JSF

What in us is greater than false prophets and even Satan? In what sense have we overcome them? In what way will we overcome them in the future? How should this truth affect fear in our lives? The One who is in me. We have the power in us to overcome. We know that Jesus has overcome sin, death and the devil for all time and His overcoming applies to me. I do not fear being overcome by sin, by death or the devil, for my victory is in Jesus...even through death.

Why is believing that Jesus was God in the flesh so important? Why doesn't Satan want us to believe that? What are the implications of the fact that Jesus could live out his divine life in a human body like ours? What significance does it bring to the crucifixion and to the resurrection? What is the significance for your Christian life? Jesus had to be flesh to fulfil the law and live a perfect, sinless life. He also had to die. Satan would not want us to believe that because he would like for us to doubt that Jesus filfilled the law for us. He became vulnerable to suffering and to death. He put Himself where he was among us, felt what it was like to be human, to be tempted, etc. and was victorious. He became one of us and we can follow Him through life and through death and into resurrection.

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

We know that God doesn't "owe" us anything. So what is the relationship between obedience and answered prayer? Do we "earn" God's favor through obedience? In 1Peter, he talks about how husbands are to treat their wives "so that nothing will hinder your prayer"s. In Prov. 15, God hears the prayer of the righteous. In 1 Chron., God's people were in war and cried out to God for help. "He answered their prayers, becaue they trusted in Him". Somewhere: the prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I think God wants our faith and trust most of all. Our obedience flows from that trust. And yes, apparently there is a relationship between our lives of obedience and answered prayer.

What does it mean to "lay down your life for your brothers"? What are some concrete examples of this kind of love in action within the Christian community? If you are in a large congregation, how can you get to know other members so you'll be able to lay down your life for them -- and they for you? Putting aside your own interests and desires and needs for the sake of others'. Pastors give up sleep to go be with a grieving family. Families give up hard-earned money for charity and missions. My son goes out of his way to talk to and help homeless people, potentially putting himself in dicey situations. People in a church reach out with food and expressions of care to a family in crisis. I am in a small congregation by choice.

How can anger turn into hatred in our hearts? In what way do anger and hatred relate to murder? How can we get rid of stored-up anger in our hearts so that we may love those who have offended us? When we have repeated anger that goes unresolved, it turns to resentment and bitterness, which I guess is a spirit of hatred. When you hate someone, you would just as soon get them out of the picture. That is what murder would do. We repent of stored-up anger. I think we also have to act in love and toward and invest in the people who have angered us. Sort of "fake it till you make it". Rather, obey and trust God to give forgiveness and love.

Why did Cain resent Abel? Why did Cain kill Abel? How does the story of Cain and Abel illustrate Jesus' explanation of why the world hates us? Cain resented Abel because he was envious that God accepted Abel's sacrifice, but not Cain's. His actions were evil, but Abel's were righteous. Abel's righteousness exposed Cain's unrighteousness. If the world hated and persecuted Jesus - who is righteous, the world will hate and persecute His followers.

How does John's teaching on sin and righteousness in this passage relate to combating the false teachers? What did they seem to be teaching about sin and righteous living? It seems that the false teachers were teaching that one could follow God and that how one lived did not matter. Disobedience, discord, worldliness,lawlessness were perhaps allowed and not addressed by these other teachers.

How does the presence of God's seed in us keep us from habitual lawlessness and sin? How does the Holy Spirit sanctify us and make us like Jesus? We can't help "sinning" but we can do something about "continuing in sin". Our consciences are pricked by the Spirit in us to yield to Him and not continue to willfully sin. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us through the Word. We will never escape sin on this earth but He is working in us to cleanse us and make us more like Jesus and keep us in a state of repentance.

How does lawlessness show up in a person's attitude and actions? In what sense is an attitude of lawlessness the cause of sin in our lives? People can become openly rebellious against any rules or laws that limit them. We have seen much lawlessness lately in society. Lawlessness is idolatry. It is putting ourselves in the place of the ultimate guide and judge.

In what way does our expectation of Christ's Second Coming motivate us to purify ourselves from sin? How does purifying ourselves from sin relate to God's grace? I want to be ready when Christ returns. I want to be prepared and clean and living in anticipation. I pray every day for forgiveness and cleansing so that if today is the day, I will be clean and forgiven when He comes back. It is so easy to become lax about living for Him and using what He has given me for the sake of the Kingdom. I have so far to go. I have no hope of cleansing myself of sin. God must do that. But the Bible says so much about righteous living, that obviously I have a part to play in repenting and turning away from sin DAILY.

In what sense are we "children of God"? What does the Holy Spirit have to do with this "new birth"? How does the new birth change us? God adopted us as sons through Jesus Christ. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. The Holy Spirit is who grants us faith and makes us alive spiritually. We are made new in the attitude of our minds. We put on the new self - created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

All believers have this "anointing". Not all have the gift of teaching. Believers must constantly still be vigilant to analyze teachings to see if they are right according to God and His Word, because there are still those who stray and can easily lead us down the wrong path if we just blindly follow and do not rely on the Spirit to show us what is right and also check it out as the Bereans did. God's truth and life are in the Word and we must remain in it to be solidly grounded in the truth.

What does it mean to abide/remain/continue in Jesus? Give an example of what a Christian might be doing who is "abiding" in Jesus. What are symptoms in a Christian who is not "abiding" in Jesus? For our part, it is important for us to be praying, confessing our sins, praising, thanking, asking, praying to be a light daily. If Jesus sacrificed so much for us, and we are serious about living in thanksgiving for that, then we show it by thinking of Him and striving to live for him. As sinful humans, it's easy to stray from that, to not pray, to not keep our mind focused on spiritual things, to let ourselves be engulfed in the world, to do what is comfortable and easy. I think this allows us to slide into sinful patterns in our thoughts, speech and habits. Thankfully there is forgiveness, new mercy and there are fresh starts.

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." I Cor. 1:21-22

In what ways is the Holy Spirit an internal Guide for us? In what ways does he teach us? In what ways does he point us to Jesus' teaching? We do have an internal sense of what is right and wrong. We still have to be educated in the Word, however. Because we are so frail and given to whims and fancies and trends, we still have to depend on what the Word says. And the Holy Spirit will never be in contrast to the Word.

What is the "anointing" that John is talking about? In what way is anointing connected to the Holy Spirit in the Bible? Do you think that each Christian has received this anointing? Does this "anointing" refer to baptism? At baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit, who works faith in us. So, baptized Christians have been "anointed" (God-empowered).

What is this antichrist that John expects to come? What is the difference between the antichrist and antichrists in the church John is writing to? In what ways do we see the spirit of antichrist at work in our day? I do know know what or who the antichrist is or will be. I do not think we can claim to know. I do think we have already had a number of "anti-christs". The spirit of antichrist is active in our world and culture today, more and more aggressively against Christ, the Word, His people and morality.

What kinds of sins are covered by the three examples of worldliness that John gives? Why are these sometimes so difficult for us to discern in ourselves? Why is worldliness so harmful to our future? cravings of sinful man: letting the things we are interested in and desire become consuming passions and things we pursue and chase after: sex, the latest electronics, entertainment, food, etc. **** of his eyes: letting the things we see become the things we want for ourselves: ***********, uncontrollable purchasing, etc. Boasting: pride in self-accomplishment. I think this can happen as an individual or as a society. We think we are so smart and forget that all that we have and are and have done that is good is from God.

What is "the world" in verses 15-16? What kind of love of "the world" keeps us from loving the Father? "The world" is the culture around us and the things of it that are opposed to God or draw us away from God. Our attention is so easily drawn from the things of God to the attraction of "stuff", desires for things that are not godly, and philosphies that are at odds with those of the Word (pride, self-glory, entitlement, total freedom of how to live, selfishness).

John encourages "children," "young men," and "fathers." Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? In what ways does he encourage them? I think all believers, regardless of "spiritual age" or maturity benefit from encouragement. John talks about what has already happened, sort of like an Ebenezer: you have been forgiven, you have overcome the evil one, you have known the Father, you are strong. In other words, look at the spiritual milestones so far, and keep on going...

(1 John 2:7-11) How does hate and unforgiveness blind us spiritually? If we have been darkened by hurt and hate, how do we come into the light? Hate and unforgiveness is in the darkness, apart from God. God is light and in Him there is no darkness. I must pray for God to forgive through me and I must pray FOR the people who have hurt me. I must truly desire to be rid of the resentment and bitterness and to want to embrace the people in love.

(1 John 2:7-11) How does hate and unforgiveness blind us spiritually? If we have been darkened by hurt and hate, how do we come into the light? Hate and unforgiveness is in the darkness, apart from God. God is light and in Him there is no darkness. I must pray for God to forgive through me and I must pray FOR the people who have hurt me. I must truly desire to be rid of the resentment and bitterness and to want to embrace the people in love.

The other posts helped me with this. Legalism is following rules for the sake of following rules. Conversely, righteous living needs to stem from love for and obedience to Jesus, our Lord and Master. Perhaps that approach helps us to be less judgemental of others. I still do struggle with that - with disappointment in people who do not seem to care about being conscious of how they live.

When we sin, Jesus speaks to the Father on our behalf. When I am conscious of my sin and of the fact that Jesus carried the weight of it and the guilt of it, I do not want to sin. Also there is this: I have a friend who says, "I just want to please my Father."