Preface (1:1-1-4)

Requirements for fellowship with God who is light (1:5-2:28)

Walk in the light (1:5-2:2)

If , as the gnostics,contend, that they have grown in such knowledge as to be above sin, what does that say about grace and Jesus' sacrifice? Ps 36:9 "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light we see light." Ps 27:1 "A psalms of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" John 1:9 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

What is light? What is darkness?

John is talking to Believers about fellowship with God and other believers, and how to have complete joy.

How do you avoid darkness and live in the light?

Light accentuates God's empowering activity.

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 12:35 "Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." John 3:19-21 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Matt 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Eph 5:8-14

Our Faith is born out in action, deeds, and conduct.

1 Cor. 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." Heb. 10:22,23 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from and evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"

When you know you have sinned, how long do you wait before you confess?

What is God's part, and what is your part?

Obey His commands (2:3-11)

What is the relationship between God's love and our obedience?

How can the command to love God and others (2:7), be new and old at the same time?

• New to new people and old to those who have heard it.
• New expression of it, i.e. the 10 Commandments, and Jesus' 2 Commandments.

Matt 22:34-40 "But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." 1John 1:23 "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment."

What are the two tests for determining whether one really knows God (2:3,10)?

John 1:1-12. John 3:19-21 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." 2 Cor 4:3,4 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lose: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

How are you doing in each?

Knowing the Father and abiding forever (2:12-17)

Are you more likely to error on the side of doing what you shouldn't do, or not doing what you should?

What does John mean by loving the World?

All that is in the world:

• The lust of the flesh - Humor, appetite of indulging fleshly pleasure, all those things that excite and inflame the pleasures of the flesh. - Matthew Henry
• Lust of the eye - The eyes are delighted with treasures' riches and rich possessions are craved by the extravagant eye; this is the lust of covetousness. - Matthew Henry
• The pride of life - A vain mind craves the grandeur, equipage, and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this is ambition, and thirst after applause. - Matthew Henry

Gal. 2:17,18 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroy, I make myself a transgressor."

In verses 12-14 how is John affirming those Christians in their faith?

Which of the reminders in these verses do you most need to hear?

In your spiritual life, which of the three stages John addresses can you most relate?

• Child - Just beginning
• Young person - At the peak of spiritual strength
• Father/Mother - A seasoned veteran

In reference to verse 15, the love of the Father is not in us, not because he withholds his love from us, but we withhold our hearts from Him. "you cannot serve two masters." 

In verse 17, what two options does a person have? What are the end result of each?

In what areas of your life does love for the world compete with love for God?

• Money
• Time
• Priorities
• Relationships

Warning against antichrists (2:18-28) 

In what way are the antichrists in the passage foreshadowing the Antichrist to come?

The spirit of the Antichrist is evidenced by the fact that many antichrists have already appeared.

• They lie and deny that Jesus is Christ.
• 2 Tim. 3:1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
• 2 Pet. 3:3 “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. "
   

What danger do they pose to the church?

• John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
   

What is promised to those who remain steadfast in the truth?

• Joel 2:28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
• Mic 4:1 “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.”
• John 14:17 “The Spirit of truth. The world can not accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
• John 15: 26 “when the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
   
• 2 Cor. 1:21,22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership, on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
• Heb 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace to help us in our time of need.”
   

How does this encourage you today?

“The Word of the Gospel must not only be heard but it must be given a vital place in our lives.” - Expositors Bible Commentary

From what you have learned from our study this time, what criteria can you use to distinguish between:

• New insights into Christian truths that the Holy Spirit brings to light?
• New teachings that undermine the Christian faith?
   

John 17:2,3 “For you granted him authority of all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Requirements for fellowship with God who is righteous (2:29-4:6)

Doing what is right (2:29-3:10)

Just as a reminder we are dealing with three attributes of God in 1 John

• God is light
• God is righteous
• God is love

John is teaching us how to have fellowship with God in relation to these three attributes. Let's start by asking ourselves some questions:

1. When you think of a group of people being led astray, what do you think of?
2. What does it even mean to be a child of God?
3. What hope do the children of God have?
4. What does John mean in verse 6 and 10 when he says that Christians do not sin?
5. This past week, did you feel more like a child of God or a distant relative?
6. What can you do to improve your relationship with God in the coming week?

Related Scriptures:

Failure of the world to know God:

John 5:37 - And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

John 7:28 - Then cried Jesus in the temple, as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.

John 16:3 - And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

His Glory will be revealed:

John 17:1,5,24 - These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Conformed to hes likeness:

Rom 8:29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 Cor 15:49 - And as we have have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Pure in heart:

Matt 5:8 - Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Loving one another (1 John 3:11-24)*

How does the world define love?

what is john's definition of love (1 John 3:16-18)

In what ways does the world show hostility towards righteousness?

What are the results when Christians truly love one another?

What is the best example of love in action that you know?

How is answered prayer connected to obedience? (1John3:21,22)

How have you seen this to be true in your life?

• Warning against false spirits (4:1-6)
• Requirements for fellowship with God who is love (4:7-5:12)
• Brotherly love (4:7-12)
• Living in God and living in love (4:13-16)
• Love displaces fear (4:17-18)
• Love is summarized (4:19-21)
• Love for the Father and faith in the Son (5:1-5)
• The Spirit, the water, and the blood (5:6-12)

1. Concluding remarks (5:13-21