Monthly Archives: March 2019

1 John 2:7-8

The New/Old Commandment

Verse 7

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

  • What is the new commandment?
  • Why does John say that it’s not a new commandment?
  • What does he mean by “from the beginning”?
    • beginning of the gospel (new covenant) era?
    • beginning of the world?
  • Why does it matter that it’s not in fact a totally new commandment?

Verse 8

At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you,
which is true in him and in you,
because the darkness is passing away
and the true light is already shining.

  • What is new about this commandment?
  • What does John mean by saying “It is true in him (Jesus) and in you” ?
  • What does John mean by saying “The darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining”?
    • Do you believe this is true today?
    • Is the darkness passing away?
    • Is the true light already shining?
    • Where is it shining?
    • What does this “true light” have to do with the new commandment?

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1 John 2:4-6

Verse 4-5a

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. 

What does it say?

  • If we say we know God, but we don’t do what He says, we are self-deceived. “The truth is not in him”.
  • If we keep his word (obey him), the love of God is brought to completion. In other words, we grow in love for God by obeying him.

What does it mean?

Matthew 7:21-23

  • Obedience matters more to God than spiritual gifts or visible achievements including success in ministry
  • What does it mean to “know God” ?
  • Restate in your own words what John is saying here about the relationship between obedience and knowing God

How does it apply to my life?

  • What are we doing when we make the claim that we know God?
  • What does Jesus think of such boasting? (Luke 18:9-14)
  • What should we do instead?
  • When you choose to willingly obey God in any area, what happens to your heart?
  • When you stumble in any area of obedience to God, and realize that you have fallen short, what should you do?
  • What heart attitude is God looking for in those who say they know him? Luke 18:14

Verse 5b-6

By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.

What does it say?

If we are in Jesus, His character will be displayed in our life.

What does it mean?

Implication : Jesus wants to (and is able to) make us like Himself.

How does it apply to my life?

2 Corinthians 3:18

Luke 10:38-42

  • We grow in the likeness of Jesus by spending time in His presence and loving Him by drawing near, paying attention, letting Him speak to us. This is the first commandment.
  • We grow in the likeness of Jesus by practising obedience to his other commandments, specifically the command to love one another.
  • If you are satisfied with your life and are content that you know God, test yourself by comparing yourself to Jesus.
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