i. Quick review from last sermon (5 mins.)
I. What love is – Agape Love (3:16-24)
A. Jesus’ example (3:16)
B. Meeting others’ needs (3:17); Seen in action; NOT words only (3:18)
II. Belonging to the Truth – Part 1 (3:19-24)
A. Maintaining an un-condemning heart
1. at rest in His presence (3:19); God’s grace is greater than our sin (3:20)
2. Sins of commission OR omission?
B. What is it to believe in Jesus’ NAME? (3:23)
1. power and prayer
2. character and confidence
I. Belonging to the Truth – Part 2 (3:24-4:6)
C. Possessing proper belief and discernment
2. We must rely on the Spirit of God
a. Proof that Christ lives in us (3:24, 4:13)
b. Witness the TRUTH about Christ (4:2)
c. To discern falseness and ‘antichristlikeness’ (4:1,3)
d. To live as an overcomer – “Greater is He who is in you!” (4:4)
e. Can you express a reality view (against a flawed world view)? (4:5)
II. GOD IS LOVE! Theos Estin Agape! T-E-A! (4:7-21)
A. Familiar agape cross references:
1. Love is patient… (1 Corinthians 13)
2. No greater love has anyone than this… (John 15:13)
B. Does “Love one another” sound familiar? (4:7)
1. Why isn’t the news saying this?!?
C. Agape comes from God (4:7)
D. Only being born of God produces agape love (4:7)
1. Phileo (brotherly love) and Eros (romantic love) may abound among humans
2. But Agape is GOD’s LOVE, spiritual and supernatural
E. We now God through agape (4:8)
F. Jesus is the supreme example: (4:9) – how did he live agape?
G. Great memory verses! (4:10, 4:18, 4:19) – Amen and Amen!
III. Children born of God (Chapter 5)
A. Born again verses (John 1:13, John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17 – new creation)
B. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (5:1)
1. Receiving Christ is receiving the Father and vice versa (John 8:42, John 14:11)
2. Does “born of God” = “born again”?
a. baptism in the Holy Spirit (Jesus does it)
b. being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
c. exercising Spiritual gifts (2 Timothy 1:6)
d. asking for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13)
C. Loving God’s children too
1. By obeying God (5:2)
2. Which isn’t burdensome (5:3, Matthew 11:30)
3. Born of God » Faith » Obedience » Overcome/Overcame = Victory!
D. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
1. In salvation (5:11-13)
2. In prayer (5:14-15)
