Dig Deeper:
YOUR BRAIN IS CONNECTED TO YOUR HEART, LEGS & ARMS: People love Bible studies and sermons that have lots of practical application, but John tells us today that everything we learn about Jesus is practical. The more we truly know Him, the more we will keep His commands (v3). In fact, our knowledge of God isn't really complete until our actions correspond to our knowledge in obedience to Him (v5).
MEMORY VERSE:
Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did (v6).
SING IT AGAIN, JOHN: Once again we get what appears to be an early church hymn worked into the text in v12-14. Notice how the two parts (v12-13 / 14) seem repetitive, but the second part slightly builds on the first. First is says young men have overcome evil (v13), but in the second part is says that it's because the Word of God lives in you that you have overcome evil (v14). Once again we see how important daily Bible reading is - absorbing the Word of God helps you overcome evil. Or in other words, growing your knowledge of God's Word helps you keep His commands!
The Christians John wrote this letter to were in danger of being led away from Christ by people who were against Christ - literally: antichrists (v18). At the end of the chapter, John doubles down on what we began with: if the knowledge of God you get from reading His Word remains in you, you will remain in Him (v27).
MEMORY VERSE #2:
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (v17).
TIME FLIES: John wrote "this is the last hour (v18)" 2,000 years ago. So was it not the last hour when he wrote that, or has this just been one really long hour? No, John wasn't wrong, and yes, in some senses these last two millennia have been the last hour. Time still ticks by minute by minute, day by day, year by year, but ever since Jesus rose victoriously from the grave we've been living in the last hour, ready for Jesus to return at any moment.
MEMORY VERSE #3:
And this is what He promised us - eternal life (v25)
Follow the AAA Prayer Pattern:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: God, who is from the beginning (v13, 14)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God will help keep what you have heard from the beginning remain in you (v24)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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