Debbie Cambridge

Q5. (1 John 3:3-10) How does John's teaching on sin and righteousness in this passage relate to combating the false teachers? The false teachers were watering down the importance of fighting sin in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to die for our sin, so their teaching would negate everything Jesus came to do for us in his sacrifice. John warns us to beware. What did they seem to be teaching about sin and righteous living? That the body is weak and sinful, but your spirit couldn't be contaminated. Dualisam - not taking responsibility for our sinful nature and saying it's impossible to discipline the flesh. This is of course untrue, as we need to gain victory through Jesus and the Holy Spirt over all sin and live our faith.

Q4. (1 John 3:6, 9) How does the presence of God's seed in us keep us from habitual lawlessness and sin? The Holy Spirit turns on the God conscience and bit by bit illuminates the sins that we are able to deal with and stops us. some take longer than others to die, but I find the Holy Spirit never gives me more than I can handle. How does the Holy Spirit sanctify us and make us like Jesus? He shows us the futility of the sin, that it leads to spiritual death and self destruction. We need to find dignity as God's representatives. He builds us up and encourages us to embrace change to make us grow.

Q3. (1 John 3:4) How does lawlessness show up in a person's attitude and actions? Lawlessness shows up is many ways - pride that you can do it alone, rebellion, deliberate ignorance, which leads to hardening of the heart, and destruction. In what sense is an attitude of lawlessness the cause of sin in our lives? It is not deferring to the God of the universe which is extremely short-sighted and narrow. It is also very selfish. Men are not perfect, so will fail and fall, we can only achieve rightousness through Jesus sacrifice of his life for our sin.

Q2. (1 John 2:28; 3:2-3) In what way does our expectation of Christ's Second Coming motivate us to purify ourselves from sin? Christ is coming back to judge us, so we should be prepared and be working with the Holy Spirit to purify ourselves from sin. How does purifying ourselves from sin relate to God's grace? We are not capable of becoming totally righteous, as only God's grace, and Jesus sacrifice can do that. But we have to be faithful and do our part.

Q1. (1 John 2:29-3:2) 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? We are spiritual "children of God. The Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are his children. Once we have asked Jesus to "take over", and we give our lives to God, the Holy Spirit comes into our heart and starts the process of sanctification to change us. I felt relieved, renewed, different when I gave my life to God. Sometimes in my journey I haven't recognised myself, and realised just how much I have changed. It's wonderful!

Q5. (1 John 2:26-27) If we have the Holy Spirit, why do we need teachers in the church? How does the role of the anointing differ from the Holy Spirit's spiritual gift of teaching? We need teachers in the church for encouraging and building up the body of Christ. They can also help us to understand the scriptures, as they can help to put things in context and to explain what certain things mean in their time, and how they apply to ours. The annointing is the gift from the spirit of discernment and power to start our real journey with God. The Holy Spirit's gift of teaching is one of the gifts he imparts. There are many more, and he gives them to us as is appropriate. Although we need to constantly learn to increase our knowledge and mature as Christians.

Q4. (1 John 2:24-28) 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? As a Christian we must be really familiar with Jesus, his life, his teachings, his character. So in order to do that we need to pray, to read about him in the Bible, and in books. We need to live like Him, following His example. Without a constant stream of "living water" from The Word of God, we can't survive as a Christian. A Christian who is "abiding" would be in daily contact with Jesus, through prayer, The Word, and other Christians. It can be seen on the outside of how they live and how they cope with tough situations. A Christian who is not "abiding" is distracted, and can easily be tempted and kept busy by the deceiver, so he/she stays away from fellowship with God. A slow slide into confusion and sin and all things that go with that. Their lives will reflect the "lack of God".

Q3. (1 John 2:20, 27) 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? The Holy Spirit enables us to recognise the truth, to show us what we need to learn, particularly when the time seems to be right, and to empower us. He teaches us by "turning the lights on" with The Bible, Christian teaching, Christian books that we read. Lots of Ah Ha moments that we can memorise and call on when we need them He gave me a huge thirst for more knowledge of Him, so I have found myself wanting to know more and more about how it all fits in, what it means, how I can apply it to my life, and to become equipped to share the message accurately. He has also put people around me who have challenged me, supported me, questioned me, and watched me life my faith. So I've also realised the huge responsibility of being his representative here.

What is the "anointing" that John is talking about? In what way is anointing connected to the Holy Spirit in the Bible? Has every Christian received this anointing? What do you think? The anointing is the Power of God through the Holy Spirit empowering us to see God's Truth When people were annointed before Jesus lived, they were annointed or covered (over their head) with oil. Then the Holy Spirit "comes upon them in power". After Jesus died and rose again his disciples received the Holy Spirit through what looked like tongues of fire, empowering them. Not all Christians have received the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit being a Christian and following Jesus would be hard work. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes and turns on the light. We also need the gift of the spirit to really live as Christians as they are the sign that we are "saved", and not by our own "good deeds", but by the power of God.

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? The antichrist John expects is the "ruler who will come and set up "an abomination that causes desolation, the beast coming out of the sea who acts as a puppet of Satan, making war against Christian believers. The difference between the one to come and the ones that are in John's time, is the one to come seems to be spoken of as the one who makes himself very public in the world, and will set himself up proclaiming himself to be God. Whereas the antichrists in Johns time seems subversive and anti Jesus Christ. Not as powerful or as dangerous as the one to come. The spirit of antichrist is at work everywhere. I see it in NZ as dumbing down the importance and presence of God on earth. Distracting people to think that they don't need God. As we are safe to worship here people of the world feel there is no imperative to trust God for everything, that they are fine, and almost can't be bothered. What a huge shame!

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? The **** of the flesh - self pleasure The **** of the eyes - immorality, greed, jealousy, coveting, judging The pride of life - thinking oneself better than others, thinking the accumulation of more stuff makes you better than others, arrogance I have found that as I've grown in my faith that the Holy Spirit illumiates the areas where I am sucked into the things of the world. He gently shows me the emptiness and pointlessness of the sin and over time I recognise it and turn and away, knowing I'm being tempted. If we do get fully involved with the "world", and deny God, we forfeit our salvation in Jesus. Life it too short here, it goes by so fast, and faster as you get older. I now know every minute counts and I can't waste time with distractions. Life is so much MORE here with Christ, and the promise of eternity with him is the greatest gift.

What is "the world" in verses 15-16? Corruption by the Devil to keep us distracted and away from God at all costs. What kind of love of "the world" keeps us from loving the Father? Lots of distractions: money, position, power, pride, selfishness, carnal desires, drugs, anything that keeps us away from God.

John encourages "children, young men, and fathers" Why do you think he takes time to encourage them? John has been calling them Dear Loved ones, dear Children etc. so he is obviously wanting to encourage them in the faith, to stand strong given the Jews and Romans at the time would not embrace Jesus Christ as their Saviour. In what ways does he encourage them? Telling them their sins are forgiven in Jesus Reiterating that Jesus is the Son of God and there from the beginning Telling them they have strength in Christ Reminding them that the Spirit of God lives in them.

How does hate and unforgiveness blind us spiritually? We are so distracted and consumed by hate and unforgiveness that we cannot focus on God. Hating someone takes a lot of time and headspsce. It shuts us down to love and pride takes over. If we have been darkened by hurt and hate, how do we come into the light? Confess it to God, allow the Holy Spirit to take control, surrender, forgive the person and let it go, knowing that our sins are as far as the east is from the west, that's how far he has removed our transgressions from us. Stand before God and be filled with His love.

I pray constantly that the Holy Spirit will make me stop and think when I start to judge others. It happens all the time, but I recognise it more quickly now, so am thankful that I'm being changed. Trying not to be legalistic is also really hard, particularly when I'm talking with non-Christian members of my family. I sound so staunch. But I know that we can't dumb down the Word of God, and it is really important. I pray that I can present it to them without seeming to be legalistic, and pray that love will prevail. Love is God's language - Legalism is what man has done with it to seem better than those around them. Pride has a lot to do with legalism, and Love is humble and kind. Being serious about obedience is a daily battle with self. To surrender fully to God, to pray constantly for that humility, and to keep asking myself the question "What would Jesus do?"