[ Inductive Bible Study Note – LA UBF Summer Conference, 2019 ]
1 John 4:7~5:21
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God 6 This is the one who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols |
I. Observation (What does the text say?)
The first step in Inductive Bible Study is to get the big picture; to see the forest before the individual trees!
Focus on understanding the overall context and structure. Apply Observation tools selectively to the text situation.
1. Identify a Genre of this chapter
Epistle
2. Big Picture
identified the background, historical context and overall sense of the entire book
Author: Apostle John
Readers: Surrounding Asian churches (possibly the 7 churches of Revelation 2-3)
- already Christian he calls them my little children (NIV: dear children) over and over again.
Date of Writing: A.D. 85~95
Historical Background : Gnosticism
Refer to the 1 John Introduction
3. Factual Study (10min)
Read passage, divide paragraphs and make your own subtitles Example) 4:7-21) I. Encouragement of love - Love one another because God loved us (7-14) - Abiding in Christ will cause us to love others (15-21) 5:1-12) II. The faith that overcomes the world - The test of belief (1) - Loving God is obeying and will result in loving others (2-3) - Believers are conquerors (4-5) - The Spirit, water and the blood (6-8) 5:13-21) III. Jesus keeps us safe from the evil one - We have eternal life in Christ (11-13) - If we pray in God’s will, He will answer our prayers (14-15) - The sin not leading to death (16-17) - God’s power protects us from the evil one (18-21) |
II. Observe and interpret paragraphs according to following division.
Part I. 4:7~21 (30 min)
Part II. 5:1~12 (30 min)
Part III. 5:13~21 (30 min)
Part I. 4:7-21 ( Time limit 30 min )
I. Encouragement of love 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister |
1.What are the emphasized or repeated words of the passage?
- emphasized word
ex) must(21), let us love(7),
perfect(18), complete(17)
let us love one another(7), we also ought to love one another.(11)
- repeated word
- love (27), God(19), live (6)
- live(s) in (5), fear (4), Son(4)
- love one another (3)
- this is how (3)
2. Write down the contrasts and comparisons you found.
* contrast
- love vs. hates (20),
- fear vs. confidence (17,18)
* comparison
- love God vs. love brother (20)
3. Write down the connections.
(If condition, cause & effect etc)
- If anyone acknowledges (15), Whoever lives in love(16), because …(18)
- Whoever claims to love God…(20)
4. Write down the main points of this passage.
(Consider the author's flow of thought)
1) Describe the nature of God’s love.(7~10)
- God is Love. (7,8)
- He first loved us.(9,10)
2) Why should we love? (7,11)
- since God so loved us
3) What is the result of love? (12~13,17~18)
- God lives in us and his love is made complete in us
- we will have confidence on the day of judgment, There is no fear in love
4) How can we love? (14~16)
- Those who believe in Jesus can love
5) What should we love? (20~21)
5. what are key words and verses
Key word : Love
(1) let us love one another
6. Write down the main thought of the passage in one sentence.
God is love. He showed his love first by sending his one and only son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
So, let us love others as God loved us.
7. Interpretation & Application (“What lesson does the passage give to the audience? & How can I apply the text to me?”) 1) Interpretive questions? (The questions that we make to get the lessen from the text) Ex) * What ought we to do in response of God’s love to us? * How can we love? * What happens in us if we love one another? 2) Interpretation 3) Apply the text your life
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Part II. 5:1-12 ( Time limit 30 min )
The faith that overcomes the world 1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, victory 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God 6 This is the one who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life |
1.What are the emphasized or repeated words of the passage?
- emphasized word
Victory(1), Overcomes(4), keep(3), believes(1), not burdensome(1), in fact(3)
- repeated word
God(10), Son(7), Of God(7), Testimony(6)+testify(2), This is (5), The Son(4), love(4)
Water(4), overcome(3), Commands(3)
2. Write down the contrasts and comparisons you found.
* comparisons
To love God vs. to keep his commands (2)
* contrast
Life vs. death (16,17)
3. Write down the connections.
(If condition, cause & effect etc)
- Everyone who believes ….(1)
Whoever believes ..(10)
4. Write down the main points of this passage.
(Summarize the author's flow of thought)
Being born of God is the source of love (1)
The children of God keep his commands (2,3)
Being born of God is the source of victory (4,5)
Test:
-(1) test of genuine salvation : Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.(1)
-(2) test of loving God : Loving God is obeying and will result in loving others (2,3)
-(3) test of genuine salvation : overcomes the world (4)
Testify:
there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood (6~8)
this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.(9~12)
5. what are key words and verses
6. Summarize the author's main thought in one sentence.
If you love God and obey Him, you will naturally love others.
By faith in Jesus we overcome the world
7. Interpretation & Application (“What lesson does the passage give to the audience? & How can I apply the text to me?”) 1) Interpretive questions? (The questions that we make to get the lessen from the text) * Based on today's Word, how can we obey love and overcome the world? ( Being born of God is the source of love and victory. So, test genuine salvation ) * In what way do we conquer the world? 2) Interpretation 3) Apply the text your life
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Part III. 5:13-21 ( Time limit 35 min )
Jesus keeps us safe from the evil one 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him 16 If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death 18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols |
1.What are the emphasized or repeated words of the passage?
- emphasized word
All wrongdoing, confidence
I write these things to you (13)
- repeated word
- we know that (5), death (4), true (3), should pray(2)
2. Write down the contrasts and comparisons in the passage.
- a sin that does not lead to death vs. a sin that leads to death (17)
- we are children of God, vs. the whole world is under the control of the evil one (19)
3. Write down the connections.
(If condition, cause & effect etc)
- If we ask…, (14), If we know..(15), If you see..(16)
4. Write down the main points of this passage.
(Consider the author's flow of thought)
John wants us to pass all of these exams so that we can be sure of our own standing with God.
We have eternal life in Christ (13)
If we pray in God’s will, He will answer our prayers (14-15)
The sin not leading to death (16-17)
God’s power protects us from the evil one (18-21)
Three confirmatory testimonies (18~20)
We know that ~~
5. what are key words and verses
(13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life
6. Summarize the author's main thought in one sentence.
If we believe in Jesus, and trust him only for our salvation, we have eternal life.
Jesus, Son of God, is our Savior and Protector. So abide in Jesus and avoid idols.
7. Interpretation & Application (“What lesson does the passage give to the audience? & How can I apply the text to me?”) 1) Interpretive questions? (The questions that we make to get the lessen from the text) * What does it mean to have assurance and why is this important? (From the book of 1 John, how can you know for sure that you are saved?) 2) Interpretation We see throughout the book many spiritual self-exams John prescribes. Can you remember them? These ultimately are not meant to discourage us or make us give up our faith. Ultimately John wants us to pass all of these exams so that we can be sure of our own standing with God. At the same time, if perhaps we have a false assurance, God wants us to see that and truly repent so that we can be secure (not false security) in him. If you haven’t yet, probably the best application you can get from this book is to exam yourself with John’s tests and repent if you fall short. 2) Apply the text your life
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III. Let’s share our application in group taking turn.
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