Faith in the Son of God
1 John 5:1-21
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
- In the Aesop's Fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare," are you more like the steady, persistent tortoise, or the fast-starting, easily distracted hare? How so?
- Did you say a bedtime prayer as a child? What kind of prayer? Did Mom or Dad join you?
#People = God, Jesus Christ, Believers, The World
#Time =
#Place = The world, Heaven
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
Overcoming the World
5 Everyone who believes
that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves
the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By
this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his
commandments. 3 For this is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not
burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born
of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the
world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the
world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Testimony Concerning the Son of God
6 This
is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but
by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies,
because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there
are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water
and the blood; and these three agree. 9 If we
receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the
testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10 Whoever
believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not
believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the
testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11 And
this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life;
whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
That You May Know
13 I
write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And
this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask
anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And
if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the
requests that we have asked of him.
16 If
anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask,
and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead
to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one
should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but
there is sin that does not lead to death.
18 We
know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning,
but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not
touch him.
19 We
know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the
evil one.
20 And
we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so
that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his
Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little
children, keep yourselves from idols.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- What kind of love comes with our new birth (vv. 1-3)? Why are God's commands not a burden?
- What is the power source for overcoming the world? How have you seen faith (belief), love and obedience to be interconnected in your life? What lie is John combatting (remember the group who had split off from the church, see Introduction to 1 John)?
- What are the three witnesses to Jesus Christ (v. 7)? What do water and blood refer to (see 5:6)? What happened at Jesus' baptism (Mk 1:9-11)? Why is it important to emphasize Jesus' death and resurrection? How does the Spirit testify to Jesus?
- What is the condition for prayer to be answered (vv. 14-15)? What does it mean to pray in Jesus' name?
- How is the assurance of eternal life (v. 13) the key to: (a) Answered prayer (vv. 14-15)? (b) Forgiveness of sin (vv. - 16-17)? (c) Deliverance from sin and evil (vv. 18-19)? (d) Avoidance of idols (v. 21)?
- What might be the sin that leads to death (see Mk 3:22-30)? Why do the very fears of those who worry about having committed this sin prove that they have not done so?
- How are you doing at loving God? Using the "love test" from verses 1-3, how are you doing at loving others? How does your obedience to God affect your love for others?
- What has convinced you that true life is found in Jesus? What further "proof" do you need?
- How often are you prompted to pray for someone you see struggling with sin in their life? Who has prayed for you in the past? What was the result?
- If 1 John were dropped from the Bible, what would be missing from the story of God's redemptive work in history?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What transformative move needs to be made?
- 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.
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