The Focus of the Christian Life – 1 John 2:12-17; John 14:21-26

By David Woods

1. Encouragement, 1 John 2:12-14.

The verse comments suggest that the “little children” are the congregation as a whole, the “fathers” are the leadership of the church, and the “young men” are those more directly involved in the spiritual battles of the church.

Another interpretation might view the “little children” as new or newer Christians, the “fathers” as mature Christians, and the “young men” as maturing Christians.

Regardless, let us consider why John wrote what he did to these three groups.

Discussion: The Holy Spirit gives us assurance when we are saved that we have been forgiven of our sins and have become children of God.  Why then does John try to encourage the believers by reminding them that their sins have been forgiven for Jesus’ sake?

Discussion: What kind of attacks might the devil have been using to make them unsure of this fact?

Discussion: John also wrote to the children that they knew the Father.  Why do you think John wrote this?

Discussion: Why did the leadership or the more mature Christians need to be reminded that they “have known him that is from the beginning”?

Discussion: What kind of attacks might the devil have been using to make them unsure of this fact?

Discussion: Concerning the young men, John wrote that they had overcome the evil one.  Put yourself in their place.  Do you think, in the midst of their spiritual battles, that they thought they had overcome Satan?  What was John trying to say to them as he sought to encourage them?

2. Correction, 1 John 2:15-17.

Discussion: What is the “world”?  What are “the things that are in the world”?

Discussion: Define “the lust of the flesh”, “the lust of the eyes”, and “the pride of life”.  What are the differences?  How do these temptations attack us differently?

(Consider these scriptures as you define these things of the world: lust of the flesh – Genesis 3:6a, Deuteronomy 8:3; lust of the eyes – Genesis 3:6b, Deuteronomy 6:16; pride of life – Genesis 3:6c, Deuteronomy 6:13)

Discussion: What are the three reasons John gives why we should not love the world?

(1. The love of the Father is not in such a person, 2. Such a love is not of the Father, 3. The person who does the Father’s will abides forever.  Sometime I preached a message with the thesis: The world is not worthy of your affection.  1. The world's allure is incompatible with God's love, v. 15. 2. The world's vanities are inferior to God's values, v. 16. 3. The world's possessions are incomparable to God's promise, v. 17.)

3. Clear Focus, John 14:21-26.

Discussion: Why is it the one who obeys God’s commandments the one who loves Him?  What about those who say they love God and are favorably disposed toward God, but don’t obey all His commands?

Discussion: If love is so connected to obedience, how should we define love?

Discussion: What happens when we obey God’s Word?

(See verse 23)