What is one thing you’ve always felt like you were born to do?
What is something you have become passionate about in adulthood that you were not passionate about in your younger years?
On a typical Monday morning, what is something you desire? Is this the same thing you want on a typical Saturday morning? Why or why not?
People use phrases like, “Born to shop” or “Born to run” to express hobbies, attitudes, or interests. But just like our wants or plans change based on the day of the week and what we have to do, what we say we are “born to” do can change based upon our current interests. Spiritually speaking, when we experience new birth in Christ the things we desire change, too. Rebirth results in a hunger for righteousness.
1 John 2:18–27 (NLT)
Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
John, this “apostle of love” is not afraid to throw the term “antichrist.” When you think of that term, what do you typically think of? How is that different from What John is describing here? What is John saying about those people who had left the church?
John uses the word “remain” several times here. Why is this principle of remaining so important for us?
John is clearly describing those that don’t “remain faithful to what you have been taught” as anti-christ.
SIGN UP FOR DEEPER CLASSES HERE
1 John 2:28–3:3 (NLT)
And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
I thought that phrase “shrink back from him in shame” was interesting. What does that really look like? When do you see that happen?
Why would someone like me or you “shrink back” when Jesus returns?
We looked at this same passage last week, and we discovered that we “are already God’s children,” but we are still in process… “He has not shown us what we will be like when Christ appears.” So, clearly the identity of the child of God is connected to Christ’s return. How? How does that give us hope?
We remain in Christ because He has demonstrated His love for us at the cross. He did this not because we were righteous, but because He is righteous Himself. Our hunger for righteousness is born out of this love which has transformed us into children of God. When Jesus returns, there will be no doubt as to His true identity and glory. Similarly, though Christians might suffer right now in seemingly unjust ways, when Jesus reveals His true self at His return, the children of God will be seen as they truly are—transformed and glorified coheirs with Christ.
1 John 3:4–10 (NLT)
Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
On Sunday, I described our darkness as something just beneath the surface… I talked about it being “fine print,” or “hidden fees.” Here is the thing… I also think we are okay with that. We know this about ourselves, and we let it ride. Am I wrong? Why do you think this is, or isn’t true?
What is the difference between “sin,” and a lifestyle characterized by sin? Does it matter? Why?
John believes we can be children of God, yet still sin (1 John 1:8 “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.”)
The way to identify a true child is that children of God take an active stance against their sin, confessing and fighting for purity, rather than lapsing into a lifestyle of habitual sin.
Do you think John was serious about this? He did say that the one who commits ongoing sin is “of the devil.” What do you think?
How is John revealing to us the depth of change that Jesus brings in us?