The First Epistle of John

1. The First Epistle of John How We Know Christ’s Love - I John 3:16-18 • I John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love (of God), because He laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” • perceive – perfect active indicative • we have come to know and still know (ginōskō) • the love (of God) – note parenthesis • – notice how it’s defined here • because He laid down his life for us • John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” • Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. • 1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness----by whose stripes you were healed. • Is there any other love like this? • Now what’s our responsibility? 1 June 19, 2011 Bob Eckel

2. The First Epistle of John How We Know Christ’s Love - I John 3:16-18 • we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren • ought - opheilō • to owe or be under obligation • Present active indicative – we need to be doing it now • Like that of Peter? • John 13:37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake." • Can you interpret this verse in any other way than identification and make it work? • If the flesh controls this obligation what is the motive? • Put this under law and we fail, fail, fail and then fail again. • “Self preservation is the first law of physical life; but ‘self sacrifice’ is the first law of spiritual life” – Wiersbe WW, 1972 • Your thoughts about Warren Wiersbe’s statement? • I John 3:17 “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 2 June 19, 2011 Bob Eckel

3. The First Epistle of John How We Know Christ’s Love - I John 3:16-18 • this world’s goods – bios primary word; life • i.e. (literal) the present state of existence • by implication the means of livelihood – that by which this life is sustained • sees – present active subjunctive • not merely casually, but deliberately contemplates as a spectator; theōreō -"beholds" • his brother in need • Christian brother here? • in need – what kind of need? • In context a necessity • James 2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, • and shuts up his heart from him • The source is our bowels (heart) – inner affections • It’s the source that’s in question here. • Aorist active subjunctive • Thus, indicating a specific response to what is observed 3 June 19, 2011 Bob Eckel

4. The First Epistle of John How We Know Christ’s Love - I John 3:16-18 • A strong term, e.g. • to cause the heavens to withhold rain • to shut up compassion so that it is like a thing that is inaccessible • to be devoid of pity towards another • to obstruct the entrance into the kingdom of heaven how does the love of God abide in him? • how does the love of God abide in him? • A rhetorical question. • The text says that our abundance and comforts need to yield to the necessities of our brethren. • If we put this under law, we now need to define our own abundance and comforts, and then the necessities of the brethren. • How are you doing here? 4 June 19, 2011 Bob Eckel

5. The First Epistle of John How We Know Christ’s Love - I John 3:16-18 • In Christ – The HS works by faith through the new creation in each one of us to perceive and meet the needs of the brethren. The life of Christ in us manifested, and to God be the glory! • Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; • 1 Tim 6:17, 18 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, • The life not manifested, and the fellowship temporarily abandoned. • James 2:16 ‘and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?’ • I John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” • What would lovein word or in tongue look like? 5 June 19, 2011 Bob Eckel

6. The First Epistle of John How We Know Christ’s Love - I John 3:16-18 • Is John condemning good words? • No but it’s more than just good and encouraging words isn't it. • And what would love in deed (work) and in truth look like? • But to define it puts it under law doesn’t it? • And notice how deed is linked with truth! • John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. • And after Paul has established the believer at the right hand of God with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, • Eph 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. June 19, 2011 Bob Eckel 6