July25-31: Walking in the Light: Renouncing Worldliness

Teaching Points

1. Observe 1 John 2:12-14

• I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
• I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
• I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.
• I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
• I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.
• I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.

OBSERVATION:

• What can we learn from above comparison? Maybe John was trying to describe Christian growth.
• Little children – come to the Father with repentance, through forgiveness we know the love of the Father.
• Young men – grow in Christ by overcoming sin. Overcome sin by God's word abiding in you.
• Fathers – mature, understanding and experience with Jesus, who is from the beginning.
• Another possible observation.
• Little children – forgiveness: justification
• Young men – overcoming: sanctification
• Fathers – combination of justification and sanctification which is "to know Him" John 17:3 "This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent"

2. The love of the world and the love of the Father cannot coexist.

• 1 John 2:15 ... If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

OBSERVATION:

• What things of the world that we should not love? 1 John 2:16
• The lust of the flesh
• The lust of the eyes
• The pride of life
• The negative part of the world can be summarized by two words: lust and pride (evil thoughts and feelings)
• God has given us the desire to eat for our flesh, to behold beautiful things with our eyes, and to live a good life. However notice how Satan changed that desire into something else when he tempted Eve with thing that God forbid. Therefore good desire is desiring after what God has intended for us to enjoy and lust is desiring after what God has forbidden.
• Compare the love of the world and the temptation of the serpent 1 John 2:16 and Gen. 3: 5
• The lust of the flesh- Ye eat thereof
• The lust of the eyes- Your eyes shall be opened
• The pride of life- Ye shall be as gods
• Godly love is a self-sacrificing love 1 John 3:16-17. Therefore lust and pride cannot coexist with self-sacrificing love
• Compare with 1 John 3:1 -By the love of the Father we become sons of God. And the world does not know the sons of God because the sons of God do not live according to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

3. Lust and pride shall pass away.

• 1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

OBSERVATION:

• What shall pass away?
• Earthly wealth- James 1:10
• First heaven and the first earth-Rev. 21:1
• Former things-Rev. 21:4
• What shall not pass away?
• The Word of God-Matt. 24:35
• The kingdom of God-Dan. 7:14
• It is God's plan that the world should pass away. Therefore before the world passes away, we need to allow our "old things" to be "passed away" and become "a new creature" "in Christ". 1 Cor. 5:17
• Lust and pride are not eternal. However the true love is everlasting.
  

CONCLUSION:

• Heb. 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season

July18-24: Walking in the Light: Keeping His Commandments

Teaching Points

1. Observe this phrase in 1 John 2; "He that saith"

• 1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
• 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
• 1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

OBSERVATION:

• Compare with "If we say" in 1 John 1
• 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth
• 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• 1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
• Observe the similarities
• 1 John 1:6 "We lie" -1 John 2:4 "Is a liar"
• 1 John 1:8 "The truth is not in us" - 1 John 2:4 "the truth is not in him"
• Observe the progression
• General to specific: "If we say" to "He that saith"
• Wrong thinking to wrong doing: "we have no sin" to "keepeth not his commandments"
• John was revealing a group of people that were walking in darkness while claiming Christian fellowship.
• Wrong thinking will lead to wrong living.

2. Who is a "liar"?

• 1 John 2:4 "I know Him" BUT "keepeth not his commandments"
• 1 John 2:6 I "abideth in Him" BUT "walk" not as Jesus walked
• 1 John 2:9 I am "in the light" BUT "hateth his brother"

OBSERVATION:

• If you know Jesus then you should love Him. If you love Him, you want to keep His commandments. John 14:15
• If you are abiding in Him you should walk in His commandments
• If you are keeping His commandments then you should love your brother. When you love your brother then you are in the light. Therefore if you do not love your brother then you are a liar.
  

3. What is the "new commandment"? 1 John 2:7-8

• 1 John 3:23 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.
• 1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
• 1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

OBSERVATION:

• The new commandment is to "love one another." This commandment is not grievous because it should not be grievous to love one another.

4. True love is a self-sacrificing love

• 1 John 3:16-17 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

OBSERVATION:

• How do we love one another? The answer that John gives is willing to make a self-sacrifice for others. It is showing compassion to others. When we refuse to show compassion this might be a form of hate in a subtle way.

CONCLUSION:

• To walk in the light means to keep His commandments. To keep His commandments means to love one other. To love one another means to willing to show compassion and self-sacrificing love. Therefore to walk in the light means to allow God to shine His self-sacrificing through our life.

Jul11-17: Walking in the Light: Turning Away From Sin

Teaching Points

1. God is light

• Ps. 119:105, 130- Light is God's word
• John 17:17 - God's word is the truth

OBSERVATION:

• Based upon above comparisons, walking in the light means to walk according to God's word and His truth.

2. Walking in the light is connected to the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all sin.

• 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

OBSERVATION:

• 1 John 1:5 says "God is light" This light is connected to love (1 John 2:9). Therefore to "walk in the light" means to love "his brother". Hence there is a "fellowship one with another" to those who walking in the light. And when there is true "fellowship one with another" then "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us( those who are walking in the light and have fellowship one with another) from all sin"
• This cleansing may means the same as forgiveness but there is a great possibility that cleansing is more than forgiveness. Although we cannot deny the fact that they are connected. Read 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
• Cleansing is connected to sanctification. Eph. 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word"
• Therefore sanctification experience is connected to the fellowship of the light. If so then Christian community is important to have the complete experience of sanctification.
• Cleansing is connected to blotting out of sins. Cleansing means purge or purify in Greek. Read Heb. 10:1-4; Lev. 16:30
• Therefore blotting out of sins is connected to the fellowship of the light. If so then how to love your brother experience is connected to blotting out of sins process.
  

3. False statements during John's time.

Notice the repetition "if we say"

• 1 John 1:6 "If we say..."
• 1 John 1:8 "If we say..."
• 1 John 1:10 "if we say..."

Notice what they are saying

• 1 John 1:6 "We have fellowship with Him"
• 1 John 1:8 "We have no sin"
• 1 John 1:10 "We have not sinned"

Notice what they do or who they really are

• 1 John 1:6 "Walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth"
• 1 John 1:8 "We deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"
• 1 John 1:10 "We make Him a liar, and his word is not in us.

OBSERVATION:

• 1 John 1:6 -Some people are living the life of sin yet claiming the fellowship with God
• 1 John 1:8 -Then they are claiming that they are not sinful
• 1 John 1:10 -Then they are claiming that they have not sinned
• Whoever these people are, they have serious problem with the definition of sin or the nature of sin. Since sin is breaking God's commandments therefore if they have wrong understanding of what sin is then they should have a different understanding regarding the obligation to keep the law. Maybe this is the reason why we read in 1 John 2:4, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." This is very similar to 1 John 1:6. Is it possible that these people are connected to anti-christ that John talks about in the chapter 2 and 4? If so then anti-christ should have a wrong understanding in definition of sin or the nature of sin.

4. Solution for the sin problem starts with confession.

• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• Ps. 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah
• Ps. 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
• 2 Tim. 2:25... God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
• John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

OBSERVATION:

• Confession of sin means to acknowledge that you have sinned. Acknowledging sin is opposite to "we have no sin" and "we have not sinned"Repentance means to have a sorrow for sin and turn away from sin. Complete confession contains both acknowledgement and turning away. This type of confession leads to acknowledging of the truth. And the truth will set you free from sin.

5. "Advocate" is the High Priest and the work of the High Priest is to cleanse us from sin and keep us from sin.

• 1 John 2:1-2 Jesus is our Advocate and propitiation(atonement)
• Advocate means intercessor and comforter in Greek
• Rom. 8:34 Christ is our Intercessor
• Heb. 7:25, 26 The work of a high priest is intercession
• Heb. 2:17, 18 The work of a high priest is reconciliation (atonement) and to help us with temptations.

OBSERVATION:

• 1 John 2:1, 2 should be combined with 1 John 1:9. Let's combine above verses. "If any man sin" then we can "confess our sins" to Jesus, our "Advocate" (Intercessor and High Priest) because "He is faithful and just" and "righteous" and "merciful" "to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" because He is "the propitiation for our sins." His work of atonement also includes helping us with our temptations.

CONCLUSION:

• Jesus is the Intercessor, High Priest, Advocate, and Propitiation for our sin. If we do not acknowledge our own sin then we are walking in darkness. If we are walking in darkness then we cannot be a part of the fellowship of the light. It looks like some people are wanting to be part of the Christian fellowship but denying the High Priest work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary.

Jul4-10: Experiencing the Word of Life

Teaching Points

1. John has seen and heard "the Word of Life"1 John 1:1-3

• We have heard
• We have seen

OBSERVATION:

We have heard - this means willing to hear and to understand

• Deuteronomy 29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
• Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
• Jeremiah 25:4 And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
• Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
• Matthew 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We have seen- this means convinced and ready to testify

• John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
• John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
• Acts 4:20 For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
• 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
• 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

2. Comparison between John 1 and 1 John

• John 1:1 This text shows who the Word is
  1 John 1:1 This text shows who experienced the Word of life

• John 1:1 "In the beginning"
  1 John 1:1 "That which was from the beginning"

• John 1:1, 4 "The Word", "In Him was life"
  1 John 1:1 "The Word of Life"
  

• John 1:1 "The Word was with God"
  1 John 1:2 "Which was with the Father

• John 1:5 John the Baptist was a witness of the Word
  1 John 1:1 The Twelve Disciples were witnesses of the Word of life

• John 1:3 The Word is the Creator
  1 John 1:2 The Word of Life is the Eternal Life

• John 1:12 "Become the sons of God"
  1 John 3:2 "Now are we the sons of God"
  

• John 1:14 "The Word became flesh"
  1 John 4:2 "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh"
  

• John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God"
  1 John 1:9 "Forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us..."

OBSERVATION:

• John 1-Introducing Jesus as God, Creator, Human, the Sacrifice.
• 1 John-introducing how we can be connected to the Word of Life.

3. Jesus is the Word of Life

• 1 John 1:1,2 The Word of Life is eternal life
• 1 John 2:25 Eternal life is promised to us
• 1 John 5:11-13 Eternal life is in His Son
• 1 John 5:20 Jesus Christ is eternal life
  

OBSERVATION:

• Jesus is the Eternal Life. Eternal life has two fold characteristics: quantity and quality. The quantity of the eternal life is an everlasting life however the quality of the eternal life is the character that Jesus revealed on earth. God's word is everlasting and God's word reveals God's character. Jesus has the both the quantity and the quality of eternal life.

4. "Witness" may also means willing to die for what you have seen and heard

• witness-Greek Definition: martureo-testify, bear record, give evidence. comes from martus, which means martyr

OBSERVATION:

• Acts 4:20 For we can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
• Peter and John were willing to testify even though they were threaten with death.

5. True fellowship is based upon waking in the light

• 1 John 1:6-7 "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another"
• 1 John 2:8-10 Walk in the light means love his brother
• 1 John 2:5 In order to experience the love of God we need to keep His word
• 1 John 2:15 in order to experience the love of God we must not love the world
• 1 John 3:16-18 True love is willingness to lay down our own life for others

OBSERVATION:

• Walking in the light means to keep God's commandments. God's commandment is to love one another. The true fellowship is based upon love and this love is self-sacrificing love. Therefore true fellowship is possible when there is the spirit of self-sacrificing love among God's people. This love comes from God and not manufacture by man.

CONCLUSION:

• Jesus is the Word of Life. This life is eternal because it is based upon true love. And the true love is self-sacrificing. This type of love should never die. This type of love was manifested to us through Jesus Christ.