And Such We Are

In one paragraph

Ray, a seminary intern finishing his second summer at First Baptist Jackson, preached through the letter of 1 John as a farewell message before heading home Thursday. His aim was simple: this short letter was written to encourage believers in the assurance of their salvation, not to condemn them. He closed by inviting everyone to read the three pages of 1 John for themselves this week. Ray opened...

Read together

1. 1 Peter 1:18-20 read aloud at the opening to describe the ransom paid by Christ's precious blood
2. John 3:16 paraphrased as 'whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life' to show John's universal appeal
3. 1 John 1:1-3 read to establish John as eyewitness and the purpose of fellowship with the father and son
4. 1 John 1:4 cited as the 'so that our joy may be made complete' purpose statement
5. 1 John 1:8-10 read to show that denying sin makes God a liar, and confessing brings cleansing
6. 1 John 2:1-2 read on Jesus as advocate and propitiation for sins of the whole world
7. 1 John 2:12-14 read as a hymn-like passage addressed to children, fathers and young men about knowing God and overcoming evil
8. 1 John 2:15-17 the camp t-shirt verse on not loving the world, the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and boastful pride of life
9. 1 John 3:1 quoted and highlighted in bold: 'see how great a love the father has bestowed on us that we would be called the children of God'
10. 1 John 3:4-8 read on practicing sin being lawlessness and the son of God appearing to destroy the devil's works
11. 1 John 3:24 quoted on keeping commandments, abiding in God, and knowing this by the Spirit he has given
12. 1 John 4:15 quoted on whoever confesses Jesus is the son of God having God abide in him
13. 1 John 5:1 cited as part of the encouragement-instruction pattern on believing Jesus is the Christ
14. 1 John 5:13 quoted as the 'so that you may know you have eternal life' purpose statement
15. 1 John 5:21 the final verse quoted: 'little children, guard yourselves from idols'
16. John 14:6 paraphrased by Scott as 'I am the way, the truth, the life, no one comes to the father except through me'
17. Ephesians 4:4-5 paraphrased as 'one body, one spirit, one baptism' to show unity of believers
18. John 21:15-17 paraphrased as Jesus asking Peter 'do you love me, feed my sheep' to connect love with keeping commandments
19. Mark 12:41-44 the widow's mite story referenced to explain the Greek word behind 'boastful pride of life' as trusting in possessions or livelihood

Talk about it

1. Ray said that when he first heard 1 John preached, what came through for him was condemnation rather than encouragement. Have you ever read a passage of scripture and walked away feeling condemned rather than encouraged? What was going on in how you were reading it?
2. Ray pointed out that John wrote this letter for two primary reasons: to encourage and to instruct, and that he keeps moving back and forth between the two throughout the book. Where in your own faith do you find you need more encouragement right now, and where do you need more instruction?
3. Ray explained that phrases like 'do not love the world' are better understood as 'do not be loving the world,' a continuous action, meaning you cannot progressively love the world and love God at the same time. How does understanding it that way change what it is asking of you day to day?
4. Ray described John's instruction to 'keep short accounts with God,' always confessing, staying in a continual state of openness with Him. What makes that kind of ongoing honesty with God easy or hard for you in practice?
5. At the middle school camp, a student named volleyball as something that had become an idol for her. Ray said anything that steals your love, affection, time, talent or resources away from God can become an idol. What is something in your own life that has quietly moved in that direction, and what would it look like to guard yourself from it?