Study Guide for 1 John Chapter 4

1 John 4
[1] What are these spirits?
How do we “test the spirits”?
See: Dt 13:1-5; Acts 17:11; 2 Cor 13:1-10; 1 Thess 5:21
[2] What does it mean to confess or acknowledge?
“Not everyone who says…” Mt 7:21-23
“Even the demons believe…” Jms 2:19
RE: False prophets: Mt 7:15-16; Mk 13:22-23

• KNOW = RECOGNIZE

• Find the different attributions for “S/spirit of…”

1. Spirit of [2] _____________
2. spirit of [3] _____________
3. Spirit of [6] _____________
4. spirit of [6] _____________

• “By this…” or “This is how…”
• Find this pattern in chapter four (compare 3:16, 19)
• What value is introduced by each of these phrases?

Identify the five (or six) verses where this phrase occurs:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
[4] Do not be afraid (Mt 14:27). See verse 18. Also Jn 16:33
[6] How do we recognize truth or error?
[7] How do we learn to love?
[9] How do we “manifest” love?
“As He Is, so are we to be in this world.” (W.E. Vine)
[10] What is the basis for love?
Propitiation/expiation relates to the atoning sacrifice of Lev 17:11
Sin = to miss the mark
What is the difference between sin and sins? See BCP 360, 362
[11] What is our motivation to love?
[12] How is God to be seen (manifest)?

• Note the number of times perfect/ed occurs [12,17,18]
• How is love perfected?

[18] See notes at verse 4
[19] From where does love originate? See verse 11
[21] Compare with the Greatest Commandment, (the Summary of the Law).
See Mk 12:29-31

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Prodigal Son by Rembrandt http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/

The Lessons
Joshua (4:19-24);5:9-12
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Luke 15:11-32
Psalm 34 or 34:1-8

The Collect
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Next Sunday's Lessons

Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:8-14
Luke 20:9-19
Psalm 126

Lenten Schedule - 2007

Third Sunday in Lent

The Lessons

Exodus 3:1-15
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9
Psalm 103 or 103:1-11

The Collect

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lenten Schedule - 2007

Study Guide for 1 John chapter 3

1 John 3
[1] What kind of love has the Father given us?
“love” = agape, which is self-sacrificial love
Why does the world not know us? (See also vs. 13)
[2] RE: God’s children now – see Gen 1:26 and Psalm 8.5ff
RE: “we will be like him”, see 1 Cor 13:12
[3] Purity = freedom from moral stain. Compare Mt 5:48
[4] What is sin? (1 Cor 6:9-11)
[5] Why did Jesus appear?
[7] RE: “Let no one deceive you”, see 1 Jn 2.18-26
[7-8] Practice of Righteousness vs. Practice of Sinning. See Mt 5:20; Heb 5:11-14
These practices imply an allegiance to another power – see vs 10
[9] RE: God’s seed. See vs. 2
[10] See Mt 5:9 (called Sons of God); Mt 5:43-48 (love [agape] your enemies); Lk 6:27-28ff (pray for your enemies)
[12] What is the significance of the story of Cain and Abel? (Gen 4:1-16)
[13] RE: “the world hates you”, see Mt 5:11; Jn 15:18-27; 16:33
[15] RE: “Everyone who hates his brother”, see Mt 5:21-24, 38-48; 18:15-20
[16] “By this we know . . .”, Jn 15:12-13; Gal 6:1-4; Eph; 5:25-27
[17] RE: “brother in need”, see Jms 1.22-27 (pure religion); Acts 2:42-47
[18] RE: “deed and truth”, see Mt 6:1 (acts of righteousness done in secret)
[19] How shall we know?
What shall we know?
[20] Why would our hearts condemn us? How do we recognize this?
[21] How do our hearts find peace?
[22] See Psalm 37:4 and Mt 17:20; Jn 14:13
[23] See 1 Jn 2:7; Jn 13:34; Dt 6:6
[24] How do we abide? See 1 Jn 2:3
How do we know that he abides in us? See 1 Jn 2:27

The Second Sunday in Lent

The Lessons

Genesis 15:1-12,17-18
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:(22-30)31-35
Psalm 27 or 27:10-18

The Collect
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from thy ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of thy Word, Jesus Christ thy Son; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

"Strive to enter through the narrow door." - Jesus

Lenten Schedule - 2007

Outline of the First Epistle of John

Outline of First John
From James Montgomery Boice, The Epistles of John

Preface (1:1-4)
I. The message (1:5-2:2)
A. God is light (1:5)
B. All are sinners (1:6-10)
1. The first denial (1:6-7)
2. The second denial (1:8-9)
3. The third denial (1:10)
C. The call to holiness (2:1-2)
II. The basis of the Christian’s assurance (2:3-27)
A. The moral test: righteousness (2:3-6)
B. The social test (2:7-11)
1. Parenthesis on the church (2:12-14)
2. Parenthesis on the world (2:15-17)
C. The doctrinal test: truth (2:18-27)
III. An exhortation to righteousness in view of the Lord’s return (2:28-3:3)
IV. The church and the world (3:4-4:6)
A. The first contrast: righteousness and sin (3:4-10)
B. The second contrast: love and hate (3:11-18)
Parenthesis dealing with doubt (3:19-24)
C. The third contrast: truth and error (4:1-6)
V. An exhortation to love in view of the Christian’s relationship to God (4:7-21)
VI. Summary of the Letter (5:1-20)
A. The three tests combined (5:1-5)
B. God’s own testimony: the final word (5:6-13)
C. Confidence in prayer and intercession (5:14-17)
D. Three final affirmations (5:18-20)
Conclusion (5:21)

Study Guide for 1 John, chapters 1 & 2

Introduction

1. Who is the author?
Apostolic authority is assumed. John writes as a father (Jn 2:1, 12 & 18)
2. To whom is he writing? (compare Rev chs 2 & 3)
3. When were these epistles written?
4. Why were they written?
5. What is Gnosticism? (see handout: “Heresies”)
6. What is Docetism? (see handout)
Regarding the conflict between flesh and spirit, see Romans 7:13-8:11.

1 John Chapter 1 [corresponding verse are in brackets]

[1] What other book of the NT does this chapter remind you of? (Jn1.1)
[1,2] How do the senses play a part in John’s witness?
Why would John stress these senses? Faith is founded on evidence.
[2] What is John’s role? (See Jn 1:34; Jn 3:11)
[3] Do you see a theme/s?
[3] What kind of fellowship does John describe?
[4] Why is John writing this?
See also Colossians 1.9-14
This will be answered more fully later (see 1 Jn 2.1-14)
[5] What is the message?
From whom does the message come?
[6,7] What is a test for true fellowship?
Compare to Psalm 1.1
See also John 1.4-9
[8] What is sin? (Romans 1:18-32; 5.23-24)
[9] What is confession? (James 5.16)
See also Mt 18.18
Compare with 1 Cor 6.2-3
See BCP 447f
[9] What is the promise given?
[10] What would appear to make a liar out of Jesus?
Why does John say that? (1 Cor 5.21; Jn 8.7)
Compare: Romans 2:12-13, James 1:22
How should this attitude shape our witness for Christ?

1 John Chapter 2 [corresponding verse are in brackets]

I am writing to you . . .

By this we know . . .
[1] How does John address the readers?
Why is he writing? See also verse 21
How is Jesus identified?
[2] What is “propitiation”?
[3] How do we know that we know Jesus?
[4&5] What is the dividing line been the “liar” and the one with “truth”?
See verse 21
[5&6] How is the love of God perfected?
How can the Christian know that he/she is “in God”?

Old commandment – new commandment
[7] See Deuteronomy 5:10, 6:6f and John 13:34, 15:12-14
[8] How is it also “a new commandment”?
[9f] Love relates to _________ as hate relates to ___________.
See Is 5:20

I am writing to you . . .
[12] To little children because . . . your sins are forgiven . . .
Compare with verse 1
[13] To fathers because you know him who is from the beginning.
To young men because you have overcome the evil one.
To children because you know the Father
[14] To fathers because you know him who is from the beginning.
To young men because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

• What pattern do you observe in verses 12, 13 & 14?

• What does that pattern signify?

Little children = teknion affectionate term to a dependent/student
Father/s = Pater those with responsibility/authority
Young men = neaniskos a youth; vigorous and lively
Young children = paidion infant children; those under instruction
Compare: 1 Cor 14:20
Evil one = Poneros Relates to evil that causes toilsome labor, pain and sorrow: Satan

Loving the World or loving the Father
[15] What does “the world” signify?

Kosmos = order, arrangement, ornament, adornment – the human order in contrast to God’s order. Compare Rom 4:13; 1 Peter 3:3-4

• How does loving the world interfere with loving God?

• Compare and contrast John 3:16

[17] “Passing away” or “abiding forever” – see verses 24-29 & John 15:9-11

Warnings
[18] What/when is the “last hour”?
How do we know it is the last hour?
What is the difference between “The Antichrist” and “many antichrists”?
[19] What is the evidence of an antichrist? See verse 22 [handout via Biffi+]
[20] How have we been anointed?
What does that anointing produce?
[21] Truth vs. Lie. Compare with verses 1, 4, 26 & 27
[22] The definition of “antichrist” is one who denies __________&___________.
[23] In light of Scripture and the Gnosticism (heresy) of John’s, how does John emphasize the doctrine of Jesus relationship to God?
How does that compare with Christianity’s current condition?
See John 3:16-21 & 14:6-7

Confidence through Abiding
[24-29] As John summarizes this section, notice the relationship between:
Writing (Scripture), Abiding (Fellowship), Anointing (Spirit) and Righteousness (obedience) in opposition to Lies (Satan/evil/disobedience)
[26] See Gal 1.8; 2 Tim 3:1-7; Jude 1.4
[27] Who is “trying to deceive you”? See 2 Tim 4.3-4; 2 Pet 2.1-3
How do we receive this anointing? See 2 Cor 1.21-22
RE: “his anointing”, see Lk 3.22; 4.18
[28] RE: “abide in him”, compare with “dwell in the land” – Ex 25:8; Dt 30.20; Psalms 23:6; 27:4-5; 37:3; 61:4-5
[29] RE: “He is righteous, see Rm 3:25-26
What is righteousness? See 2 Cor 5.21; 1 Jn 1:9; 3:7 (Contrast 1 Jn 3:4)
Righteousness (“rightwiseness”) denotes the character of being right or just – whatever conforms to the will of God – W.E. Vine