LeFebvre / Ortlund 1-3 John

A 12-Week Study
1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4335-5492-6
Verlag: Crossway
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 96 Seiten

Reihe: Knowing the Bible

The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God's Word. These 12-week studies lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) reflection questions help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) 'Gospel Glimpses' highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) 'Whole-Bible Connections' show how any given passage connects to the Bible's overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) 'Theological Soundings' identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God's grace on every page of the Bible. The books of 1-3 John are full of practical wisdom for the Christian life. John wanted his readers to understand that as they grew in their understanding of their identity as children of God, they ought to grow in love for one another and in obedience to God's commands. Over the course of 12 weeks, this study helps us see what it looks like to truly love and follow Jesus in a world that 'is passing away along with its desires'-a transformed life that comes through knowing the love of God in Jesus Christ. Part of the Knowing the Bible series.

Michael LeFebvre (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is an ordained Presbyterian minister and an Old Testament scholar. He is also a fellow with the Center for Pastor Theologians. Michael and his wife, Heather, have five children and live in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lefebvre, Michael

Ortlund, Dane

Leseproben

Week 2: This Is the Message

1 John 1:1–2:11

The Place of the Passage

First John opens with an introduction to the writer’s authority (1:1–4), his message (1:5–10), and his reason for writing (2:1–14). John’s authority to declare the message of Jesus is grounded in his own in-person fellowship with the Lord. With vivid imagery, John leads us to reimagine our own church1 assemblies as participating in those gatherings of Jesus with his apostles. The message of John’s letter is that which he heard from Jesus in those gatherings. Jesus taught the holiness of God and the cleansing that he himself provides for our communion with the Lord. It is John’s reason for writing that constitutes the longest part of this introduction. He writes to press Christians with the implications of that message from Jesus, namely, to cease from sin and to love one another.

The Big Picture

Jesus forgives sinners so that they can cease from sin and grow in love.

Reflection and Discussion

This passage is divided into three sections below. Skim the whole passage quickly and then read each section slowly before interacting with the questions under each heading. (Further insight is available in the notes on pages 2430–2431 of the ESV Study Bible, also available at esv.org.)

1. John’s Authority: Being with Jesus (1:1–4)

John is an encourager. He writes in a manner that stirs our imagination as he speaks about Jesus. List below the different physical senses John evokes as he recalls the disciples’ in-person experiences of Christ.

John twice uses the term “fellowship” to describe our relationships with Christ, with the Father through Christ, and with one another in his church. How does John’s description challenge us to refresh our vision of the church’s gatherings?

Compare the beginning of John’s epistle with the beginning of his Gospel (John 1:1–18). List parallels that you note.

2. John’s Message: Retelling the Gospel (1:5–10)

John exposes three incorrect methods that some use in trying to qualify for fellowship with God. What are these three false bases for fellowship with God that John rejects (see the three “if we say” statements in vv. 6, 8, and 10)?

In between these three false claims, John weaves two marks of those who are accepted by God. What are these marks of genuine fellowship with God (see the “if we walk” and “if we confess” phrases in vv. 7 and 9)?

Both marks of those in God’s fellowship end with the same glorious promise. What is this promise for those who “walk” and “confess” in the way John describes (vv. 7b and 9b)? How does this promise enable our fellowship with the God of “light,” in whom there is “no darkness” (v. 5)?

3. John’s Purpose: Renewing Fellowship (2:1–11)

Next, the apostle presents two purpose statements for his letter, each introduced with a word of address: “My little children, I am writing . . .” (vv. 1–6) and “Beloved, I am writing . . .” (vv. 7–11). In your own words, summarize the first purpose John gives for writing this letter (vv. 1–6).

John’s first purpose statement addresses sin and forgiveness, but his second purpose statement (vv. 7–11) concerns love. In addition to renewed communion with God, with whom else is our fellowship restored by the gospel?

John compares the “old commandment” to love with the “new commandment” he heard from Jesus. Compare the Old Testament love commandment in Leviticus 19:18 with the new commandment from Jesus in John 13:34. What remains the same, and what is different?

Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to consider the Personal Implications these sections may have for you.

Gospel Glimpses

PROPITIATION. John identifies Jesus as both our “advocate with the Father” (2:1) and the “propitiation for our sins” (2:2). The title “advocate” points to the role Jesus undertakes to intercede on our behalf before the court of heaven. The title “propitiation” points to his becoming, by his sacrifice on the cross, the payment required to satisfy the damages caused by our sins and to quench the just wrath of God aroused by those sins. The word “propitiation” comes from the Latin word for “favor” (compare the English word “propitious”). Our sins justly deserve God’s wrath, but Jesus’ sacrifice provided the payment to satisfy heaven’s justice. With God’s wrath satisfied, the sacrifice of Jesus is said to “propitiate” or restore favor with God.

HOLINESS. Christians sometimes focus on the joy of forgiveness and neglect the other side of the gospel: renewal in holiness.2 John reminds us that the marvel of the gospel is that Jesus both forgives our sins and leads us into new holiness. He writes that the sum of God’s holy commands is love (2:7–11; compare Matt. 22:37–40; Gal. 5:14). To be restored to holiness is to be renewed to a life of love for God and for one another. Sin breaks relationships. The gospel cleanses us from sin and renews us in holy love.

Whole-Bible Connections

IN THE BEGINNING. John is a serious student of the book of Genesis. He repeatedly references Genesis as he draws lessons and doctrines “from the beginning” (1 John 1:1; 2:7, 13, 14, 24; 3:8, 11; 2 John 5, 6; see also John 1:1, 2; 8:44; Rev. 3:14; 21:6; 22:13). Genesis 1:1 starts, “In the beginning,” and uses the same term (arche) in the Septuagint (LXX; the Greek translation of the Old Testament) that John uses in his references to that verse. In this week’s passage, John tells us that the man Jesus is more than a mere man. He is one and the same with “the word of life” (1 John 1:1; compare John 1:1) who brought the world into existence. John further points to Genesis when he identifies the love commandment as a commandment that we have had “from the beginning” (1 John 2:7); when he refers to the lesson of Cain and Abel (3:11–12; compare Gen. 4:1–16); and when he mentions the “devil” as the serpent who introduced sin “from the beginning” (1 John 3:8; compare John 8:44; Rev. 12:9; 20:2).

WRITING APOSTLES. The ministry of the apostles was primarily a work of in-person preaching, shepherding, and church planting. Through live proclamation, the apostles related the events and teachings of Jesus over and over. But as they approached the end of their lives, it was important to ensure that their testimony to the works of Jesus would continue. Whatever writing the apostles may have done early in their ministries, there are also references throughout the New Testament to the special urgency to write things down toward the end of their lives. Peter expresses this motivation for his writing (2 Pet. 1:12–15). John tells us that he and other apostles are doing the same (1 John 1:3–4).

Theological Soundings

FELLOWSHIP. John tends to use descriptive terms in his epistles in order to evoke richer experiences of the things he describes. One example of this is his word choice for describing the church in 1:3–4, 6–7. John describes the church as the assembly of those who hear and believe the testimony of the apostles. He uses the term “fellowship” (four times!) to describe these assemblies rather than the normal term “church.” The Greek word is koinonia, and it refers to more than casual friendship. The Greek term indicates a partnership in which each member takes a stake in the success of the whole. (The J. R. R. Tolkien novel The Fellowship of the Ring is a good illustration of this concept of a “fellowship.”) John uses this term to describe the nature of the church as a society whose members have mutual duties to one another.

SIN. When facing a court deposition, as an inquiring attorney is seeking evidence to condemn, it is natural for a defendant to hide as much as possible. But when talking with a doctor, whose inquiries are made in order to heal, a patient wants to bring every possible symptom and test result into the light. Similarly, John teaches us not to be afraid to acknowledge and confess our sins. Repentance3 and the resulting forgiveness are beautifully expressed in 1 John. Furthermore, John teaches us something fascinating about...