Transcript Document

Adult Bible Study Guide
Jul • Aug • Sep 2009
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John’s Epistles
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John’s Epistles
Contents
1. Jesus and the Johannine Letters
INTRODUCTION
2. Experiencing the Word of Life
3. Walking in the Light: Turning Away From Sin
4. Walking in the Light: Keeping His Commandments
5. Walking in the Light: Renouncing Worldliness
6. Walking in the Light: Rejecting Antichrists
7. Living as Children of God
FIRST EPISTLE
8. Loving Brothers and Sisters
9. Believing in the Son of God
10. Confidence
11. Important Themes in 1 John
12. John’s Letter to the Chosen Lady SECOND EPISTLE
13. Power Struggle
THIRD EPISTLE
John’s Epistles
Our Goal {5}
The three epistles of John speak to issues
relevant for the church today.
We would do well to listen to them, because
ultimately, it is God who is speaking to us
through John’s words, the God who has
revealed to us truths about a greater and
firmer foundation upon which we can rest:
our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
John’s Epistles
Lesson 5, August 1
Renouncing Worldliness
Key Text
1 John 2:15 NIV
“Do not love the world or anything in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him.”
“Never give your hearts” Phillips.
“Do not set your hearts” NEB.
Renouncing Worldliness
Initial Words {59}
While continuing to show us what it
means to “walk in the light,” this
week’s texts point us too the
temporality of our world in contrast
to the eternal life found only in God.
Renouncing Worldliness
Quick Look
1. The Christian Privilege
(1 John 2:12-14)
2. The Christian Struggle, Part 1
(1 John 2:14, 15)
3. The Christian Struggle, Part 2
(1 John 2:16, 17)
Renouncing Worldliness
1. The Christian Privilege
1 John 2:12-14 NKJV
“I write to you … Because your sins are
forgiven you for His name’s sake. … Because
you have known Him who from the beginning.
… Because you have overcome the wicked
one. … Because you have known the Father
… Because you are strong, and the word of
God abides in you….”
1. The Christian Privilege
“For His Name’s Sake” {65}
The apostle outlines three privileges unique
to Christian fellowship:
First, their sins are forgiven. Not on the
basis of their good deeds, not on the basis of
their beliefs, and not even on the basis of
their knowledge of God, but rather for “his
name’s sake”—on the basis of Jesus and
what He has done for them.
1. The Christian Privilege
“From the Beginning” {65, 62}
Second, they know God.
The children are reminded that they know the
Father, while the fathers are reminded that
they know Him who is from the beginning.
Because believers know that God and His
Word live in them, they are ready for the
challenges issued in verses 15 through 17.
1. The Christian Privilege
Overcoming the Wicked One {65, 62}
Third, they have victory over sin
and the world.
Not just the evil but Satan himself, because
they belong to Christ and claim His victory.
The original language indicates that the
overcoming has been achieved in the past,
but the consequences are an ongoing reality.
Renouncing Worldliness
2. The Christian Struggle, Part 1
1 John 2:15 MSG
“Don’t love the world’s
ways. Don’t love the
world’s goods.
Love of the world
squeezes out love for
the Father.”
2. The Christian Struggle, Part 1
Renouncing Any Love of the World {64}
The term kosmos (translated “world”)
designates the universe, the earth,
humankind, the realm of existence, and they
way of life opposed to God.
In the Johannine epistles the term world is
predominantly a negative term, because the
world is in rebellion against God.
2. The Christian Struggle, Part 1
Renouncing Any Love of the World {64}
We are told not to love the world, but then,
the Bible is clear that God loves the world.
We are told not to love the things in the
world, yet we are admonished, to love
people, and people are certainly in the world.
We need to stay away from the things of the
world that will keep us from having a saving
relationship with God.
Renouncing Worldliness
3. The Christian Struggle, Part 2
1 John 2:16 NKJV
“For all that is in the
world—the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride
of life—is not of the
Father but is of the
world.”
3. The Christian Struggle, Part 2
Problems With the World {66}
What does it mean to love the world?
1. The lust of the flesh. This deals with
passions, though it does not have to be
limited to that alone (see Gal 5:19-21).
2. The lust of the eyes. Though certainly
linked with the flesh, takes it deeper to our
thoughts, our desires, to the things that we
see and want for ourselves.
3. The Christian Struggle, Part 2
Problems With the World {66}
What does it mean to love the world?
3. The boastful pride of life. This implies
independence of God. When we realize that
every breath, every heartbeat, everything we
could ever have or be comes only from God,
upon whom we’re utterly dependent, pride
will be the last thing in our hearts.
3. The Christian Struggle, Part 2
The Transient Nature of the World {68}
The first reason that we should not love the
world: the love of the world and the love of
the Father are incompatible.
The second reason: It does not make sense to
love the world, because the world is
impermanent. It is better and wiser to choose
that which lasts. By doing so, we ourselves
also will last—that is, live forever.
Renouncing Worldliness
Final Words {68}
“The things of this world are passing away;
that should be obvious to everyone. If the world
is passing away, how can we survive? John
answers: by doing the will of God.
Let us not get so comfortable here that we
forget our eternal goal; let us not compromise
our love for Gog by being attached to those
things and attitudes that are hostile to Him.