Bible Study 4 - 1 John 3

1 John 3
Initial –

v10 Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

v10 The Message
The one who won’t practise righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love a brother or sister.

v15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

Lets show the truth by our actions v18

The Message
My dear children, lets not talk about love, lets practise real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. Its also the way to shut down debilitating self- criticism. Once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves we’re bold and free before God!

Notes from v4
There is a difference between committing sin and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin or continually choose to commit it. A believer who commits a sin can repent, confess it and find forgiveness. A person who continues to sin by contrast is not sorry for what he or she is doing. Thus this person never confesses and never receives forgiveness. Such a person is in opposition to God, no matter what religious claims he or she makes.

Notes from v 8-9
We all have areas where temptation is strong and habits are hard to conquer. these weaknesses give the devil a foothold so we must deal with our areas of vulnerability if we are struggling with a particular sin however these verses are not directed at us, even if for the time we seem to keep on sinning. John is not talking about people whose victories are still incomplete he is talking about people who make a practise out of sinning and look for ways of justifying it.

Notes on v15 link to Matthew 5v21-22
Christianity is a religion of the heart;
Outward compliance alone is not enough.

Bitterness against someone who has wronged you is an evil cancer within you and will eventually destroy you.
Don’t let a “poisonous root of bitterness” grow in you or your church.

Linked passages;

v12 links with Genesis 4v7
Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and b its master.

v15 links with Matthew 5v21-22
You have heard that our ancestors were told “ You must not murder. If you commit murder you are subject to judgement. But I say, if you are even angry with someone you are subject to judgement. If you call someone an idiot you are in danger of being brought to court. And if you curse someone you are in danger of the fires of hell.

Message paraphrase – Sin is lying in wait for you ready to pounce, its out to get you. You’ve got to master it.

Notes of Matthew 5v21-22
Killing is a terrible sin, but anger is a great sin too because it also violates God’s command to love. Anger in this case refers to seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress and spiritual damage. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God.
Have you ever been proud that you didn’t strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self control is good but Christ wants us to practise thought control as well. Jesus said that we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.