Christ's Sanctified Holy Church - Leesburg, GA

Sin Is Lawlessness (1 John 2:28-3:10)
 

Q1. (1 John 2:29-3:2) In what sense are we "children of God"?  What does the Holy Spirit have to do with this "new birth"?  How does the new birth change us?

Q2. (1 John 2:28; 3:2-3) In what way does our expectation of Heaven motivate us to purify ourselves from sin?  How does purifying ourselves from sin relate to God's grace?

Q3. (1 John 3:4) How does lawlessness show up in a person's attitude and actions?  In what sense is an attitude of lawlessness the cause of sin in our lives?

Q4. (1 John 3:6, 9) How does the presence of God's seed in us keep us from habitual lawlessness and sin?  How does the Holy Spirit sanctify us and make us like Jesus?

Q5. (1 John 3:3-10) How does John's teaching on sin and righteousness in this passage relate to combating the false teachers?  What did they seem to be teaching about sin and righteous living?

1 John 4 says,  "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

As younger person I always thought this referred to Jesus coming in the flesh as the Christ-child; perhaps almost by definition, all Christians agree that Jesus was born.  As the chapter continues "Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God", I think it refers more to confessing that the Spirit of God can dwell in our hearts and lives, lead us, and keep us free from the beggarly elements of sin.  Perhaps it extends the definition of antichrist more than I'm initially comfortable, but it seems to follow that without that indwelling, this is the spirit of antichrist.  

Bro. David Cosby

Antichrists, Anointing, and Abiding

(1 John 2:18-29)

Q1. (1 John 2:18) What is this antichrist that John refers to? In what ways do we see the spirit of antichrist at work in our day?

Q2. (1 John 2:20-21) What is the "anointing" that John is talking about? In what way is anointing connected to the Holy Spirit? Has every Christian received this anointing? What do you think?

Q3. (1 John 2:20, 27) In what ways is the Holy Spirit an internal Guide for us? In what ways does he teach us? In what ways does he point us to Jesus' teaching?

Q4. (1 John 2:24-28) What does it mean to abide/remain/continue in Jesus? Give an example of what a Christian might be doing who is "abiding" in Jesus. What are symptoms in a Christian who is not "abiding" in Jesus?

Q5. (1 John 2:26-27) If we have the Holy Spirit, why do we need teachers in the church? How does the role of the anointing differ from the Holy Spirit's spiritual gift of teaching?

Don't Love the World (1 John 2:7-17)

Q1. (1 John 2:7-11) How does hate and a lack of forgiveness blind us spiritually?  If we have been darkened by hurt and hate, how do we come into the light?

Q2. (1 John 2:12-14) John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers."  Why do you think he takes time to encourage them?  In what ways does he encourage them?

Q3. (1 John 2:15-16) What is "the world" in verses 15-16?  What kind of love of "the world" keeps us from loving the Father?

Q4. (1 John 2:15-17) What kinds of sins are covered by the three examples of worldliness that John gives?  Why are these sometimes so difficult for us to discern in ourselves?  Why is worldliness so harmful to our future?

As we completely thaw out from our last bit of beautiful, white snow, I am reminded of the purity that comes when we turn our lives over to God.   When we ask for his divine forgiveness, God cleans out the old sins from our lives, preparing us for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 51:7 says, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”

I am so thankful that God can take a life full of dark, sinful impurities and make it clean and beautiful.

Bro. Scott Rogers