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CHAPTER 1
FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7 NKJV
REFLECTION
People talk about knowing this or believing that or being convinced of something else. What is required for you to be one-hundred-percent sure about something? For example, how sure are you that Jesus really lived, that he claimed to be God, and that he is God in the flesh? Explain.
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SITUATION
As one of Jesus' closest friends and most faithful followers, the apostle John was able to speak with authority about the reality and life-changing power of Christ's gospel message. In this first portion of his letter, he begins by reminding his readers he was an eyewitness to the events of Jesus' life. John then sets up a main theme to which he will return throughout his letter: God is light, and believers are to walk in that light. Even if we sin, we can still have a relationship with God if we confess our sin and accept the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.
OBSERVATION
Read 1 John 1:1–2:2 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.
New International Version
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with 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 sins of the whole world.
New King James Version
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us — 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
EXPLORATION
1. How does John establish his authority to write about Christ and his gospel message?
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2. Why does it matter that John heard and saw and touched Jesus?
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3. What does John mean by the term fellowship ?
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4. How would you explain the symbolism of light and darkness in this passage?
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5. What does John say about those who claim to be without sin?
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6. What help and resources do believers in Christ have when they sin?
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INSPIRATION
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
The word whoever in this verse from the disciple John unfurls it as a banner for the ages. Whoever unrolls the welcome mat of heaven to humanity. Whoever invites the world to God.
Jesus could have so easily narrowed the scope, changing whoever into whatever. "Whatever Jew believes" or "whatever woman follows me." But he used no qualifier. The pronoun is wonderfully indefinite. After all, who isn't a whoever?
The word sledgehammers racial fences and dynamites social classes. It bypasses gender borders and surpasses ancient traditions. Whoever makes it clear: God exports his grace worldwide. For those who attempt to restrict it, Jesus has a word: whoever. ...
The apostle Paul assures us that "the grace of God has appeared ... to all people" (Titus 2:11). He contends that Jesus Christ sacrificed himself "as a ransom for all people" (1 Timothy 2:6). Peter affirms that God "is patient ... not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God's gospel has a whoever policy. ...
We lose much in life — sobriety, solvency, and sanity. We lose jobs and chances, and we lose at love. We lose youth and its vigor, idealism and its dreams. We lose much, but we never lose our place on God's "whoever" list. Whoever — God's wonderful word of welcome.
I love to hear my wife say "whoever." Sometimes I detect my favorite fragrance wafting from the kitchen: strawberry cake. I follow the smell like a bird dog follows a trail until I'm standing over the just-baked, just-iced pan of pure pleasure. Yet I've learned to still my fork until Denalyn gives clearance.
"Who is it for?" I ask.
She might break my heart. "It's for a birthday party, Max. Don't touch it!" Or, "For a friend. Stay away."
Or she might throw open the door of delight. "Whoever."
And since I qualify as a "whoever," I say "yes."
I so hope you will too. Not to the cake, but to God. No status too low. No hour too late. No place too far. However. Whenever. Wherever.
Whoever includes you ... forever. (From 3:16: The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado.)
REACTION
7. What promise does the Bible give that you can have fellowship with God?
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8. How do you react to the idea God has a "whoever" policy when it comes to salvation?
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9. What is required on your part to take advantage of God's "whoever" policy?
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10. Why is it important that Jesus actually lived as a human being on this earth?
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11. What does the fact Jesus came into this world as a human tell you about God's desire to have fellowship with you?
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12. How would you explain eternal life to a person who did not grow up in church?
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LIFE LESSONS
Fellowship. It's a word that gets tossed around a lot in Christian circles. For many it's just a euphemism for cookies and punch in the church basement. But the biblical term means so much more. True fellowship (or community) means that which is shared in common. The moment we trust in Christ to forgive our sins and make us right with God, we come alive spiritually and the very life of the Almighty flows in and through us. We become God's children — brothers and sisters in an eternal family. We share an eternal connection with God and with one another, a profound oneness, and an exciting partnership in the gospel.
DEVOTION
Lord Jesus, thank you for leaving heaven and "moving into earth's neighborhood." Thank you that you came to this earth and gave your life so that we might have fellowship with God. Thank you even more for providing a way for me to share in the endless blessings of eternal life.
JOURNALING
What are some practical things you can do to strengthen you fellowship with other believers?
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FOR FURTHER READING
To complete the books of 1, 2, 3 John and Jude during this twelve-part study, read 1 John 1:1–2:2. For more Bible passages about fellowship, read Ecclesiastes 4:9–12; Luke 24:13–16; Acts 2:42–47; Romans 1:11–12; Philippians 1:3–5, 1 Thessalonians 5:4–11; and Hebrews 10:24–25.
CHAPTER 2
OBEDIENCE TO GOD
We know that we have come to know [Christ] if we keep his commands.
1 John 2:3
REFLECTION
People have many ways of trying to gauge the genuineness of a person's faith: how much one gives, or how often the person attends church, or how well he or she can discuss theology and the Bible. What are some of the traits you notice in a person that suggest he or she has made an authentic commitment to Christ? Why those particular characteristics?
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SITUATION
In this next section of John's letter, he reminds his readers that believers in Christ can enjoy an ever-deepening fellowship with God by leading a life marked by obedience, love, and holiness. In fact, obedience to Christ's commands is the hallmark of a believer's life — especially as it relates to following Jesus' greatest commandments to "love the Lord your God ... and love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37, 39). Love for the world, on the other hand, reveals a person does not know Christ and that "love for the Father is not in them" (1 John 2:15).
OBSERVATION
Read 1 John 2:3–17 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.
New International Version
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
7 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. 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.
12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. 14 I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
New King James Version
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Life Lessons from 1, 2, 3 John and Jude"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Max Lucado.
Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
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