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Verses 1-10(1 John 3 – Part 1)
1 John 3:1-24 MKJV Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (3) And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure. (4) Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And you know that He was revealed that He might take away our sins, and in Him is no sin. (6) Everyone who abides in Him does not sin. Everyone who sins has not seen Him nor known Him. (7) Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. (8) He who practices sin is of the Devil, for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that He might destroy the works of the Devil. (9) Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. (10) In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
Vs. 1 – Do you approach with a sense of wonder and gratefulness the manner in which God bestowed His love on us, and the implications of that love?
Vs. 1 – What is “the world” in this passage? Describe the relationship spoken of here.
Vs. 3 – What is sets apart the kind of “hope” spoken of in this passage from a “wish”?
Vs. 4 – Sin=violation of the law. Explain. In what way does sin break/violate the law?
Vs. 8 – What do you find satisfying about the works of the Devil being destroyed?
Vs. 8 – Have the works of the Devil been destroyed in you?
Vs. 9 – When God’s Word says that those who are “born of God cannot sin”, do you believe it? Do you find this an incredible saying? Why? How can this be true?
Vs. 10 – How is loving one another a dividing line to know if we are practicing righteousness?
Verses 11-24(1 John 3 – Part 2)
(11) For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; (12) not as Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And for what did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's were righteous. (13) Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you. (14) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brothers. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (15) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has everlasting life abiding in him. (16) By this we have known the love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (17) But whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother having need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how does the love of God dwell in him? (18) My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (19) And in this we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him, (20) that if our heart accuses us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. (21) Beloved, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence toward God. (22) And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (23) And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (24) And he who keeps His commandment dwells in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He gave to us.
Vs. 12 – Cain brought a sacrifice to God, so did Abel. Why was Cain’s considered not acceptable? (Gen. 4:1-12, Heb. 11:4)
Vs. 24 – How do we know that He abides in us?
Vs. 13 – Does “the world” generally hate Christians? How so/not?
Vs. 14-16 – Explain the indicators of Christ in us (“we know that…have known…”).
Vs. 17 – How do you see Christians and “churches” [not “the Church”] closing doors of compassion on those who are in need? Where does this tendency come from?
Vs. 22 – Do you believe that anything you ask of God, He will give you? Why/why not?
Vs. 23 – What is this commandment that chapters 1-2 have been building toward?
Vs. 24 – How do you know that you are in Christ and Christ is in you
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