My Bible has a beautiful description of The First Epistle of John and I will include that here:
God is light; God is love; and God is life. John is enjoying a delightful fellowship with that God of light, love, and life, and he desperately desires that his spiritual children enjoy the same fellowship.
God is light. Therefore, to engage in fellowship with Him we must walk in light and not in darkness. As we walk in the light, we will regularly confess our sins, allowing the blood of Christ to continually cleanse us. Two major roadblocks to hinder this walk will be falling in love with the world and falling for the alluring lies of false teachers.
God is love. Since we are His children we must walk in love. In fact, John says that if we do not love, we do not know God. Love is more than just words; it is actions. Love is giving, not getting. Biblical love is unconditional in its nature. Christ's love fulfilled those qualities and when that brand of love characterizes us, we will be free of self-condemnation and experience confidence before God.
God is life. Those who fellowship with Him must possess His quality of life. Spiritual life begins with spiritual birth which occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ infuses us with God's life -- eternal life.
Although the apostle John's name is not found in this book, it was given the title Ioannou A, the "First of John."
I am so glad you are here today! First of all, read through the first chapter of 1 John. It is only 10 verses. Grab a notebook or journal, pen or pencil, and keep your Bible open as we break the bread together. I will be asking questions throughout today's study. Record your answers in your book. If you are participating in this study with friends or a small group, use the questions for talking points. The purpose of this study is to dig deeper into the Word of God and to apply the lessons to our own lives. Feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you!
Verses 1-4 God Is Love
Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen from the dead when He said "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. (Luke 24:39)
Jesus gave them the opportunity to touch Him and see that He was real flesh and blood. They touched His wounds in His hands and feet. After He showed them His hands and feet, He asked for something to eat. They gave him a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb, which he ate in front of them. Then He opened their understanding of the scriptures. (Luke 24:45)
We remember that Thomas was not with the others when Jesus paid them an unexpected visit. Thomas doubted that Jesus was risen from the dead. He said he would only believe if he could touch the nail prints himself and if he could put his hand in the Lord's side where He had been wounded by the soldier's spear. Jesus is so loving, He does not leave anyone to doubt and unbelief. He pays a special visit to Thomas. Jesus tells Thomas to put his finger in His hands and to put his hand in His side. He says to Thomas, "Be not faithless, but believing." (John 20:27)
These are the things they have seen, heard, and handled that is referred to in verse 1. In John 17:21 Jesus is praying for unity for the believers so that the world may believe that God sent Him. Why did God send Him? Remember John 3:16? God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. He loved us so much that He sent His perfect Son to be our perfect sacrifice so we can become the children of God.
Why are they even telling us these things? What is the purpose of the letter? Verse 3 says it is so we may have fellowship with them and truly their fellowship is with God the Father and Jesus, God's own Son. In 1 Corinthians 1:9 it says that God is faithful and He is the one calling us into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. God loves us so much that He wants to draw us into the fellowship of Himself and His Son.
Verse 4 says that these things are being written that our joy may be full. Jesus said in John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. In John 17:24 Jesus is praying to the Father and He declares, that Father God loved Him before the foundation of the world. We know He loves Jesus and we know He loves us.
Knowing God is love and God loves us personally, individually, should bring us great joy. 1 Peter 1:8-9 Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Our hearts are full of joy when we think about the love of God and all that He has done for us because of that great love.
How have you experienced God's great love? Are you in fellowship with God and His Son, Jesus? What does it mean to you that God loved you so much He sent His only Son to pay the penalty of your sins? Are you in unity with other believers? How can you have fellowship with others as you experience God's love?
Verses 5-7 God Is Light
I love that verse 5 declares God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. None. Not at all. No darkness. Not a sliver. That means when the world tries to act like God is all good with a little bit of evil, we can show them this passage and refute it. The God of all creation is a good God and He is not evil. He has no evil in His entire being.
Verse 6 explains to us that we cannot live like the world, do the things the world does, participate in the activities of the world, listen to the songs the world listens to, watch the same things as the world, and claim to be in fellowship with the light. The Bible is very clear, that if we do these things and say we are children of light, we are liars. The truth is not in us, because the truth makes us free. We are not in bondage of sin if we are in fellowship with the Light.
The light illuminates. The light shines through the darkness and reveals things that are unclean, unholy, untrue, and we cannot abide in the light and dabble in the darkness.
If we walk in the light, as Jesus is in the Light, we then fellowship with God and Jesus. Further, any sin that is revealed in us by the light of God's word, will be made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. (verse 7) As we study the Word, as we listen to God, as we pray to God, as God leads and guides us with His Holy Spirit, we are being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. We lose our desire for the things of the world. The luster and shine of the world fades and dulls in light of the Truth.
Are you spending more time with God or with the world? Do you desire to be more like society or like Jesus? Do you place more value on the latest fashion, the stock market, the fastest cars, the bigger homes, and acquiring more stuff; or do you place a higher value on reading God's Word, praying, seeking God's will for your life, giving your time and money to further the Kingdom of God, and to seek God's approval instead of man's? How important is it to you to fit in with the world?
Verses 8-10 God Is Life
Verses 1-4 God Is Love
Jesus was crucified, buried, and risen from the dead when He said "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. (Luke 24:39)
Jesus gave them the opportunity to touch Him and see that He was real flesh and blood. They touched His wounds in His hands and feet. After He showed them His hands and feet, He asked for something to eat. They gave him a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb, which he ate in front of them. Then He opened their understanding of the scriptures. (Luke 24:45)
We remember that Thomas was not with the others when Jesus paid them an unexpected visit. Thomas doubted that Jesus was risen from the dead. He said he would only believe if he could touch the nail prints himself and if he could put his hand in the Lord's side where He had been wounded by the soldier's spear. Jesus is so loving, He does not leave anyone to doubt and unbelief. He pays a special visit to Thomas. Jesus tells Thomas to put his finger in His hands and to put his hand in His side. He says to Thomas, "Be not faithless, but believing." (John 20:27)
These are the things they have seen, heard, and handled that is referred to in verse 1. In John 17:21 Jesus is praying for unity for the believers so that the world may believe that God sent Him. Why did God send Him? Remember John 3:16? God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. He loved us so much that He sent His perfect Son to be our perfect sacrifice so we can become the children of God.
Why are they even telling us these things? What is the purpose of the letter? Verse 3 says it is so we may have fellowship with them and truly their fellowship is with God the Father and Jesus, God's own Son. In 1 Corinthians 1:9 it says that God is faithful and He is the one calling us into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. God loves us so much that He wants to draw us into the fellowship of Himself and His Son.
Verse 4 says that these things are being written that our joy may be full. Jesus said in John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. In John 17:24 Jesus is praying to the Father and He declares, that Father God loved Him before the foundation of the world. We know He loves Jesus and we know He loves us.
Knowing God is love and God loves us personally, individually, should bring us great joy. 1 Peter 1:8-9 Whom having not seen, ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Our hearts are full of joy when we think about the love of God and all that He has done for us because of that great love.
How have you experienced God's great love? Are you in fellowship with God and His Son, Jesus? What does it mean to you that God loved you so much He sent His only Son to pay the penalty of your sins? Are you in unity with other believers? How can you have fellowship with others as you experience God's love?
Verses 5-7 God Is Light
I love that verse 5 declares God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. None. Not at all. No darkness. Not a sliver. That means when the world tries to act like God is all good with a little bit of evil, we can show them this passage and refute it. The God of all creation is a good God and He is not evil. He has no evil in His entire being.
Verse 6 explains to us that we cannot live like the world, do the things the world does, participate in the activities of the world, listen to the songs the world listens to, watch the same things as the world, and claim to be in fellowship with the light. The Bible is very clear, that if we do these things and say we are children of light, we are liars. The truth is not in us, because the truth makes us free. We are not in bondage of sin if we are in fellowship with the Light.
The light illuminates. The light shines through the darkness and reveals things that are unclean, unholy, untrue, and we cannot abide in the light and dabble in the darkness.
If we walk in the light, as Jesus is in the Light, we then fellowship with God and Jesus. Further, any sin that is revealed in us by the light of God's word, will be made clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. (verse 7) As we study the Word, as we listen to God, as we pray to God, as God leads and guides us with His Holy Spirit, we are being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. We lose our desire for the things of the world. The luster and shine of the world fades and dulls in light of the Truth.
Are you spending more time with God or with the world? Do you desire to be more like society or like Jesus? Do you place more value on the latest fashion, the stock market, the fastest cars, the bigger homes, and acquiring more stuff; or do you place a higher value on reading God's Word, praying, seeking God's will for your life, giving your time and money to further the Kingdom of God, and to seek God's approval instead of man's? How important is it to you to fit in with the world?
Verses 8-10 God Is Life
In verse 8, the Bible is straightforward. If you say you have no sin, you are lying to yourself, and the truth is not in you. If we believe we are okay and we do not need God to help us, guide us, lead us, and teach us, we are going to be led astray. We are not wiser than God. He wants to give us the BEST life, not just a good life.
Verse 9 promises us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. That is such a beautiful promise. If we are honest and confess that we have messed up, He will do the hard part. He will forgive us and cleanse us. We don't have to get ourselves together before we come to God. It is impossible. Instead, He says come to Him, confess, and He will make us right.
David said in Psalm 32:5 "I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. This is not the only time David confessed sin before God, which means it is not the only time David sinned. We must confess every single time we sin. Whether we did it on purpose or not. Confess it and be cleansed.
David sinned greatly when he had an affair with Bathsheba and killed her husband, Uriah. Nathan the prophet came to him and called him out on the sin. David humbled himself and in Psalm 51:1, David prayed, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
In conclusion, verse 10 says that if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. You may not say you have not sinned, but what about our actions? Do we repent? Do we confess sin? Do we acknowledge wrong doing? Let's choose to confess and be free from the sins we commit. Jesus has already paid the price for it.
How do you respond to sin in your life; do you confess it, or conceal it? Do you have hidden sin in your heart that you have not told God about? Have you allowed God to lead your life? Is God leading you, or are you telling yourself you can make it without Him? What decisions are you making without His counsel? Are you trusting Him to blot out your transgressions?
We dug deep this week friends! I pray that you took the time to study the first chapter of 1 John with me today. It is a lot to chew on. These are some big truths all wrapped up into one chapter. I know that it has opened my eyes to some things I had not taken the time to see before. I love the way God ministers to me and helps me to grow and change more like Him and shape me in His image. How about you?
If this Bible study has helped you, feel free to leave a comment below. If you know of someone who would like to dig deeper into the Word, please share this post with them. I know that God is encouraging a lot of people through blogs just like mine and my goal is to help us bridge the gap between our understanding of the Scriptures and what God wants to do in our individual lives in light of that understanding.
For prayer requests, comments, or questions, you can always leave a comment below, or send me an email at bridgettowens78@gmail.com and I would love to hear from you! Thank you for joining me. I look forward to studying with you more next week.
I pray this has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
Verse 9 promises us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. That is such a beautiful promise. If we are honest and confess that we have messed up, He will do the hard part. He will forgive us and cleanse us. We don't have to get ourselves together before we come to God. It is impossible. Instead, He says come to Him, confess, and He will make us right.
David said in Psalm 32:5 "I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. This is not the only time David confessed sin before God, which means it is not the only time David sinned. We must confess every single time we sin. Whether we did it on purpose or not. Confess it and be cleansed.
David sinned greatly when he had an affair with Bathsheba and killed her husband, Uriah. Nathan the prophet came to him and called him out on the sin. David humbled himself and in Psalm 51:1, David prayed, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
In conclusion, verse 10 says that if we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us. You may not say you have not sinned, but what about our actions? Do we repent? Do we confess sin? Do we acknowledge wrong doing? Let's choose to confess and be free from the sins we commit. Jesus has already paid the price for it.
How do you respond to sin in your life; do you confess it, or conceal it? Do you have hidden sin in your heart that you have not told God about? Have you allowed God to lead your life? Is God leading you, or are you telling yourself you can make it without Him? What decisions are you making without His counsel? Are you trusting Him to blot out your transgressions?
We dug deep this week friends! I pray that you took the time to study the first chapter of 1 John with me today. It is a lot to chew on. These are some big truths all wrapped up into one chapter. I know that it has opened my eyes to some things I had not taken the time to see before. I love the way God ministers to me and helps me to grow and change more like Him and shape me in His image. How about you?
If this Bible study has helped you, feel free to leave a comment below. If you know of someone who would like to dig deeper into the Word, please share this post with them. I know that God is encouraging a lot of people through blogs just like mine and my goal is to help us bridge the gap between our understanding of the Scriptures and what God wants to do in our individual lives in light of that understanding.
For prayer requests, comments, or questions, you can always leave a comment below, or send me an email at bridgettowens78@gmail.com and I would love to hear from you! Thank you for joining me. I look forward to studying with you more next week.
I pray this has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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