John teaches that love for the brothers must include a cheerful willingness to sacrificially meet their needs. He also warns them against sinful, faithless anger like Cain’s.
These are only preliminary, unedited outlines and may differ from Andy’s final message.
I. Main Questions:
1. Why is love for other Christians such strong evidence of someone being a Christian?
2. What practical instructions does this section give for loving other Christians?
3. How does sacrificial giving relate to Christian love?
4. What does this section teach about Christian assurance?
II. Verse by Verse Questions:
verses 11-15: Love vs. Hate; Cain vs. Jesus
1. Why does John keep talking about “the message you have heard from the beginning?” (see also 1 Jn. 1:1, 1:5, 2:7, 2:24). What does this show about the need for repetition and going back to the basics in Christian instruction?
2. What is the topic of verse 11? Why is love for other Christians such a vital part of the Christian life?
3. How does John use the example of Cain in this passage? How is Cain an example of a non-Christian, an unbeliever in Christ?
4. What does it mean that Cain “belonged to the Evil One?” Does every non-Christian belong to the devil?
5. Why did Cain murder his brother? What makes an unbeliever hate believers? How does it relate to what Jesus said:
John 7:7 [The world] hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.
6. Why was Cain jealous of his brother Abel?
7. Why should we expect the world to hate us?
8. What does it mean to “pass from death to life?” How does love for Christians prove that this has happened to us?
9. How is a life of hatred for others a life of spiritual death?
10. What do you think of John’s statement, “Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer?” Obviously most people don’t actually kill anyone. How do you understand this statement? How does it relate to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount?
Matthew 5:21-22 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca, ‘is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
11. Why does no murderer have eternal life in him? Didn’t Moses and David both commit murder? How do we understand this verse?
verses 16-24: Jesus’ Example of Self-sacrificial Love
12. How is Jesus’ death on the cross a perfect display of love?
13. How does it relate to this statement:
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
14. What does it mean for us to “lay down our lives” for other Christians?
15. How does sacrifice relate to love?
16. What example of sacrifice does John give for Christians here? How is the giving of material wealth an example of laying down your life for others?
17. Why does John say we must not love in word only but in actions and truth?
18. How does this passage relate to James 2:
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
19. So… love must result in sacrificial action. But how do you relate this to what Paul taught here:
1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Or this:
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
20. Putting it altogether, here is a definition of Christian love:
“Christian love is heart attraction that results in cheerful sacrificial action.”
Comment on this.
21. John speaks of setting our hearts at rest in his presence… in other words, of Christian assurance. How does a life of cheerful sacrificial actions for others help us have a healthy Christian assurance?
22. What does John mean by our hearts condemning us or not condemning us? How does that relate to our conscience?
23. What does verse 20 mean by saying God is greater than our hearts? Do you think its likely for our hearts to condemn us or not condemn us wrongly? Like, can our consciences mislead us one way or another?
24. How does a healthy Christian assurance relate to confidence and fruitfulness in prayer before God?
25. Is it true that our obedience or disobedience to God will affect our prayer life? How?
26. What are the two basic commands that John says God has given us in verse 23?
27. How do our obedience to God’s commands and the work of the Holy Spirit combine to give us Christian assurance?
III. Summary:
John urges Christians to live a life of sacrificial love for other Christians resulting in actual deeds done to bless them. By this we will have a strong assurance of our salvation and God will answer our prayers.
