Living in the Light of God's Love - A Study of 1 John. Lesson Two - Walking with Jesus, Away from Sin. 1. Everyone sins, and everyone can find forgiveness from sin in Jesus. This may cause people to think of sin lightly. John realizes this and gives additional perspective about sin and its powerful alternative. 1 John 2:1-2 My children, I write these things to you so that you will not sin. If anyone does sin, we have an Advocate before the Father: Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the whole world.
2. One of God’s goals for you when you hear his word: that you would not sin. If that’s his goal, why doesn’t he just use his power to miraculously make it happen?
3. We have a legal defender before the Father. Does that mean the Father and the Son are at odds with each other when it comes to how to deal with us? Why or why not?
4. We have a legal defender before the Father. Describe the “case” he makes to defend you before the Father.
5. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Has Jesus really solved our sin-problem completely? Why then do we still experience so much sin?
6. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Has Jesus really solved the world’s sin-problem completely? Why then do we still experience so much sin in our world?
1 John 2:3-6 3 This is how we know that we have known him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 If anyone keeps God’s word, the love of God is truly made complete in him. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk as Jesus walked.
7. Can’t you tell if you know God or not? Why do you have to know that you have known God?
8. So, is this a good summary of v. 3? If we keep God’s commands, then he looks at us and decides that we’ve earned the right to know him, and based on our command-keeping, he lets us know him.
9. Can you think of any examples of times when someone has said, “I know God,” but they haven’t kept his commands?
10. Can you think of any examples of times when you have said, “I know God,” but you haven’t kept his commands?
11. There’s nothing more powerful than God’s love. So, how can God’s love be “made complete” in someone? Is his love ever not complete?
12. Walk as Jesus walked. So does that mean you should go around teaching and healing from city to city like he did? Why or why not?
1 John 2:7-11 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one that you have had since the beginning. The old command is the message you heard. 8 At the same time, the command I am writing is new—it is true in Jesus and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to stumble. 11 The one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
13. How is the message of Jesus both old and new at the same time?
14. The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Doesn’t darkness just vanish in the presence of light? How could darkness “be passing away”? Aren’t you either one or the other: darkness or light?
15. Agree or Disagree: If you love your brother, nothing will cause you to stumble. (What about hardship, injustice, cruelty, suffering, and death? Don’t those cause you to stumble?)
16. Can you think of any practical examples of hatred blinding someone?
17. Isn’t it offensive to tell someone that they are walking in darkness, and they don’t know where they are going? I’m sure anyone you ask could give you a reasonable explanation to where they are and what they’re doing.