1. 1 John Challenges and Assurances PrayerSongsOffering Bible study Lord’s Supper AnnouncementsPrayer

2. 1 John Challenges and Assurances Upcoming May 19 1 John: Assurances May 26 Shane Torno June 2 1 John: Challenges June 9 & 16 Guest speakers June 23 Getting acquainted with Jesus: the four gospels June 30 Matthew July 7 Mark July 14 Guest speaker July 21 Luke July 28John

3. 1 John Challenges and Assurances Challenges: the verbs

4. 1 John Challenges and Assurances Assurances:Webster: being certain in the mind… confidence of mind or manner: easy freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty;

5. 1 John Challenges and Assurances Assurances: the noun “know” (42) the phrase “hereby we know” (10)

6. 1 John Assurances “Hereby we know”  Is possible to know spiritual truth  Is possible to have confidence about relationship with God  The basis of that knowledge is objective, never subjective

7. 1 John Assurances By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. Under law to Christ, 1 Cor. 9:21 Matters if we have God’s approval, 2 Jo 9-11

8. 1 John Assurances By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 2:5b-6 By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. Definition of a Christian WWJD Spend more time in Gospels

9. 1 John Assurances Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. Who/what is the antiChrist?

10. 1 John Assurances Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

11. 1 John Assurances Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

12. 1 John Assurances By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error 4:6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error Rejection of Jesus (Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses) an eternally serious mistake John 8:24

13. 1 John Assurances 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. “love” a key word in 1 Jo (43 times) Defined in 1 Jo. 3:16

14. 1 John Assurances We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 3:19-20 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Self-condemnation not always correct God knows us better than we know ourselves

15. 1 John Assurances The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 3:24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. Our relationship with the Holy Spirit assures us of a relationship with the Father also

16. 1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us