1 John 2: The New Life in Christ
What is the antidote for sin?
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Matthew 26:74–75 With cursing and swearing, Peter denied any connection with Jesus. “I tell you, I do not know this man.” Immediately, a rooster crowed, and he remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went outside and broke down crying.
Galatians 5:16 Let me make this perfectly clear: if you listen to God’s Spirit within, you will seek to please him and to benefit others, not to satisfy your selfish desires.
1 John 2:1 My youngsters in the faith, I write these things to you so you will not sin. But if you do, Jesus Christ, who is without sin, will change your heart and make you right with the Father.
Revelation 12:10–11 A loud voice from Heaven shouted, “Salvation and power has come through God’s dominion and Christ’s authority. Satan, who has been accusing the people day and night, is now cast down. The people have overcome Satan by the sacrifice of the Lamb, by giving their testimonies, and by complete surrender to God’s will, even unto death.”
King James
Matthew 26:74–75 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
Revelation 12:10–11 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
For the world, of what value is the “atoning sacrifice for sin”?
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1 John 2:2 Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for sin, not just for us but for the entire world.
Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let those who are listening say, “Come.” All those who are thirsty may come. Everyone may drink freely from the living water.
King James
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
What is there about knowing Christ that leads us to do what he wants?
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John 14:21 “Those who receive and obey my instructions are the ones who love me. My Father loves those who love me, and I will love and reveal myself to them.”
1 John 2:3–6 When we do what he wants, we show that we really do know him. If we say we know him but aren’t doing what he wants, we’re lying to ourselves and others, completely missing the truth. But if we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we belong to him, and his love is revealed in our lives. If we say we’re living for the Lord, we should be Christlike in all we say and do.
King James
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
1 John 2:3–6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
How much do you think the people John was writing to already knew? In what area might their understanding have been most weak?
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1 John 2:7–8 My friends, I’m not rewriting the rules of our relationship with God, which you heard in the beginning, but I’m adding what is new in Christ, for he is the true light that overcomes the darkness of the past.
King James
1 John 2:7–8 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
Do Christians always show God’s love? Why is that?
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1 John 2:9–10 Anyone who says, “I’m living in the light,” but fails to show God’s love for others is actually living in darkness. People who show love for others are living in the light, with no cause for stumbling in the darkness.
King James
1 John 2:9–10 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
In what ways can hatred be likened to walking in the darkness?
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1 John 2:11 Those who hate others walk in the dark, having no light in their houses, struggling like the blind, who cannot find their way.
King James
1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
If we have been forgiven for our sins, why might we still need to ask forgiveness?
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James 5:16 You have condemned and killed the righteous, who did nothing to defend themselves.
1 John 2:12 I’m writing to you who are God’s children, because your sinful past has been forgiven and you should now identify with Christ in all you say and do.
King James
James 5:16 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
What do veteran believers have that young believers don’t have? What do young believers have that veteran believers don’t usually have?
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1 John 2:13–14 I’m writing to veteran believers because they’ve known God from the beginning, to younger believers because they have overcome evil with good, and to new believers because they’ve begun a relationship with Father God. You veterans have known the truth of God from the very start, and you younger ones are full of strength. You have victory because his word lives within you.
King James
1 John 2:13–14 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Why does loving the things of the world leave no room for loving our Father?
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Matthew 6:24 “You cannot be the slave of two masters. You will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and earthly treasure.”
Matthew 16:24 Then he taught his disciples. “If anyone wants to follow me, he must sacrifice his selfish desires. Take up your cross, and then you can follow me.
1 John 2:15–16 Don’t become attached to the things of this world, for loving what this world has to offer leaves no room for loving our Father. The cravings of the world—physical desires, wanting what we see, and glory in one’s self—are not of the Father.
King James
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
1 John 2:15–16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
What happens when we seek to please God instead of ourselves? Is it possible to do both? Why?
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1 John 2:17 The world and its self-serving desires will come to an end, but those who do what pleases God will live forever.
King James
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Why should we think we are living in the “last days”?
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Acts 2:17 Speaking of what would come to pass in the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your children will prophesy, your elders will have revelations in dreams, and your youth will see visions.
1 John 2:18 My young friends in the faith, these are the last days. You have heard about an antichrist who will come, but know the time is short, because many antichrists have already come.
King James
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Who are the “antichrists”?
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1 John 2:18–19 My young friends in the faith, these are the last days. You have heard about an antichrist who will come, but know the time is short, because many antichrists have already come. These people left the faith because they were not a part of us. If they had been, the never would have left. Their leaving proved that they didn’t belong.
King James
1 John 2:18–19 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
What role should the Holy Spirit play in our lives?
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1 Corinthians 12:4–6 The Holy Spirit is the power source for all kinds of spiritual manifestations, and our relationship with the Lord leads to all kinds of ministries. The same God works in people’s lives in different ways at different times in different situations.
Galatians 5:22–23 If the Holy Spirit is guiding your life, you show true love—giving to people without regard to whether they can return the favor. You have joy, peace and patience in stressful situations. Kindness, generosity, and faithfulness expresses who you are, not what people deserve. You are gentle and even-tempered. There’s no law against such behavior.
1 John 2:20 Unlike them, you have the Holy Spirit to guide your knowledge of the truth.
King James
1 Corinthians 12:4–6 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Galatians 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
What motivates people to lie?
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1 John 2:21–22 I am writing, not because you don’t know the truth but because you can distinguish the truth from a lie. Who is the liar? The one who denies that Jesus is God’s anointed. The antichrist is denying both the Father and the Son.
King James
1 John 2:21–22 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
How is acknowledging the Son also confessing the Father?
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Matthew 10:32 “If anyone publicly acknowledges me before men, I will publicly acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven.”
John 10:30 “My Father and I are one.”
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said. “Everyone who reaches the Father goes through me.”
1 John 2:23–24 Denying the Son is denying the Father, but those who acknowledge the Son are confessing the Father as well. Let the message you heard from the beginning burn within your hearts as you live in fellowship with the Father and the Son.
King James
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 John 2:23–24 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also . Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
How can we cause God’s message to burn within our hearts?
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2 Timothy 1:6 So don’t forget to stir up God’s gift that you received through the laying on of my hands.
Hebrews 2:1 Because of Jesus’ position, power, and authority, we should pay close attention to the message concerning him, lest something slip by without our understanding its importance.
1 John 2:24 Let the message you heard from the beginning burn within your hearts as you live in fellowship with the Father and the Son.
King James
2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
What conditions must be met to receive the promise?
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Hebrews 10:36 We can be thankful for delays that bring patience, because endurance is essential for receiving God’s promise.
Hebrews 11:13 All these people believed God’s promises but died without seeing their fulfillment. They saw enough from a distance to be convinced of the truth and confess that they are foreigners just passing through.
James 1:12 Blessed are those who persevere and pass the test, for you will be rewarded with the abundant life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
1 John 2:25 Christ brought us the promise of eternal life.
King James
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
If the Holy Spirit is present to guide us, why might we need to ask someone for directions?
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Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, people fall. But with the good advice of many counselors, there is safety.
Colossians 2:8 Don’t be guided by human philosophy and social expectations that do not follow the teachings of Christ.
1 John 2:26–27 I write with this warning: watch out for those who would lead you astray. The Holy Spirit anointing that you received from the Lord lives within you, guiding you, so you don’t need someone else to give you directions. He will reveal what you need to know, the absolute truth. As he teaches you, abide in him.
King James
Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
1 John 2:26–27 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
In your relationship with Christ, what do you value most?
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1 John 2:28 In all you do, my children, maintain your relationship with Christ. Then you have no need to be embarrassed, but you can eagerly anticipate his return.
King James
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
What must we do to become like Christ?
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Romans 6:4 Just as Jesus was laid lifeless in the tomb, your self-serving desires were put to death in the waters of baptism so you could be raised up with him and have a new relationship with God, living without sin.
2 Corinthians 3:18 Like someone looking into a mirror, when we see the Lord in the glory of the new contract, we become more like him, being changed from glory to greater glory by the work of his Spirit.
Colossians 3:9–10 Since you are no longer the person you used to be, always be truthful, avoiding all kinds of deception. Strive to be the person God wants you to become, always increasing your knowledge of him so you can be more like him.
1 John 2:29 You know Christ is righteous. So naturally, his children will behave the same way.
King James
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Colossians 3:9–10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
1 John 2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.