Bible Study for 1John 4:7-18

1John 4:7-18

Get Started:
1. What is your favorite love song of all time? Romantic movie?

Go Deeper:
2. In 1John 4:7, it says that if you love people you know God. What does this mean for Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, etc who love people? Can only Christians truly love people?

• Scroll down on the blog to find some thoughts on this question.

3. Verses 9 and 10 explain how God showed His love. Why are these verses critical in understanding everything else John is saying about love?

• This represents John’s model. It’s the thing that he points to as he continues his discussion about how we should love.

4. In John 3:16 and 1John 4:11, we see the phrase, “so loved.” What is it about love that John is communicating in these two passages by using that phrase? Do you think he is referring to quantity or quality?

• Scroll down on the blog for thoughts on this question.

5. In 1John 4:10, John uses the phrase, “atoning sacrifice for our sins” for the second time in his letter. (the first time in 2:2) What does it mean for a sacrifice to be atoning and why John is mentioning it.

• Scroll down to the "Scapegoat" post.
  

6. Read 1John 4:13. In this verse, it says that we have been given of His Spirit. Why is it important to know that God has given you of His Spirit? What Bible passages describe the importance of the Spirit in connection with what John is saying about how we know we live in Him and He in us?

• We have access to God by His Spirit. Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
• The Spirit is God’s seal of ownership and His guarantee of what is to come. 2Corinthians 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
• This deposit is given when you believe. Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
• You can know and show evidence of the Spirit in your life. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

7. In verse 17, John refers to having confidence on the day of judgment. How confident would you be if you knew the day of judgment was tomorrow? Do you have any evidence for your confidence? Should you have?

• If you take a look back at question 6, you will see that this question and that one have some strong connections.
• Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
• Ephesians 3:12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

8. In 1John 4:18 he says that perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. In what ways have you seen the perfect love of Christ drive out fear in your life?

Making The Connection:
10. Do you need Christ’s perfect love to drive out a fear that you have? Pray about that in community.

11. How can you help someone overcome a fear by showing him/her Christ’s love? Pray about that in community.

Quote Of The Week:
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
--Oswald Chambers