Bible Study: 1 John – March 31, 2017
These are the audio files from our Friday night Bible study. They are based on the first several chapters of 1 John, line by line, with commentary and biblical cross references as related to the Christian life.
On the third recording, we get into talking about keeping one’s self from error. The handout for that is below in text.
To listen, simply click on the > button to play.
Track 1
Track 2
Note this is truncated because the card was full on the recorder.
Track 3
Keeping one’s self from error
Two parts:
1) Our part
2) God’s part
Ultimately, salvation is all of God but we are called to trust and obey! In this covenant of grace through the Blood of Christ, we as those crucified are “kept by the power of God” (1 Pet 1:5). The Father first drew us to Him (Jn 6:44; 6:65), and He continues to put in us the desire to will and do His good pleasure (His will) (Phil 2:13).
God does therefore expect us to play a part and this resides in the will. The spirit is willing, the flesh is weak (Mt 26:41). God by His Spirit (Rom 8:2) is the strength that makes up this deficit of a weak flesh if we keep covenant, trust Him, abide in His Word.
God’s Word speaks to the New Man, us as new creatures in Christ.
Checklist:
Negative side: Guard against flesh and devil —
• Know we in the flesh can be subjective, unknowing (ignorant), biased, indoctrinated (many need to unlearn things that are not right).
• We may be unaware how in darkness we are in the flesh. God is light, our Old Man is declared fit for the grave (Rom 6), and if the old man in Adam asserts himself, he is in darkness (but may declare it light (Mt 6:23).
• We may think with presumption and pride (flesh has no good thing (Rom 7:18)
• We are not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor 2:11)
Positive side: Agree With God in spirit –
• Will to do God’s will (Jn 7:17)
• Consecrated 100% – utterly surrendered. No private agenda.
• Be as a little child (Mt 18:3)
• Soft hearted, considering you may be wrong, are not infallible
• Have no unforgiveness, bitterness, unrepented-of sin at all.
• Pray to God proactively: Ask Him to keep you from error, blindness, presumption, anything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:4-6)
• Ask God to grant you repentance if needed (2 Tim 2:25,26) – to open your eyes if you are in sin somehow (this does NOT mean go on a “witch hunt” of introspection)
• Ask God to guard you. Satan also is the “accuser of the brethren” and may try to bring on you guilt that is not from God’s true conviction
• Put on whole armor of God (Eph 6:10-18). Having done all, stand; trust God to keep you (1 Pet 1:5)
• Seek good friends, qualified counsel. – be careful though. Ultimately we all must come to God through Jesus and make that life connection and abide in the vine Jn 15).
