Here we go! The next study is about to begin. It is my hope, through this study, to discover and realize the love and peace and joy that is ours in Christ even when life in the here and now is not so full of it.
Before we start, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You for these three letters and for all that is within them. I ask You to open our minds and hearts so that whatever You are going to reveal to us in them become treasured and remembered for as long as we will need them. Lead us, Lord. In Your Name, I pray. Amen.
Please read 1 John 1:1-4 AMP
Introduction, The Incarnate Word
1 [I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what [a]we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]— 2 and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]— 3 what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be made complete [by having you share in the joy of salvation].
There is nothing like the way John starts his letters… echos of the gospel…in the beginning was the word…
When he says, ‘what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands’ is how he wants us to understand the Life was manifested. And that is what he’s testifying and declaring to us. The eternal Life is Him.
John 11:23-27 NIV
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
1 John 1:3 what we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be made complete [by having you share in the joy of salvation].
How do you understand ‘fellowship’?
There is Joy in this fellowship. Do you believe?
Please read 1 John 1:5 AMP
God Is Light
5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].
Fellowship with the Father, to have that, you must know… God is Light and in Him there is no darkness at all.
How does the AMP describe God?
[____________________, _____________________, _______________________], no darkness means [__________, _____________________, _______________________]
Please read 1 John 1:6-7 AMP
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].
What does walking in the Light mean? [_______________________________________________________]
and we will have true and __________ fellowship with one another, meaning [________________, and ________________] and the _____________________ His Son __________________
_______________________________________________________
He keeps us cleansed, because it is His blood which cleansed us in the first place.
Please read 1 John 1:8-10 AMP
8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude ourselves and the truth is not in us. [His word does not live in our hearts.] 9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]. 10 If we say that we have not sinned [refusing to admit acts of sin], we make Him [out to be] a liar [by contradicting Him] and His word is not in us.
We need to see this again…
9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].
Admit, Confess, Trust and Believe. He is faithful and just and will forgive us and cleanse us continually, there is nothing you do that can’t be forgiven if you ask and believe. But this is also true: you have been forgiven much so you should forgive others. Forgiveness is not easy but it is possible. And we have been commanded to forgive, it’s what forgiven people do.
Our Father who art in heaven,
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive those indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Praise Him.
Thank You, Lord.
Footnotes
- 1 John 1:1 John the Apostle wrote the Gospel of John, this letter along with two others, and the book of Revelation. He and his brother James (also an apostle) were the sons of Zebedee and Salome.