3 John 1

Study Guide 168: 1 John 5; 2, 3 John WALK BY FAITH Overview “ Life” and “ death” are key words in John’ s Gospel as well as in his epistles. They are not, however, just words about our future. They are terms describing the present experience of human beings. A person who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ has experienced a new birth, and has eternal life now. A person without that very personal relationship which is established by faith is spiritually and eternally dead, even while physical life persists. In this last chapter of John’ s pastoral first letter, he wrote about life, eager that believers should know that they have life now. The very brief letters of 2 and 3 John reflect themes seen in all John’ s writings. There are love, obedience, truth, warnings, and notes of joy. How clearly the pastoral concerns of John shine through — giving you and me an example as we too share God’ s living Word.

Commentary “ I can hardly wait to die so I can live.” This rather strange statement actually reflects the attitude of some misinformed Christians, who suppose that eternal life is something we inherit only after death. Such people, who look at their present lives with despair, and think that only eternity holds hope, need to hear John’ s concluding thoughts. “ God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life” (1 John 5:11-12, italics mine). Eternal life is ours, and we are to enjoy it now.

Faith: 1 John 5:1-12The core meaning of “ faith” (pistis in Greek) is a personal relationship established by trust and trustworthiness. For a Christian to say, “ I believe in Jesus,” is not so much a statement affirming certain beliefs about Jesus as it is an affirmation of trust. It is a confession that the Person, Jesus Christ, about whom I learn in the Bible, has become more than a historical figure to me. I have recognized Him as a real and living Person, and I have not drawn back in fear. Instead, I have confidently placed all I am and all I hope to be in His hands. Faith is abandoning ourselves and our efforts and resting in Jesus’ promise of forgiveness and transformation. John’ s special emphasis within this core of meaning is this: Jesus’ claim to be true and trustworthy has been authenticated by God. Only faith will receive the testimony about Jesus. John wants us to know that faith brings life. As we respond in faith to Jesus, we become one of a great company who have eternal life, now. Faith’ s focus (1 John 5:1-5). John makes it clear that new birth, through which we receive life from God, comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This first verse says literally, “ Everyone believing ‘ Jesus is the Christ’ is born of God.” John went on to point out that believing is a trust response and that there can be no relationship with God except through Jesus. Faith’ s initial act of trust ushers us into a new world in which we love God and demonstrate that love by obedience. The presence of eternal life now means that we will be able to overcome problems that trouble us. We will be strengthened by the eternal life that has taken root within our personalities. The things that are impossible for us today will become possible tomorrow. Faith’ s testimony (1 John 5:6-12). The meaning of 1 John 5:6 is obscure, and is the subject of much debate. The verse identifies Jesus as “ the One who came by water and blood” — not by water only. Did John mean “ came into the world” ? Or “ came into our lives” ? Or perhaps he simply meant “ presented Himself to us.” Does the water speak of the bag of waters in the mother, that breaks just before the child is born? If so, John referred here to the Incarnation, and affirmed the fact that Jesus, God’ s Son, entered the world as a Human Being to live in space and time and history. His presence was verified by men, and recorded for all generations to come. Or does the water refer to Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan River, the initiation of His public ministry? Does the blood refer to the sacrificial death through which Jesus freed us? Certainly this is the central New Testament usage of the term. Or did John use both terms in a very specific way, to echo what he wrote in his Gospel — that on Golgotha “ one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water” ? (John 19:34) Whatever John may have in mind for the first two sources of testimony, he added a third that is very clear. God the Holy Spirit gives a testimony to each believer that is in harmony with the other two. History tells us of Jesus’ birth as a Man. Scripture records His death and resurrection and explains the meaning of those events. As we hear the Gospel story, God’ s own Holy Spirit confirms its truth within us. These three witnesses provide a unified testimony to Jesus that we can accept, for God’ s testimony is sure. When we hear and believe, we know; God the Spirit confirms the truth within our hearts (1 John 5:10). What of those who hear the Gospel promise of life and prefer to seek God in someone or something other than Jesus? John’ s answer was clear and unequivocal. Such a person has made God out “ to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about His Son” (1 John 5:10). Since eternal life is only in the Son, “ He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). The claim that Jesus is the only way to God angered the people of the first century. They wanted to search for God in their own ways. They wanted their philosophies, their gods and goddesses who embodied human passions and reflected the image of man. Today too people demand the right to do their own thing in morals and religion. They reject the idea of an absolute. But John was not concerned with what people want to believe about God. John was concerned with reality. The fact is that God has spoken. He has said that only in Jesus can life be found. You or I may reject what He says, but our rejection will not change reality. It’ s important for us to grasp the implications of the unchangeable nature of God’ s Word. Conferences and councils may meet and announce changes in doctrine and practice. Those who claim to represent the church may announce that homosexuality is now acceptable, but that will not change the fact that God condemns that lifestyle. Some who claim to represent the church can announce that as we evangelize, we must respect the good in other religions, and never suggest that their traditional faith might not lead to God. But God says that life can be found only in Jesus. Today, as in John’ s day, we need to communicate to a hopeless world not the acceptable illusion people desire, but the reality they need. Jesus, God’ s Son, is the promise of victory — and the only way to God. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Write 1 John 5:12 on the chalkboard: “ He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” Divide into teams of four or five. Each team is to come up with at least 10 questions that this verse might answer. For instance, “ Are the heathen really lost?” “ Can I know I’ m saved?” Then call the group together, list the questions on the board, and discuss: “ Which of these is most important to you, personally? Why?” This activity can be very important for any who are unsure of their salvation. If we have believed God’ s testimony about Jesus (1 John 5:9-11), then on the basis of God’ s own Word we can know that we have eternal life.

Concluding Remarks: 1 John 5:13-21John’ s concluding remarks summarize and apply his teaching. John helps us to realize how great a gift we have received in Jesus, and in each other. Prayer (1 John 5:13-15). Our whole attitude toward prayer is changed when we know we possess eternal life now. We are not probationers, waiting uncertainly just outside the door until death ushers into life. No, John wrote so that we who believe “ may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). How does such knowledge affect our prayers? John explained that it gives us “ assurance . . . in approaching God” (1 John 5:14). Will God accept us? Have our failures made Him angry? Will God turn His back on us because of some inner attitudes that lurk, still unchanged, in our personalities? Or will He ignore us because of some habits we are not yet able to break? Such fears keep us from praying with confidence. But John’ s letter has quieted these fears. There have been failures, but the blood of Christ cleanses. Sin, confessed, forgiven, and forgotten is no barrier to fellowship with God. Is an inner attitude still warped? Are aspects of my lifestyle still unchanged? John told us we have eternal life through faith in Jesus. We will see His life in us overcome our shortcomings. With such concerns laid to rest, what should be our major prayer concern? Only that what we ask — what we desire — be what God wants too. Whatever we ask that fits His will, we can be sure we will have. The word for God’ s will here is thelema. It does not usually refer to God’ s decree or unalterable plan, but what God desires to happen. We might say that praying in God’ s will means harmonizing our wishes and desires with God’ s. How is such a harmony possible? First, God reveals His values, attitudes, plans, purposes, and intentions to us. We know, for instance, that the pride of possessions that motivates people of the world is rejected by God. He values persons, not things. It follows then that a request to God expressing a prideful desire for possessions is not according to His will. We can expect such a request to be refused. But we can expect a request that is in harmony with God’ s own deep concern for persons to be heard and granted. So understanding and adopting God’ s values helps us pray in His will. It is also possible for us to pray according to God’ s will because the Holy Spirit lives within us. His voice is heard by believers. He can lead us to desire and pray for those things God wants for us. It’ s important to realize that John is not stating a “ condition” we must meet before we can expect God to answer prayer. Just the opposite! With our relationship to God established in Christ, we can approach God with confidence. As God the Spirit works within us, our prayers will more and more harmonize with God’ s will. We can look forward to answered prayer as a daily experience in our Christian lives. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT In a minilecture stress the confidence we can have in our relationship with God, and the expression of that confidence in God. Then help your group members sense this reality by alternate images. That is, ask your members to suggest alternate images that contrast with a negative image that misunderstands the promise about praying in God’ s will. For instance: “ Prayer in God’ s will isn’ t an obstacle course we have to run, but….” Have each group member complete the sentence with another image that contradicts the “ condition” image suggested by the obstacle course. Other starter images might include: “ Prayer in God’ s will isn’ t: A race you have to run without knocking over any hurdles, but. . . . A mountain you have to climb to get God to listen, but. . . . A price you have to pay to buy God’ s interest, but. . . .” After doing a few of these together, let your group members come up with both alternate images, the is not and the is. Sin in the fellowship (1 John 5:16-17). When we acknowledge our sins to God, He forgives and cleanses us. But what if we see a fellow Christian slip? John encouraged us to pray for the brother or sister. God will answer our prayers, and bring our brother back. John does note, however, that there “ is a sin that leads to death” (1 John 5:16). Was John teaching that those who have eternal life can lose it? In the Bible, “ death” has several meanings. Biological death comes to all the living. Spiritual death, the legacy of sin, grips each of us until its hold is broken by Christ. And there is the realm of death, which is that experience of alienation from God, of captivity to the world’ s ways, from which the believer is rescued. John tended to overlook biological death. To him, the glorious present possession of eternal life was so vital and real that the moment of transfer from this world to the world beyond was hardly of concern. Yet even for the believer, sin can lead us back to experience death. What sin? Sin denied or unconfessed. Sin justified by excuse and argument. Sin not brought under the covering of Jesus’ blood because we choose to turn from the light to wander in darkness. What John seemed to be saying here is that there is sin that opens directly into this realm of death. Not every sin catapults us into the world of illusion from which we have been delivered, but some do. If we see a brother or sister whose angry spirit leads him to strike out at others, or whose desires are still captivated at times by greed, we are to pray for him. Such wrong-doing is sin, but it does not necessarily blind our brother to the light. But some sins are so dark that choosing them returns a person to the deepest darkness of this world. What are these sins? John didn’ t say. What he did say is that the one born of God will not continue to sin. The life of God within will struggle against sin and bring the believer again to the light. The whole world may be under the control of the evil one, but the one who has new life from God is kept safe: “ the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18). While John did not define the sin that leads directly to the realms of death, it is possible to speculate. All the later New Testament letters are concerned with heresy, with false teaching about doctrine, and lifestyle. John himself said that false teachers wormed their way into the fellowship of the church, but later “ went out from us, but they did not really belong to us” (1 John 2:19). It seems likely that the sin of which John was speaking is that of apostasy: of turning away from both Christian truth and Christian lifestyle. Wait, John was saying. If you see a brother turn away from Christ, pray. And if the person has been born of God, he will not continue in his sin. God will protect him from Satan’ s grasp, and bring him back. But if he continues, departure indicates he is a false brother, cease your prayers. Let him settle down in the world of death and darkness, which is his home and his destiny. How delicately John put it all. For you and me, there is no question about our personal relationship with Christ. We each know our own hearts; we receive God’ s testimony and his assurance of eternal life. But we do not judge another who claims to be a brother. We pray when we see one brother troubled by sin’ s remaining taint. And, if another turns dramatically away from Christ, we wait. If he is one of God’ s own, he will be kept safe, and will return. About others — we withhold judgment. About ourselves — ah, about ourselves we can be sure!

2, 3 John These two brief letters to individuals show how completely the themes seen in John’ s first letter dominate his later thinking. Joy is found by walking in the truth. We are called and commanded to “ walk in love” (2 John 1:6). As we continue in the teaching of Christ, we are protected from deceivers, who snap and tear at Christ’ s body on earth. While each of the letters might be studied in its own right, the letters can also be looked at as a summation of John’ s thoughts. It is this way that you can best use these two pastoral notes to sum up the major teachings of the apostle of love. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Divide into teams of five. Assign half the teams 2 John and the other half 3 John to study. Each team is to first underline words that reflect common themes in John’ s writings. In 2 John these are: love, truth, joy, obedience, and deceiver antichrist. In 3 John these are: love, truth, joy. After each team has identified theme words, members are to (1) develop a definition of the term, and (2) to illustrate its significance for Christian life and experience from their letter and 1 John. You may wish to make a concordance available for each team. Come together after 20 minutes or so and share discoveries.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read through 1 John to review the significance of the key words: truth, love, joy, obedience, and deceiver antichrist.

Explore Begin by dividing into teams, half of which are to look at 2 John and half at 3 John. Finding key words used by John, defining them, and showing their importance by reference to 1 John will launch your study with a good review. See “ link-to-life” above.

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1. If those in your group lack assurance of salvation, focus on 1 John 5:12. By listing questions which this powerful verse answers, you can help each develop confidence in God and the Gospel’ s promise. See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Or focus on the need of your group for greater confidence in prayer. 1 John 5:14 has confused many with its call to pray “ according to God’ s will.” Give a minilecture to help group members understand that this is a promise rather than a condition for answered prayer. Then work together to develop contrasting images that will emphasize God’ s eagerness to hear us and the assurance we can have in bringing all our needs to Him.

Apply Express your own joy in personal progress you have seen in the lives of those you teach (see 3 John 1:4). Let your group members know you love them, even as John loved those to whom he ministered in the first century.