Unit 3: Faith Gives Us Hope
A Conquering Faith| Bible Background • 1 JOHN 4–5 | Printed Text • 1 JOHN 4:2–3, 13–17; 5:4–5 | Devotional Reading • JOHN 14:15–24
AIM FOR CHANGE
By the end of this lesson, we will REMEMBER the love of God described by the writer of 1 John, REFLECT on the various expressions of God’s love in our lives, and RESPOND to the challenge to love others with Christ-like love.
IN FOCUS
When Deidra got to church Sunday morning, Ricky was right in her face. He was clingy and hardly gave her space to talk to anyone else. Deidra tolerated Ricky because he was a member of her Sunday School and a fellow brother in Christ. Though Deidra appeared to be kind, inside she was fuming with anger at Ricky’s inability to take what she was sure were obvious clues that she was not comfortable with his attentiveness.
Deidra began to feel guilty about being nice to Ricky and then mocking him behind his back. Deidra understood her behavior did not reflect the teachings of Christ, which meant loving our fellow brothers and sisters in the family of God. This meant she had to be honest and forthright with Ricky and stop her cruel remarks about him to others.
Deidra tried to think of how God saw Ricky. God knew that Ricky was only trying to be kind, but didn’t understand social situations the way most people did. Maybe instead of shutting him down, Deidra could help Ricky learn how to read the room better.
The following Sunday, Deidra talked to Ricky and related her discomfort. She felt the resentment leave, replaced by a greater appreciation for Ricky, who graciously received her message.
How do we interact with others to show that we “dwell in love” with God? Should these interactions differ between Christians and non-Christians?
FOCAL VERSES
KJV 1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?