?James 1:17; John 1:4-5, 9, 3:19, 8:12, 12:35-36; Eph 5:8 - walk as children of light; I Jn 2:9 I Pet 2:9; Matt 5:14-16; God is Father of Light - Jn 8:44; Satan father of makes liars out of us?

2 James 2:14 - faith but no works; James 2:18 - show faith by works; 2 Cor 6:14-16; John 3:19-21; Proverbs 4:191 the basis of fellowship between two 2:5; 1 Cor 6:11 - washed & sanctified; Eph 1:7 - through His blood; 1 Tim 6:16; Heb 9:14 - blood of Christ superior to all sacrifices; Rev 1:5-61 are we cleansed of sin?1 is it possible for us to deceive ourselves?Jn 16:7-8; Rom 3:10ff; Rom 6:15-181 must we do to have our sins forgiven?Psalms 32:1-5; Psalms 51:1-41 often will Christ forgive us our sins?1 we confess our sins, what else does Christ do besides forgiving us?1:9_____Comment on verse 1:9 - The word confess is the key to understand what this verse means. (According to Strong s dictionary.) The Greek word used here is Homologeo. Homo means the same as and logeo means to speak or say . Confess here means to say the same thing. That is, to say the same thing about our sin that God says about it. It is not just saying we are sorry.

3 Only when we say the same thing about our sin as God does can we be changed. According to this verse, when we confess God cleanses us from unrighteousness. This is muchmore than forgiveness. Once we see our sin as God does, then we begin to be changed. Ourcalling is to be changed into the likeness of two conditions exist if we try to say that we have not sinned?Psalms 130:3- if God kept up with our ; Job 15:141 do you think it means when John says His Word is not in us?1 verses 6 through 10 of this chapter the word if occurs in each verse, five (5) times total. Each time it occurs it implies a condition to be fulfilled. Re-read each verse and write a one ortwo word description of the condition and what fulfills it for each if in each verse. Some ofthe modern translations are not phrased this way. You may have to use a more literal one :6if_____1:7if_____1:8if_____1:9if_____1 :10if_____-10- First Letter of John - Chapter 2In this chapter John writes so that they might not sin.

4 He points out that when anyone does sin theyhave Jesus as a go-between for them and the Father. They have known the truth from the beginningof their walk as Christians and the false teachers are not of the truth. They should realize that. Loveis a motivating force for Christians and hate is to have no place in them. He tells them there is acommon source for their temptations and it is worldly and of their flesh. a person does sin, what help is available to him? Jn 13:33; Rom 8:26-39 - intercedes; 1 Tim 2:5 - mediator; Heb 7:25 - intercessor; Heb 7:26 -righteous High Priest just what we need; Heb 9:24 - in the presence of the Father for us2 whose sins did Christ make propitiation (NIV: atoning Sacrifice)? That is: Met the legaldemands of death for sinners. Eze 18:20, The soul that sinneth, it shall die. (KJV)Propitiation is a very important word and concept. Occurrences: Rom 3:25; I Jn 4:19; Heb 2:17 2 may we tell whether or not we know Christ?

5 Jn 14:15; Jn 15:10; Rev 12:7 - mark of the Saints; Rev 14:12 - perseverance of the Saints2:3_____To you what does John mean to know Christ ? Does it mean being saved or being infellowship with Him? John 17 are we if we claim to keep Christ s commands when we actually do not?Titus 1:10 - empty talkers; Titus 1:16- unfit for any good work2 may we have the love of God perfected in us? Hint: we can t keep what we do not :5_____Comment on verse 2:5 - The perfect love of God will be in us only to the degree that we liveand think according to the pattern which is in God's word. It stands to reason that if we do notknow His word, we will not recognize the is our standard for walking (living our lives) as Christians in our daily lives?1 Pet 2:21-22ff2 appears to be a contradiction in what John says in vs. 7 then vs. 8. What do you think heis saying or eluding to? Note the last part of vs. 8 is the key to understanding John 1:5-6 - old command; Ro 13:12; Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:4f2 the difference between the one who hates his/her brother/sister and the one who loveshis/her Pet 1:4-102 three things about the person who hates his 4:19; Jn 12:35; Titus 3:32 is the cause of these conditions?

6 (This is why we should not be surprised when lostpeople live un-Godly lives.) 2:11_____Comment on verse 2:11 - Nothing moves us from God s light into Satan s darkness quickerthan hate. I cannot be led by the Spirit of God with hate in my is John writing this epistle to the little children? (Spiritually immature, new believers?)2:12 & 2:1(1)_____(2) the reason for John s writing to the fathers. (Word also means parents)2 does John write to the young men?2:13, 14 commands the Christian not to love two things. What are they? Note: the word for world does not refer to the physical world in which we live. Rather, it is used to denotehuman life and society devoid of three categories describe the temptations or sins of the world?Gen 3:6 - sin of Eve; Matt 4:1-11 - temptation of Jesus2:16_____NOTE: See the separate comment sheet for 1 John 2:16 & Luke 4, if it is available, for mycomments on these temptations. It should be after the last page of the 3:6 is the story of Eve s temptation and sin.

7 How do the three categories in 1 Jn 2:16 fitinto mans fall from life into spiritual death?Genesis 3 4:2-14 tells us of Jesus being tempted by the devil yet without giving in to the temptationand committing sin. Can you see how the three temptations the devil put before Jesus fit intothe three categories we found in 1 Jn 2:16 and Gen 3:6? (Jesus temptation also Matt 4:1-11)Luke 4:2-14 _____Page will one day happen to the world and what happens to the child of God?2 do not know exactly what John meant by the last hour , but what evidence does he offerthat they were living in it?2 is only one antichrist. He is mentioned in Daniel 9:26ff. But there were many around inJohn s day who had the spirit of the antichrist. He most likely is speaking of the Gnostics. Thespirit of the antichrist is alive and active today. How does John recognize those who have thespirit of the antichrist?Acts 20:28-302 is the believer and these false teachers contrasted?

8 Matt 13:11 - know mysteries; Jn 14:26- Holy Spirit teach all things; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor 1:20-222 made the distinction between the believer and those who have the spirit of antichrist,what further reason does John give for writing?2 Peter 1:12; Jude 1:52 is one way the antichrist will be recognizable?2 is the characteristic of those who deny the Son?John 5:23; John 10:30; 2 John 1:9-112 contrasting the antichrists and the believer, what does John tell the believer to do?John 15:4-7; Luke 1:2; Col 3:162:24_____Page has the believer heard from the beginning according to 1 John 1:1 & 5? abide in Christ really means to have a continuing fellowship with the Son. How do we dothis according to 1 Jn 1:7 and 2:5 & 6?2 has God promised to those who abide?Rom 5:21; Gal 5:22-232:25_____John 15:4 & 7 words these things are much like a therefore in that it points to something we need toknow and understand. What are the these things which are referred to in 2:26?

9 (I have heard it said that anytime you see a therefore in scripture you should look and seewhat it is there for. Other phrases which often point to something important we need to knoware these things or for or if , as in Chapter 1.)2:18, 22, 23 (hints) term/word does John use for those who are seducing believers and with who are theseseducers linked? (vs. 22ff)John 8:44; 1 Tim 4 safeguard do we have against the seducers of our faith?2:27_____32. You have no need for anyone to teach you (NASB) really means that anyone keep onteaching you . Why is there no need for any man to teach a believer, ie keep on teaching?2:27_____Page reason for abiding in Christ does John give?2 Christ is returning for us, what should our attitude be?1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Titus 4:82 happens to a person which gives the believer the power to live, act and even think asJesus would, and wants us to also? Or what gives us a new nature?John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Peter 1:42 does man need to be born again (re-born) to be spiritually alive?

10 Genesis 2:16-17_____Page -16- First Letter of John - Chapter 3 John tells them it is an awesome thing to be considered children of God by him. One day it will befully revealed just what it means to be children of God. We live pure lives because of thatmotivation. Jesus came to take away sin and lived a perfect life, not just so he would be an examplefor us, but that he would be the perfect sacrifice for us. The greatest commandment from God is thatwe believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and all that represents. We are to abide in Him andHe will abide in us. John pleads with his children in the faith not to let anyone deceive has the Father given us?Rom 8:14-17; 2 Cor 6:18: Gal 3:20; Gal 4:53 of the love given to us by the Father, what is our inherited position?3 we are children of God, what are we in relation to Christ?Rom 8:16 & 17 are we not known as Children of God by the world?3 what point in time will the sons and daughters of God be fully like Christ?