Living in the Light
1 John 1:1-2:2
Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE (Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. Great app, better on computers or on phone)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)
Topics:
#Hashtags#Light
Themes
- Fellowship with God
- Confession of Sin
- God’s Nature and Character (Light and Purity)
- Christian Living and Responsibility
Topics
- Proclaiming the Word of Life
- Walking in the Light
- Sin and Forgiveness
Topical Bible
Potential Sermon Titles: ??
Intro Questions to get us thinking:
1. What was your house like at age 7?
2. What do you remember about your room?
3. As a child, were you afraid of the dark? What "monsters" were in the dark that scared you?
#God = Jesus Christ, God
#People = The Apostle John, Christians or believers
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith
#Sin
#Key Idea
1 John 1:1-2:2 ESV
The Word of Life
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Walking in the Light
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we 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 his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say 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 we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Christ Our Advocate
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
OBSERVATIONS (Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
Thematic Bible (Books and Chapters Structure)
The Word of Life 1 John 1:1-4
Walking in the Light 1 John 1:5-10
STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
StudyLight (LEB) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)
NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)
BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BlueLetter (KJV) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)
Literal Word (NASB) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)
Biblia.com (NCV) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)
KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- A group in John's church had split off and were teaching that Jesus did not really die. They also believed they were without sin. What could not be proclaimed if Jesus hadn't died?
- John announces what he heard from Jesus “God is light”. What do you think this statement means?
- What does a person walking in the light still need from Jesus?
- Why does John include this "purifies" statement on purification?
- How can we be walking in the light even though we still need purification from sin?
- Why do [opponents] believe that they are “without sin”?
- What false claims do John's opponents make (1:6, 8)?
- How should we confess our sins?
- What hope does John give when people fail to live in light of God's love (1:9; 2:1-2)? Explain in your own words what it means that Jesus is the advocate, the righteous one, and the atoning sacrifice.
- Why does denying that we have sinned make God out to be a liar?
- What do we do when good things happen to us?
- Have you lost the passion to tell the Good News?
APPLICATION (God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)
The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)
- In what ways have you, like John, "seen," "heard" and "touched" Jesus?
- Who has been like the apostle John in your life--a person who has cared about your spiritual growth?
- What characteristics of light reflect who God is? Has God brought light to your life? Or do you more often feel like you're in the dark?
- How do you feel about the consistency of your own life (1:6, 8)? Are you living the truth or a lie? In what area do you especially need improvement?
- When you know you've sinned, how long do you wait before you confess? What is God's part and your part in the confession process?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Other YouTube Videos
Articles
True fellowship
A current poll asks church leaders how much the swine flu is affecting attendance and offerings. At the moment, about two-thirds say they've seen no changes as a result of the bug. Another 24 percent say attendance is noticeably down, but giving is stable. And 12 percent say absences are up and giving is markedly down.
Isn’t it great to belong? To be somebody in a group? To be missed when you’re not there and welcomed when you are? And fellowship has the added dimension of the Lord in the center. It is friendship with a purpose. But our culture encourages radical individualism.
In his first letter, John wrote about fellowship and what makes it special. “We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write these things so that our joy will be complete.” (1 John 1:3, 4)
He’s referring to the fact that he and the other disciples have personally “seen and heard” Jesus, the Christ. Because of the reality of their relationship with him, they now have a relationship with God and a special relationship with each other. The only thing that would make this any greater would be if those to whom they are writing were to believe and join with them in a faith relationship. This would just finish off their joy.
You see, in a true relationship in Christ we are not just friends, we are joined as one. We cannot help but care for each other because the love is not coming from us. Christ generates it in us. We are consciously experiencing Christ's unconditional love for us when we know there is not a thing about us worth caring about, and that makes us accepting of others beyond sin, beyond pride, and beyond prejudice.
Fellowship is the tangible expression of faith. The disciples, who had touched Jesus, then touched these new believers, who touched somebody, who touched somebody, who touched somebody, who touched somebody, and on it went, all the way down to us. And it’s the same Jesus who started it all who is now the center of our fellowship.
===========================
Devotions
Below The Surface by Chris Stinnett
Rachel Major was born decades after World War 2 ended, but the aftermath has directly affected her. Construction workers in southwest London dug up something that looked like a bomb, perhaps left over from the German offensive 76 years ago. The police were called, they called the Ministry of Defence, and they called bomb disposal experts. Quickly, the truth was known—it was a German Sprengbombe Cylindrisch 250 from the war. The number 250 meant it was 250 kilograms, about 550 pounds of high explosive that has been destabilizing in the ground for 76 years. Deemed too dangerous to move, the Army decided to detonate it in place.
The disposal experts set up dozens of specially-designed sandboxes around and over the bomb. Over 1500 residents were evacuated as a precaution, and the city authorities warned that they could not guarantee uninterrupted utilities. Tons of sand were trucked in and carefully arranged over the shaped charge that would set off the bomb. When everything was in place, about 4 PM local time on Friday, May 24, the Army set off the bomb. Residents expected a muffled thump, but the explosion was heard eight miles away. In spite of all expert precautions, cars were damaged and windows up and down the street were blown out—including Rachel Major’s windows. Forgotten deeds from two generations ago could have killed her and hundreds more. The danger must be exposed before it can be neutralized. And there are more bombs underground.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives” (1 John 1:8-10 NIV).
God’s grace in forgiveness is widely publicized for good reason. He is wonderfully patient and kind to us, and will wait a long time for us finally to tell the truth about our sin. We often think that if we ignore our sin and pretend it never happened, it will vanish behind us in the fog of time. Instead, of course, it is chained to us unbreakably and drags behind our every step, ready to destroy us. Even worse, the effects of our sin can burst out against people who are utterly uninvolved and shatter their lives. The only way we can be released from the violent death that our sin deserves is for us to take it to God, admitting that we are guilty and pleading with Him to forgive us in Jesus Christ.
God’s grace is the only cure for our sin. We must truthfully expose our sin to Him so that He can neutralize its effects in our souls. So long as we insist on hiding our sin, denying our guilt, He cannot take it from us. The problem is not a small thing; it is unimaginably ferocious in its destruction. Only by confession and genuine, sincere repentance can our hearts be opened to His gracious pardon. And in freedom and release, we can begin building a life that is real life, based on His righteousness.
=============
The Opposite of Joy
In November of 2004, Frank Warren had what he calls “a crazy idea.” He printed up 3,000 self-addressed postcards, stamped them and began handing them out randomly in Washington, D.C. He also gave instructions, asking the recipients anonymously to write to him a secret that they kept. His promise was that he would never try to reveal their identity, but would provide them a safe place to confess whatever they wished. The responses stunned him and continue to amaze him.
Soon he began getting postcards from far beyond Washington. They came from California and Texas and all over, most of them covered in highly individual artwork. Some were tiny and funny confessions, like the one on half a Starbucks cup: “I secretly serve decaf to customers who are rude.” Some are dark and desperate, confessions of wrong, cruelty, costly mistakes, or suicidal impulses. Some are inspiring and joyous while others are personal shames. Over 800 million times people have read Warren’s internet blog, PostSecret.com. He has received over 500,000 postcards and he keeps them all. He has published books of artful postcards with their touching—or wrenching—admissions. There is no sign that the supply of confessions is lessening; it is clear that people need to release their sins and somehow find forgiveness, love and acceptance in spite of deep regrets and wounds of the soul.
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives” (1 John 1:8-10 NIV).
All of us have done shameful things and we carry the knowledge of our failure within us. Some are so weighed down by the crushing load of guilt that they despair of life itself. They consider themselves hopeless and worthless, they think others see them that way, too, and they are convinced that if anybody knew the truth, they’d be driven from human society. Most also imagine that the harshest judge of all is God, who knows the depths of every human heart. In truth, of course, God craves the return and restoration of all of His children. He wants all His children to live in joy and love and acceptance and family. He wants this so powerfully that He gave up His own Son to the demand of justice so that the rest of us might be forgiven.
If we cling to our sin, hiding it, denying it and stuffing it down in our hearts, it will live and fester. The poison of guilt and shame will leach out of the hidden corners of our soul and infect every part of our lives. It will sabotage our relationships and twist our personalities. In the end, it will wall us off from all those who love us—including our Father in heaven. God deeply longs to forgive our sins and absolve us of guilt. But first, we must bring our secrets to Him, confess them honestly to Him and leave them with Him. He wants us all to live in joy with Him because He loves us all.
Many thanks to Todd McRay, preacher for the Madill Church of Christ, who alerted me to Frank Warren’s website and story. Todd instantly saw the spiritual application and graciously shared this with me.
=======
No comments:
Post a Comment