1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2009 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2009

2. Dear User … This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. PLEASE USE AS IS. John’s Epistles An Appeal

3. Ekkehardt Mueller Principal Contributor

4. John’s Epistles Contents 1. Jesus and the Johannine Letters 2. Experiencing the Word of Life 3. Walking in the Light: Turning Away From Sin 4. Walking in the Light: Keeping His Commandments 5. Walking in the Light: Renouncing Worldliness 6. Walking in the Light: Rejecting Antichrists 7. Living as Children of God 8. Loving Brothers and Sisters 9. Believing in the Son of God 10. Confidence 11. Important Themes in 1 John 12. John’s Letter to the Chosen Lady 13. Power Struggle INTRODUCTION FIRST EPISTLE SECOND EPISTLE THIRD EPISTLE

5. John’s Epistles Our Goal {5} The three epistles of John speak to issues relevant for the church today. We would do well to listen to them, because ultimately, it is God who is speaking to us through John’s words, the God who has revealed to us truths about a greater and firmer foundation upon which we can rest: our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

6. John’s Epistles Lesson 2, July 11 John’s Epistles Lesson 2, July 11

7. Experiencing the Word of Life Key Text 1 John 1:3 NIV “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

8. Experiencing the Word of Life Initial Words {20, 22} John introduces his first letter by claiming that he belongs to the circle of eyewitnesses, who, having seen and personally experienced Jesus, are able to share this life-transforming information with others. John’s personal experience of joy is contagious. He opens our eyes to the possibilities of experiencing complete joy today.

9. Experiencing the Word of Life Quick Look 1. Christ Is God (1 John 1:1) 2. Christ Is God in Human Flesh (1 John 1:2) 3. Christ We Have Seen (John 1:14)

10. Experiencing the Word of Life 1. Christ Is God 1 John 1:1 NLT “The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life.”

11. 1.Christ Is God First Letter’s Introduction {21} In verses 1 and 3, John makes seven statements: (1) What was from the beginning, (2) what we have heard, (3) what we have seen, (4) what we have looked at, (5) what we have touched, (6) what we have seen, and (7) what we have heard. Then he ends: “We proclaim to you … so that you also may have fellowship” (vs 3 NIV).

12. 1.Christ Is God First Letter’s Introduction {21} John wants us to know, for ourselves, the reality of God that he himself had experienced through Jesus. He wants us to know, for ourselves, the eternal life, the fellowship, and the joy that we can have through Jesus, the same Jesus he himself had heard, seen, and touched.

13. Experiencing the Word of Life 2. Christ Is God in Human Flesh 1 John 1:2 NLT “This one who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and announce to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was shown to us.”

14. 2. Christ Is God in Human Flesh The Word of Life {23} John’s Gospel strongly stresses Jesus as God and Jesus as Creator. Although the full title “his Son, Jesus Christ” (NIV) in 1 John 1:3 points to both Jesus’ humanity and His divinity, the term God is not directly applied to Jesus in the introduction to 1 John as it is in the introduction to John’s Gospel.

15. 2. Christ Is God in Human Flesh The Word of Life {25} First John 1:1 mentions the “Word of life.” The term word also is found in John 1:1-3 and refers specifically to Jesus. Because in the Johannine literature the term word may in certain context designate Jesus, in 1 John 1:1 it most likely stands for Jesus, as well. The same is true for the term life.

16. John 1:14 NLT “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. Experiencing the Word of Life 3. Christ We Have Seen

17. Eyewitnesses {27} Today we cannot be direct eyewitnesses to the events of Jesus’ life. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t be eyewitnesses to the reality of Christ and what He has done for us. Our own personal story can be a more powerful witness to the reality and goodness of God than can the historical events depicted in the Bible.

18. 3. Christ We Have Seen Fellowship of the Saints {29} Someone has stated that God has no grandchildren, only children. A Christian experience is not a hereditary experience. We need to make a decision, in our own hearts, to give ourselves to Jesus.

19. 3. Christ We Have Seen Fellowship of the Saints {29} John adds another dimension to what it means to be a Christian. John invites us to accept his testimony about Jesus and thereby experience fellowship with Jesus and other Christians. The proclamation of Jesus is community building.

20. Final Words The Acts of the Apostles 554 {31} “John who has personally known Christ, desires to share his knowledge with his readers in order that they may enjoy the same fellowship he is already enjoying with the Father and the Son. In the course of expressing this loving desire, he asserts the divinity, the eternity, and the incarnation—and complete humanity— of the Son.”