The Way to Love Sunday School Lesson

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The Way to Love Sunday School Lesson

Introduction

A. The Way to Do It

"No, here's the way it's done." The father, askilled craftsman, is teaching his son the rightway to do a job. If the youngster is too stubbornto listen, be will be slow to make progress. But ifhe has confidence in his father's ability and payscareful attention, he will learn his lesson well.God has tried to teach His children the way oflove. At the beginning He provided generouslyfor Adam and Eve. He even allowed them to ex-ercise their freewill choice. Time and again in

the history of Israel, He lovingly rescued His peo-ple from oppression. When they sinned, He cor-rected them. When they repented, He forgavethem. When they prayed, He opened the win-dows of Heaven to pour out blessings on them.Most of all, He sent Jesus to die on the cross forthem. No greater example of love has ever beenknown.

We have been shown the way to love. Will webe stubborn, or will we team?

B. Lesson Background

This is the final chapter in John's first epistle,written near the end of the first century AD. Thespecial problem of those who originally receivedthe letter was a heresy called gnosticism, or atleast an early version of it. This teaching placedlittle value on faith, love, or obedience. histead,the gnostics said that secret knowledge was theway to Heaven. The word gnosis means "knowl-edge" and is found within the English words di-agnosis and prognosis.) As John brings histeaching to a conclusion, he puts all his empha-sis on being in the right relationship with JesusChrist. This includes having love for all God'schildren.

I. Foundation of God's Way(1 John 5:1-3)

Living God's way involves every part of ourlives. As John has indicated previously in thisepistle, this includes head, heart, and hands.With our minds we believe the truth; with ourhearts we love God and His children; with ourhands we do all that righteousness requires. Thethree areas are inseparably linked as God's de-sign for us to live.

A. Faith and Love (v. 1)

1. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is theChrist is born of God: and every one that lovethhim that begat loveth him also that is begottenof him.

John begins this section with a focus on faith.Anyone who is truly born of God will have faiththat Jesus is the Christ. This faith is not merelyan idle opinion about Jesus' identity. It involvessincere confession and commitment to Christ(see 1 John 4:2, 15). It is a trusting, ongoing faithas shown by John's use of the present tense inthe word believeth). True faith is vital for a life-long relationship with Jesus.

Everyone who has the proper faith relation-ship with Jesus, within the biblical plan of salva-tion, is a child of God. John's immediate point here is that every such child should be an objectof our love. After all, if we love him that begat,then we should also love anyone that is begottenof him. We remember what John has just said atthe end of the previous chapter: "If a man say, Ilove God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar"(1 John 4:20).

B. Love and Obedience (vv. 2, 3)

2.By this we know that we love the chil-dren of God, when we love God, and keep hiscommandments.

John has said that if we love God we will loveHis children. And how do we know that we lovethe children of God? It is when we love God andwhen we keep his commandments. These ideasare reciprocal and complementary as they showboth sides of an important truth: we honor Godby loving His children; we love His children byloving God as we honor His commands.

The previous verse showed the inseparableconnection between faith and love; this verseshows the connection between love and obedi-ence. All three elements must be present to pro-duce the Christian life.

3.For this is the have of God, that we keep hiscommandments: and his commandments arenot grievous.

John sees nothing surprising in linking ourlove for God with our obedience to Him. It maytruly be said that the love of God necessarily,even automatically, requires that we keep hiscommandments. This is the inherent truth of aright relationship with God. How could anyonethink he or she loves God while ignoring or dis-obeying what God says? "If ye love me, keep mycommandments" (John 14:15).

John is quick to add that God's command-ments are not grievous. Jesus himself said "myyoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew11:30). God's commandments have never beenburdensome. This is borne out by Deuteronomy 30:11, 14: "this commandment which I com-mand thee this day ... is very nigh into thee, inthy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest doit." It was the Pharisees who made obedience toGod a burden. "They bind heavy burdens andgrievous to be borne, and lay them on men'sshoulders; but they themselves will not movethem with one of their fingers" (Matthew 23:4).(Sec question #2. pdac 204.1

None of this should be construed that John istalking about salvation by works or salvation bylaw keeping. It conies down to motive. We obeyGod as a loving response to the salvation that isalready ours. We do not obey in order to earn asalvation that God dangles in front of us.

A LOST SCORE

A Japanese music professor announced re-cently that part of a Bach wedding cantata hadbeen found in the estate of a Japanese classicalpianist. J. S. Bach (1605-1750) was a pioneer inclassical music, and this cantata had been lostfor 80 years. Musicologists believe "WeddingCantata BWV 216" was copied by students Bachwas teaching at the time he composed the piece.The score contains only the alto and sopranoportions of the cantata, and experts believe theywere used in the original (and only) performanceof the piece played at a wedding in 1728. Histori-ans who specialize in Bach's music hope the lostscore can help them reconstruct the full compo-sition so it can be performed as it may havesounded originally.

We can draw a parallel in that the apostleJohn and the other New Testament writers havegiven us the "score" for a piece of divinely in-spired "music." Believing in Jesus as God's Son,loving God, loving God's children, and keepingGod's commandments are the recurrent themesin this composition. If we "lose" the score by ne-glecting to read it and meditate upon it, then weshould not be surprised to find the themes miss-ing from our lives. Those who truly love Godwill honor Him as a composer who deserves tohave His "music" played the way He wrote it

II. Victory of God's Way(1 John 5:4, 5)

God's way—the way of love—is the right way.It is the way that brings victory. All the childrenof God will share in this victory because theyhave put their faith in Jesus, God's Son. Theirfaith is an overcoming faith, the kind of faith thattrusts in an overcoming Savior

A. An Overcoming Faith (v. 4)

4. For whatsoever is born of God overcomeththe world: and this is the victory that over-cometh the world, even our faith.

In context the phrase the world refers to thepowers of evil that take their stand against God.This is what Jesus had in mind when He said, "Ihave overcome the world" (John 16:33).

By being born of God, we share in His victoryover the world. As members of God's family, wehave an overcoming faith. It is a faith that sepa-rates no from the fallen world and gives us vic-tory over the temptations of the world. We live inthis world in a physical sense, but we are not ofthe world in an ethical sense (see John 15:19;17:6, 14-19). Even though we struggle on a dailybasis to live godly lives, we can take heart in thefact that the victory has already been won. Theoutcome is already decided. We are on the win-ning side. (See question #3, page 264.1

B. An Overcoming Savior (v. 5)

5. Who is he that overcometh the world, buthe that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?When we overcome the world, it is not becausewe ourselves are so powerful. The true source ofour victory is the object of our faith: Jesus theSon of God. Through our faith in Him, we are as-sured that we overcome this world. "Thanks beto God. which giveth us the victory through ourLord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Because we have put our trust and confidencein Jesus, "we are more than conquerors throughhint that loved us" (Romans 8:37). Even thoughwe wrestle against the forces of spiritual dark-ness and wickedness (Ephesians 6:12), our finalvictory is secured. By faith we have chosen tojoin the victors.

III. Basis of God's Way(1 John 5:6-10)

Christianity stands or falls with Jesus. EitherHe is who He claimed to be, or He is an im-poster. If He is not God's Son, His moral teach-ings are groundless. If He has not risen from thedead, all Christian faith is in vain. Everythinghinges on Jesus. For this reason John emphasizesthe testimony to Jesus' identity as God's Son aswell as the response to Jesus that we most snake.

A. God's Witness to His Son (vv. 6-8)

6. This is he that came by water and blood,even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but bywater and blood. And it is the Spirit that bear-eth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

Our Lesson Background stoles the gnosticheresy that was beginning to emerge in the latefirst century AD. One element of gnosticism wasanother false teaching called Docetism. Thisword means "to seem" or "to appear to be." Thisfalse teaching denies that Jesus came in the flesh,only that Jesus seemed to appear in the flesh.John is very concerned about this kind of error:"Many deceivers are entered into the world, whoconfess not that Jesus Christ is came in the flesh.This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 7).To counter such falsehood, John presents hisown, firsthand evidence. From the beginning ofJesus' ministry to its very end, Jesus displayedHis deity in bodily form (compare Colossians2:9). Jesus came by water into His public min-istry when He was baptized by John the Baptistin the Jordan River. Jesus came by blood to theconclusion of His ministry when He was nailedto the cross. The real humanity of Jesus is clearlyshown by water and blood.

In addition to the testimony of water andblood, the Spirit of Cod also bears witness toJesus. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spiritdescended from Heaven in the form of a doveand rested upon Jesus. It should not be over-looked that the Father testified about Jesus atthat baptism (see Matthew 3:16, 17). The Fatherbore witness again by raising Jesus from the dead(Galatians 1:1), and the Spirit bore witnessthrough the four Gospels. The veracity of theGospels is assured by the Spirit who inspiredthem, for the Spirit is truth.

7, 8. For there are three that bear record inheaven, the Father, the Word, and the HolyGhost: and these three are one. And there arethree that bear witness in earth, the spirit, andthe water, and the blood: and these three agreein one.

The earliest manuscripts of 1 John do not con-tain the words in heaven, the Father, the Word,and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Andthere are three that bear witness in earth. Evenso, the phrasing is certainly true. The fact of thetriune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—isconfirmed in several New Testament texts (seeMatthew 28:19; Mark 1:10-12: 2 Corinthians13:14; Ephesians 3:14-19). Jesus said, "I and myFather are one" (John 10:30). Jesus also closelyidentified the Holy Spirit with himself and HisFather (see John 14:23-26).

The record home by the spirit, and the water,and the blood is powerful! These three witnessesfulfill the requirements for legal testimony asstated in Deuteronomy 17:6: 19:15. Jesus had ion-

portant things to say about the role of the Spirit,who followed after and confirmed Jesus' earthlyministry (see John 14:26; 15:26). Blood has thesame meaning here as in verse 6. The blood sig-nified both payment for sin and the reality ofJesus' flesh. These three give unanimous testi-mony; they agree as one voice. Jesus is the Son ofGod who came down to earth in human form.

B. Our Response to His Son (vv. 9, 10)

9.If we receive the witness of men, the wit-ness of God is greater: for this is the witness ofGod which he bath testified of his Son.

The idea of testimony or bearing witness is im-po rtant to John's thought (see John 5:31-34, 37;8: 18). Most people routinely receive the witnessof men, especially in court cases. How much,re necessary is it to accept the witness of God!The Father testified to the identity of his S017on several occasions. We have already men-tioned the Father's testimony at Jesus' baptism.At the transfiguration, God said, "This is mybeloved Son: hear him" (Mark 9:7). Most impor-tant of all, God raised Jesus from the dead andexalted Him (see Acts 2:32, 33).

10.He that believeth on the Son of God bathth 3 witness in himself: he that believeth not Godha th made him a liar; because he believeth notth 3 record that God gave of his Son.

The response that God requires is that wemust believe in the Son of God. We are to trustHim, rely on Him, and put all confidence inHim. The one who does this is said to have thewitness in himself The person who does this hasaccepted the Father's testimony and put it in hisor her heart. On the other hand, if a person doesnot believe what God has said about Jesus, thenhe or she pronounces God to be a liar. Such aperson hears the record that God gave of His Sonbut rejects it as false. Ultimately, these are theonly two responses we can make to the messageof God: believe it as true or reject it as false.

IV. Outcome of God's Way(1 John 5:11, 12)

God's way promises the right outcome. Thoseto walk the path of faith and love have theorI tmise of eternal life. Those who do not walkthi s way, however, receive a stern warning: be-cat Ise they have not chosen God's way, they willno t have life.

A. Ironclad Promise (v. 11)

11. And this is the record, that God bath givento as eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

God's record or testimony about His Sonreaches a wonderful conclusion: God has giventhe gift of eternal life. We do not earn or deservethis reward; it is a gift. Eternal life is not just anunending quantity of life. It is something far bet-ter. It is a whole new quality of life. It is life thatis in His Son.

This life begins as a person comes to knowGod. It begins when he or she experiences Godfirsthand and enters a saving relationship withHim (see Acts 2:38; John 17:3). This is the testi-mony—the promise—of God.

B. Ironclad Certainty (v. 12)

12. He that bath the Son bath life; and he thatbath not the Son of God bath not life.

John does not want his readers to be confusedin any way by the false teaching they are hear-ing. Thus this verse is almost a repeat of John3:36. John's readers can know this fact for a cer-tainty: he that bath the Son bath life.

The believer can count on receiving life as thegift from God. But whoever has not the Son ofGod in heart and life should be warned of thisfact: he or she has not life. The certainty of re-ward or punishment on Judgment Day is deter-mined by whether or not a person follows Jesus.'Sec, question #5. page 264

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Most of us don't have the kind of resourcesthat enable us to be that blasé about our earthlypossessions. But whether rich or poor in this life,our ultimate hope must be for riches in the life tocome. Here is where John's message carries itsreal significance. God has offered us eternal lifethrough Christ, His Son. If we have the Son, wehave life. If we don't have the Son, we don't havelife eternal. In that case, we don't really havemuch worth talking about, no matter how muchwe possess.

Conclusion

A. Following the Way

Jesus is the way. He is God's way, the rightway. In fact, He is the way, the truth, and thelife. No one comes to the Father except throughHint (see John 14:6). If Christianity is criticizedfor claiming to tie the only true religion, it is onlyrepeating the claims of its founder. It may not bepolitically correct these days to say there is onlyone way to Heaven, but that is what the churchmust say to be faithful to her Lord.

Victorious faith enables us to love as Jesusloved. A review of today's text shows us whatthis includes. Verses 1 and 2 say that we shouldlove all God's family. When Jesus walked thisearth, He extended His love to all who would re-spond to God's call. We follow Jesus in this wayof love.

Verse 3 says that we should keep all God'scommandments. Jesus became obedient to thepoint of death on a cross (see Philippians 2:8).Although He was a Son, He learned obedienceby what He suffered and He became the authorof eternal salvation to all who obey Him (see He-brews 5:8, 9). We remember that following theway of love includes obeying God's commands.Verses 4 and 5 say that we are to have faith toovercome all this world's opposition. When Jesusfaced opposition, He put His trust in the Father.He faced the temptations in the desert, for in-stance, by relying on God's Word. He faced theprospect of death on the cross by turning to Godin prayer in the garden. We can be more thanconquerors through this kind of overcomingfaith.

Verses 6 through 10 say that we are to believeall God's testimony. When Jesus quoted Scrip-ture, He showed that He believed it to be true.He used Adam and Eve to establish what is rightin marriage (see Matthew 19:4-6). He used Noahand the flood to teach about the second coming(see Matthew 24:37). He used Jonah to teachabout His own resurrection (see Matthew 12:40).Jesus accepted these accounts as true. We shouldhave the same view of God's Word as Jesus did:"Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35).Verses 11 and 12 say that the person of faithwill receive God's reward. When Jesus put Histrust in God and did as His Father told Him, Godraised Him from the dead. He was then highlyexalted and given the name above every name(see Philippians 2:9-11).

Today Jesus sits at the right hand of the Fatherin Heaven. We should take God at His Word andnever doubt His promises. Then we will haveeternal life in His Son.

B. Prayer

Father. we thank You for sending Jesus to liveon earth as a man and to purchase our salvation.We praise You for the gift of eternal life we havein His name. Help us to have the faith to love asJesus loved and to overcome this world. In Jesus'name. amen.

C. Thought to Remember

The way of love is the way to life.

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