“Walking as Children of the Light”
A Study of 1John
By Pastor Joe Meyer
“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” Helpful Hints:
As you apply God’s Word to this study, remember that the Bible was written primarily to show us Jesus. Look for ways in which this book of the Bible points to Jesus, even if this study guide doesn’t point that out for you. In truth, every time you read the Bible, look for Jesus “under every stone.” God gave us His Word to remind us of His love, and His love is most clearly seen in Jesus...look for Him and you will be blessed!
In order to do that, you need to read slowly. Many people rush through the Bible as if it is a race of some kind. Don’t do that. Take your time. Reading through the Bible in a year is great, but reading through the Bible slowly is even greater.
I pray this study will bless you and further your walk with
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2 | Walking as Children of the Light As you take your time walking through this study you’ll encounter three things to help you grow:
Discuss sections are intended to give you an opportunity to think through the Bible passage itself. What does it say in relation to other passages, both those given, and those you may think of yourself
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Walking as Children of the Light | 3 Study Number One “We Are Children of the Light”
Discuss
Why do you think that the Bible calls us “Children of the Light”? What is that saying about us?
Do you always feel like a “child of the light” or are there times when darkness creeps into, or frankly, seeps out of, your life?
What do you do in those moments when you recognize the lack of light in your life?
Discover
Read 1John 1:1-4. John reminds his readers that he and the other Apostles were eyewitnesses of the things that they were writing about. Why is that important to note? In fact, look at what Peter wrote in 2Peter 1:16-18. The Apostles not only saw Jesus but lived through all that He said and did and did so for three full years. They walked with Jesus. They live and talked with Jesus. They experienced His miracles. More than that, however, resurrection. All that gives their telling of the story credibility of they also witnessed the crucifixion and subsequent miraculous course, but...
4 | Walking as Children of the Light This is the problem proposed by critics of the Christian faith and God’s Word: The disciples/apostles didn’t write it all down until much later, long after it happened. Surely, they forgot the details... right? Consider 2Peter 1:18-21 and 2Timothy 3:16 as refutation of that claim. But it’s important to consider this question: Can you prove to someone that the Bible is the Word of God and not just the words of men?
In this opening paragraph John mentions something that we must take to heart in our day and time. John writes: “...the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life...”. I realize that John was an Apostle and that was the job of the Apostles, namely, to “testify” and to “proclaim” the truth of the Gospel. Along those lines, look at Matthew 9:35-38 and consider then what happens in Matthew 10 (the whole chapter that is). Having said that, is every Christian a witness of the Gospel message in their lives, or are only the Pastors...those who are most like the Apostles...the only ones to proclaim it? Consider that question along with Matthew 28:16- 20...in other words, who was sent out to make disciples? After taking time to deeply consider that question, let me answer it for you with what is called “The Priesthood of All Believers” found in 1Peter 2:9-12. As you read about the Priesthood of All Believers, priests”, or Christian people, do? define “The Priesthood” from that text...what do “Christian
Walking as Children of the Light | 5 Read 1John 1:5-10.
The Apostle has a way of defining God for the same time. What does it mean that “God is light”? Is the Holy us that is both easy to understand and difficult to fathom all at Spirit saying through John that God is light in the metaphorical sense? Or is this concrete imagery here...namely, that God is literally “light”? Consider what this same Apostle wrote in the Revelation 21:9-27. Also consider what happened the night that Jesus was born when the angels showed up. What did Luke say that the angels brought with them? Luke 2:8-14 (verse 9 says “the ______of the Lord shone round about them.”) What is that verse saying about God..and the angels, by the way?
That being said, it seems that John is for sure speaking of “spiritual light” here, too...to that end look at John 8:12. What does Jesus mean that He is the “Light of the world”? What does it mean that we won’t “walk in darkness”? Along those lines, remember also, through our relationship to Jesus, we are called the light of this world...Matthew 5:14-16. What does that look like in our lives, however? How do we “light up” this world?
Verses eight through ten are beloved words in our circles. We love to not only admit that we are sinners...admit that we cannot change ourselves in that regard...but we also celebrate the fact that Jesus, who is faithful and just, forgives and cleanses us. Think
about the first parents and how they reacted, when they sinned
6 | Walking as Children of the Light and did not yet know God’s forgiveness. Read Genesis 3:1-8. They sinned and they then ______from God. In distinction, when we sin, because we know of the relationship He’s brought us into, knowing both the grace of God He’s given us and the forgiveness of sins through Jesus, we ______to God for His mercy, grace and forgiveness. Look at the story in Luke 5:1-11. Once you’ve read that, consider how that story speaks to your story of your sin, God’s love, God’s forgiveness.
Now, look again at 1John 1:5-7. What is that saying to you and your walk with Jesus? After you have a chance to consider that question, think about what Paul wrote in Romans 6:1-4. What is the common denominator between 1John 1:5-7 and Romans 6:1- 4? What does that common denominator say to you and your life and your discipleship today?
Walking as Children of the Light | 7 Download
What was the biggest takeaway for you and your Christian faith/ life from this study?
What might you share with other Christians about this study?
What might you tell a non-Christian about this study?
What would your prayer be after experiencing this study? Write it below:
8 | Walking as Children of the Light Study Number Two “Children of the Light who Deal with Darkness”
Discuss
Have you ever been in a place that was terribly dark? How did the darkness make you feel? What did the darkness move you to do?
Why do you think people are afraid of the dark? Why do you think people seem to be less afraid of the spiritual darkness in their lives...or are they?
If you’ve come through a spiritually dark place in your life AND God has gotten you to the other side, have you told people about it? Have you given witness to what the Lord did for you?
Walking as Children of the Light | 9 Discover
Read 1John 2:1-6. This is perhaps one of the more critical sections of 1John since it reminds us so clearly of the darkness within us alongside a clear explanation of the Gospel of Jesus and His love for us (although, chapter four will do a similar work). But John writes here “I write these things to you that you may not sin.” What does John mean by “that you may not sin”? Is he saying (by the Holy Spirit, mind you) that you can stop sinning? How do we know that’s not what he means? (To answer that, remember that Scripture always interprets Scripture. What that means is that when we have a difficult passage, we use less difficult by reading Romans 3:21-26 and notice that Paul reminds us passages to define it.) For a definition of John’s terms here, begin that no one can “stop sinning”. So, what does John mean then? Consider Hebrews 10:26 not sin” and think in terms of “ongoing or continuous action”. for a definition of John’s phrase “may
Just like Paul in Romans 3, however, John reminds us that sin within us is met with forgiveness from God. Both John and Paul tell us that Jesus is the “propitiation” or “payment” for our sin. What does the word “payment” mean regarding our sin? After considering that question, look at Leviticus 17:11 alongside Hebrews 9:11-14.
So, what then do we call Christ’s sacrifice? found in Hebrews 9:24-10:10. What kind of sacrifice was it? Consider the important words
10 | Walking as Children of the Light 1John 2:3-6 gets at our obedience to Christ and His commands. We are often afraid to talk about obedience because we worry we might give the impression someone could be good enough to get to heaven. That’s why, when we talk about obedience, we always do so, speaking of it as “response” to what God has already done for us. Furthermore, we remind folks that our obedience is also spoken of in the Bible as God’s work in our lives. Let’s check two familiar passages: Read Matthew 28:18-20. Note that Jesus says, “make disciples” and then...teach them to “obey/observe everything I have commanded you.” Notice the order. Second, remember the Greek terminology of Ephesians 2:8-10 and the wording of Galatians 5:22-25. Whose work is “obedience” then? Then what role do you play in obedience then?
Read 1John 2:7-14. the call to “love one another” is not a new commandment but an This segment reminds us, first of all, that old one revisited. In other words, the Old Testament also spoke of “loving your neighbor.” Check Leviticus 19:9-17 and notice/ consider the purpose of the statutes/commandments there. Why did God have them act that way?
Walking as Children of the Light | 11 Now, it’s also important to note that as John writes here, this is in Christ. What does that mean however? In what way is Christ’s also a new commandment...in that it has found its true fulfillment salvation a game-changer for the “Love your neighbor as yourself” commandment? Ponder that for a second and then look up this set of verses: Matthew 5:38-48. Why is this now part and parcel of the commandment to love our neighbor? In order to get at that, consider what Christ has done for you by reading Romans 5:6-10 (especially vs. 10).
Read 1John 2:15-17. This is a tough passage to read because it sounds like we need to sell it all and give it up and live a pauper’s life until Jesus returns to take us home. What perspective do we need in order to rightly interpret this passage? Consider what Jesus said to the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-23. Why did Jesus say what He said to the young man? What was the real problem in the rich man’s life? Also consider the admonition in 2Peter 3:8-13. What is it that truly keeps us from focusing too much on the stuff of this world?
12 | Walking as Children of the Light Read 1John 2:18-27. In verse eighteen John tells us “...it is the last hour,” as in the Second Coming “last hour”. Many will say that the Apostles thought Jesus was returning immediately and indeed, that may have been true, they may have thought that. Look at Acts 1:6-11 for an example of their thinking. But it may have also been that they simply understood that with the Advent of Jesus into our world we were thrusted into “the last days”. You see, often we think of “the last days” as the end of time, but indeed “the last days” are the long span of time from Christ’s conception until the time of Christ’s return. Check Hebrews 1:1-4 for that very concept.
John also addresses the idea of “anti-Christ” in this section. Now, this is not The AntiChrist...that’s something different, though it is related. The AntiChrist is found in 2Thessalonians 2:1-12. We will address this further in chapter four.
Walking as Children of the Light | 13 Download
What was the biggest takeaway for you and your Christian faith/ life from this study?
What might you share with other Christians about this study?
What might you tell a non-Christian about this study?
What would your prayer be after experiencing this study? Write it below:
14 | Walking as Children of the Light Study Number Three “The Evidence that We Are Children of the Light”
Discuss
When you think about your day to day life, how are you different as a “child of God” than those you know who are not (yet) children of God?
Are there times when you doubt your status as a child of God? What do you do to “snap yourself out of it”?
Discover
Read 1John 3:1-3. To the heart of this study and the heart of 1John, John calls us “children of God.” What does that terminology mean to you? How does it help you in your day to day life? After you think about that, read Romans 8:15-17.
Walking as Children of the Light | 15 But John tells us something about our future here too...not just our present life in Christ, in other words. Read verse two again and ask yourself: What does he say about us and what does it mean for your future with Jesus? After considering that, look at John 20:24-29. What was Jesus “like” after the resurrection? What words would you use to describe His state of being? And then...what does that say about us and our eternal-bodily-status? Consider also the beautifully poetic words of Isaiah 65:17-24. What does that poetry mean for our future?
One other important thought about eternity: John writes “we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is.” Besides being both physical and eternal as we saw in John 20 above, there is something else that we will share with the Lord. Look at 1Corinthians 13:8-13. What does Paul mean by “we shall know then...”? Now, to get at how amazing the truth from 1Corinthians 13 is, consider what Christianity is all about in the two greatest commandments as found in Mark 12:28-34. So, in heaven we will ______perfectly.
Read 1John 3:4-10. These are hard words, right? Who hasn’t read this and asked “Am I even a Christian?” In other words, when you hear that those who “keep on sinning” are “of the
16 | Walking as Children of the Light devil”, it does make you ponder your own Christian faith. So, what does John mean here? Think about the wording in this segment and then consider just verses seven and eight together. How do those two verses, read back to back, help you to understand what John is really saying here? After you’ve thought about those verses, consider Hebrews 10:26-27. What does it mean to “sin deliberately”? Consider also Ephesians 4:17-23; 2Peter 3:8-14 and James 4:1-5.
the life of the Christian? How are you being made holy...said On a related note, who is responsible for the sanctification in differently...how do you give evidence that you are a child of God, a child of the Light?
Read 1John 3:11-15. “Love verses Hate” could sum up this paragraph. Our world is quick to “hate” people. We have become very, very judgmental and seek ways in which we can shame and hurt and bring down others. Not so for the child of the Light. Hate is seen as much bigger for the Christian than our world looks at that word. What does John say “hate” amounts to? Do you generally look at hate that way? Look also at 1John 4:19-21 in this regard. After considering that, take note of the famous
Walking as Children of the Light | 17 words of Jesus in Matthew 5:38-48. How is that kind of command of Christ even possible for us as fallen human beings? (It’s not a suggestion) Consider that, but as you consider how hard His words are in Matthew 5, consider Christ’s words found in Mark 10:23-27 (particularly verse 27). How does verse 27 help you?
Read 1John 3:16-18. John gets at a further reality of this “love” that the Christian is to have for “one another”. The reality he gets at is that our “love” for “one another” must be a “verb” and not a “concept” or a hoped-for outcome. In other words, if we love, we should do something about that love by intentionally reaching into the lives of others who need to physically and emotionally experience our love in Christ. Read James 2:14-17 for almost identical words.
Read 1John 3:19-24. While there are several things we could glean from this segment, just one is worth going into...namely, our “hearts condemning us.” What the Apostle is getting at here is that even though we often feel like we’re “not good enough” in God’s sight, because of Christ, we are. Really, two things happen in our lives as Christians in this regard: 1) Our hearts can condemn us... look at Peter’s reaction in Luke 22:54-62 and, 2) Our adversary, satan, can condemn us, too...look at satan’s conversation with the Lord in Job 1:6-12. John reminds us that when these things come our way...God is greater!
18 | Walking as Children of the Light Download
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What might you share with other Christians about this study?
What might you tell a non-Christian about this study?
What would your prayer be after experiencing this study? Write it below:
Walking as Children of the Light | 19 Study Number Four “God’s Love Makes Us Children of the Light”
Discuss
What misunderstandings have you encountered when it comes to how we “come to faith” in Jesus or “become Christians?”
When it comes to faith in Jesus, often people take credit for their faith. “I believed in Jesus” or “I accepted Christ.” Why is that kind of faith expression erroneous?
Discover
Read 1John 4:1-6. Verse one could be a study all by itself! John reminds us to be careful regarding what we hear preached, proclaimed or taught. He says it this way: “test the spirits”...or said another way: “don’t believe everything you hear...check it out!” But...how do you go about doing that? How do you “test the spirits” to see if it what you’re hearing is valid and true to the Christian faith? Look at 2Timothy 2:14-16 for help. What does
20 | Walking as Children of the Light that set of verses say to you today? What does that do for you as you encounter books and videos and sermons that purport to be of the Faith?
Verses two and three remind us of a couple things from 1John 4. To begin with, let me say what I have not said to this point, namely, John was writing against a thing called “Gnosticism”. Gnosticism, the only thing that was good was the “spirit” or “spiritual” (and from the Greek word “to know”, held that the “flesh was bad” and they taught a variety of other heretical things, by the way...check Wikipedia for more info). Therefore, John reminds the Gnostics that Jesus indeed came in the flesh, and to deny Christ’s flesh- nature is to deny Jesus altogether. Why? Why is Christ’s flesh verses in Galatians 4:4-7 but then nature important? After consideration, briefly look at the famous look more intently at Hebrews 9:24-26. to validate Christ’s flesh nature
Verse four is so wonderfully heartening, right? Amazing truth... but one we forget with regularity. First of all, we forget that “Jesus is in you”. We know Jesus is “greater” but I think we often forget that He is never, ever apart from us. He genuinely lives in our heart. Look at Jesus’ words in John 14:15-17. Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, is not just “with you always” (Matthew 28) but is also “in you always”.
Walking as Children of the Light | 21 Since that’s true...our enemy and enemies have no power over us. Jesus is “greater” than the one who is against us! That’s hard to believe sometimes. Read 1Peter 5:6-10 for a reminder of God’s provision in regard to satan. Also consider this important verse: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7). How does that verse jive with Jesus being greater than satan...if you and I are the ones resisting satan?
Read 1John 4:7-12. This segment of 1John is perhaps the best known and most taught/preached segment of this famous Epistle. The reason for that is the beautiful language the Holy Spirit chose to use: “Agape” or “God’s Love”. Let’s begin with verse eight where John writes “God is Love”. Notice that John is not saying “He is like love” or that “He is loving”, but that He...is...love. What does that mean to you? How would you explain that to someone who does not know God? Consider Matthew 14:13-20. In what ways does that passage show that “God is love.”
Interestingly however, verse seven reminds us that this God who is “love” chooses to express that love, not only to us, but through us. Take note of what John wrote: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1John 4:7). Notice...if you “agape” you have been “born of God.” Let’s make sure we pause here and realize
22 | Walking as Children of the Light something: ONLY a Christian can “agape”. A person who is not a Christian cannot “agape”. They can “phileo”, but they cannot “agape”. From what you know of the two words...what’s the difference and why is it important for you to know the difference? Check Luke 7:1-10. “agape” or “loved” the Nation of Israel...Luke does not use the Verse five of that text says that the Centurion word “phileo” to describe his love for the Nation of Israel. What does that say to us about “agape” and about the Centurion... especially in the context of the rest of that story?
Verse ten gets at a very important understanding about Biblical theology...namely, that we are not the active player in this “love drama” but that God is the one who “seeks” us out, or as John writes it here...we didn’t love God...He loved us. As you consider that truth, consider the familiar story in Luke 19:1-10, particularly verse ten. The”Son of Man” came to do what? And then look at the story of the woman at the well found in John 4. Was the meeting with that woman an “accident” or did Jesus plan it? What does that say about our Lord?
So...what does the word “propitiation” mean? Okay...so what did Jesus pay? Who did He pay? Talk about that and then look at Hebrews 10:1-18.
Walking as Children of the Light | 23 What does verse twelve mean and what does it say about our Christian witness?
Read 1John 4:13-21. Verse thirteen is very important and should be coupled with Ephesians 1:13,14. What do verses like an answer in verse seventeen. these do for us as Christians? Consider that question but then find
Verse eighteen reads “...perfect love casts out fear.” What does that mean in context? What does it mean for our faith-lives lived in this world and what does it mean for the day of judgment? Think about that and then look at 2Corinthians 5:10-11a...how do you reconcile those two verses with verse eighteen? In other words, if “perfect love casts out fear,” then why are we “fearing the Lord” as Paul says it in 2Corinthians 5:11a?
Verses nineteen to twenty-one speak plainly about what it means to be a Christian. Why would I say that? Consider that question and then remember what Jesus said in Matthew 22:34- 40.
24 | Walking as Children of the Light Download
What was the biggest takeaway for you and your Christian faith/ life from this study?
What might you share with other Christians about this study?
What might you tell a non-Christian about this study?
What would your prayer be after experiencing this study? Write it below:
Walking as Children of the Light | 25 Study Number Five “Trusting in God’s Love Makes Us a Child of the Light”
Discuss
Have you ever had times in your Christian-faith-walk where you
What is it about us that makes us think it has to be harder or thought “It has to be more difficult than just believing in Jesus?”
more difficult than that?
Have you ever had a moment when you’ve shared the Gospel with someone, and they looked at you cross-eyed because it just sounds too good to be true? If not, can you imagine a scenario when that could/might happen?
Discover
Read 1John 5:1-5. Why do you think the Lord chose the imagery of being “born” or “born again”? Is there a purpose for the language and illustration? After talking about that consider two passages: John 3:1-15 and 2Corinthians 5:17. What event do those passages take us back to? Also consider the fact that you did not “decide” to be born into our world...you just were. How does that inform our faith about our conversion to Christianity?
26 | Walking as Children of the Light There is another reason for the “born” or “born again” imagery. Consider what Jesus invites us to call the Lord God in the Lord’s Prayer. He invites us to pray “Our ______Who art in heaven.” Consider then what Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:14-21. What does the reading from Ephesians say about atheists, agnostics, etc?
Verses four and five remind us that we, as John writes it, “overcome the world”. How is that so? Often it seems that the world overcomes us, right? Consider the ways in which the world “overcomes” you but then read Jesus’ very important words in John 16:25-33. When you’re getting “clobbered” by the world... how do those words of Jesus help you?
Read 1John 5:6-12. This segment of 1John can be confusing and yet, the explanation of his words here is really very simple... namely, Jesus was a real, flesh and blood Savior. Having said that, “the water and the blood” He was not only flesh and blood, but He was also the Incarnate referring to? Check John 19:31-37 for a possible answer. Then, God...or God in the flesh. So, what is what is “the Spirit” referring to? Check Matthew 3:13-17 for a possible answer. What we know for sure is this...these words remind us that Jesus was both God, or the Christ, and man, the would exhort us, must believe that He is both God and man. “flesh guy” named Jesus. Anyone who believes in Jesus, as John
Walking as Children of the Light | 27 Read 1John 5:13-15. This segment is so beautiful because it gets at the surety of our faith which gives us everlasting life, and the surety of God’s providence for us in this world before we inherit (fully inherit) everlasting life. Compare verse thirteen to Romans 10:9-13. Make note of the promise in verses fourteen and fifteen. We are promised that God hears us when we make requests, but we are given a caveat. What is that caveat? Once you’ve discussed that, consider the words of Jesus in Luke 11:5- 13 and how 1John 5:14,15 inform those verses.
Read 1John 5:16-20. Okay...so this last group of verses is...well... weird. What in the world does John mean by all this talk of “sin that leads to...” or “doesn’t lead to...” “death”? What John seems to be talking about is “normal sin” vs. “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit”. Mark 3:22-30. In other words, if someone is hardened to the point of denying Christ, then they are done and First things first, check done. I must admit...I struggle with this one. My “heartburn” is... couldn’t someone deny Christ and yet, at some point in the future, believe in Him? The answer is “yes”, as evidenced by the Apostle Paul in Acts 9:1-9 and Galatians 1:18-24. So, what’s the rule? Pray! Pray for someone regardless! Since this passage is obscure and hard to understand, I’d suggest that we pray for people regardless of where they are at...it does, after all...have eternal consequences.
28 | Walking as Children of the Light Download
What was the biggest takeaway for you and your Christian faith/ life from this study?
What might you share with other Christians about this study?
What might you tell a non-Christian about this study?
What would your prayer be after experiencing this study? Write it below:
Walking as Children of the Light | 29 30 | Walking as Children of the Light Walking as Children of the Light | 31 32 | Walking as Children of the Light