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.
INTRODUCTION: Lets review! John told us in chapter one:
1. He is a competent witness;
2. He has testimony for us that will allow us to enter into
fellowship with Jesus and the Father.
3. This testimony reveals we have two paths we can take in
life:
a. One trail is in the light (which will lead to
fellowship);
b. The other trail is in darkness.
Then he gave us five "reality checks" for us to determine
whether we are walking on the "light" path or the "dark" path.
Let's continue by jumping into chapter 2!
I. The Goal
A. Read 1 John 2:1. Last week we learned that those who "walk
in the light" have sin in their lives. (1 John 1:7-8)
1. Is that "OK" with John?
2. Is it "OK" to walk along the trail of light packing
this load of sin along?
3. What is the goal? (2:1 "I write this so you will not
sin." The goal is to leave sin behind.)
B. However, if we miss the mark, John says we have Jesus to
defend us. (KJV "advocate")
1. Does Jesus "defend us" before the Father by arguing
that everyone sins, God should not be so particular?
2. Is He arguing that what we did was not really sin?
(Compare 1 Jo. 1:6)
3. Is He arguing that what we do does not matter because
nothing is really sin?
a. Look again at 1 John 1:10. What kind of people
did we say last week were identified in v.10? What
kind of people "claim [to have] not sinned?" (These
are those who make the most outrageous claims.
They claim they are not sinning now and they have
never sinned. These people obviously have a
problem with their theology. So Jesus would not be
repeating a variation of their argument!)
4. Is the crew being described in v.10 the same as John
is talking to in 1 John 2:1? (No. In v.1 John starts out
"my dear children." He is not still talking to the same
group of people he was talking about in v.10. He said
those people were making God out to be a liar and God's
word had no place in their lives. John is addressing
those who are seeking the truth. So we are looking at
those who are walking on the trail of lightness.)
5. Imagine you are writing Jesus' oral argument before
the "Court of Heaven." What does Jesus' argument sound
like on behalf of those walking on the trail of light?
C. Read 1 John 2:2. Does this reveal Jesus' argument for us?
1. What if you were hauled in front of a judge for a
criminal matter and as you are standing there trying to
look your best (and your most innocent) your lawyer
starts his argument: "Your Honor, my client is guilty,
very guilty...."
2. Is that Jesus defense for us? (Yes! His defense is
that we are very guilty, but He has already paid the
penalty. He is not arguing against our guilt. He is
arguing against the penalty being imposed on you.)
3. In light of this, how do our efforts to cover and deny
our sins really look? Imagine the judge's reaction if
you started interrupting your lawyer with an indignant,
"I am not guilty! I live a perfect life! Any problems I
may have are not my fault. It is the fault of the genes
I got from my father and mother!")
4. I suggested a few minutes ago that Jesus' argument is
for "those on the trail to light." Is this consistent
with the text? (His sacrifice is "for the sins of the
whole world." His sacrifice may be accepted only by
those on the light trail, but He gave his life for
everyone.)
D. Why do you think John characterizes Jesus position as
having to defend or advocate our position with God? Does God
the Father need to be convinced? Is this some sort of debate
which we hope Jesus wins? (The lesson quotes John 16: 26-27
where Jesus says, "I don't have to ask on your behalf, the
Father loves you ...." I think John's characterization
reflects the fact that no words which show that Jesus is
responsible for our escape from justice are adequate to
describe the extent of our debt to Him. What He has done gave
us our lives, and the lives of those we love most in this
world.)
II. Knowing God
A. Read vv.3-4. This looks like "reality check" time again.
What positive and negative reality checks does John give us
now? (At bottom, both ask "Do you obey God?"
B. Why does John say we obey? (We know Him.)
1. Why doesn't John say we obey because we know the
rules?
2. Why doesn't John say we obey because we fear God?
3. Why doesn't John say we obey because we know the
downside (the sizzle) or the upside (the temperature-
controlled mansion)?
C. Is this a universal principle? That we obey what we know?
1. If you say, "yes," ask yourself how much time you
spent knowing God last week as opposed to knowing the
dragon speaking through the television?
2. If Sabbath is "prime time" for knowing God, what place
does TV have in it?
3. If you deny that knowing someone or something means
you obey him, why does knowing God mean we obey Him? (It
says something mind-boggling about God. His love and
character are such that knowing Him compels us to want to
obey!)
D. Friends, this is killer stuff: we cannot obey God unless
we know Him. The other side of this equation is equally
sobering: we do not know Him if we do not obey Him.)
1. How do you square John's "if not obey Him do not know
Him" with 1 John 1:8 (false claims about being sinless)
and 2:1 (if we do sin)? How can John say that those
walking in the light will disobey and at the same time
say that those who disobey do not know God? (The answer
is the walk. If you know God, your attitude is to obey.
The general direction of your life, your "walk" is in the
light.)
E. Read v. 5. What do you think John means when he says that
God's love is complete in anyone who obeys? (Christianity is
not theoretical. Is not some abstract knowledge of rules with
no practical difference in our lives. God's love becomes
complete in us when we let His will transform our actions.)
F. Read v. 6. You remember that when we discussed "walking"
with God last week we learned that Thayer says this Greek word
is Hebrew for "to live?" The Greek word in v.6 which is
translated "to live" (meno) is not the same word, but I
believe it has a roughly equivalent meaning. So this text
could look like this:
1. "Whoever claims to walk with Jesus must walk as Jesus
did."
2. What does this mean? Does it mean:
a. We have no money?
b. We have no spouse?
c. We preach?
(John is systematically, relentlessly, driving the point
that obedience is essential. He is not talking about the
specifics of Jesus' life, he is talking about Jesus
determination to obey His Father and reflect His Father.)
III. The Results Of Knowing God.
A. Read 1 John 2:7-11. In verses 7 and 8 John sounds like he
is stumbling at first: "I am not writing you a new command,
but an old one. Well, maybe it is sort of new."
B. Is he writing about an old command or a new one?
C. How can an old command also be a new one? (What is "old"
about the command is that you have already heard it. In fact,
he says, you have heard it from the beginning (v.7) What is
"new" about the command is that you have never properly
understood it.)
1. The "key" language is v. 8 "the darkness is passing
and the true light is already shining.")
2. Have you ever found an old antique, cleaned it up, and
thought it looked completely different? Completely new?
3. You do not understand how to obey, John says, until
you have seen how Jesus obeyed! Jesus "cleaned up" the
old obedience idea to give us an example of what was
really intended.
4. Can you give me examples of difference between Jesus'
understanding of obedience and the religious leaders
understanding of obedience? (Withered hand healed on the
Sabbath (Matt. 12). Focus on what comes out of the mouth
rather than what goes in (Matt. 15). Focussing on the
symbolism and missing the reality (Matt. 26:60).)
D. Are vv. 9-11 an example of what John is talking about?
(Yes!)
1. How can vv.9-11 be examples when they speak of "love"
when John just said that "obey" was the operative word?
2. Are vv.9-11 another "reality check?" (Yes)
3. Look at the structure of vv.3-11 again. At first
glance this looks like a "teeter-totter." On end of the
teeter-totter are vv.3-6 where John discusses obedience.
Then the "fulcrum" is vv.7-8 where John discusses whether
this is a new or old idea. John then describes the other
end of the teeter-totter by saying we have to love.
a. Is my "first glance" correct? Are love and
obedience opposites which go up and down in inverse
proportion? (No! Love and obedience are not
opposites. This is the perfect example of how
obedience is not "man made." You cannot obey
simply by following the rules. You cannot love
simply by determination. Obedience is an attitude.
Only by the power of God can love for our fellow
man enter our hearts. This attitude of love (so
clearly expressed in Jesus' life that He caused the
"darkness" to pass and the "true light" to shine
(v.8)) creates true obedience!)
b. Friend, how do you rate on the vv. 9-11 reality
check? Do you hate any brother? Do you hold
grudges? What is your attitude towards the family
of God? The answer to these questions shows
whether you are on the "light" trail or the "dark"
trail.
IV. Next week: "What Knowing God Means." 1 John 2: 12-17. Study!