Love One Another: 1 John
These Things
August 4, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: • John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. • He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. • He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: 1. To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) 2. To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) 3. To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) 4. To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) 5. To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 5:13 7 Proofs of Assurance 1. Trust in Jesus alone (1 John 2:21-23; 4:2-3, 14-15; 5:11-12) 2. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20; 4:4, 13) 3. Committed to Obedience (1 John 2:3-6; 3:4-10; 5:2-3) 4. Tender-hearted Confession (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2) 5. Demonstrated Love (1 John 2:9-11; 3:14-21) 6. Rejecting the world (1 John 2:15-18; 5:4-5) 7. Perseverance (1 John 2:18-19, 24-25, 28-29) Are you in need of prayer? Care? Know of someone who is? Send the information to http://caregiving@biblechapel.org. Would you like to nail down the essentials of the Christian Faith so you can share Jesus more effectively with those he has placed in your life? Contact Greg DeVore at http://gdevore@biblechapel.org.
Confirmation
July 28, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 5:13-21 Talking to God: Our Confidence (1 John 5:13-14) Prerequisite #1: Child of God Prerequisite #2: Requests are according to his will God’s will is found in God’s Word. God’s will is for us to do what he says. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s specific God confirms his specific will in community with other believers. Talk to God about those you know who are caught in sin—Intercession (1 John 5:16-17). God will protect those who know him (1 John 5:18-21): From continuing sin From Satan From false teaching Are you in need of prayer? Care? Know of someone who is? Send the information to http://caregiving@biblechapel.org. Would you like to nail down the essentials of the Christian Faith so you can share Jesus more effectively with those he has placed in your life? Contact Greg DeVore at http://gdevore@biblechapel.org.
The Testimony
July 21, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 5:6-12 Testify or Testimony To make a declaration for the purpose of establishing a fact. The Three Witnesses (1 John 5:6-8) Water—Baptism Blood—Cross Spirit—Life Giver The Testimony (1 John 5:9-12) Eternal life is found in Jesus alone.
Re-Born
July 7, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: The Apostle John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 5:1-5 What does it mean to be “born of God”? Demonstrate right behavior (1 John 2:29) Does not make a practice of sin (1 John 3:9-10; 5:18) Overcomes the world (1 John 5:4) Guards against Satan’s deception (5:18) Loves one another (4:7; 5:1) What is biblical love? Comes from God—supernatural Demonstrated in action Christ-centered The connection between keeping God’s commandments and loving one another TEN COMMANDMENTS Exodus 20:1-18 You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Commandments 1-4 are vertical focusing on our actionable love for God. Commandments 5-10 are horizontal focusing on our actionable love for others. Honor your father and mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet. “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Mark 12:29-31 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Are you in need of care? Do you know someone in need of care? http://caregiving@biblechapel.org Are you able to clearly share your faith with your children and grandchildren? Would you like to be ready to share? Contact Greg DeVore http://%28gdevore@biblechapel.org) to learn about a way you can embrace the essential truths of the Christian Faith.
Fearless
June 30, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: The Apostle John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 4:13-21 Biblical Love: Love begins with God—supernatural. Love is actionable—not abstract. Love is Christ-centered. Glorification Justification Sanctification Spiritual Identity: In Christ I am… Significant Secure Accepted Forgiven Empowered True believers have true confidence (1 John 4:16-19). True believers allow God’s love to flow through them to others (1 John 4:20-21). If you are in need of care or know of someone at TBC in need of care please let us know: http://caregiving@biblechapel.org. If you are ready to nail down the basics of the Christian faith and be prepared to teach them to your children and grandchildren, contact: http://gdevore@biblechapel.org.
Love Perfected
June 23, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: The Apostle John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 4:7-12 Transformational love flows from God—to believers—to others (1 John 4:7-8). Transformational love is supernatural. Transformational love is Christ-centered. Transformational love flows from God and involves significant sacrifice (1 John 4:9-10). Transformational love flows from God and is completed when we love others (1 John 4:11-12). God lives (abides, remains) in us. God’s love is completed in us. On Easter Sunday in 260 AD, Bishop Dionysius of Corinth praised the efforts of the Christians, many of whom had died while caring for others. He said: Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves, and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains. http://caregiving@biblechapel.org Ready to begin your spiritual journey or grow deeper in your walk with Jesus? Contact Greg DeVore, http://gdevore@biblechapel.org.
Discernment
June 16, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: The Apostle John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 4:1-6 The World: The culture we live in that is ruled by Satan and governed by his values and agenda. Jesus called Satan “the prince of the world” (John 12:31). Paul said that Satan was “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4) and “the ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Eph. 2:2). Satan fills his domain with lies about God, meaning, and satisfaction. Jesus said, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The False Teacher Test (1 John 4:1) You have to know the truth. Examine the teacher’s lifestyle. Examine the teacher’s doctrine. The Doctrine Examination (1 John 4:2-3) Jesus—(Hebrew—Joshua) Yahweh is salvation. Christ—(Hebrew—Messiah) The Anointed One Jesus Christ has come… Jesus Christ has come in the flesh… Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [and] is from God. Three questions regarding the Person of Christ: Is Jesus fully man and fully God? Did Jesus die on the cross as a substitute for my sins? Is Jesus the only way to God? The power of the world is no match for God (1 John 4:4-6). In Christ we are SSAFE: Significant Secure Accepted Forgiven Empowered LIVING GROUNDED: http://gdevore@biblechapel.org
Confidence
June 9, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: • The Apostle John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. • He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. • He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: 1. To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) 2. To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) 3. To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) 4. To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) 5. To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 3:19-24 Summary Demonstrating our love for others by actively helping in times of need gives us confidence that we are a child of God and reassures our relationship with Him. But when believers feel that they have fallen short, God’s great love and the testimony of the Holy Spirit gives us needed confidence and assurance. Our relationship with God is based on what He did for us; not what we do for Him. Observations • Helping another Christian in need is tangible evidence that we are a child of God (1 John 3:19). • Conviction is remedied by confession (1 John 1:9) and resting in God’s great love (1 John 3:20-21). • God’s great love allows us to approach Him with confidence and boldness (1 John 3:22). • Believers live by a “compressed creed”: We believe in the “name” of God’s Son Jesus Christ (“name” refers to all Jesus is, said, and did) and we demonstrate our love for God by loving one another (1 John 3:23). • Even when we fail to obey and love others in “deed and in truth” the Holy Spirit—who lives within us reminds us that we are a child of God (1 John 3:24; see Romans 8:14-16).
Sacrifice
June 2, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: • John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. • He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. • He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: 1. To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3) 2. To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4) 3. To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1) 4. To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26) 5. To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13) 1 John 3:11-18 Love One Another What Love Looks Like What Love Does Not Look Like The Negative Example: Cain (1 John 3:12, 14b-15) The Positive Example: Jesus (1 John 3:14a, 16) The Application of Love (1 John 3:17-18) • In Relationships • At Home • Among Believers It is easier to be enthusiastic about Humanity with a capital ‘H’ than it is to love individual men and women, especially those who are uninteresting, exasperating, depraved, or otherwise unattractive. Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular. -C. S. Lewis (cited in Akin, D. L. (2001). 1, 2, 3 John (Vol. 38, pp. 159–161). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Righteous
April 14, 2019 • Ron Moore
A person who makes a practice of sinning does not know God. “No one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” A person who makes a practice of sinning is “of the devil.” A person who makes a practice of sinning is not born of God. A person who makes a practice of sinning rejects doing what is right. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God. Righteousness is very simply doing what is right. A true child of God cannot continue in a lifestyle characterized by habitual sin. Evidence of know (“abiding”) with God (3:10) Initiated by God Purchased by Jesus Empowered by the Holy Spirit Expressed in community (Love for one another)
Sons and Daughters
April 7, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: John wrote 1 John when he was in his 70’s or 80’s. He was the last living apostle at the time of this writing. He wrote from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? The reasons John wrote this letter: To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3). To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4). To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1). To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26). To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13). 1 JOHN 2:28-3:3 1 John 2:28 The word coming (Parousia) is used only here in the NT. It describes the appearing of a king arriving with dignity and splendor. Confidence: Freedom in speaking, unreserved speech, courage, boldness, assurance, nothing to hide. How can we build a life of confidence? THE FIVE ESSENTIALS WORD: Reading God’s Word daily. WORSHIP: My daily response to God’s eternal grace. CONNECT: Fellowship with other believers. SERVE: Using your gift to serve God and others SHARE: Telling others about Jesus. 1 JOHN 2:29 The Gospel of John addresses the experience of the new birth. 1 John addresses the evidence of the new birth. 1 JOHN 3:1-3 Originally the word translated “what kind,” meant “of what country.” Using the original meaning, John Stott aptly says, “The Father’s love is so unearthly, so foreign to this world, that John wonders what country it came from. The unconditional, unlimited love of God brings John to the point of amazement. REFLECTION: WILL I STAND BEFORE JESUS WITH CONFIDENCE OR SHAME?
Anointed
March 31, 2019 • Ron Moore
1 JOHN 2:18-27 • The last hour: From the time Jesus entered the world until the time He comes again. • The Antichrist: Also the “Beast” (Rev. 13:1-18; 17:3, 7-17) and “Man of Lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3-4) • Antichrists: False teachers throughout the history of the church. • Anointed by the Holy One (1 John 2:20)”: Same as Paul’s “baptized” by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). • Jesus was fully God and fully man. Any other teaching is false (1 John 2:22-23). • The Father cannot be separated from the Son, and the Son cannot be separated from the Father. A relationship with the Father is always through Jesus (John 3:36; 1 John 2:23). • While we will always need human teachers, the Holy Spirit is our primary Teacher (1 John 2:27; John 14:16-18, 26; 16:13). Three Take-Aways from 1 John 2:18-27 1. Beware of false teachers. • The Heretic: Contradicts essential teaching of the Christian Faith. • The Charlatan: In it for the money. • The Prophet: Claims to speak fresh revelation. • The Abuser: Uses position to take advantage of people. • The Divider: Uses false doctrine to disrupt or destroy a church. • The Tickler: Teaches only parts of the Bible that are acceptable. • The Speculator: Obsessed with presenting novelty, originality, or speculation. -Tim Challies, 7 False Teachers in the Church Today https://www.challies.com/articles/7-false-teachers-in-the-church-today/ 2. Be wise and discerning. The Father loves you so much He sent His Son. Jesus loves you so much He died for you on the cross. You are anointed by the Holy One—the Holy Spirit of truth. 3. True believers persevere (1 John 2:19). Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Contentment
March 24, 2019 • Ron Moore
1 John 2:15 World: Created Universe (3:17; 4:17; John 1:10) Created human beings--people (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2) Attitude and values against God (4:3-5; 5:19; John 16:11) When John says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world,” he is describing an evil organized earthly system controlled by Satan, aligned against God and believers. 1 John 2:16 Desires of the flesh: Internal cravings of our sinful nature Desires of the eyes: Covetousness Pride of life: Possessions 1 John 2:17 Believers cannot love the world and God at the same time. The things of the world are temporal—passing away. Four questions: What do you crave? Are you focused on worthless things? What is the basis of your contentment? What are you doing to invest in eternity?
The True Light
March 17, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: • John is in his 70’s or 80’s. • He is the last living apostle. • He is writing from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? Five reasons for 1 John: 1. To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3). 2. To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4). 3. To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1). 4. To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26). 5. To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13). Three threads of the Old Testament Law: • Civil—how to live together in harmony—(NT: Church) • Ceremonial—how to approach the living God (NT: Jesus) • Moral—how love God and love man A Definition of Love: 1 Corinthians 13—Self-Sacrificing The Example of Love: John 3:16—Active Love is not talk; it is action. The Production of Love: Galatians 5:22-26—Supernatural
Our Advocate
March 10, 2019 • Ron Moore
Review: • John is in his 70’s or 80’s. • He is the last living apostle. • He is writing from Ephesus to the surrounding churches. The WHY? Five reasons for 1 John: 1. To encourage true Christian belonging (1 John 1:3). 2. To help believers experience true joy (1 John 1:4). 3. To help believers avoid falling into patterns of sin (1 John 2:1). 4. To guard believers from false teaching (1 John 2:26). 5. To allow believers to know with certainty that they are children of God…forever! (1 John 5:13). • Walking in the light: A life pattern of obedience • Cleansed: Once and for all by the work of Jesus • Confession: Acknowledgement of sin Advocate: A person who willingly speaks on an accused person’s behalf. Propitiation: To turn away anger, to appease. All of God’s attributes continually work together in perfect harmony. The Wrath of God: Experienced or Appeased • Walking in the light: A life pattern of obedience • Cleansed: Once and for all by the work of Jesus • Confession: Acknowledgement of sin • Obedience: Walking as Jesus walked In the Old Testament there are three “strands” of law: • Civil Law—the rules of community in Israel (borrow an ox, tool, boundaries, crimes) • Religious Law—sacrificial system—high priests and the animal substitutes. • Moral Law—summarized in the Ten Commandments. Jesus said that he did not come to do away with the law but fulfill it. • Civil Law—teaching of how we do Christian community together • Religious Law—fulfilled by the one time of all time sacrifice • Moral Law—repeated by Jesus throughout his teaching. Every commandment is repeated except “remember the Sabbath” because Jesus is our Sabbath rest.