Pray: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."

1. 1

   What do you learn about God (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) from this chapter? His thoughts, ways, or actions toward us, as His creation? How can you respond to God in prayer and praise?

2. 2

   In verses 1-6, one of John's reasons for writing is so that his readers would not sin. He sets the standard that we should desire to meet. However, he knows this will not be met in perfection. If we do sin, what does Jesus do on our behalf? (Propitiation means to make appeasement for, to satisfy the wrath of God against sin.) How can we know that we are in Him?

3. 3

   In verses 7-11, John says he isn't writing about a new commandment, but a new emphasis on an old commandment. According to verses 9-11, how can we know if we walk in darkness or light? Note: In verses 12-14, John uses the language of children, fathers, and young men to refer to stages of spiritual maturity. Children are new believers, fathers are mature believers, and young men are equivalent to spiritually adolescent believers.

4. 4

   According to verses 15-17, if we love the world (desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and pride of life), what is not in us? How do we abide forever?

5. 5

   According to verses 18-23, what will come in the last hour? John stated he is writing because they have been anointed by the Holy One. They know the truth, and he wants them to pay attention to what they know: namely that Jesus is God. If you know Jesus, you know God. How will they know who the antichrists are? (This is referring to little antichrists or false teachers).

6. 6

   In verses 24-29, what is John calling his readers to do? (Hint: what word is repeated 6 times?) The anointing is referring to the Holy Spirit. Where is the Holy Spirit, the anointing, and what does He do?

7. 7

   Ponder: In this chapter, John was encouraging believers that they know the truth and have the Holy Spirit who teaches them everything they need to know from God's word. The Holy Spirit is not only our teacher, but He also helps us abide in Christ and turn from the temptation of sin. Abiding in Christ means that we choose to walk in the truth and choose to obey God's laws; the Holy Spirit helps us do this. How's your abiding going? How does this lead you to pray?