Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from god, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. John is writing both to combat the false teachers and to encourage the true believers. Everyone was excited about meeting their new pastor and hearing him preach. God abides in the one who loves and the one who confesses. Study guide for john 4 by david guzik blue letter bible.
An expositional studio of 1 john part 8 of 10 parts. A number of scholars think of this as a sermon in written form. Whoever does not love does not know god, because god is love. But since god is essentially spirit, not physical, no human being has seen gods essential nature.
He then exhorts them to manifest brotherly love in keeping with the character and example of gods love as demonstrated in the sacrifice of his son 721. Although 1 john does not exhibit some of the general. Check out these helpful resources biblical commentary sermons childrens sermons hymn lists. Visit our library of inductive bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the bible you can use in your small group. He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him. We never get beyond gods love for us in christ and how that is lived out in love for one another.
Rolf jacobson, karoline lewis, david lose, and matt skinner for a conversation around preaching the lectionary texts for easter 5. Actually, there is a fivefold purpose expressed in 1 john. It seems that this chapter reemphasizes truths which were taught in earlier chapters, especially the believers need to love one another cf. Home bible studies 1, 2, and 3 john studies 1 john 1 these small group studies of 1 john contain outlines, crossreferences, bible study discussion questions, and applications. For it is gods nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The book of 1 john provides simple yet profound teaching on what it means to know god and to live. Much of the anger that erupts within the church under the banner of loving god and defending gods truth often seems to grow instead from love of self and of the power that comes from winning the argument, even at the expense of the churchs unity in love. This is a pastoral letter to churches in conflictwritten to address the conflict and to prevent its spread. John also wrote five books of the bible john, john, and revelation, which is more than any of the other eleven disciples.
If god is in us then we should have love dwelling in us, because god is love. Esv study bible, personal size trutone imitation leather, brown with mosaic cross design retail. These verses furnish christians with critical marching orders and guidance while providing crucial insight into our creators natureall centered around the word love. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from god, and whoever loves has been born of god and knows god. He also implores us to love one another and to know god, and then he identifies god as the source of love. If love is of god, then those who claim to be born of god, and claim to know god, must be able to love one another in the body of christ. He wants to make sure that we understand that love is not an optional virtue for the believer.
Discover practical insights into the book of 1 john. He that does not love the image of god in his people, has no saving knowledge of god. The first epistle of john chapter four john cautions his readers not to believe everyone who claims to be led by the spirit, but to test them 16. John also wrote five books of the bible john, 1 3 john, and revelation, which is more than any of the other eleven disciples. John begins this book by offering evidence of the reality of the incarnationnamely, he was an eyewitness to it 1. In context, its clear that 1 john is not saying that christians are omnipotent or omniscient or morally pure. In the gospel of john the signs are given to lead the reader to faith john 20.
John expressed the purpose for his writing in each of the three types of revelation. This scripture talks about how we should love one another, because god loves us. Love is a fruit of the spirit and if we are christians we should have love through the spirit of god. If you acknowledge jesus and gods son, then god lives in you. The story is told of a congregation who had just called a new minister. Everyone who loves has been born of god i and knows god. Since the letter identifies no specific church, location, or individual to whom it was sent, its classification is as a general epistle. In case we ever forget this basic, essential fact of our faith, 1 john makes it crystal clear. Twice in these three verses, john declares that god is love. John darbys synopsis the geneva study bible john gills exposition of the bible jamieson, faussett, and brown b. Everyone who loves has been born of god and knows god. The repeated expression of i write unto you indicates the book to be an epistle or letter however unique and special compare chap. No other book of the bible talks about love as often as first john. God is love and showed it to us by sending his son so that we may live.
God made love real and present by sending jesus to live. The problems in the churches were caused by false teachers. Edmond hiebert professor emeritus of new testament mennonite brethren biblical seminary, fresno, california in 1 john 4. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from god, and whoever loves has been born of god. The relation between belief and signs is clear in john chapter 2 and chapter 4. It is the first and largest in a series of 3 epistles that bear the apostle johns name. As does the epistle of james this epistle does not contain a perceptible logical structure of thoughts. John evidently wrote his gospel first, then his epistles, and finally the book of revelation before his death about a.
In case we havent understood the seriousness of this command, 1 john expresses it in a way that leaves no room for doubt. Youll find david jeremiahs introduction to the book of 1 john on page 18051806 of the jeremiah study bible. Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from god. John explained that although jesus has already paid the penalty for a christians sin, we can have victory over sin in daily life and experience unhindered communion with christ. Johns emphasis on love among the people of god shown in passages like 1 john 2. God the father has revealed himself in bodily form on occasion, and especially in the person of jesus christ john 14. Share how john says that fear and love work along with each other. About one in every 50 words is a form of lovethat makes for about 52 mentions of love in just five short chapters. Bible reading schedule for 1 john lesson 1 i john 1. The first sign persuaded his disciples the second sign persuaded a jewish nobleman and his household.
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