1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2009 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2009

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3. Ekkehardt Mueller Principal Contributor

4. John’s Epistles Contents 1. Jesus and the Johannine Letters 2. Experiencing the Word of Life 3. Walking in the Light: Turning Away From Sin 4. Walking in the Light: Keeping His Commandments 5. Walking in the Light: Renouncing Worldliness 6. Walking in the Light: Rejecting Antichrists 7. Living as Children of God 8. Loving Brothers and Sisters 9. Believing in the Son of God 10. Confidence 11. Important Themes in 1 John 12. John’s Letter to the Chosen Lady 13. Power Struggle INTRODUCTION FIRST EPISTLE SECOND EPISTLE THIRD EPISTLE

5. John’s Epistles Our Goal {5} The three epistles of John speak to issues relevant for the church today. We would do well to listen to them, because ultimately, it is God who is speaking to us through John’s words, the God who has revealed to us truths about a greater and firmer foundation upon which we can rest: our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

6. John’s Epistles Lesson 8, August 22 John’s Epistles Lesson 8, August 22

7. Loving Brothers and Sisters Key Text 1 John 4:21 NKJV “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” “And in any case it is his explicit commandment that the one who loves God must love his brother also.” Phillips

8. Loving Brothers and Sisters Initial Words {99} The passage we investigated last week ended with saying that children of God are recognized by doing what is right and by loving their brothers and sisters in the Lord (1 John 3:10). That verse builds a bridge to the discussion of love that appears in the rest of the epistle.

9. Loving Brothers and Sisters Quick Look 1. The Definition of Love (1 John 3:11-19) 2. The Confidence of Love (1 John 3:19-21) 3. The Command to Love (1 John 3:22-24)

10. Loving Brothers and Sisters 1. The Definition to Love 1 John 3:16 NKJV “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

11. 1. The Definition of Love John’s Explanation {101} Jesus laid down His life for us. The Father sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice. He sent Him to be the Savior of the world. This is the deepest meaning of love. Love means to do whatever is necessary to help others, even if it includes self-sacrifice. Love also means to forgive and forget the past.

12. 1. The Definition of Love John’s Explanation {101} Christian love has its source in the love of God. To abide in love means to enjoy an intimate relationship with God. There is no love in the biblical sense that ultimately does not come from God (1 John 4:7).

13. Loving Brothers and Sisters 2. The Confidence of Love 1 John 3:19-21 NKJV “ And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

14. 2. The Confidence of Love A Crisis of Assurance {103} Confidence is emphasized several times. John wants the believers to be confident when they approach God in prayer (1 John 2:28), confident before the reality of Christ’s coming (1 John 2:28), and confident about the divine judgment (1 John 4:17). God means well for us, His children. Being grounded in love drives away all fears.

15. 2. The Confidence of Love God’s Amazing Grace 316 {103} “Satan knows that those who ask God for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore he presents their sins before them to discourage them. … He is constantly seeking occasion for complaint. Even their best and most acceptable service he seeks to make appear corrupt. By countless devices, the most subtle and most cruel, he endeavors to secure their condemnation.

16. 2. The Confidence of Love God’s Amazing Grace 316 {103} “In his own strength, man cannot meet the charges of the enemy. … But Jesus, our Advocate, presents an effectual plea in behalf of all who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to Him. He pleads their cause, and by the mighty arguments of Calvary, vanquishes their accuser.

17. 1 John 3:23 NKJV “And this is he who keeps His commandments: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. Loving Brothers and Sisters 3. The Command to Love

18. Love in Practice {105} John is not content to theorize about love. He lets us know that God wants us to put love into practice. Therefore he states that hate is incompatible with a loving attitude, and it is even a form of murder (1 John 3:15). We should not love with words alone but with action (vs. 18).

19. 3. The Command to Love Love and the Commandments {107} Keeping the commandments and doing what pleases Him (1 John 3:22) give Christians the confidence that God hears their prayers. God’s command is to believe in Jesus and to love one another. Keeping the commandment allows for mutual abiding—we in God and God in us.

20. 3. The Command to Love Love and the Commandments {107} In chapter 4 the commandment is that we who love God should also love our brothers and sisters. Jesus stressed that those who love Him keep His commandments (John 14:15). By switching from commandment (singular) to the commandments (plural), John may have indicated that the one commandment of love expresses itself in a multiplicity of commandments.

21. Loving Brothers and Sisters Final Words {106} God loves us. When we respond to God with love, we also love our brothers and sisters. In loving God and loving our brothers and sisters, we are fulfilling God’s commandments. This love results in confidence in our relationship with God and no fear of judgment.