1, 2 & 3 John Bible Study Questions by twojourneys

1, 2 & 3 JOHN

BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS

by Andrew M. Davis

Published by Two Journeys 414 Cleveland St, Durham, NC 27701 www.twojourneys.org

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN: 979-8-9892332-5-0 (print)

PREFACE TO THE READER

One of the most important elements of a healthy Christian life is regular study of God’s word. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 19:7-8 that “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” I yearn for Christians to reap the rich benefits of scripture study and to grow in the knowledge and love of God’s word through directly engaging with the biblical text. This is why I have chosen to publish Bible Study Questions instead of commentaries. There are many valuable commentaries to help aid your study of scripture, and I recommend using them. For guidance on commentaries visit www.bestcommentaries.com

However, the focus of this book is to engage you, the reader, and to challenge you to answer relevant questions based on the scripture. I have in mind three types of users for this book: First, group Bible studies. Most of these questions were written for my weekly men’s Bible study. I recommend that the leader use this resource to prepare beforehand, reading all the questions and picking only five to seven for discussion. Twenty questions would certainly be a lot of material to discuss! For the Bible study, each participant could have a copy to follow along. Second, sermon preparation. Asking questions of the text can be very helpful for understanding the flow and point of a passage of scripture. Third, personal Bible study. Again, you can gain valuable insights by asking questions of the text. My hope for these Bible study questions is that they would encourage and facilitate Christians gathering together to study God’s word. One day, as Habakkuk 2:14 says, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” Critical to this prophecy in Habakkuk is our knowing about the glory of God, and this is best achieved through the study of the Bible. So, let’s do our part!

I challenge you, reader, to ask some friends, colleagues, classmates, or fellow church members to join you for a Bible study. Ask God to open your eyes to understand the scripture (Psalm 119:18) and step out in faith to spread the knowledge

of the glory of God. May this book enrich your study of God’s living and active word (Hebrews 4:12), and may the Lord Jesus Christ bless your Bible studies!

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLES OF THE APOSTLE JOHN

Welcome to the thrilling and life-changing study of the epistles of the apostle John, the man who called himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John’s contributions to the New Testament are indispensable and unique. His Gospel of John is very different than the other three Gospels, immersing the reader in a deeper contemplation of the person, words, and works of Jesus Christ. His Book of Revelation completes the Bible with a Spirit-led unveiling of the heavenly realms and of the future of this present evil age as well as a brief glimpse into the perfect age to come.

His three epistles stand in between these two great works, giving Christians practical wisdom essential to our fruitfulness now before the end of the world comes. They are written in an extremely simple style, but that doesn’t mean the truths in them are simplistic. Though the words are basic enough for a child to understand, deeper reflection on John’s themes will take the rest of our lives and lead us to whole new levels of Christian maturity.

1 JOHN

1 John is written primarily to give readers essential principles by which we can know if we have come to a genuine saving faith in Christ or not. John says, “This is how we know…” six times (2:5, 3:10, 3:16, 3:24, 5:2, 5:13). He gives certain “tests” or patterns of Christian thought and behavior by which all Christians can, as Paul says, “test yourselves to see if you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). John is yearning that true Christians may thereby assure themselves and have their hearts rest in God’s presence, even as Christ’s second coming and Judgment Day draw near. On the other hand, he wants to expose the false professor of faith in Christ as a liar in whom the truth is not flourishing. John mentions the issue of the “liar” five times… not because he wants the self-deceived and deceiving false Christian to be humiliated, but so that he or she can repent and find genuine salvation while there is still time.

The various tests John proposes are as follows: 1) the doctrinal test; 2) the lifestyle test; 3) the love test; and 4) the Spirit test.

1) The doctrinal test: John says that only those who believe the right things about the person and work of Jesus Christ are genuinely children of God. Essential to that is believing that Christ is the Son of God and that he came in the flesh… the doctrine of the incarnation. This is asserted in 2:22, 4:2, 4:15, 5:1, and 5:5. In addition to this, the true Christian understands the atoning work of Jesus, that his blood cleanses us from sin (1:7), that his death is the propitiation for the sins of God’s people around the world, removing God’s wrath by the payment of a sacrifice (2:2, 4:10), and that he is our advocate before God (2:1). In the end, our assurance comes down to this: if we have Christ, we have life; if we do not have Christ, we do not have life (5:11-13).

2) The lifestyle test: John teaches that true Christians walk in the light as God is in the light (1:5-7), meaning seeking perfect holiness in our daily lives. The life of holiness is defined by obedience to the laws of God (2:3, 2:5, 3:22, 3:24, 5:3), walking as Jesus did (2:6), and not loving/living for this present evil age characterized by the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life (2:15-17). This is a life free from sin as much as possible (3:4-10), though perfect purity is impossible in this world we must be honest and admit that we sin and confess those sins to God and receive his ongoing forgiveness and purification based on Christ’s blood shed on the cross. But the true Christian life is one of relentlessly pursuing purity in obedience to God’s commands until Christ returns and makes us as pure as he is in an instant (3:1-3).

3) The love test: John makes it plain that true Christians love other Christians. If we claim to love God we must love his children, our brothers and sisters in Christ (2:10, 3:10-14, 4:7-12, 5:1-3). John describes quite clearly what love is: practical and sacrificial

giving of whatever is needed to brothers and sisters in need, as Jesus laid down his life for us (3:16-18).

4) The Spirit test: John says we know we are Christians because God has given us of his Spirit (3:24, 4:13). The Spirit testifies to our hearts that we are children of God based on our faith in Christ (5:6-13). Assurance of salvation is ultimately and completely the work of the Spirit in all these areas doctrinal, lifestyle, love all are the direct works of the Spirit of God in a true Christian.

As we read 1 John, we are given the tools we need to evaluate the true condition of our souls and to expose all liars who are in great danger if they don’t repent while there is still time. By the words of this little epistle, we can come to a healthy assurance of salvation, therefore enabled to rejoice, be at peace, do a river of good works for the proper reasons, and have fellowship with God and with each other.

2 JOHN

John’s second epistle is addressed, I believe, to a local church (whom he calls “the chosen lady and her children”) to encourage them in their ongoing faith and to warn them of the danger of false teachers. John specifically describes these teachers as denying that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (verse 7) and calls such a teacher a “deceiver” and “the antichrist.” He also warns the church from welcoming or supporting such false teachers, saying that if they do, they are participating in their evil work. Though this epistle is brief, it is a timeless warning of the danger of false teachers that remains today.

3 JOHN

John’s third epistle is written to a faithful friend of John’s, a man named Gaius. He commends him for his ongoing faithfulness in Christ and thanks him for supporting itinerating teachers of the true gospel. Unlike the false teachers in 2 John, these men are genuine servants of Christ and supporting them practically is how we can and must work together for the truth.

John mentions a divisive glory-seeker named Diotrephes, who refuses to accept the teachers John sends their way. Conversely, he commends a faithful brother named Demetrius, who seems to be one of John’s traveling teachers whom he wants Gaius and the whole church to support.

Blessings on your studies as you walk through these discussion questions in 1, 2, and 3 John! May God use this time to grow you in your faith!

CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF GOD, SO WALK IN THAT LIGHT

1 JOHN 1:1-10

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. The purpose of this whole epistle is assurance of salvation… how can I know that I am a Christian? Why is this assurance so important in the Christian life?

2. How does this chapter help Christians come to a healthy assurance of salvation?

3. Why is the apostles' eyewitness testimony of Christ’s life so vital to Christianity?

4. What does it mean to walk in the light as God is in the light?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

Eyewitnesses to the Word of Life (vv. 1-4)

1. How do you see John speaking of his role as an eyewitness to Christ’s life in this section?

2. Why does he get so physical here, speaking about things he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears and touched with his own hands?

3. Why is actual history so important to the Christian faith?

4. John speaks of what was “from the beginning.” What does that mean? How does it connect to the way he begins his Gospel? See John 1:1.

5. Give some examples of things John touched with his hands that he later proclaimed to those who were not there at the time

6. What does he mean in verse 2 “The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it...”?

7. What is the eternal life he is proclaiming? How has eternal life with the Father appeared to us? How does Jesus’ incarnate life relate to our eternal life?

8. What reason does John give for proclaiming the life that appeared in Jesus?

9. What is fellowship? How do we have fellowship with God? With Christ? How do we have fellowship with each other?

10. What other reason does John give for writing his epistle?

11. How is our joy made complete by other people becoming Christians?

Walking in the Light as God is Light (vv.5-10)

12. What is the message that John declares here about God?

13. How did he hear it first before proclaiming it to us?

14. What does it mean when he says, “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all”? What are light and darkness in this sense?

15. Is light truth? Goodness? Holiness? Beauty? All of the above? How do you understand the metaphor of light?

16. What does it mean that in God there is no darkness at all? If light is goodness and darkness is evil, what does that tell you about God’s nature?

17. How does God relate to evil?

18. What does it mean to walk in darkness? What does it mean to walk in the light?

19. What kind of people claim to have fellowship with God and yet walk in darkness?

20. How is this an example of hypocrisy… to claim to have fellowship with God and yet walk in darkness?

21. How does that relate to these verses: Matthew 23:27-28; Luke 11:44; Luke 12:1-3?

22. How is hypocrisy a danger for us all?

23. What does John mean by living by the truth? How is that the same as walking in the light as God is in the light?

24. How does verse 7 describe a genuine and healthy Christian life?

25. How does walking in the light enable good Christian fellowship?

26. What is the significance of the insight that someone can be walking in the light and still need continual cleansing from all sin?

27. How does the fact that genuine Christians still need cleansing from sin show up in these verses: John 15:2; John 13:10?

28. Why is it vital for us to be honest about the sin in our lives (see verses 8-10)?

29. Why would we tend to claim we are without sin? How does our pride factor into that?

30. How does such a claim amount to self-deception? How can Psalm 139:23-24 help remedy that?

31. What marvelous promise does John make in verse 9? What does it mean to confess sins?

32. What two adjectives does John ascribe to God in verse 9? How does God’s forgiveness of a Christian’s sins show his faithfulness? How does it show his justice?

33. Why would a justified Christian still need forgiveness of sins?

34. What is the purification from all sin promised in verse 9?

35. How does John finish this section? Compare and contrast verses 8 and 10.

III. SUMMARY:

John begins his epistle by establishing his testimony as an eyewitness of Christ’s life. He then urges Christians to walk in the light as God is in the light and confess all sins to Christ.

GENUINE CHRISTIANS OBEY AND LOVE

1 JOHN 2:1-14

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. How does this section help us to evaluate the genuineness of our salvation? What is the significance of John dealing so often with people who say that they are Christians but who really are not… who make claims not borne out by their lifestyle and true convictions?

2. How does it encourage you to know that if we do sin, Christ is our propitiation (sacrifice that removes God’s wrath)?

3. Why is obedience to God’s commands so vital to the Christian life?

4. Why is love for other Christians also so vital?

5. What insights does this section give about the different stages of Christian development?

II. Verse by Verse Questions:

Jesus Our Propitiation (vv.1-2)

1. What connection do you see between the end of chapter 1 (especially verses 8-10) and these two verses at the beginning of chapter 2?

2. Why is it so vital that Christians are set against all sin wherever it is found in their lives?

3. How do these verses address the possibility of Christians sinning?

4. What provisions do verses 1-2 make for the sins of Christians?

5. Verse 1 calls Jesus our advocate (Greek parakletos, one called alongside to help, especially in a court trial). Verse 2 says he is the propitiation for our sins (Greek hilasmos, one who removes the wrath of God by the payment of a sacrifice). How do these titles for Jesus give you assurance of final salvation? How do they give you a picture of Jesus as our great high priest (see Hebrews 4:15, 7:26)?

6. John says that Jesus is the propitiation not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world. How do we understand this without slipping into universalism, or even Arminianism? Note: John Owen says hilasmos

(propitiation) is, “That whereby the law is covered, God appeased and reconciled, sin expiated, and the sinner pardoned.” Furthermore, Owen says the phrase whole world refers to people, “Living throughout the whole world, in all parts and regions thereof, as opposed to the inhabitants of any one nation, place or country.” Also, if in some sense Christ is a propitiation for every single human being on earth, even those who ultimately end up in hell, it seems impossible that these verses could in any sense be a comfort to sinning Christians, as John clearly intends them to be.

7. How does it encourage you whenever you sin to know that Jesus’ blood so completely atones for you as to be an infinite ocean of grace that swallows up all our sins, and not only our sins but those of believers all over the world and in every era of history?

8. How does this truth about Jesus as our great high priest our Advocate and our propitiation not become a license for sin?

9. What does verse 3 teach you about Christian assurance?

10. How is our assurance tied to our obedience to God’s commands?

11. What commands do you think John has in mind?

12. How is this not teaching legalism?

13. How is verse 4 a strong wake-up call for the self-deceived nominal “Christian”?

14. John says a lifestyle of consistent obedience to the commands of God results in God’s love being made complete in us. What does that mean to you?

15. What does it mean to walk as Jesus did?

16. How is Jesus our pattern for a daily life of obedience to God’s commands? See John 8:29.

17. Why do you think John says this command is not a new one, but one they have had from the beginning?

18. Yet then John says it IS a new command. In what sense are both true… not a new command but also a new command? How is Jesus’ incarnation and the way he lived out the ancient law of God in a perfect and new way the answer to both?

19. What does John mean in verse 8 that the darkness is passing away and the true light is shining?

Genuine Christians Love Other Christians (vv. 9-11)

20. What false claims does John expose in this section?

21. What is the significance of someone claiming to be a Christian but hating another (or many other) Christians?

22. What does hate mean in verse 9?

23. What does it mean that someone who truly hates other Christians is still in the darkness?

24. John says a lot about light vs. darkness in this section. What do these verses teach you about that? What is the nature of the blindness in verse 11?

25. What does John mean by things within us that cause us to stumble (in reference to loving other people)?

26. Why is it often so difficult for Christians to love other Christians? What is the remedy to the hate that John is addressing here?

Different Stages of Christians (vv. 12-14)

27. How do these verses describe different stages of Christian development?

28. What are the different groups he addresses here? What names does he give them?

29. What are the advantages fathers bring to the Christian church? What advantages do young men bring? How is a combination of fathers and young men vital for the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth?

30. What is the first thing John says in this section addressing the dear children? Why does John say he is writing to them? How does his writing help the dear children whose sins are forgiven?

31. Why does he say he writes to the fathers? Why to the young men? (13)

32. What does it mean to overcome the evil one?

33. Of all the things John ascribes to the various groups in the church, how many are true of all genuine Christians, regardless of their level of spiritual maturity?

34. How does this section celebrate the benefits of an ageintegrated local church?

III. SUMMARY:

John continues in his writing to Christians to urge them to a life of holy obedience to God’s commands, especially as displayed in their love for one another.

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD

1 JOHN 2:15-17

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. What does the world mean in this passage? How is it a threat to our souls?

2. How do our three ancient enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, work together to assault our souls?

3. How should a Christian prepare to fight these enemies?

4. How can we help each other to fight these enemies?

Note: In John Bunyan’s allegory of the Christian life, Pilgrim’s Progress, he discusses a place called “Vanity Fair.”

Almost five thousand years ago, there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City, as these two honest persons are. And Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that the pilgrims made, that their way to the city lay through this town of Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair wherein, should be sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the yearlong. Therefore at this fair are all such merchandise sold, as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not.

And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen juggling, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind. Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, adulteries, false swearers, and that of a blood-red color.

And as in other fairs of less moment, there are the several rows and streets, under their proper names, where such and such wares are vended; so here likewise you have the proper places, rows, streets, (viz. countries and

kingdoms), where the wares of this fair are soonest to be found. Here is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row, where several sorts of vanities are to be sold.

5. How does Bunyan’s description of Vanity Fair connect with 1 John 2:15-17?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

1. John uses the word world differently at different times. How would you compare the world that we should not love with the world of John 3:16?

2. What does it mean to love the world according to 1 John 2:15? Why is that so harmful to the health of our souls?

3. How can we determine if we are sinfully loving the world?

4. How would a sinful love of the world be compared to idolatry?

5. What is the remedy for a sinful love of the world?

6. What does John mean when he says, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him?” That sounds very stark… like either you are a Christian or you love the world… there is no middle ground.

7. What reason does John give for not loving the world in verse 16? How does verse 16 help explain what the world is? What is the lust of the flesh? How is this a threat to us? How does it relate to Romans 7:14-23?

8. What is the lust of the eyes? How does Satan use the world’s glittery attractions to lure people into sin?

9. How does his temptation of Christ display this threat in Matthew 4:8-9?

10. What is the boastful pride of life? How does Satan display pride? How does he lure people into pride?

11. How does the rich fool show the pride of life in Luke 12:19-20?

12. What does John say happens to the world and its desires? Why is it good for us to meditate on the brevity of life in the face of this world’s allurements?

13. What does he say happens to the one who does the will of God?

III. SUMMARY:

John warns Christians of the great dangers of this present world system and commands us to root the love of this sinful world out of our hearts.

ANTICHRISTS AND THE ANTICHRIST

1 JOHN 2:18-29

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. How does this section cause us to prepare for future trials?

2. What is the significance of the fact that many antichrists come and then one antichrist is coming?

3. How are the true children of God protected from the lies of the antichrists/ antichrist?

4. How is a constant immersion in sound doctrine vital for the health of individual Christians and of the church?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

1. What does John mean by, "The last hour”?

2. How does knowing that the end of the world is imminent considering eternity helpful for us?

3. What other verses are there in the New Testament that give us a sense of a long delay between the first and second comings of Christ?

4. What does John mean by, “The antichrist is coming"? Note: in the Greek language, the prefix “anti” means “in the place of” or “instead of” a substitute. In English, it means “against.”

5. What verses teach us of one antichrist who is coming? See Daniel 7, 9, and 11; 2 Thessalonians 2; and Revelation 13.

6. What does John mean by saying, “Even now, many antichrists have come”? Jesus predicted that, saying, "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible" (Matthew 24:24).

7. How does John's statement, "The antichrist is coming, and many antichrists have come," show the pattern of socalled dress rehearsals when it comes to the Bible's doctrine of the end times?

8. What characteristic traits do the antichrists display?

9. How is the fact that there are many antichrists proof that it is the “last hour”?

10. What is the significance of John’s statement, “They went out from us but they did not really belong to us”? How does that help us to understand the nature of apostasy?

11. John says, “If they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us.” How does continuing in the faith demonstrate the difference between true and false professions of Christ?

12. How does that line up with the following statements from Jesus:

"Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:1213).

"The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away" (Matthew 13:20-21).

13. How does John’s statement about the antichrists going out from among their own number line up with Paul’s warning to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29-31?

14. What is the anointing John discusses in this section (see also verse 27)? How does it relate to the Holy Spirit’s work in a true Christian’s heart?

15. What does the anointing from God do in the heart of a true Christian, according to verses 20 and 27?

16. In verse 21, John says it is specifically because of the anointing that he is writing. In effect he says, “You are all true Christians because of the anointing God gave you. By that anointing you know the truth. And that is precisely why I am writing to you.” If they already know the truth, why does he write to them?

17. Perhaps the anointing is not that we know the truth already but that we can recognize it when we hear it. Why is it a powerful gift from God to be able to know the truth when we hear it?

18. How does this anointing from God protect true Christians from the “spirit of antichrist” (see 1 John 4:2-3)? How does the “truth” that the anointing teaches all true Christians relate to Jesus as the Son of God?

19. How do the antichrists deny Jesus as the Son of God?

20. Explain the significance of John’s statement, “No one who denies the Son has the Father.” What does that say

about all religious Jews who hate Jesus but who seek to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses?

21. What does John mean by, “Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also"? Why is it true that if you believe properly in Jesus as the Christ, you will of necessity believe properly also in the Father?

22. What does John exhort his reader to do in verse 24? How can we obey that command?

23. Do you think that what they “heard from the beginning” is the gospel? If so, how do we keep the gospel remaining in us day after day?

24. What promise does the gospel make to us in verse 25?

25. Who is trying to lead John’s hearers astray? How does it relate to the antichrists that went out from them?

26. Why is it true that the anointing means no one needs to teach them? Why, then, are there teachers in the church?

27. What is the difference between the real and the counterfeit anointing?

28. What exhortation does John give them in verse 28? Why will some followers of Christ feel shame at the Second Coming of Christ?

Jonathan Edwards Resolution #19 “Resolved: Never to do anything, which I would be afraid to do if I expected it would not be more than an hour before I would hear the last trump sound (when Jesus returns)."

29. What does verse 29 teach about the true Christian life?

III. SUMMARY:

John warns his followers about the antichrists that went out from their number to distort the truth. He expresses confidence that the anointing they have will help them know the difference between truth and falsehood, especially when it comes to the Son of God.

TRUE CHILDREN OF GOD PURIFY THEMSELVES FROM ALL SIN

1 JOHN 3:1-10

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. How does this section demonstrate the incredible privilege of being a child of God?

2. What does this section teach us about heaven? And about living life now in view of heaven?

3. Why is purity from sin such a vital part of the true Christian life?

4. How could this section, especially 1 John 3:6, 9, possibly be discouraging to average Christians? Why would such discouragement be a misinterpretation of 1 John?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

1. Why is our adoption as the children of God so astonishing according to Romans 3:10-18 and John 1:12-13?

2. How does the language of verse 1 show how amazing our adoption is?

3. What does John mean when he says, “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him”? How does the world not know us? How did the world not know him?

4. The Bible says that creation is waiting eagerly for the children of God “to be revealed” (Romans 8:19). What does that mean?

5. What does verse 2 teach about our future in heaven? How is our future mysterious?

6. Who is the "he" that will appear? What does John mean, "when he appears?" What happens when he appears?

7. What does it mean that we will be like Christ? How do these verses connect with that idea?

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29).

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21).

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43).

You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23).

8. What causes the transformation in us according to verse 2? What does it mean to see him as he is?

9. How does verse 3 connect to verse 2? How does this instruct our lives here and now?

10. What does it mean for us to purify ourselves as he is pure? How does it relate to these verses:

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1).

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth (Colossians 3:4-8).

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

11. What is the significance of John’s statement that all sin is a breaking of the law and lawlessness? How should this affect our daily lives? And how should it affect the way we preach the gospel to lost people? [How important should the law be in our evangelism?]

12. How does the life and ministry of Christ relate to our lawlessness? (5)

13. Verses 6 and 9 seem to teach Christian perfection… in other words, if you are truly a Christian, you will not sin. Many English translations add extra words here to address this misunderstanding (e.g. “keep on sinning” or “continues to sin”), but all the Greek says is, “No one who abides in him sins.” And “Whoever is born of God does not sin.” How do we answer this issue of perfectionism?

How does 1 John 1:7 help us here? (That we can walk in the light and still need cleansing from sin.) (6, 9)

14. What is John’s main idea in verses 7-10? Aside from perfectionism, what is he saying about the lifestyle of all truly born-again people?

15. How does behavior prove identity… either a child of God or a child of the devil? How does Romans 7:15 muddy these waters?

16. What does verse 8 teach us about Christ’s ministry in the world and the works of the devil? How does it relate to Hebrews 2:14-15?

17. How does our being born again, regenerate by the Spirit, result in a changed life? (9-10)

III. SUMMARY:

John addresses the lifestyle of all true Christians, that we seek to purify ourselves from every sin and lead righteous and pure lives, in every respect conformed to Christ. The fact that in heaven we will be perfectly pure is a great inducement to this effort.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER SACRIFICIALLY

1 JOHN 3:11-24

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. Why is love for other Christians such strong evidence of someone being a Christian?

2. What practical instructions does this section give for loving other Christians?

3. How does sacrificial giving relate to Christian love?

4. What does this section teach about Christian assurance?

II. VERSE BY VERSE

QUESTIONS:

Love vs. Hate; Cain vs. Jesus (vv. 11-15)

1. Why does John keep talking about the message "you have heard from the beginning"? See also 1 John 1:1, 1:5, 2:7, and 2:24. What does this show about the need for repetition and going back to the basics in Christian instruction?

2. What is the topic of verse 11? Why is love for other Christians such a vital part of the Christian life?

3. How does John use the example of Cain in this passage? How is Cain an example of an unbeliever in Christ?

4. What does it mean that Cain belonged to the Evil One? Does every non-Christian belong to the devil?

5. Why did Cain murder his brother? What makes an unbeliever hate believers? How does it relate to what Jesus said in John 7:7?

6. Why was Cain jealous of his brother Abel?

7. Why should we expect the world to hate us?

8. What does it mean to pass from death to life? How does love for Christians prove that this has happened to us?

9. How is a life of hatred for others a life of spiritual death?

10. What do you think of John’s statement, “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer?” Most people don’t actually kill anyone. How do you understand this statement? How does it relate to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount? See Matthew 5:21-22.

11. Why does it say that no murderer has eternal life in him? Didn’t Moses and David both commit murder? How do we understand this verse?

Jesus’ Example of Self-sacrificial Love (vv. 16-24)

12. How is Jesus’ death on the cross a perfect display of love?

13. How does it relate to what Jesus says in John 15:13?

14. What does it mean for us to lay down our lives for other Christians?

15. How does sacrifice relate to love?

16. What example of sacrifice does John give for Christians here? How is the giving of material wealth an example of laying down your life for others?

17. Why does John say we must not love in word only but in actions and truth?

18. How does this passage relate to James 2:14-17?

19. So… love must result in sacrificial action. Relate this to what Paul taught here: "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3).

Or this: "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).

20. Putting it altogether, here is a definition of Christian love: “Christian love is heart attraction that results in cheerful sacrificial action.” What do you think?

21. John speaks of setting our hearts at rest in God presence… in other words, of Christian assurance. How does a life of cheerful sacrificial actions for others help us have a healthy Christian assurance?

22. What does John mean by our hearts condemning us or not condemning us? How does that relate to our conscience?

23. What does verse 20 mean by saying God is greater than our hearts? Do you think it’s more likely for our hearts to condemn us or not condemn us wrongly? Can our consciences mislead us one way or another?

24. How does a healthy Christian assurance relate to confidence and fruitfulness in prayer before God?

25. Is it true that our obedience or disobedience to God will affect our prayer life? How?

26. What are the two basic commands that John says God has given us in verse 23?

27. How does our obedience to God’s commands combine with the work of the Holy Spirit to give us Christian assurance?

III. SUMMARY:

John urges Christians to live a life of sacrificial love for other Christians that results in actual deeds done to bless them. By this we will gain a strong assurance of our salvation, and God will answer our prayers.

THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE GOD OF LOVE

1 JOHN 4:1-21

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. What does this section teach you about the various religions in the world?

2. How can a Christian test the spirits?

3. How is love the most vital test of genuine Christian faith?

4. How does the Holy Spirit work truth and love in us?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

Test the Spirits (vv. 1-6)

1. What does John mean by testing the spirits?

2. Paul says that the sacrifices of pagans are made to demons (1 Corinthians 10:20). What does this teach you about demonic activity in false religions? How does this give insight on testing the spirits?

3. How do the false spirits (demons) affect false prophets/teachers?

4. What test does John suggest by which we can know true from false teachers?

5. What does it mean that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? How is the doctrine of the incarnation (Jesus is fully God and fully human) a vital test of true Christianity?

6. It seems every religion and philosophy in the world has a basic respect for Jesus as a good moral teacher or a prophet. How is the doctrine of the incarnation different than that?

7. Comment on C.S. Lewis’s quote from Mere Christianity: A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing

nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

8. How is denying that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh the spirit of the antichrist?

9. What does John mean, “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world”?

10. How do Christians overcome the world by believing in Christ?

11. How do false teachers speak from the perspective of the world, and why does the world listen to them?

12. What does John mean by saying we are from God? Why do those from God listen to teachers from God? How does this relate to John’s earlier statement in 1 John 2:2023?

13. How is this the way we distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood?

14. How does this paragraph warn all Christians to vigilantly watch over the teaching they hear?

God Is Love, So We Must Love (vv. 7-21)

15. John again circles back to this command to love one another. He already said it in 1 John 3:11, 14-18, 23. He will say it again in 4:11 and 4:21. Why do you think he repeats this so often in this brief epistle?

16. What does he mean, “Love comes from God”? How does abiding in Christ by the Spirit result in Christians loving one another?

17. John also states the negative clearly in verse 8, "If anyone does not love, he does not know God." Why do you think this also needs to be said?

18. What does it mean that God is love? It is one of the three "God is" statements in John’s writings, the others being “God is light” (1 John 1:5) and “God is spirit” (John 4:24). How do these three statements give you insights about God’s basic nature?

19. How did God show his love to the human race? Why is the gift of Jesus such a lavish gift? See Romans 8:32.

20. Why does John say, “Not that we loved God, but that he loved us”? What does that teach us about basic human nature?

21. 1 John 4:10 says God sent Jesus to be a propitiation for our sins. We already covered this in 1 John 2:2. The word propitiation means the removing of God’s wrath by the payment of a sacrifice. Why is it vital to understand the wrath of God against sin to understand how much love God and Christ both showed us at the cross?

22. How should this lavish love by God at the cross result in us loving each other?

23. God is invisible. But John implies that God is in some beautiful and powerful way made visible (manifest) among us if we sacrificially love each other. How do you understand this?

24. How does the Spirit assure us that God lives in us?

25. What does John assert about his own witness in the world?

26. Why is believing and asserting the deity of Christ vital to our salvation? How does that result in intimate and close fellowship with God?

27. What does verse 16 add to John’s argument? Why do you think John keeps repeating the same things in similar words?

28. How does the perfection of Christian love in our lives result in greater assurance of our salvation on Judgment Day?

29. What does John mean by, “There is no fear in love?” How does he explain that? How does perfect love drive out all fear? How does this verse show that there will be no fear at all in heaven for all eternity?

30. What is the significance of the statement, “We love because he first loved us”? Is it also true that we choose Christ because he first chose us? How is God’s initiative vital in every aspect of our salvation? See also Philippians 2:12-13.

31. John has already said verse 20 earlier (see 2:9, 3:12, 15). Why the repetition?

32. John ends up by saying that God has commanded us to love each other. How does the fact of this command from Almighty God end up a test of whether we are in a right relationship with him?

III. SUMMARY:

John zeroes in powerfully on the role of the Spirit in enabling us to know truth from falsehood and in working love for the brothers in us. This is clear evidence to us that we are children of God.

FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD GIVES ETERNAL LIFE

1 JOHN 5:1-21

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. How does this chapter feed a healthy assurance of salvation through faith in Christ?

2. What does it mean to overcome the world?

3. Why is confidence in prayer so vital?

4. What forms of idolatry are threats to our spiritual lives in this modern age?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

Assurance of Salvation Through Faith in the Son of God (vv. 1-13)

1. What does it mean to be born of God? How does this happen to a person?

2. How does verse 1 relate to John 1:12-13?

3. What themes do verses 2-3 repeat that we have already seen many times in 1 John? Why do you think John repeats them so many times?

4. Why do you think John says that God’s commands are not burdensome? Do they seem burdensome from time to time? How does this verse help us?

5. Read and ponder Malachi 1:10-13, when the Jews felt offering God sacrifices was a burden. How does such an attitude dishonor God? How do we see such an attitude in our Christian lives from time to time?

6. How does Jesus describe his yoke in Matthew 11:28-30? Relate that to John’s statement, “His commands are not burdensome." How is slavery to Satan and sin the real burden?

7. What does it mean to overcome the world in this context? How is the world set against our faith in Christ? How does genuine faith in Christ overcome the world’s evil system in verses 4-5?

8. What does it mean that Jesus came by water and blood?

9. How does the Spirit testify to Jesus? Explain the significance of John saying, “The Spirit is the truth.”

10. How do the Spirit, water, and blood together testify to Jesus? Note: Some commentators relate this to the life of Jesus Christ, water being Jesus’ baptism by John the

Baptist, when the Father testified from heaven, and blood referring to his death on the cross. The Spirit’s testimony came by his inspiration of scripture and the dove descending on Jesus at his baptism. Similar statements by Jesus confirm this. Read John 5:33-37 and John 5:39.

11. What is the testimony that every Christian has in his/her heart? See also Roman 8:16, “The Spirit testifies with our spirits that we are children of God.”

12. How do verses 11-13 show us the final testimony to Jesus as the Son of God? How does that relate to John 20:3031, scripture’s testimony to Jesus?

13. Some people believe that no one on earth should have any assurance of final salvation, because they think it will cause people to become lazy or sinful. How do verses 11-13 address that? In fact, how does the whole book of 1 John show the combination of assurance and holy living in obedience to God’s commands?

Assurance in Prayer, Sinning Brothers, Fleeing Idolatry (vv. 14-21)

14. What do verses 14-15 teach us about prayer? Why is it vital to have assurance in prayer? Why is it vital to pray according to God’s will?

15. What does it mean, “He hears us,” concerning our prayers to God? Why is that comforting?

16. What do verses 16-17 teach us about our responsibility to other Christians, especially when we see them sinning? How does that connect with James 5:19-20?

17. What distinction does John make concerning kinds of sins in verse 16?

18. Why do you think verse 18 repeats the earlier teaching from 3:4-6?

19. What does verse 19 teach us about the world and Satan’s control over it?

20. How does Jesus, the Son of God, rescue us from Satan’s mind control?

21. Throughout the Old Testament, Israel constantly battled idolatry in the form of pagan worship to Baal, Molech, etc. What is idolatry? How is idolatry still a major threat to modern Christians?

III. SUMMARY:

John concludes his epistle by focusing on how faith in Jesus as the Son of God guarantees salvation and should give us strong assurance that we have overcome the world and have continual access to God in prayer.

WALKING IN THE TRUTH; GUARDING THE TRUTH

2 JOHN 1-13

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think God wanted this brief epistle among the 66 books of the Bible?

2. What does it mean to walk in the truth? How is this vital to the Christian church?

3. What does it mean to guard the truth? Why is this needed in every generation?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

Greetings from John to the Church (vv.1-3)

1. What does John call himself at the beginning of this epistle? How is this title a humble one for John?

2. To whom does John address this epistle? Note: there are a variety of interpretations for “the chosen lady and her children”: 1) a figurative term for a local church and its members; 2) a figurative term for the universal church all true Christians; 3) a specific individual Christian woman and her believing children. Most scholars favor the first of these options. If so, why do you think John might call the church the chosen lady and her children?

3. What does John mean by the truth?

4. How does the truth unite all Christians?

5. What does John say about the truth in verse 2?

6. The greeting in verse 3 is very common in all New Testament epistles. What does it mean for the apostles to wish the churches grace and peace from God?

7. John adds mercy to the standard grace and peace. How do you understand the overlap and differences between grace and mercy?

8. How are grace, mercy, and peace guaranteed to all true followers of Jesus Christ?

9. How does John describe Jesus Christ in verse 3?

All Disciples Walk in Truth and Love (vv. 4-6)

10. What does John say brings him great joy in verse 4? Why should it cause all genuine Christians to rejoice in the faithful lives of other Christians?

11. What does it mean to walk in the truth? What does the metaphor of walking refer to?

12. How should our Christian faith affect our daily lives?

13. How does a godly lifestyle relate to the commands the Father has given us in scripture?

14. In verse 5, John uses almost an exact sentence from his longer epistle, 1 John:

Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard (1 John 2:7).

And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another (2 John 1:5).

It relates strongly to Jesus’ statement in the Gospel of John (after washing the apostles’ feet and commanding them to do the same to each other):

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).

Why does John make so much of this command? Why is it so vital in the Christian life and church? Why does he talk about it not being a new command, and yet Jesus says it is a new command?

15. How does John link loving one another with walking in the truth/obeying God’s commands?

16. Why is it important for us to see our love for other Christians as directly commanded by God, and therefore to fail to love each other is an affront to God himself?

17. Why does John emphasize that this is a command they have heard from the beginning?

Guarding the Truth About the Son of God (vv. 7-11)

18. Now John moves to the main reason for writing his epistle. John sees a grave threat to the church in these verses. What is that threat?

19. Why are false teachers so dangerous to all Christians individually and to healthy churches as well? Why could it be argued that false teachers are the greatest threat we face in this world, greater than persecution and sinful worldliness?

20. John calls them deceivers. Jesus calls them, “wolves in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). Paul says the servants of Satan masquerade as servants of righteousness just as Satan masquerades as a beautiful angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). What does this teach us about false teachers in the Christian church?

21. What is their central heresy according to verse 7? Why is the denial of the doctrine of the incarnation so vital to Satan’s attack on the church?

22. The word antichrist could mean both “in the place of” Christ or “against Christ.” In 1 John 2:18, John says, “the antichrist is coming” and “many antichrists have come.” Here in 2 John, how does John describe antichrist? In verse 7, is John talking about the one final antichrist or the many that have gone out into the world?

23. What danger does John warn the church about in verse 8? How does it relate to Revelation 3:11 in which Jesus warns the church at Philadelphia, “Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown”?

24. What does it mean to be fully rewarded?

25. John speaks of those who run ahead or go ahead and do not abide in the teaching of Christ. What image of sound Christian doctrine does this put in your mind?

26. Why are the Father and the Son linked together when it comes to sound doctrine?

27. What does John warn about and forbid in verses 10-11? Jesus said in Matthew 10:40-42 that anyone who meets the physical needs of his apostles or teachers receives the same reward as those teachers. Here the image is negative. How do those who practically provide for teachers (both true and false) share in their work and merit their reward or punishment?

Concluding Words (vv.12-13)

28. How does verse 12 show the limitations of even inspired scripture? How does the scripture in some sense serve as a perfect but inferior replacement to face-to-face fellowship with Christ? See 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 where Paul likens the gifts of prophecy and doctrinal knowledge

to “baby talk” compared to the perfection of seeing Christ face to face.

29. Who does John send greetings from in the final verse? What does this verse teach you about the church?

III. SUMMARY:

John writes a very brief epistle to a specific church urging them to walk continually in God’s commandments, especially by loving each other. He also warns them of the danger of false teachers, commanding them not to welcome them or give them any support.

COMMENDATIONS AND CONDEMNATIONS FROM JOHN 3 JOHN 1-15

I. MAIN QUESTIONS:

1. What is the main purpose of this brief epistle from the apostle John?

2. How do its commendations and condemnations give a foretaste of Judgment Day?

3. As you read these words, what new ministries could Christ be laying on your heart?

4. How does this epistle give a sense of the unity of the body of Christ in the worldwide work of the gospel?

II. VERSE BY VERSE QUESTIONS:

Greetings to Gaius (vv.1-4)

1. What does John call himself in this epistle? What is the significance of that title? Given that the New Testament ordains plural elders for each local church (see Titus 1:5, James 5:14), how is John identifying with many other men who play this role all over the world?

2. To whom does John address his epistle?

3. What can we learn about Gaius from these verses? How does John feel about him?

4. What does John pray for concerning Gaius?

5. What does John say he’s heard about Gaius?

6. What is the significance of verse 4? Who do you think John has in mind in this verse? (Who are his children?)

7. Though verse 4 seems to be speaking of spiritual children, how could this verse also speak to Christian parents of grown Christian children?

Commendation of Gaius’s Hospitality for Messengers of the Gospel (vv.58)

8. What does John commend in Gaius’s life in these verses?

9. Who did Gaius help? Why was that help so important for the spread of the gospel?

10. How does Gaius’s support of/hospitality for messengers of the gospel relate to Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:40-42?

11. How can modern Christians learn from and apply these patterns in our day?

12. How is mutual support in ministry and hospitality a vital display of Christian love? Of the unity of the body of Christ?

13. What does it mean for us to work together for the truth?

Condemnation for Diotrephes’s Malicious Behavior (vv.9-10)

14. How is this section a stark contrast to the previous section?

15. What role does Diotrephes seem to have in the church?

16. How does John condemn the behavior and attitude of Diotrephes?

17. What is so bad about someone who wants to have first place? Why is such a display of pride and ego so destructive?

18. How do we see such things in our day?

19. What does it mean that Diotrephes wants to have nothing to do with John and his fellow workers? How does Diotrephes hinder the collaborative work of the gospel?

20. Why is gossip so damaging?

21. What is the significance of the fact that, not only did Diotrephes refuse to welcome John and workers he sends, but he also puts out of the church anyone who wants to help them?

22. Compare Diotrephes with what Jesus said about people who refused to welcome the messengers of the gospel: "But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town" (Luke 10:10-12).

23. How is this exactly the opposite of the help that Gaius gave?

Commendation of Demetrius’s Example (vv.11-12)

24. What place does verse 11 have in John’s train of thought? How do they make a fit transition from Gaius and Diotrephes to Demetrius?

25. How do our deeds display our true spiritual identity?

26. What commendation does John give for Demetrius? How do these words give a foretaste of the praise the Lord will give his true servants on Judgment Day?

27. How do these three men (Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius) motivate you to serve Christ now?

Final Greetings (vv.13-15)

28. As in 2 John 12, how does John show the limitations of writing compared to face-to-face fellowship?

29. What final greetings does he give? Why is it so important to greet people by name? Note that the apostle Paul does this in Romans 16 with 27 names! Yet interestingly, John doesn’t name anyone here at the end!

III. SUMMARY:

The apostle John gives a timeless display of how important it is for local churches and individual Christians to work together for the spread of the gospel worldwide. This is a powerful display of the truth of the universal church, the one Body of Christ.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Andrew M. Davis is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Durham, North Carolina, and the founder of Two Journeys Ministry. He holds a bachelor’s degree from MIT, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a visiting professor of church history at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Council Member of The Gospel Coalition. He and his wife, Christi have five children and four grandchildren.

BOOK BY DR. ANDREW M. DAVIS

• An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture

• An Infinite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness, 2014

• Revitalize: Biblical Keys to Helping Your Church Come Alive Again, 2017

• Exalting Jesus in Isaiah, 2017

• The Power of Christian Contentment, 2019

• The Glory Now Revealed: What We’ll Discover About God in Heaven, 2021

• How to Memorize Scripture for Life: From One Verse to Entire Books, 2023

WHY BIBLE STUDY QUESTIONS?

In Romans 4:3, the Apostle Paul asks one of the great methodological questions Christians should always ask: “What does the Scripture say?” This question reveals the crucial understanding that the foundation of truth and knowledge is God’s word. Bible Study Questions will help you grow in your understanding of the Scriptures by asking you questions and challenging you to answer from Scripture. Each Bible study contains broad questions concerning the major themes of a passage and verse-by-verse questions to focus on the details.

Completed Books in the Bible Study Questions Series

John – Acts – Romans

1 Corinthians – 2 Corinthians – Philippians

1 & 2 Thessalonians – Hebrews – 1 & 2 Peter

Daniel – 1 Timothy – Revelation

www.twojourneys.org