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Lesson 21: 1 John 5:1-3

 

1 John 5:1-2

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

 

Related Scriptures

John 8:23-24 (Jesus is speaking here.)

John 13:34-35

Galatians 5:13-26

 

Questions

  1. What qualification does the first sentence of 1 John 5:1-2 give for being born of God?
  2. What is the outward evidence that we love God?
  3. How do we know that we love God’s children?
  4. Will the commandments of God tend to make our actions toward others more or less loving?
  5. If God loves everybody, how would his commandments reflect that love?
  6. a) Would a loving Creator’s commandments tend make those who obeyed more happy and fulfilled? b) Would that loving Creator’s commandments tend to make us work towards meeting the needs of others to be happy and fulfilled?

 

1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

 

Related Scriptures

Deuteronomy 6:3-9

Psalm 119:97

Psalm 119:104-105

Psalm 119:113

Psalm 119:158-160

Psalm 119:164-165

John 14:15

 

Questions

  1. We usually think of love in terms of emotion and commitment. How does happily keeping the commandments of God equal loving Him?
  2. Would the person who kept God’s law grudgingly be more likely to be motivated by love or by fear?
  3. From an earlier lesson, are love and fear compatible? (Hint: see 1 John 4:17-18.)
  4. Would the person who loved God rebel against His commandments?
  5. In 1 John 5:1-2 we saw that loving God and keeping His commandments are proof that we love others. Here, in 1 John 5:3, we see that willing obedience is the same as love for God. Could we obey God willingly, if we desired to hurt another person?
  6. Would 1 John 5:1-3 suggest that our attitude toward God and our attitude towards others were interrelated?

 

This study is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.

 

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