Bible Study - 1 John 4:1-21

"The more a true saint loves God with a truly gracious love, the more he desires to love Him, and the more miserable he is at his lack of love to Him."  - Jonathan Edwards

It's so nice to have you back again! We have been studying The First Epistle of John. This session finds us examining chapter 4 of the epistle, or simply, 1 John 4.

Prior to beginning, I'd like to briefly review what was discussed in our last meeting. How wonderful it is to know that God loves us! And, just being aware of this alone should motivate us to live pure lives.

Consequently, living righteously is to be hoped for once we perceive what sin is. After all, Jesus Christ came to prevail over sin. Thus, it follows that one who is truly born of Christ should not continue in sin (verses 1-9).

We also learned that genuine (true) righteousness includes demonstrating love for one another, just as He loved us. Which, as a result, provides us with a firm confidence that we rest in Him and are of the truth (verses 10-24).

Here in chapter 4, John begins by warning the Christians about false teachers in the world. It’s crucial to carefully give thought to the source and content of any instruction before accepting it. Don’t just blindly accept all spiritual declarations!

To assist with this, John provides some ways to verify their teachings, but it doesn't cover every situation. However, certainly those who refuse, or deny, even the basics of the gospel are not to be trusted.

John also reexamines the topic of love. He describes how authentic, godly love in the life of an individual is evidence of being reborn. One who truly loves God will exemplify that love towards others.

Conversely, those who don’t show love, at the very least, have no fellowship with God. Love was initially manifested by God when he sent Christ to us. Our love for Him is fundamentally grounded in His original love. Any true love includes action, along with feeling.

Outward love, both in feeling, and the treatment of others, is a characteristic that makes a Christian clearly recognizable. Real, godly love is persuasive verification of one being born again.

We receive this love from God, who loved us before we ever loved Him. If we live in obedience to God, true to love, we can be assured, and judgment-free, in our relationship with Him.

The main point is the importance love plays in a believer's life. Any who cannot love people they can see, cannot love a God whom they can't. He who maintains hate, but claims to love God, is a liar.

Remember, our actions and affections towards others, as Christians, serve to present how God is to the rest of the world. Our spiritual life is always under a microscope!

Here are some points to consider in this study:

• Determining what is the spirit of truth, as opposed to the spirit of error.
• Understanding how God's love ought to influence our love for each other.

Helpful Information: The answers will be found within the numbered verses that are shown. If you have trouble with a question, continue on and return to it later. Re-read the verse(s) as often as needed.

Opening Prayer: Dear LORD, as I prepare to study Your Word I pray for an open and accepting heart and mind; may it also restore, replenish, and nourish my soul, and spirit. Help me to learn and apply Your teaching to my life. Amen.

Study Questions:

1) Briefly describe the main points of 1 John 4, according to verses 1-6; and 7-21.

2) What is the importance of not believing every spirit? (1 John 4:1)

3) If someone is truly led by the Spirit of God, what will they confess? (1 John 4:2)

4) What did John mention regarding the coming of the Antichrist? (1John 4:3)

5) What did John write about their power to overcome? (1 John 4:4)

6) How does one determine the "spirit of truth" from the "spirit of error?" (1 John 4:6), see also: 1 Corinthians 14:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

7) What is the importance of  loving each other? (1 John 4:7-8)

8) How did God show His love for us? (1 John 4:9-10)

9) How can we make sure that God dwells within us? (1 John 4:12-16)

10) What do we receive in return for loving others as we should? (1 John 4:17-18)

11) If one says that he loves God, but hates his brother, what does that make him? Why? (1 John 4:20)

It seems as though our time has run out for now. We covered a lot of information in this session, and have one remaining study for this series of lessons on 1 John. I hope that you will join me next time!

Until then, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."   -1 Corinthians 16:13

Scripture: Romans 13:10; John 15:9; Ephesians 5:2; Jude 1:21; Galatians 5:22

 

Prayer: “Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”   - Psalm 136:26 (ESV)

Joyfully in Christ,

Bridget

Video Lesson: Out of the Mouth | Beth Moore | Minding the Store (Part 3 of 5)

 In this lesson, Bible teacher Beth Moore raises a few questions pertaining to our inner selves. If we are constantly storing controversy and conflict how do we really think that we're going to have peace? 

Our state of mind is a direct result of our store in heart. What we have stored has a direct result on our state of mind. It affects how we think, speak, and perceive situations. 

Many of us can certainly relate to this! Definitely worth some of your time to watch and hopefully learn from this inspired Bible teacher.

Key Verses: Luke 6:45, Psalm 41:4-6, Isaiah 33:6, Colossians 3:23-24

Enjoy!

~Eve

"Who's at the Door?"

“An open door says, “Come in.” A shut door says, “Who are you?"   - Carl Sandburg, Doors

Depending on which side you might find yourself, a door can either let things in or keep things out. Scripture uses “doors” to illustrate the importance of sincere, continual prayer to Jesus.

Let’s examine what this means for believing Christians. It isn't enough (or fair) to petition God for something once and then be done with it. This is a sad, but all too common occurrence when it comes to prayer. 

Jesus illustrates this point in Matthew 7:7. As the verse opens we are immediately struck with, "Ask, and it will be given to you;" Are you truly praying, or simply going through the motions?

I've had some tell me they've given up on prayer because it never works for them. Allow me to emphasize: God knows exactly what we need! It may not be what "we" want or ask for, but we can trust our lives to His decision. 

When we pray, He desires to see our true faith along with a dependence on Him for our needs. Together these bring an increasing holiness in a believer's life. We must never approach Him with ulterior and/or self-serving motives.

Here, too, Jesus provides more than a template for prayer. Continual and fervent is preferred over careless, undisciplined prayer. This also applies to the attitude we bring, as well (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). 

Moving along, Jesus next builds on this by saying, "seek, and you will find;" (Matthew 7:7b). We are not to aimlessly follow a path, but to "seek" God Himself (Psalm 27:8; 119:2). 

God isn't hiding from us, in fact, He wants to be found. When we are focused in looking for Him in our prayers, He promises He will found (Proverbs 8:17). Unless we actively look for Him, how will we feel His presence and strength?

The verse closes with Jesus saying, "knock, and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7c). Interestingly, he uses a familiar metaphor (image) for the action a need generates, and that is "knocking" on a door.

Think about it, if you needed something from another who is behind a door, what would you do? Knock! And if they didn't answer you'd patiently keep knocking until they do. Prayer works this way, too. 

As you see, there is a definite pattern here. "Ask, seek, and knock" is what God desires from us in persistent, and earnest prayer  Using our mouths, minds, and actions to communicate our love, needs, and faith to Him.

Scripture: Luke 11:9-10; Psalm 34:4; Romans 3:11; Amos 5:4; Lamentations 3:25 

Prayer: "And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."  - 1 John 5:15 (ESV)

God bless you!

Mary

Bible Study - 1 John 3:1-24

"We are not made righteous by doing righteous deeds; but when we have been made righteous, we do righteous deeds."  - Martin Luther

Hello, and welcome to the third installment of our Bible study series! In this message we shall examine 1 John 3:1-24. I’d like to begin by taking another look at what was discussed in our last study.

Because of our sin, we could never meet with God face-to-face. We needed someone to negotiate with Him on our behalf, and Jesus was "perfect" for the job. Jesus Christ is our “Advocate,” or Helper in heaven. (John 14:6).

He was uniquely qualified for this due to the fact that he was both human and divine (John 1:1, 14; Hebrews 2:17). This made Jesus qualified to act for both sides. In other words, to act as a go between with God and us.

It was also because Jesus’ sinlessness and innocence made him the “perfect” sacrifice for our evil and wickedness. This spotless Lamb of God assumed all of our sins and died on the Cross on our behalf (Hebrews 10:12).

Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection cleared the way to God’s presence. Only His death could pay the ransom to set us free from eternal death and sin. As a result, we can now know forgiveness of sin, and are freed from its destructiveness (1 John 2:2).

Here are some additional points to consider in this study:

John recounts the wonderful love God has for us, and that as His children, hope should serve to inspire us to live pure lives. Additionally, an awareness of sin should also serve as motivation for righteous living. 

We have learned that Jesus came to overcome sin, thus, any who are truly in Christ should cease from sinning. If one has true righteousness, this includes loving each other as Christ loved us. Consequently, we confidently and truthfully dwell in Him.

Helpful Information: The answers will be found within the numbered verses that are shown. If you have trouble with a question, continue on and return to it later. Re-read the verse(s) as often as needed.

Opening Prayer: Dear LORD, as I prepare to study Your Word I pray for an open and accepting heart and mind; may it also restore, replenish, and nourish my soul, and spirit. Help me to learn and apply Your teaching to my life. Amen.

Study Questions:

1) Briefly describe the main points of this chapter, according to verses 1-9; and 10-24.

2) The source of our motivation to live pure lives comes from..? (1 John 3:2-3)

3) John describes sin as..? (1 John 3:4)

4) Describe what is true of one who: (a) abides in Jesus Christ; and (b) has been born of God. (verses 6 and 9)

5) What sets apart the children of God from the children of the devil? (1 John 3:10)

6) What expresses (acts as) evidence that we have passed from death to life? (1 John 3:14)

7) What best illustrates true love? And, how should we demonstrate love ourselves? (1 John 3:16-18)

8) What provides us with the assurance (confidence) that we are of the truth? (1 John 3:19-23)

9) What proves that He dwells (abides) in us and we in Him? (1 John 3:24)

Once again we've reached the end of our bible study. It is my genuine hope that you've found this lesson both informative, and inspirational. As each study expands upon the last, I invite you to join me again next time! 

Until then, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."   -1 Corinthians 16:13

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 2:29; Proverbs 21:3; Romans 10:4; Romans 5:1

 

Prayer: “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!”   - Psalm 119:10 (ESV)

Joyfully in Christ,

Bridget

Video Lesson: Love Stores Up | Beth Moore | Minding the Store (Part 2 of 5)

Did you know that we all have a mix of good and bad boxed up in storage? In this second of a five-part series, Bible teacher Beth Moore points out that what we have stored up in our hearts will either sink us, or help us carry on. She refers to the following Bible verses in this video: Key Verses: Luke 2:15-19, Psalm 13:2a, Philippians 2:27, 2 Kings 20:12-19, Galatians 6:7-8. Watch and learn from this inspired teacher!

Enjoy!

~Eve

Jesus Is the Way: Set A Course for God

"The love of God is where man, acknowledging God’s goodness and favor towards him, loves Him above all things."   - William Perkins

At the end of our previous meeting, we briefly touched on the mission of Jesus Christ while here on earth. In a nutshell, this involved fulfilling God’s plan of saving "the lost," that is to say, humanity.

However, Jesus’ earthly mission did not abruptly come to a standstill because of his sacrificial death on the Cross. In fact, Jesus appeared to His disciples and others for 40 days following his resurrection (Acts 1:3).

It definitely was not an opportunity for him to relax and take it easy! Time and time again during this interval, Jesus taught them about the kingdom of God and the Scriptures, along with additional instructions and encouragement. 

Jesus also stressed some basic points regarding how lost sinners could hope to be saved. These were: through the repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:46-47); and the importance of faith and baptism (Mark 16:16).

We lost our once close relationship with God due to our sins (1 Corinthians 15:21). In order to genuinely experience that happiness again we require more than the forgiveness of our sins. Thankfully for us, Jesus provides that answer.

Again, the main purpose of Jesus Christ's mission was to reconcile (restore) our relationship with God. He was specifically sent here for that reason by God the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21). Indeed, Jesus shared this truth with all (John 14:6).

Have you ever wondered, “What is the importance of having a relationship with God?” This is not as uncommon a question as you might think. Let's spend a moment on this and see if we can clarify it a little better.

We hear a lot about having "eternal life" with God, but how..? When it's all said and done, we cannot honestly become familiar with the meaning of having "eternal life" without first participating in an intimate relationship with God.

And this is exactly what Jesus provides, or presents to us (John 17:2-3). There is no one, or anything else that does this for you and I. What's more, the "eternal life" he offers includes becoming acquainted with both Father and Son!

Up to this point, we've learned that the way to a better life includes: the forgiveness of sins, and a pathway to God. All in all, I would say these are wonderful blessings, wouldn't you? (Acts 4:12)

But let's not stop here! There's still more to come! And that's what we shall see when we meet again. I hope this teaching has blessed you; perhaps even enlightened you, and I invite you to join me next time.

Scripture: John 5:24; 1 John 2:25; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:11; Romans 5:21

Prayer: "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."  - 1 John 5:20  (ESV)

May God bless you!

Brandi

Friday "Light" - Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice

"The simplest word of faith is the deepest word of theology; Christ died for our sins."   - James Denney

 

The entire Old Testament alludes to The Great Sacrifice that was yet to come; meaning, Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf (John 3:16; Hebrews 9:12; Ephesians 1:7).

Webster's Dictionary 1828 defines "sacrifice" as: To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something. Thus, Jesus Christ represents the sacrifice (or price paid) as compensation for our sinful lives (Romans 5:8).

Bible readers are familiar with the various sacrifices that were called for in the Old Testament, still, none were more significant than the requirement of a "blood sacrifice." But, why..? (Exodus 12:13)

The answer lies in Leviticus 17:11 (NLT) where God proclaims to Moses: "for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible."

The Old Testament contains scores of animal "blood sacrifices" throughout. These were only signs of something yet to come. This being, the definitive sacrifice of which would function as an enduring warning to the Israelites that one cannot be forgiven without the blood (Hebrews 10:4).

Hence, the shedding of innocent animal blood pointed to Jesus Christ. It's important to stress that the blood of the animal, and later on Jesus, is the "substitutionary atonement" for sin. In the latter case, He gives us life through his shed blood.

It should be noted that the Israelites had no knowledge of Jesus, his death on the cross in place of them for their sins, or his resurrection. They did, however, believe that a savior (Messiah) would eventually be delivered to them by God (Jeremiah 23:5). 

If we fast-forward to the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament, we are also given verification of the representation (symbolism) of blood as life (Hebrews 9:11-18). And this, in the application of Leviticus 17:11 to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

A careful reading of Hebrews 9:12 clearly indicates that "blood sacrifices" for sin in the Old Testament were short-lived and only partial. As a result of this, sacrifices were repeatedly performed during the entire year.

The necessity of these sacrifices ceased with Jesus Christ, as he was the supreme, substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27); who now serves as our exclusive mediator (negotiator) with God (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 10:12). 

Jesus (God) became the "perfect" sacrifice for our sins. The blood of bulls and goats was never meant to do this (Hebrews 10:4). Only the one-time shedding of the his innocent blood was enough to make amends (atone) for the penalty for our sins (Philippians 2:6-8; 1 John 2:2 ). 

Scripture: Isaiah 53:4; Mark 3:28; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:6

Prayer: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  - Romans 5:2  (ESV)

Grace and blessings,

Margot