1 JOHN LESSON 4


     We will begin in I John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

     The Love of God for the people of the world is hard to
understand. Behold, means stop and notice. The love the Father
"bestowed" tells us that we did not earn that love, it was a free gift
from God. God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son,
that we might be saved. Jesus paid the price of adoption for us to be
adopted children of the Father. Jesus is the only begotten Son. We are
sons by adoption. We have been bought and paid for by the precious
blood of Jesus. We have been presented to the Father by the Son. The
world does not know God. It did not know the Son. It does not
recognize us as adopted sons, either.

     I John 3:2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear,
we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

     This is speaking of the beloved of God. In the 15th chapter of
1 Corinthians, it speaks of our spiritual body that comes forth from
this physical body. We know that God is a Spirit. We, also, know that
Jesus is the Quickening Spirit. We will be like Him, in the fact that
we will no longer be flesh and blood, but will have a spiritual body.
This, also, speaks of a great knowledge of God that will come upon us
when we leave this physical body and go to heaven in our spiritual
body. Jesus is the Son of God, and we will be sons of God. These are
things of God that we do know. There are many things that will not be
revealed unto us, until we are in heaven with Him. The eyes of our
understanding will no longer be darkened. We shall have our eyes of
understanding opened, and know, and understand Him.  I Corinthians 2:9
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for
them that love him."

     I John 3:3 "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth
himself, even as he is pure."

     The hope, spoken of here, is the hope of the resurrection. The
Christian should not put too much value on this world, but on the
world to come. Christians should endeavor to be more Christ-like every
day. Notice, it is in the will of man to purify himself. If our Leader
{Jesus} is pure, then we must attempt to be pure, also.

     I John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law."

     This does not specifically mean the old Mosaic law. This is that
law that God has placed in the heart of the believer. Anything we do
in disobedience to God, is sin. The law of God for the Christian is to
love God with everything within us, and to love our neighbor as
ourself. If we do that, we will be pleasing God. To live in sin, is to
turn away from God.

     I John 3:5 "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our
sins; and in him is no sin."

     Jesus was completely without sin. He had never sinned. His body
had no broken bones. He was the Lamb without blemish. He took our sin
upon His sinless body. Our sin died on the cross. Our sins are not
covered, they are done away with by the blood of Jesus. He gave us His
righteousness.

     I John 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever
sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."

     "Abideth" means to continually live. If we are hidden in Christ,
we do not sin. The desire to sin is taken away from us, if we are in
Him and Him in us. The following Scripture shows us how it is possible
for us to live this life. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me."  Christ would no longer live
in me, if I walk back into a sinful way of life. We are not in Him and
Him in us, if we desire to live in sin.

     I John 3:7 "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that
doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."

     This is just saying, to walk in the righteousness He has provided
for us daily.

     I John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil
sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

     Committeth means continues to commit. Jesus defeated sin, and the
devil, on the cross. Christians, who have put their faith in Jesus,
are no longer to serve sin. Sin is not our master, neither is the
devil controlling us. We have been bought and paid for by the blood of
Jesus. We are servant of the Lord Jesus and His righteousness. Those
who desire to continue in sin, do not belong to God, they belong to
the devil.

     I John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his
seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

     This does not mean that it is impossible for you to commit a sin.
It means it is not your nature to sin, when you have been born again
in the spirit. When Christ takes up His dwelling place within you, the
desire to sin is gone. This is speaking of the new birth, when we bury
the flesh man and raise the spirit man in Christ.

     I John 3:10 " In this the children of God are manifest, and the
children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of
God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

     The walk we take through life, reveals to the world whether we
belong to the devil, or to God. God created everyone of us, and His
desire was that we would all be His. He gave us a free will, however,
and some chose to follow the devil, instead of God. The fruit we bear
reveals who we are. People who habitually sin are of the devil. Those
who choose not to sin are of God. This does not mean that a Christian
might not commit a single sin, it means that is not their way of life.

     I John 3:11 "For this is the message that ye heard from the
beginning, that we should love one another."

     It is one of the 2 things Jesus said covered all the law and
prophets, to love others. Love of God and love of neighbors covers it
all. We may not like what they are doing, but we must love them.

     I John 3:12 "Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew
his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were
evil, and his brother's righteous."

     The two brothers, Cain and Abel, typify the two conditions of
man.  Abel pleased God, and Cain did not. We see the good and evil in
the first two sons of Adam and Eve. One followed God, and the other
lived for the flesh.





























                          1 John 4 Questions


1.  What are the Christians called in verse 1?
2.  Why does the world know us not?
3.  What does the word "bestowed" show us?
4.  Jesus is the only begotten Son, we are sons by ____________.
5.  When He shall appear, we shall be ________ _______.
6.  We shall see Him as __ __.
7.  What does the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians say about our body?
8.  What are some of the things we do know about death?
9.  Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 9.
10. What is the hope of the Christian?
11. Because we have this hope, what should we do?
12. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth the ______.
13. What law is this speaking of?
14. What is the law for the Christian?
15. Who was the Lamb without blemish?
16. What happened to our sin, if we are Christians?
17. What does "abideth" mean?
18. Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.
19. What name are the Christians called by in verse 7?
20. He that committeth sin is of the _______.
21. Whosoever is born of God doth not _________ ____.
22. How can the general public tell who is of God?
23. What is the message that we heard from the beginning?
24. Which of Adam's sons was evil?
25. What do the two sons of Adam typify?