1. I John
Lesson 5

2. What I can know and how
2:3 I have come to know Him IF I keep His commandments
2:18 It is the last hour: many antichrists have appeared
2:19 Not all “among us” are “of us”: they did not remain, but went out
2:21 I know truth: No lie is of the truth
2:22 I can know the liar: He denies the Father and the Son
2:29 I am born of Him: If I practice righteousness

3. What I can know and how
3:2 I will be like Him when He appears. How will I know? I will see Him just as He is
3:4 The one who practices sin is lawless: Sin IS lawlessness
3:6 No one who abides in Him sins: the one who practices righteousness is righteous
3:8 The one who practices sin is of Satan. How do I know? Sin is lawlessness = Satan
3:9 No one who practices sin is born of God: God’s seed abides in the one born of God and he cannot sin.

4. Sin’s definition
Sin: Hamartia: wrongdoing, missing the true end and scope of our lives, which is God. An offense in rebellion to God with emphasis on guilt. “The sinfulness of sin depends on the innate or acquired knowledge of God’s expectations.” You don’t know what you don’t know. The Law brings to our focus what IS sin.

5. I John 3:5-8
Vs. 5 Jesus appeared at His first coming to take away sin and destroy the works of the devil
Vs. 6 No one who abides and knows Him, sins
Vs. 7 DO NOT BE DECEIVED!
Vs. 7 You practice righteousness: righteous
Vs. 7 You practice sin: unrighteous; of Satan
Vs. 8 Why? Because Satan has sinned from the beginning

6. Cross references
Ez. 28:16-17 Sin began with the devil choosing his will instead of God’s
He became proud of his perfection in wisdom and beauty, his wisdom became corrupted
He was filled with violence
Gen. 3 He introduced sin to mankind in Eden
He questioned what God had said: Still does
Gen. 3:4 He contradicted what God said

7. Genesis 3
Satan lied to Eve when he told her she wouldn’t die for her disobedience
He lied when he told Adam and Eve they would be like God if they disobeyed
Truth: their sin separated them from God. They no longer had fellowship and wanted to hide from God. Shame entered
Truth: They became like Satan; sinful, separated and shameful

8. Romans 5 Vs. 16 Adam’s transgression brought death to ALL mankind
Vs. 19 ALL men have sinned
Vs. 19 Jesus’ one act of righteousness brought life to ALL who accept it by believing in Him
Vs. 19 Jesus’ obedience brought righteousness to ALL

9. I John 3:9-10
Vs. 9 Those born of God cannot practice sin because His seed abides in them
Vs. 10 Those born of the devil do not practice righteousness or love their brother. NOT of God
Practice? Your habit of life
Eph. 5:10 We are trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

10. I John 3:11-12 Cain Murdered his righteous brother
He was evil and did evil deeds
He was of the devil
Gen. 4:1-16 He was Adam and Eve’s firstborn
He became a worker of the ground
Brought an offering to the Lord: Lord had no regard for it which made Cain angry
“You must master/rule over sin” vs 7

11. Cain and Abel Vs. 8 Cain told Abel what God said!!
Vs. 8 Then Cain killed Abel
VS. 9 Cain lied to God
Vs. 11 The tiller of the ground now has the ground testify to what he did: it swallowed up Abel’s blood and cried out to God
Vs. 12 Cain cannot till the ground any longer
Vs. 13 Cain complains of his punishment, not his sin

12. I John 3 Believers are to love one another, not hate
One who hates is a murderer and does not have eternal life.
3 John Diotrephes was evil and they were not to imitate him.
The world will hate God’s children vs. 13

13. What I can know and how
3:14 I have passed out of death into life: because I love the brethren
3:14 I abide in death if I don’t love the brethren
3:16 I can know love: Jesus died for me
3:19-22 I am of the truth and have confidence before Him. My heart does NOT condemn me

14. The Heart
Heart: kardia – inner life, intention, mind, character, will, center “the capacity of moral preference”, “desire-decisions”.
Vs. 17 Can’t close your heart to your brother’s needs
Vs. 19 Assurance comes from the heart
Vs. 19 Outward evidence of an inward truth

15. Confidence
Confidence: parresia – freedom, openness, especially in speech, boldness, leaving a witness that something deserves to be remembered (taken seriously)
I John 2:28 At Jesus’ coming
I John 3:21 Before God
I John 4:17 In the day of judgment
I John 5:14 God hears, answers according to His will

16. I John 3:23-24 Vs. 23 Believe in Jesus’ name Vs. 23 Love one another
Vs. 24 Holy Spirit enables us to know we abide in Him
Theme: Practice Righteousness: born of God Practice sin: of the devil

17. What I can know and how 3:24 Abide in Him/He in me: His Spirit He gave
4:6 I know God & Truth: I listen to His Word
4:7 I’m born of God: I love
4:8 Some don’t know God: they don’t love
4:12 God abides in me and I in Him: I love the brethren and confess Jesus is the Son of God
4:18 I don’t fear: Perfect love casts out fear
4:20 I can’t love God: hate/ don’t love my brother
5:13 I have eternal life: By the things John wrote

18. Application DO you have eternal life? How can you know? DO you know?
Do you love like Jesus loved?
Does God abide in you, you in Him and therefore you have no fear?