June 19, 2022

THE LETTERS OF JOHN: WALKING IN THE LIGHT

June 19, 2022

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Sometimes a memory surfaces and it brings us a special, happy feeling. Those are memories to cherish. Can anyone share something that happened that you enjoy recalling?

As we continue to study 1 John, we immediately see that the problems the church faced almost two thousand years ago are the same ones we face today. John was warning the believers to avoid those who were teaching false doctrine. Peter had also warned the church in 2 Pet. 2:1 of these people who were causing the flock to turn away from the truth they had believed when they were saved. Today the global world is in chaos, very confused about what is truth. It is sad that we who know that Jesus Christ can save people from an eternity in hell have been so slow to carry out the great commission. John’s summary is from God: if you love the world, you can’t love God. Our responsibility is to obey the truth and be committed to sharing it.

A Universal Message

  • Read 1 John 2:12-14. Who were the three categories of believers that John was writing to? Who did these three groups represent?
  • What did the “little children” believe? What else does he say about them? Why is repentance necessary for one to become a believer? Is this what enabled them to be saved? What else was necessary?
  • What do the “fathers” know? What does it take to know God? Will you ever finish that learning on this side of the grave?
  • What have the “young men” done? What else does he say about young men?
  • Why do you think John writes the same things to the young men and the fathers? Which category do you fall in, no matter your age in the faith?

Walk from the world, walk toward the light

  • Read 1 John 2:15-17. What is the warning throughout these next few verses?

What is meant by the world? Read Matt. 16:26. What is there in this world that is worth losing your eternal life for? Do you ever think of telling the world this?

  • What does John mean that you should not “love the world”? Can you love the world and love God at the same time? Read James 4:4. What are some things that are in the world that can take the place of your love for God?
  • What are the three categories of things in the world that one can love, and which will displace your love for God? Can you give some examples of things that fall under the “lust of the flesh”? And “the lust of the eyes”? And “the pride of life”? Read Mark 4:18-20. How is this the same concept that Jesus told?
  • What is eventually going to happen to this world? What will eventually happen to those persons who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, have repented of their sins, and who love to do the will of God?

Now is the Time

  • Read 1 John 2:18, 21, 25. What does John mean by saying it is the last hour? When does the Bible say that the man known as the “Antichrist” will come? What did John mean that many antichrists (plural) have come? Why is he warning them?
  • When had these believers known the truth? Who was he referring to as “many antichrists”? What does this mean? “no lie comes from the truth”? Read John 8:44. What is the promise that God has given to us?

Stand strong

  • Read verses 28-29. Of the 3 original categories of people, which is the one most likely to be swayed by false doctrine? Discuss how this affects school subjects.
  • If you “remain in Him,” why would you have confidence? Can God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, lie? For those who remain in Him, what is promised in verse 25?
  • Read Mark 16:15. What does God expect from us? Did you ever feel the call of “going,” but never went? Can you share? How do we “remain in Him”?

Close

Few persons who contemplate marriage would ever consider becoming the spouse of someone who loves another person. Why? Because we know that we would never meet their expectations, and they—loving another person—could never really love us or meet our needs. This is a very weak but true illustration of the love that God expects from us. If we love the world, we can’t also love God.

If we are exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, believing that He came to this earth, fully man yet fully God, to be the payment for our sin debt, that He died, was buried, and three days later came out of the grave so that we could have eternal life by believing in His name and what He did—but yet we love the things that are in this world, do you think God would say, “Well, okay. It’s not what I had hoped for, but I have part of their heart, so I’ll settle for that.” No. Not at all. With God, it’s either all in, or all out. Yes, He does “consider our frame [our humanity], that we are but dust” (Psa. 103:15). In other words, He realizes we will sin—but if we become truly saved it will not be a lifestyle. Yes, we may sin for a moment, but as soon as we “come to ourselves,” we dissolve into raw emotion, broken in heart and sorry for the sin with all our heart. He hears (I John 1:9), forgives, cleanses, and restores. We can then comfort others who mess up. Read Proverbs 24:16: the righteous fall seven times but get up!

How do we remain strong? By staying in His word, committing it to memory that “we might not sin against God; we stay in prayer, praising God and lifting up those who need our prayer: for salvation, healing, or any another need. He cares that we pray for the salvation of others—it is His will, as He doesn’t wish to see anyone perish and it is why He came to this earth. But His perfect will of healing, or the restoration of relationships, financial crisis, broken hearts and more, may be prayers we don’t see answered. Not because He doesn’t hear, but because the answer is “Not yet” or “Wait.” But ask in faith, believing that He cares, and that He’s working. As the praise song says, “Even when I don’t see it, You’re working—You never stop, never stop working!” Believe it. He is.

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