Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
I often quote from Gordon Livingston’s, ‘Too soon old, too late smart’ where he expresses the belief that if someone’s actions repeatedly don’t line up with their words, then believe their actions not their words. I think this is what John is saying in v. 4 “Those who say, ‘I know him,’ but do not do what he commands are liars.” So John is also saying don’t believe a person’s words if their actions don’t measure up.
I often quote from Gordon Livingston’s, ‘Too soon old, too late smart’ where he expresses the belief that if someone’s actions repeatedly don’t line up with their words, then believe their actions not their words. I think this is what John is saying in v. 4 “Those who say, ‘I know him,’ but do not do what he commands are liars.” So John is also saying don’t believe a person’s words if their actions don’t measure up.
I find it interesting that there had already been ‘many’ antichrists among them and that it was the last hour 2000 years ago 😉
I find it interesting that there had already been ‘many’ antichrists among them and that it was the last hour 2000 years ago 😉
It has been the last hour ever since Jesus ascended but are we in the last minutes of the last hour?
It has been the last hour ever since Jesus ascended but are we in the last minutes of the last hour?
I like the Message’s perspective on a couple of phrases in this chapter:
v.4 (refering to the bit I quoted the other day)…he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words.
v.2 … he solved the sin problem for good …
v.16 Practically everything that goes on in the world – wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important – has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him.
I like the Message’s perspective on a couple of phrases in this chapter:
v.4 (refering to the bit I quoted the other day)…he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words.
v.2 … he solved the sin problem for good …
v.16 Practically everything that goes on in the world – wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important – has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him.
v.27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
(From Constable Commentary) “From this verse some Christians have concluded that we should not listen to any human teacher. That is not what John said. He wanted his readers to remember that the Holy Spirit was the teacher, the ultimate source of illumination. He did not rule out secondary teachers through whom the Holy Spirit works in teaching…His point was that we should not look to other human beings as the ultimate source of our learning.”
v.27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
(From Constable Commentary) “From this verse some Christians have concluded that we should not listen to any human teacher. That is not what John said. He wanted his readers to remember that the Holy Spirit was the teacher, the ultimate source of illumination. He did not rule out secondary teachers through whom the Holy Spirit works in teaching…His point was that we should not look to other human beings as the ultimate source of our learning.”
v.3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
Here is the test to see how well we know God. Do we keep his commands? That is, do we live our lives in a way that would please God?
v.3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
Here is the test to see how well we know God. Do we keep his commands? That is, do we live our lives in a way that would please God?
v.28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
The implication is that some Christians will be ashamed at his coming because they made a commitment to Christ but have not continued with it.
v.28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
The implication is that some Christians will be ashamed at his coming because they made a commitment to Christ but have not continued with it.
v.9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. v.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.
It is clear from v.12-14 that this letter is addressed to those who are believers. However the test of how closely we are walking with God is whether we love one another. Even though we are saved we can be in darkness because we are out of fellowship with God and if we are in darkness we will not know God’s direction for our life.
v.9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. v.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.
It is clear from v.12-14 that this letter is addressed to those who are believers. However the test of how closely we are walking with God is whether we love one another. Even though we are saved we can be in darkness because we are out of fellowship with God and if we are in darkness we will not know God’s direction for our life.