1. I John
Lesson 4

2. Evidence of True Salvation
1:7 We have fellowship with the brethren
1:7 We walk in the Light
1:8-9 We struggle with sin, but confess
2:5 Keep His commands
2:6 Walk like Jesus
2:10 Love the brethren
2:10 Abide in the Light

3. I John 2:12-14 3 Levels of spiritual maturity:
Little children: Sins forgiven, KNOW God is their Father
Young men: Strong, God’s Word abides in them, and they have overcome the evil one
Fathers: KNOW Him who has been from the beginning

4. Maturity in Christ
New believers know they are part of God’s family and their sins are washed away!
More mature know God’s Word and that it abides in them, which makes them strong and able to overcome the evil one.
Mature in the faith know HIM, the One from the beginning, by the experiences of their Christian lives with Him.
Growth in Christ is a natural result of abiding

5. I John 2:15-17
Believers are NOT to love the world or the things in it 2:15
IF a person does, God’s love is not in him
The things of the world are NOT from Him vs. 16
James 1:17 EVERY good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning. (KJV)

6. Word Studies Lust/desires of the flesh/eyes, pride of life
Lust: epithumia – desire, eagerness for, inordinate desire. Polluted desires, fixed on sensual objects as pleasure, profits, honors
Flesh: sarkos/sarx – body, human nature, materiality, “carnal”, merely of human origin or empowerment. Sinful passions whether physical or moral.

7. Word Studies
Flesh: referring to making decisions according to self – done apart from faith, independent of God’s in working. Thus, by definition displeasing to the Lord. Relates to unaided human effort – empowered by self and proceeds out of the untouched part of us; what is NOT transformed by God. (Phil. 3)
Boastful pride: Boasting about what one IS NOT or DOES NOT possess. Showing off to fellow mortals. The luxury of life for the purpose of showing off, whether in dress, house furniture, etc. Also used of a “quack” boasting about having cures for illnesses.

8. I John 2:16
Strong desires of the flesh: Probably those which originate within a person
Strong desires of the eyes: Probably those which originate from without by sight
Boasting and pride about the substance of one’s life and or possessions.
The world and its desires are passing away but the one who DOES God’s will abides forever.

9. “The World” 2:15-17 Don’t love the things in it: NOT from God
3:1,13 Doesn’t know God nor those who belong to Him; and it hates believers
3:17 Speaks of having possessions of the world and not sharing if another has need
4:1-5 False prophets, spirit of antichrist ARE in the world and the world listens to them

10. “The World”
4:4 Believers overcome false prophets/antichrists by the indwelling Holy Spirit who is greater than the spirit in the world
4:9,17 God sent Jesus into the world so those who believe can have eternal life. God IS love
5:4-5, 19 Those born of God, Christians, overcome the world by faith. But the world lies in the power of the evil one

11. Cross References Mark 4:1-20 The Parable of the Sower
Worries/cares/deceitfulness of riches choke the Word of God out of a person’s life. IF that happens, they were never saved.
Mark 8:35-37 It profits nothing for a person to gain the world but lose his soul
Rom. 13:14 Make no provision for the flesh or its desires BUT put on Christ as prevention

12. Cross References
Gal. 5:16-26 Walk by the Spirit – as a habit of life – and you won’t gratify the flesh’s desires
The deeds of the flesh are evident and those who PRACTICE such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Eph. 2:1-3 ALL believers formerly lived in the lusts/passions of the world. But they CANNOT walk like that now and be true believers

13. Cross References James 4:4 Friend of the world = enemy of God
John 15:18-16:1, 33; 17:1-26 The world hates believers because it hates Jesus.
We still live in the world and will have tribulation in it.
Jesus overcame the world; so can we
Jesus prayed for our protection, but not our removal: take courage. He has overcome

14. Antichrist
Antichrist: One who opposes Christ or puts himself in place of Christ, or denies the existence of the true God. John is the only writer of the NT that uses it, especially of those at work in false teachers who have come from the bosom of the church and are engaged in disseminating error.
2:22 Deny Jesus is the Christ and deny the Father and the Son
4:2-3 Deny Jesus has come in the flesh and do not confess Jesus
4:5 Speak as from the world: world listens to them
2 John 7 Deceivers = antichrists

15. Anointing
Anointing: chrisma – referring to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, guiding the receptive believer into fullness of God’s preferred will. This anointing functions through faith: God inwardly persuading the believer of His preferences (OT ceremony for priests)
2:20 ALL believers have IT
2:27 HE teaches them all things as HE abides in them. Truth and not a lie.

16. Application What level of spiritual maturity do YOU/I fit into?
What is my walk? What do I practice as my habit of life?
Do I love my brethren, or do I love the things of this world?
Love: Agapao – prize it above all else, unwilling to abandon it or do without it. It is used BY God of the love of men toward HIM and vice versa. Same love with which God regards Christ and the giving up of Him for mankind; the love of Christians toward one another