Sovereign Grace Fellowship c\o Little Children P. O. Box High Street Boscawen, N. H John : Session Six From: John the Apostle 1 John : Session Six 1

1 John : Session Six John's Purpose in Writing this Letter: 2 “…we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” (1:4) "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." (5:13) Taking 1 John Verse by Verse

3 1 John : Session Six

4 I John 2:7 I write no new commandment unto you. He writes in substance what was commanded from the beginning when he bids them walk as Christ walks. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard. The Gospel. Its substance is condensed by Christ into the words: "Follow me". From the beginning. Their first hearing of the gospel.

1 John : Session Six 5 I John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you. Yet this commandment, the substance of which is brotherly love, is in one sense new, because it was first taught them fully by Christ. John 13: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Which thing is true in him and in you. Its truth is shown in the life of Christ and in your life. Because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. The truth of the new commandment is shown because you have come out of the darkness and are walking in the light that shineth. He that keeps the new commandment walks in the light.

1 John : Session Six 6 I John 2:9: He that saith he is the light, etc. If one hates his brother he demonstrates that he is in darkness. I John 2:10: He that loveth his brother abideth in the light. On the other hand, brotherly love shows that one abides in the light. And there is none occasion of stumbling in him. Because he walks in the light and can see where he walks. I John 2:11: But he that hateth his brother is in darkness. He who hates is not following Christ, the Light, and hence walks in the darkness, hence that darkness hath blinded his eyes. He cannot see the dangers that beset him on account of the darkness.

1 John : Session Six 7 The following is from Peterson's paraphrase, "The Message" Vss 2-3 Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. Vss 4-6 If someone claims, "I know him well!" but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived. Vss 7-8 My dear friends, I'm not writing anything new here. This is the oldest commandment in the book, and you've known it from day one. It's always been implicit in the Message you've heard. On the other hand, perhaps it is new, freshly minted as it is in both Christ and you—the darkness on its way out and the True Light already blazing! Vss 9-11 Anyone who claims to live in God's light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It's the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.

1 John : Session Six 8 Next Session - Loving the World – Chapter 2: I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.