Living in the Light of God's Love
1 John
Lesson Eight-1 John 5:1-21
We Have Victory in Christ
1. We have victory in this life
2. We have victory in the life to come
3. We have the privilege of prayer
4. We are in Christ and have eternal life
Introduction
Years ago a cartoon appeared in the newspaper showing Christians being attacked by lions in a large coliseum. Above the crowd was a scoreboard with the score-Lions: 4; Christians: 0.
It may appear to the world that Christians are hardly the victors, especially in times of persecution. John was preparing his dear children for the coming days by giving them the assurance of complete victory in Christ, now and in eternity.
Read Romans 8:35-39. Why would these words be especially comforting to Christians facing persecution?
Romans 8:35–39
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 Just as it is written: For your sake we are being put to death all day long.
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Studying God's Word
We have victory in this life
Read 1 John 5:1-5
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the God who has given birth also loves one who has been born of him. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: that we keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 because everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1. What evidence do you have that you are “born of God”? (5:1)
2. How can we show true brotherly and sisterly love to other members of God's family? (5:2)
3. Why do the commands of the Lord sometimes seem burdensome?
4. How have we Christians overcome the world? (5:5)
His Word in My Life
Some claim a “born-again experience” is necessary to become a Christian. Look at 1 John 5:1 again. Paraphrase John's words. What does this say to their claim?
We have victory in the life to come
Read 1 John 5:6-13
This is the one who came by water and blood: Jesus Christ. He did not come by the water alone but by the water and by the blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 In fact, there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one.
9 If we accept the testimony of people, God’s testimony is even greater, because it is the testimony that God gave about his Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in him, but the one who does not believe has made God out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God gave about his Son. 11 This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
1. In the Old Testament court of law, it was necessary to establish the truthfulness of evidence with testimony from two or three witnesses. What powerful testimonies to Jesus as the Christ occurred
a) at his baptism? (5:6)
b) on the cross? (5:7)
c) by the Spirit? (John 15:26; Matthew 4:1)
2. The Spirit, the water, and the blood give a powerful testimony that Jesus is fully human and fully divine. What three means has the Lord given us to bring Christ to people? (Galatians 3:26,27; 1 Corinthians 10:16; John 20:31)
3. What testimony do you have in your heart (5:11) when you accept what the Holy Spirit, the water (Jesus' baptism), and the blood (Jesus' death) reveal to you? (Revelation 7:14)
4. What comfort do you find in the words “has” and “have” in verses 11 to 13?
1 John
Passage List
John 15:26
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father he will testify about me.”
Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.
Galatians 3:26–27
In fact, you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?
John 20:31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Revelation 7:14
And he said to me: These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
His Word in My Life
The name Christ means "the anointed one." In the Old Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with oil. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit. (See Luke 4:18,19.)
Why is it comforting to know that Jesus was designated by the heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit to do the job of rescuing us from our sin?
Luke 4:18–19
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, 19 and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
We have the privilege of prayer
Read 1 John 5:14,15
This is the confidence that we have before him: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we also know that we receive the things we have asked from him.
1. How can you be sure that all your prayers will be answered? (See Hebrews 4:14-16.)
2. How can the Lord's Prayer be used as a guideline to help us pray in tune with God's will?
Passage
Hebrews 4:14–16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest, who has gone through the heavens, namely, Jesus the Son of God, let us continue to hold on to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. 16 So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
His Word in My Life
Why do Christians close their special requests with the words "not my will, but yours be done"?
We are in Christ and have eternal life
Read 1 John 5:16-21
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin that does not result in death, he will ask, and God will give life to those who commit sin that does not result in death. There is sin that results in death; I am not saying that he should ask about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin that does not result in death.
18 We know that anyone who has been born of God does not go on sinning. But the one who was born of God protects him, and the Evil One cannot take hold of him. 19 We know that we are from God and that the whole world lies in the grip of the Evil One. 20 We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true, in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
21 Dear children, guard yourselves from idols.
1. The sin against the Holy Spirit leads to death. What is the sin against the Holy Spirit? (See Matthew 12:31,32 and Hebrews 6:1-8.)
2. What does John mean by saying that someone who is born of God does not sin? (5:18)
3. We don't know everything yet. But there are wonderful things we do know. According to 5:18-20, what do “we know”?
4. How can you be sure that you are in Christ? (5:20)
Passage List
Matthew 12:31–32
Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or in the one to come.
Hebrews 6:1–8
Therefore, leaving the beginning discussion of Christ, let us press on toward matters that require greater maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith in God, 2 of the teaching about baptisms, of the laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And we will do this, if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 and who then fell away, to be restored to repentance because they are crucifying the Son of God again, to their own harm, and exposing him to public ridicule.
7 For the land that drinks the rain that often falls on it and produces plants useful to those farming it, this land receives a blessing from God. 8 But the land that grows thorns and thistles is worthless and will soon be cursed its end is to be burned.
His Word in My Life
What is so dangerous about stubborn, willful sinning?
Summary
Join together in your group to say or sing the following hymn verse:
Behold a host, arrayed in white, like thousand snowclad mountains bright! With palms they stand; Who is this band before the throne of light?
These are the saints of glorious fame, who from the great affliction came and in the flood Of Jesus' blood are cleansed from guilt and blame. Now gathered in the holy place, their voices they in worship raise; their anthems rise where God resides mid angels' songs of praise. (CW 883:1)
The gift of God's perfect love casts out fear. We have victory in Jesus. You may know people whose lives are plagued by fear and doubt. Write their names down and remember them in your prayers, specifically asking the Lord to fill them with his perfect love. You might also write some key thoughts you wish to take with you from 1 John.
People
Key Thoughts from 1 John
Life with God
Throughout the week:
Read 1 John several times in the next week for your personal devotions.