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

   According to verses 1-3, is everyone a child of God? Why or why not? Why doesn't the world know (understand) the children of God? Note: When verse 3 says, "we shall be like Him," it does not mean we become a god, as some religions believe. This is a reference to our glorified bodies that await us at His second coming.

3. 3

   According to verses 4-10, sin and lawlessness go hand in hand; they are the same. Jesus came to take away sin, and He is sinless. These verses compare those who are children of God with those who are children of the devil. I encourage you to make a list of what you learn about each group. Why did Jesus come? Ponder: John is making a statement that would not be considered politically correct in our day and age. He boldly says that those who practice sin and make it the habit of their lives are children of the devil. John 1:12 (note: not 1 John, but John) states that when we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior, then we become children of God. If someone is not a child of God, then they are under the influence of the devil. In other words, there are only 2 camps: believers and non-believers. Why would John make such a strong and bold statement? Maybe the reason hinges on verse 8: Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. John longs for his readers to have a close, abiding relationship with God. First, they cannot have a relationship if they do not know God through the sacrifice of Christ on their behalf. Secondly, they cannot have this relationship unless they see the importance of abiding in the power of the Holy Spirit to help them conquer sin. John's loving heart is pleading with them to know and follow Christ! How about us? Do we shy away from a discussion of sin for fear of what others will think of us, especially an unbeliever? Because John loved them, he could not stay silent. He risked offending them to draw them into an abiding fellowship with the God who saves. What is more loving: 1) to avoid topics or statements that may offend someone or 2) to speak the truth in love? How does this lead you to pray?

4. 4

   According to verses 11-15, if you are a believer, what should not surprise you? If you do not love, what do you abide in? According to verse 15, what is the one who hates his brother called? What is not abiding in him?

5. 5

   According to verses 16-18, what is the example of love? How are we to show love?

6. 6

   According to verse 19, what shall we know? In verses 19-20, what can condemn us? Who is greater than our heart? If our heart doesn't condemn us, then what? According to verse 23, what is His commandment? How can we know He abides in us?

7. 7

   Ponder: Don't miss the last verse of this chapter! It says if we keep His commandments we are abiding in Him; maintaining a close relationship with Him. But He also says, God abides in us! He goes on to say we can know He abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given to us. John knows that we need the abiding love of God in us to enable us to love others well. Read Romans 5:8, John 14:17, and Galatians 5:22-23. The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of the believer. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I don't know about you, but I would love to have more and more of these qualities in my life! As I abide in Christ, by leaning on the Holy Spirit to help me obey His commands, then the Holy Spirit grows this fruit in me! How does this lead you to pray?