Living in the Light of God's Love
1 John
Lesson Two-1 John 2:1-11
You Are Walking in the Light of Love
1. Walk with Jesus pleading for you
2. Walk as Jesus walked
3. Walk with a new commandment: love, not hate
Introduction
A woman living in a poor hollow of the Appalachians was deserted by her alcoholic husband. She struggled to make ends meet with five children. The winter wind whipped through the thin walls of her cabin. There was not enough food in the house. Then came a knock at the door. Elders from the church stood before her with arms full of groceries. Tears filled her eyes whenever she recalled that moment. She never forgot their act of love and kindness. When people in the church needed help with food or money, she was the first to volunteer her resources.
What are some reasons why Christians work to show love to one another?
Studying God's Word
Walk with Jesus pleading for you
Read 1 John 2:1-2
1 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.
1. Why do you find the words “my children” comforting and soothing? (2:1; note how Jesus speaks in John 13:33.)
2. What was John's purpose for writing this letter? (2:1) How can we follow Jesus' example?
3. How does Paul's description of Jesus' work in Romans 8:34 help you understand these verses? (2:1,2)
© 1997 Northwestern Publishing House. Reprinted by permission.
4. Jesus is our “atoning sacrifice.” (2:2) In Hebrews 9:5 the same Greek word here translated “atoning sacrifice” is translated “atonement seat,” referring to the cover on the ark of the covenant. Read Leviticus 16:2 and Romans 3:25. What is the comparison between Jesus’ “atoning sacrifice” and the cover of the ark.
Passage List
John 13:33
“Dear children, I am going to be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.”
Romans 8:34
Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus, who died and, more than that, was raised to life, is the one who is at God’s right hand and who is also interceding for us!
Hebrews 9:5
Above the Ark, the glorious cherubim overshadowed the atonement seat. We are not going to talk about these things in detail now.
Leviticus 16:2
The Lord said to Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron that he must not enter into the Holy Place at any time he chooses by going inside the veil which is in front of the atonement seat that is on the ark. This is so that he will not die, for I appear in the cloud over the atonement seat.”
Romans 3:25
whom God publicly displayed as the atonement seat through faith in his blood. God did this to demonstrate his justice, since, in his divine restraint, he had left the sins that were committed earlier unpunished.
John 15:1–5
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he is going to cut off. And he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will bear more fruit.
3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I am going to remain in you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Likewise, you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him is the one who bears much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”
His Word in My Life
Read John 15:1-5. How do these verses help you appreciate 1 John 2:2? How might you apply these words to your life this week?
Walk as Jesus walked
Read 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.
1. You have probably heard someone say, “He's all talk and no walk.” What do these verses call someone who says, “I know him,” but then does not do what Jesus commands? (2:3-6)
2. God's love is already complete and perfect. Why does verse 5 tell us God's love will be made complete when anyone obeys his word?
3. What makes you sure you are “in the Lord”? (2:5)
His Word in My Life
Martin Luther wrote these words in his explanation to the Second Article: “I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness.” Why do you want to walk as Jesus did?
Walk with a new commandment: love, not hate
Read 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.
1. In what way is the command to love one another an “old command”? In what way is the commandment to love one another a “new command”? (2:7,8)
2. How does a person by hating his brother indicate that he is still living in darkness? (2:9-11; see also Matthew 15:16-19.)
3. Giving offense to people is a serious matter. We risk doing this when our anger becomes sinful anger. What did Jesus say about giving offense to people who may be weak in their faith? (Luke 17:1,2)
Passage List
Matthew 15:16-19
16 Jesus said, “Do you still not understand? 17 Do you not understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated into the latrine? 18 But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. That is what defiles a person. 19 To be sure, out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies.”
Luke 17:1–2
Jesus said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for that person if a millstone would be hung around his neck and he would be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.”
His Word in My Life
How might Satan use hatred, or even lack of love, to cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble or fall from faith?
Summary
Join together in your group to say or sing the following hymn verses: Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear, And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. (CW 494:1,3)
In 1 John 2 you heard that true Christian love is not just all talk and no walk. Think of areas in your life where you would like your walk to improve.
Life with God
Throughout the week:
Read John 15 several times in your personal devotions. Read 1 John 2:12-27 in preparation for the next lesson.