WHOEVER LOVES HIS BROTHER

1 John 2:1-11

Key Verse: 2:10

"Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble."

1.  Read verses 1-2. To whom and for what purpose is John writing this? (1a) How does Jesus Christ, the Righteous one, defend anybody who sins? (1b) What is Jesus for our sins? (2a)   How far does his atoning sacrifice reach? (2b)

1 John 2:1-2

 ¹ My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 

To whom and for what purpose is John writing this? (1a) 

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My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. John was helping his children not to sin. Some people promote sin in the name of preaching the grace, but that is not true teaching. God’s forgiveness should never be used to encourage others to sin.

How does Jesus Christ, the Righteous one, defend anybody who sins? (1b) 

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Jesus speaks for anyone who sins saying, “I have paid the price of his sin”. Since Jesus is the Rightoeus One (meaning sinless) his payment for our sins is true and complete.

What is Jesus for our sins? (2a)   

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Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. “Atone” means “to make amends”. “The atoning sacrifice” refers to the forgiving or pardoning of  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin" \o "Sin" sin through the death of  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ" \o "Jesus Christ" Jesus Christ by  HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion" \o "Crucifixion" crucifixion. Through his death Jesus brought reconcilation between God and all sinners.

How far does his atoning sacrifice reach? (2b)

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It reaches not only for us but also for the sins of the whole world. So Jesus atoning sacrifice paid the price for all the sins of all men on earth.

2.  Read verses 3-6. How many times is the word “know” repeated? (3,4,5) How can we know Jesus? (3) Who is a liar and why? (4) How is God’s love made complete? (5a) How can we know that we are in Jesus? (5b,6) 

1 John 2:3-6

 ³ We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. ⁴ The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 

How many times is the word “know” repeated? (3,4,5) 

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4 times (twice in verse 3, one in verse 4, one in verse 4)

How can we know Jesus? (3) 

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By obeying his commands. “³ We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.”

Who is a liar and why? (4) 

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^“4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

The man who claims to know God but does not obey his command is a liar because the truth is not in him.

How is God’s love made complete? (5a) 

^“5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.”

Obeying God’s word makes God’s love complete in the man wo obeys God’s word.

How can we know that we are in Jesus? (5b,6) 

“This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 

We know we are in Jesus when we walk as Jesus did.

3. Read verses 7-8. What command does the author write? (7) How was an old command becoming a new command (Jn 13:34, 35)? How can “you” know truth about the new command? (8b)

1 John 2:7-8

 ⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 

What command does the author write? (7) 

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The old command which probably refers to ‘love your God with your whole heart and love your neighbor as yourself.” 

How was an old command becoming a new command (Jn 13:34, 35)? 

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There may be a slight difference between the old command and new command. God’s old command is “to love one’s neighbor as yourself”. The new command is to ‘love one another as I (Jesus) have loved you.” The old command was given for ‘one’s neighbor’. The new command was given for ‘(among) Jesus’ disciples’.

John 13:34-35 ³⁴ "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." 

How can “you” know truth about the new command? (8b)

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⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. 

We can know the truth about the new command because we could see the truth in Jesus and the darkness is passing and the truth light is already shining (through Jesus). By experiencing and knowing Jesus’ love we know the truth about Jesus’ new command.

4. Read verses 9-11. How can anyone claim to be in the light? (9,10) What does it practically mean to live in the light and to live in darkness? (10,11b)

1 John 2:9-11

 ⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. ¹¹ But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. 

How can anyone claim to be in the light? (9,10) 

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He can claim that he is in the light by loving his brother.

What does it practically mean to live in the light and to live in darkness? (10,11b)

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To live in the light means to love one’s brother, and  to live in darkness means to hate his brother. When one hates his brother he does not know where he is going becuase darkness has blinded him. 

The end. 

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