Copr. 1997, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D.
Copr. 1997, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All Scripture references
are to the NIV unless otherwise noted. Suggested answers are
found within parentheses. The lesson assumes the teacher uses
a blackboard. This lesson can be found at:
<URL:http://www.cameronlaw.com>
INTRODUCTION: You remember John tells us that the righteous are on
the path of light? The Pastor's sermon last week discussed
Nicodemus and his midnight talk with Jesus about "being born
again." The last verse of our lesson study last week (1 John 2:29)
also spoke of us being "born of him." Our study this week speaks of
the results of being born of God as we travel on the path of light.
Let's dive in!
I. GOD'S CHILDREN
A. "Born again" is a very common phrase among those who claim
to be Christians. The latest issue (5/19/97) of CHRISTIANITY
TODAY reports (p. 59) that 43% of Americans describe
themselves as born again (and this includes 32% of Catholics).
1. What do you think it means to be "born again?" (The
lesson has a very nice quote from Ellen White: "Those who
know not what it is to have an experience in the things
of God, who know not what it is to be justified by faith,
who have not the witness of the Spirit that they are
accepted of Jesus Christ, are in need of being born
again." Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 12, 1896.)
B. Is being "born again" different than being "born of God?"
(No. Being born of God means more than just a new life. It
means that we have changed parentage: no longer is Adam our
father; Jesus is now our Father.)
C. Let's read 1 John 3:1-2. John says we are the children of
God, and thus we are "born" of God.
1. What does that mean in terms of earthly parents? (The
responses should reflect the special relationship between
parents and children. There are lots of wonderful
children in the world, but being "your child" makes all
the difference.)
a. God says, "You are MY child!"
D. When our children used to misbehave (read no meaning into
the use of the past-tense) we would assure them that they had
been switched at birth at the hospital! No doubt someone else
had "our" well-behaved children!
1. Of all the things we could tell our children to
encourage them to behave (or, depending how you look at
this, encourage them to write "how not to raise children"
books when they grow up), why did we tell our kids this?
(People believe there is a genetic behavioral link
between parent and child.)
a. Do you think this is also part of John's point?
(Being a son or daughter of God means something
about the way we live.)
b. If we are not anxious to "claim" our children
when they misbehave, isn't it a miracle of love
that God is willing to call us sons and daughters?
(This is both a joy and a responsibility.)
E. John adds at the end of v. 1 what appears to be a negative
spin, part of the "responsibility" to our being children of
God. He says the world does not know us because it did not
know Jesus.
1. What is this supposed to mean?
2. Does this create a real responsibility for us?
3. Does it have any logical connection to John's
discussion about us being the children of God?
4. Is it bad that the world does not know us? (I think
this is an extension of this idea about relationships.
(Draw three concentric circles of diminishing sizes.)
This small circle represents our children. We know them
and care for them the most. This next circle represents
children that we know. We have a special regard for them
because we know them. Probably the better we know them,
the closer we would place them to the center of our
circles. The outer circle represents the rest of the
children in the world. We don't know them, and we care
the least about them.
a. As far as God is concerned, we are in the center.
b. As far as the world is concerned, we are in the
outer circle. This has a practical and immediate
impact upon our everyday living. It means that the
world is not going to be sympathetic. In fact, they
may very well be hostile. Our responsibility is to
understand this and apply the "sermon on the mount"
(Matt. 5:11, 39-45) response.)
F. When your kids were young, did you wonder what they would
be when they grew up? What kind of life they would have? My
kids are still at the "I wonder what the future will hold"
stage.
1. You are God's children according to John. Are we in
that "wondering what they will become" stage?
2. If not, what does John mean in v.2 when he says, "what
we will be has not yet been made known?
3. Is this "what we will be" here on earth? (Seems
he is speaking of heaven because of the "when he appears"
statement.)
4. Do you wonder what heaven will be like?
5. Do you wonder what you will be like in heaven?
6. John says you will be like Jesus in heaven!
G. Notice the trailer in v.2 "for we shall see him as he is."
What impact does that have on being like Jesus? (Look at 2
John 2:8 again. The more you observe "the Word" the more the
"darkness" is passing and the true light is shining." Friends
we are on a "path of light" that becomes even brighter as we
come closer to Jesus.)
1. This is what separates us from the world. We are
studying to know more about God every day. The world
does not know Him and does not care about knowing Him. (1
John 3:1)
II. THE ADOPTION REACTION
A. Read v.3. You are on this path of light, and you understand
Jesus better as you progress towards the light. What is the
result in your life? (Verse 3 says that if you are really
walking on the path, and have this hope, you will become more
pure, just as Jesus is pure.)
1. How is this result possible? (Knowing Jesus more all
the time gives us the power to make the change. You
cannot become more like Jesus if you do not know what He
is like.)
B. Let's read on: vv. 4-8. "He who does what is right is
righteous..." How does this fit into the concept of
righteousness by faith? (Friends, we are saved only by grace.
It is a free gift which we cannot earn. However, the New
Testament has this consistent theme that there is a cold,
steely way to know if we have accepted the gift, and that is
to look at and seriously evaluate our lives. (See e.g.,
Hebrews 10:26; James 2: 14-26.)
C. Verse 8 tells us that Jesus appeared to "destroy the
devil's work." How did He do that? (First, He did it by
becoming our substitute for the penalty of sin. But He also
did it to show what it means to live a righteous life.)
D. Read vv. 9-10. Our lesson disputes the NIV translation
of v. 9 "continue to sin." The problem with the lesson's
assertion is that it admits that this (the use of the present
tense) generally "expresses continuous action." To say it
"does not always express continuous action" is a logically
weak argument to prove that continuous action is not intended
here.
1. What does v. 10 suggest is the acid test of being a
child of God? (Two tests: doing what is right and loving
our brother.)
a. Fit this second test - love for our brother -
into the dispute in v. 9 over whether we "continue
to sin." (Sin is an attitude. As such, the concept
transcends this question of time. It is not like
the timing of a deed. It is an ongoing process. If
this ongoing process is on the road to darkness,
then it will lead to sinful acts.)
b. Lets pray that the Holy Spirit will come in and
change our sinful attitude and give us a love for
our brothers.
III. NEXT WEEK: "LOVE ONE ANOTHER" Study 1 John 3:11-24!