Living in the Light of God's Love
1 John Lesson One-1 John 1
You Are Living in the Light of a Glorious Savior
1. Being in the true light
2. Walking in the light
3. Getting rid of the darkness
Introduction
Think back to a time when you were about ten years old. Share a special joy that came into your life at that time.
What is the problem with most bursts of joy?
In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly ” What can we always anticipate as we grow closer to our Savior?
Studying God's Word
In the 1980s, movie-actress-turned-author Shirley MacLaine wrote books about finding God within herself. Her New Age thinking was undisguised in such books as Dancing in the Light and Out on a Limb.
John wrote this epistle at a time when similar anti-Christian, "new age" thinking was beginning to seep into the church under the banner of Gnosticism. Gnostics believed matter was inherently evil. The spirit could "dance in the light" if it rose above matter. They would not accept the Bible's teaching that the Word became flesh.
Being in the true light
Read 1 John 1:1-4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have observed and our hands have touched regarding the Word of Life— 2 the life appeared, and we have seen it. We testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We are proclaiming what we have seen and heard also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us. Our fellowship is with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We write these things to you so that our joy may be complete.
1. What do the words "that which was from the beginning" teach us about Jesus? (1:1; see John 1:1 and Revelation 1:8,17,18 )
2. What were the disciples actually able to do with their hands, eyes, and ears when the risen Lord and Savior appeared to them? (1:1,2) List the verbs in verse 2. (Also read Luke 24:39.)
© 1997 Northwestern Publishing House. Reprinted by permission.
3. It was a daily privilege for John to recall those close moments with Jesus after the resurrection. What does Jesus say about our "faith eyes" and "faith hands" in John 20:29?
4. John gives a reason for boldly speaking of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. What is that reason? (1:3)
Passage List
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, the one who is, and who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:17–18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last 18 the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell.
Luke 24:39
“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
His Word in My Life
Think of a situation where you might be talking "religion" with a friend at work. Consider directing the conversation to Jesus' resurrection from the dead and the nail prints in his hands. How might such a bold witness to Jesus' resurrection lead to further witnessing about who Jesus is, what he has done with our sin, and what will happen to us when we die?
Walking in the light
Read 1 John 1:5-7
5 This is the message we heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light. In him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him but still walk in darkness, we are lying and do not put the truth into practice. 7 But if we walk in the light, just as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
1. God is light. What do these verses teach us about the holiness and righteousness of God? (See also 2 Corinthians 6:14.)
2. Why is every act of walking in darkness actually a lie for the Christian? (1:6; compare this to John 3:19-21.)
3. Why do Christians who walk in the light of God's eternal love never grow weary of hearing the last part of verse 7?
Passage List
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership does righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
John 3:19–21
This is the basis for the judgment: The light has come into the world, yet people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 In fact, everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, or else his deeds would be exposed. 21 But the one who does what is true comes toward the light, in order that his deeds may be seen as having been done in connection with God.”
His Word in My Life
Martin Luther once said, "A holy and righteous God can no more embrace sinners than fire can embrace straw." Why is it so dangerous for Christians to expose themselves to walking in the darkness?
Getting rid of the darkness
Read 1 John 1:8-10
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his Word is not in us.
1. Ancient heretics in the early church, the Gnostics, denied the existence of sin in their lives. Discussing sin is not fashionable in some churches today. If we deny the reality of original sin or actual sins, what are we actually doing? (1:8)
2. Faithfulness and justice are combined in verse 9. How does the picture behind each of those words help you enjoy the Lord's pardon?
3. In what ways does the claim "I have no sin" make God look like a liar in the eyes of other people? (1:10; note the honesty of Paul in Romans 7:18-25.)
Passage List
Romans 7:18–25
Indeed, I know that good does not live in me, that is, in my sinful flesh. The desire to do good is present with me, but I am not able to carry it out. 19 So I fail to do the good I want to do. Instead, the evil I do not want to do, that is what I keep doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who am doing it, but it is sin living in me.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is present with me. 22 I certainly delight in God’s law according to my inner self, 23 but I see a different law at work in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me captive to the law of sin, which is present in my members. 24 What a miserable wretch I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my sinful flesh I serve the law of sin.
His Word in My Life
Some people say that Christians can reach a level of perfection where they are no longer "carnal Christians." What do the 1 John verses we just read say about that claim?
Summary
Join together in your group to say or sing the following hymn verse:
Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I'd love thee, truly I'd serve thee, light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
(Christian Worship 522:1)
In this chapter you have seen your beautiful and glorious Savior. What beautiful things about him do you want to take home with you and think about during this coming week?
Life with God
Throughout the week:
Read John 1 (the gospel) several times in your personal devotions.
Read 1 John 2:1-11 in preparation for the next lesson