Bible Study Notes 1 John 1-2:14

We looked at 1 John 1 in our Bible study last night. If you want a little review...

And next week (Wed 24th) we're going to look at 1 John 2:1-14. Some of these questions might help if you wanted to have a think about the passage in advance.  

Introduction to 1 John

 

It seems likely that the Apostle John (who also wrote John’s gospel) wrote this letter, maybe from Ephesus to the churches of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) at the end of the first century.

 

John says why he is writing in 1:4, 2:1 and 5:13. Our study should go along with this main thrust of the letter and should contribute to our joy, holiness and assurance.

 

False prophets (4:1) or antichrists (2:18) seem to be troubling John’s readers (2:26; 3:7). These false teachers seem to deny that Jesus is the Son of God in the flesh (4:2; 5:1, 5). John repeatedly helps us to distinguish between true and false believers, beliefs and teachers.

 

John’s statements that “God is light” (1:5) and “God is love” (4:8, 16) are foundational. John encourages us to both right believing and right behaviour, holding together doctrine and experience, mind and heart, Word and Spirit, truth and love.

 

Homegroup Leaders Notes (1) 1 John 1:1-10

 

Some of the themes of this section are repeated at the beginning of chapter 2, so that might give you a chance to re-visit things you don’t have time for in this study.

 

The “we” here (vv1-4) seems to be John and his fellow apostles who were the appointed eye-witnesses of Jesus. It may well be that John is writing (at least in part) for those who (like us) have not seen Jesus for themselves (perhaps mainly second-generation Christians) that they too might know God with the same confidence the eye-witnesses have. Cf. John 20:29-31.

 

What does John say he proclaims?

The Word of life (v1) / eternal life (v2)

What (or who!) do you think John means by the Word of life? What makes you think that?

John is speaking of Jesus, the Word, who gives us (eternal) life. It is clear that John is talking about more than just a message since it / He(!) can be touched and seen.

You may also wish to refer to John 1 which speaks of the Word becoming flesh and similar themes of light and life. Jesus called himself “the life” (John 14:6).

On what basis does John say he proclaims this? Why / how is John able to proclaim this with confidence? (How has John encountered / experienced the Word of life?)

John has heard, seen and touched this Word of life (v1, v3). He can proclaim the Word of life with confidence because he is an eye-witness who has personally encountered Jesus.

How do we encounter / experience this Word of life? (How / why can we have confidence in John’s message?)

Through the preaching of John and the other apostolic eyewitnesses we have real access to Jesus and life in him, though we’re never met Jesus physically.

Why does John say he proclaims this Word of life in verse 3?

So that we may have fellowship with him and with the Father and the Son.

Who does John want us to have fellowship with? (v3, 6, 7)

With him – the “us” is probably with the apostles –, one another and with the Father and the Son.

(How do we sometimes use the word “fellowship” in Christian circles?) What do you think “fellowship” (vv3, 6, 7) means?

It’s about having things in common, partnership, shared-life, deep relationships. It’s more than a cup of coffee together (sometimes called a “time of fellowship”) after church.

What is the basis of our fellowship as Christians? How do we have fellowship with one another?

It is fellowship with God himself, through Jesus by accepting the apostolic message.

So by implication, with whom / which people should we have fellowship?

All those who accept the apostles’ teaching. We should have fellowship with all those who have fellowship with the apostles and with God himself by believing the Bible’s message.

Can you think of things that might hinder our fellowship that ought not to?

Matters of personal taste, social class or background, education, denominations, musical preferences, differences of opinion on secondary matters etc. should not be allowed to divide Bible-believing Christians.

Can you think of things that aren’t a sound basis for Christian fellowship?

Our basic unity comes from our common faith in the Bible’s message about Jesus – nothing else. Christian unity / fellowship is not the same as fellowship of regulars down the pub or in a sports club. 

 

Why does John say he is writing? (v4)

“To make our joy complete”.

John also says why he is writing in 2:1 and 5:13.

What causes for joy (v4) can we find in this passage?

(You could use this question towards the end as a way of summing up / consolidating what you’ve seen). (Eternal) life. Fellowship with other Christians and with God himself. Forgiveness of sin.

 

What are the false claims that John counters in this passage?

Notice the repeated “if we claim” of vv6, 8, 10. The Christian can neither claim to be without sin nor go on living in unrepented-of sin.  

 

What do you think this imagery of light and darkness is meant to convey?

The light seems to suggest purity and holiness (and perhaps knowledge / enlightenment) and the darkness wickedness and sin (and maybe ignorance).

What would it mean to “walk in darkness” in verse 6? Does verse 6 mean that if we commit a sin, that shows we’ve no fellowship with God? What does it mean, then?

The phrase “walk in darkness” is also used in 2:11 and John 8:12; 12:35.

“Walking” suggests an ongoing way of life – a lifestyle. The Christian may slip up often and wander off in wrong directions from time to time, but their fundamental orientation is towards the light, not the darkness.

Why can’t a Christian “walk in the darkness”?

Ongoing unrepented-of sin is inconsistent with the claim to be a Christian since the Christian is claiming fellowship with God who is light, in whom there is no darkness at all (v5). John is saying light and darkness can’t mix.

How can we tell from the passage that John expects Christians to continue to sin?

Verse 7 suggests we need Jesus’ blood to go on purifying us (from ongoing sin?). Verses 8 and 10 clearly exclude any claims to sinless perfection.

 

How are we cleansed from our sins? Vv7 & 9.

By Jesus’ blood – his violent sacrificial death (in our place).

What do we have to do to be cleansed? V9

Confess our sins. That is, to God. There is no hint of getting forgiveness from a human priest here.

 

How can God be “faithful and just” and “forgive us our sins” (v9)? Surely it is unjust for God to let people off the just punishment they deserve for their sins?

God is faithful to his promises in forgiving sin: he keeps his word. God is just in forgiving sins because the sins of all those who put their trust in Jesus have been punished in Him (see 2:1-2; Romans 3:25-26).

 

What encouragements or comforts are there for us in this passage if we are conscious of sin?

Notice that Jesus’ blood purifies us from “all” sin (vv7, 9).  God promises full forgiveness.

 

In the light of this passage, what should our attitudes to sin be? What should we do about sin?

Neither deny it nor accept it but confess it. Take it seriously but don’t be crushed by it.

 

Summary Points / Prayer / Praise / Application

Praise God for our fellowship with other Christians and above all with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ (v3). Remember that faith in the Jesus of the Bible is the only sound basis for fellowship.

Trust in Jesus for full forgiveness. Thank him for complete cleansing.

Don’t pretend to sinless perfection.

Don’t claim to be a Christian yet be content to go on living in sin. Pray for God’s help not to sin.

Homegroup Leaders Notes (2) 1 John 2:1-14

 

“Dear children” (vv1, 12, 13) seems to be John’s way of referring to all his readers.

 

How do these verses encourage or comfort those who are fearfully conscious of their sins?

What reassurances are there in verses 12-14?

Why is Jesus such a good advocate for us?

What do you think Jesus says in our defence?

How do these verses support the claim in 1:9 that God is “just” to forgive sin? Has God simply turned a blind eye to sin?

If we’re forgiven by trusting in Jesus, does that mean sin doesn’t matter / we can live as we like?

Look back to 1:5-6 too

What false claims do these verses counter?

How do these verses suggest we can know if we are true Christians?

How do these verses challenge those who are complacent about their sins?

What guidance about how to live does verse 6 give us?

Can you think of examples of ways in which we should “walk as Jesus did”? What might this look like in practice?

See John 13:1, 15

What commandment does John seem to have in mind? (v7)

 Cf. 3:11; 2 John 4-6.

 See Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 5:14. 

In what sense is John writing a new commandment? (v8)

see John 13:34

Are there practical ways we could demonstrate love for one another?

 Summary Points / Prayer / Praise / Application

Praise God for Jesus’ atoning death. Give thanks that Jesus perfectly meets our needs, that we know God, that we have overcome the evil one.

Pray for God’s help to obey God’s commands, walk as Jesus did and love fellow Christians.