E-pistle for October 12, 2012
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation October 12, 2012
These things we know!
(I John 3:1-24)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on what we "know" about Jesus
1. We know that Jesus came to take away our sins, v. 5.
2. We know what true love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, v. 16.
3. We know that He lives in us, by the Spirit He gave, v,. 24.
4. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, v. 2.
II. Meditation: on what we "know" about our position as believers
1. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love
our fellow Christians, v. 14.
2. We know that we belong to the Truth (Jesus), because we demonstrate
our love by our actions, not merely by our works, v. 19.
3. We know who are the children of God and who are the children of the
devil . . . Satan's children neither do right nor love their fellow human
beings, v. 10.
4. We know that no murderer has eternal life, and anyone who hates his
brother is a murderer, v. 15. (See Matthew 5:21-22) (Murder is a forgivable
sin, but unconfessed sin, such as murder, grows out of hate . . . the
opposite of love, which is the only spiritual atmosphere in which God's
grace may operate.)
III. Revelation: on the implications of what we "know"
1. God bestowed His love on us, calling us His children, v. 1.
2. Everyone who truly follows Christ purifies himself, to attain the goal of
purity, just as Christ is pure, v. 3.
3. The purpose of Christ being manifested on earth was to destroy the works
of the devil, v. 8.
4. As Christians, we ought to be willing to lay down our lives for others . . .
just as Jesus died for us, v. 16.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Thank God for His overwhelming love toward me for my blessed position as
one of His beloved children.
2. Repent, confess, and forsake my sins to the Father; receive forgiveness and
cleansing through the blood of Christ; attempt, through the power of the Holy
Spirit, to live a life of purity . . . of sincerity and integrity.
3. Arm myself for spiritual warfare against Satan (Ephesians 6:10-18), knowing if
Satan attacked Jesus, surely I also will be attacked. But through Christ, l can
be victorious . . . able to "destroy the works of the devil."
4. Love my fellow believers . . . more than I love myself . . . being willing to lay
my life for them.
Basic truths about god's love
(I John 4:1-21)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. John taught believers to test the spirits; he gave encouragement: "He who is in
you is greater than he who is in the world," vv. 1-6.
2. John wrote about the necessity of loving one another and loving God, Who is
love, vv. 7-11.
3. John taught that abiding in God means abiding in love, and vise versa, vv. 12-16.
4. John wrote: "Perfect love casts out fear" and "We love Him because He first loved
us"; he taught that a person who hates his brother does not truly love God, vv. 17-21.
II. Observations: on the characteristics of God's love
1. Love is of God, v. 7.
2. God is love, vv. 8, 16.
3. God manifested His love by sending His Son, v. 9.
4. God loved mankind before mankind loved Him, vv. 10, 19.
III. Meditation: on a believer's proper responses to God's love
1. Everyone who is born of God, loves Him and know Him, v. 7.
2. If God so loved us, we ought to love one another, vv. 11, 20-21.
3. If we truly love one another, God abides within to help us to grow toward spiritual
maturity, vv. 12, 17.
4. God's love overcomes fear and doubt: "There is no fear in love; perfect love
casts out fear," v. 18.
IV. Revelation: on the background of this passage
1. The love spoken about her is "AGAPE" . . . God's unconditional love for mankind,
without regard to our unworthiness.
2. In this chapter, John begins by discussing how to test the spirits, and how to
condemn the false, demonic ones, vv. 1-3.
3. John also encouraged believers with the promise of ultimate victory in spiritual
warfare, by writing: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world," v. 4.
4. Even during spiritual battles with persons who follow Satan, Christians always
Should manifest the love of God toward them.
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Allow God's love to fill me, so that I can love and bless others.
2. With spiritual insight, discern the difference between evil spirits and God's Holy Spirit.
3. Walk in the confident hope of my eventual triumphant spiritual victory through Christ.
4. Balance my zeal for battle against the enemy with my love which sees my human
"enemies" as persons whom God loves and wants to save; God loves them just as
much as He love me!
"If you can't get rid of the skeleton in your closet,
you'd best teach it to dance."
--George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
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