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1JOHN 3:1-10
LESSON #7
RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE FAMILY
MEMORY VERSE: 1JOHN 3:6
READ 1JOH 3:1-10 RIGHTEOUSNESS, A FAMILY CHARACTERISTIC
1JOH 2:29 SAYS THAT EVERYONE THAT DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF GOD WHO IS RIGHTEOUS.
THE WORLD DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE CHRISTIAN BECAUSE WE ARE SEPARATED FROM THE WORLDBORN INTO THE KINGDOM AND FAMILY OF GOD.
WE BECOME THE SONS OF GOD THE MINUTE WE ARE BORN AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH OUR LIVES AT THATPOINT MAY NOT BE TOTALLY STRAIGHTENED OUT.
SALVATION IS A LONG TERM PROCESS (PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE):
1. “I HAVE BEEN SAVED”.(JOH 5:24)
WE WERE SAVED THE MINUTE WE WERE BORN AGAIN.
2. “I AM BEING SAVED”. (PHI 2:12-13 2PET 3:18)
WE ARE GROWING AND MATURING IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF OUR SALVATION.
“I WILL BE SAVED”. (1JO 3:2)
THERE IS A LOT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT OUR FUTURE SALVATION BECAUSE WE SEE THROUGH A GLASSDARKLY. HOWEVER, WE KNOW IT IS AN ETERNAL SALVATION AND THAT WE WILL BE MORE LIKEHIM.
THE STORY OF MICHELANGELO:
WHEN A VERY LARGE PIECE OF MARBLE WAS BROUGHT TO MICHELANGELO, HE WALKED AROUND ITSTUDYING IT CAREFULLY. HE SAID TO HIS HELPER, “ISNT IT BEAUTIFUL!” HISHELPER STARED AT THE MARBLE AND SAID, “ALL I SEE IS A BIG PIECE OF MARBLE.”MICHELANGELO SAID, “OH! I SEE A STATUE OF DAVID THERE.” THE HELPER LOOKED AT THEMARBLE AGAIN, SHOOK HIS HEAD, AND SAID, “I DONT SEE IT.” MICHELANGELOSMILED AND SAID, “THATS BECAUSE IT IS STILL IN MY MIND. WAIT UNTIL I PUT WHATIS IN MY MIND IN THAT PIECE OF MARBLE.”
GOD HAS JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLAN IN MIND FOR US. WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET TOHEAVEN TO BEGIN TO SEE WHAT THAT IS.
MEANWHILE, GOD CHIPS AWAY AT US AS HE MOLDS US TO HIS PLAN.
WE NEED TO COOPERATE WITH HIM TO MAKE THAT TRANSFORMATION EASIER.
THE CONFLICT OF THE TWO NATURES IN THE BELIEVER (3:4)
THE BELIEVER HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN HIM. HE ALSO STILL HAS THE FLESH NATURE TODEAL WITH. THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO NATURES FREQUENTLY HINDERS WHAT GOD WANTS TO DOIN US. THE FLESH NATURE IS SUBJECT TO SIN. HOWEVER, JOHN MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN ANOCCASIONAL SIN AND LIVING HABITUALLY IN SIN.
“WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN TRANSGRESSETH ALSO THE LAW” (4)
THE WORD “COMMITTETH” MEANS = TO LIVE HABITUALLY IN.
SIN TRANSGRESSES THE LAW OF GOD.
THE UNBELIEVER LIVES HABITUALLY IN SIN BECAUSE IT IS HIS NATURE. HE CANT HELP IT.HOWEVER, THE BELIEVER HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN THROUGH THE BLOOD OFCHRIST. HE THEREFORE, DOES NOT LIVE HABITUALLY IN SIN EVEN THOUGH HE MAY SIN OCCASIONALLY.
DISCUSSION: WHY DO YOU THINK GOD GAVE THE LAW (MOSAIC LAW) TO THE JEWS IN THE OLDTESTAMENT? (GAL 3:24)
DISCUSSION: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A CARNAL CHRISTIAN AND STILL HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD?(ROM 8:6-7)
WHY WILL THE BORN AGAIN BELIEVER NOT HABITUALLY PRACTICE LIVING IN SIN? (1JOH 3:9-10JOH 3:6 1PET 1:23)
3:5THE POSSIBILITY OF HABITUALLY LIVING IN SIN WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CHILD OF GODWHEN HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF WITH THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. (5)
REMEMBER THAT OUR SALVATION IS AN ON-GOING PROCESS.
(PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE)
1. WE WERE SAVED FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN, WHICH IS DEATH, THE MINUTE WE WEREBORN AGAIN.
2. WE ARE BEING SAVED FROM THE POWER OF SIN PRESENTLY IN OUR LIVES AS WE MAKEDAILY FAITH DECISIONS IN FAVOR OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US.
THIS IS WHY THE TRUE BELIEVER CANNOT LIVE HABITUALLY IN SIN. THE HOLY SPIRIT ISCONSTANTLY CONVICTING HIM AND MAKING HIM VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
3. WE WILL BE SAVED FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN WHEN WE LIVE WITH CHRIST INETERNITY. THERE WILL BE NO MORE SIN.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE CHILD OF GOD?
THE TRUE BELIEVER WILL NOT LIVE HABITUALLY IN SIN. HIS NEW NATURE WILL NOT ALLOW HIM TOPRACTICE SIN.
THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON (LUK 15:11-24)
NOTICE THAT THE SON KNEW HE WAS A SON. HE WOULD ALWAYS BE A SON EVEN THOUGH FOR A SHORTTIME HE LIVED IN THE PIGPEN. HE WAS NOT A PIG, HE WAS A SON. THAT WAS HIS NATURE.THEREFORE, HE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO HIS FATHERS HOUSE.
THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL PIG (2PET 2:22)
NOTICE THAT THE PIG WAS WASHED AND CLEANED UP, BUT RETURNED TO THE PIGPEN. WHY? BECAUSEHE WAS A PIG. THAT WAS HIS NATURE.
THEREFORE, THE OVERALL PATTERN OF YOUR LIFE WILL EXHIBIT YOUR TRUE NATURE. IF YOU ARE ASON OF GOD, YOUR LIFE WILL EXHIBIT RIGHTEOUSNESS. IF YOU ARE A NON-BELIEVER, YOUR LIFEWILL EXHIBIT THE PATTERN OF HABITUAL SIN … JUST LIKE THE PIG.
READ 1PET 1:23
THE SEED OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WAS PLANTED IN US (9) WHEN WE WERE BORN AGAIN. THAT SEEDGROWS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE RESULT.
THE CHRISTIAN WILL LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE BECAUSE:
1. GOD, THE FATHER, LOVES US (1-3)
2. JESUS DIED FOR US (4-8)
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US (9-10)
WHY IS IT THAT WE SEE SOME CHRISTIANS BACKSLIDE INTO HABITUAL SIN?
1. THEY WERE NEVER TRUE BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS.
2. THEY WILL WAKE UP ONE DAY AND RETURN TO THE LORD LIKE THE PRODIGAL SON.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF A BACKSLIDING CHRISTIAN?
READ JAMES 1:13-15
BACKSLIDING RESEMBLES PHYSICAL SICKNESS:
PHYSICAL SICKNESS:
1. INVASION OF THE BODY BY A GERM
2. INFECTION AND GRADUAL DECLINE PHYSICALLY.
3. NO INTEREST IN NORMAL ACTIVITIES.
4. TOTAL COLLAPSE.
SPIRITUAL BACKSLIDING:
1. INVASION OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE BY TEMPTATION TO SIN.
2. INFECTION OF SIN THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND A SPIRITUAL DECLINE.
3. NO INTEREST IN THE THINGS OF GOD.
4. TOTAL SPIRITUAL COLLAPSE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
BACKSLIDING RESEMBLES HUNTING AND FISHING:
HUNTING AND FISHING: “CARRIED AWAY AND ENTICED”
(JAM 1:13-15)
1. THE ANIMAL IS ENTICED WITH BAIT.
2. THE ANIMAL CURIOUSLY INVESTIGATES THE BAIT.
3. THE ANIMAL TAKES A BITE OF THE BAIT.
4. THE ANIMAL IS TRAPPED.
5. THE ANIMAL DIES.
SPIRITUAL BACKSLIDING:
1. THE CHRISTIAN IS ENTICED WITH SIN.
2. THE CHRISTIAN CURIOUSLY INVESTIGATES THE ALLURE.
3. THE CHRISTIAN TAKES A BITE AND COMMITS SIN.
4. THE CHRISTIAN IS TRAPPED.
5. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE DIES.
HOWEVER, JER 3:22 SAYS GOD WILL HEAL OUR BACKSLIDINGS. HOW DOES HE DO THAT? 1JOH 3GIVES US AN INSIGHT:
| SCRIPTURES: | 1JO 3:4-7 | 1JO 3:8-10 |
| THE CHRISTIAN AND THE NON-BELIEVER: | EVERYONE WHO SINS (HABITUALLY PRACTICES SIN) (4) | HE WHO DOES WHAT IS SINFUL (8) |
| THE THEME: | THE NATURE OF SIN IS LAWLESSNESS | THE ORIGIN OF SIN IS THE DEVIL. |
| THE PURPOSE FOR CHRISTS FIRST COMING: | TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS (5) | TO DESTROY THE DEVILS WORK (8) |
| THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION: | NO ONE WHO LIVES IN CHRIST KEEPS ON SINNING. (6) | NO ONE WHO IS BORN OF GOD WILL CONTINUE IN HABITUAL SIN. (9) |
WHAT TWO REASONS DOES JOHN GIVE FOR JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS?
1. (1JO 3:4-6)
TO TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF THE NON-BELIEVER.
2. (1JO 3:7-8)
TO DESTROY SATANS WORK OF TEMPTATION OVER THE CHRISTIAN.
“DESTROY” MEANS = TO ANNIHILATE, TO MAKE INOPERATIVE, TO REDUCE IN POWER.
SUMMARY:
THE THEME OF 1JO CHAPTERS 1 AND 2 WAS ABOUT FELLOWSHIP.
WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND MAN IF:
1. WE ARE FREE FROM SIN.
2. WE LOVE GOD AND OTHER BELIEVERS.
THE THEME OF 1JO CHAPTER 3 IS ABOUT SONSHIP.
THERE ARE TWO MARKS OF IDENTIFICATION OF A CHRISTIAN IN THE FAMILY OF GOD:
1. A TRUE SON WILL NOT LIVE HABITUALLY IN SIN.
2. A TRUE SON WILL LOVE OTHER BELIEVERS.
HOMEWORK
1JOHN 3:11-24
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF 1JO 3:1-10
IF YOU SAY YOU ARE A BELIEVER, AND YOU ARE PRACTICING A LIFE OF SIN, YOU NEED TOREPENT AND RETURN TO GOD. HE WILL FORGIVE YOU.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN-AGAIN BY RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART AND LIFE,YOU NEED TO DO THAT. PRAY AND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU OF YOUR SINS. THEN ASK JESUS TO COMEINTO YOUR HEART AND TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. THEN THANK HIM FOR HIS NEW PRESENCE IN YOURLIFE.
IF YOU ARE A TRUE BELIEVER WHO OCCASIONALLY SINS, HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKWITH YOU PERSONALLY?
PRAISE GOD FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO NEVER LEAVES YOU BUT CONTINUALLY BRINGS YOU TO THELOVING ARMS OF CHRIST FOR FORGIVENESS.
PREPARATION FOR 1JO 3:11-24
READ 1JO 3:11-24
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HATRED AND MURDER?
(MAT 5:21-22)
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS “TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES” FOR OUR BROTHERS ANDSISTERS IN CHRIST?
WHERE DO YOU THINK “INDIFFERENCE” TO THE NEEDS OF OTHER CHRISTIANS FITS INTOTHIS PICTURE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE?(16-17)
WHAT TWO BENEFITS OF CHRISTIAN LOVE DOES JOHN TALK ABOUT ?
(19-22)
MEMORY VERSE: 1JOHN 3:16
