1 John 5:18-21
All born again believers have certainties and responsibilities.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible
The Assured People of God
1 John 5:13-17
The assured people of God are confident in prayer and help one another persevere.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible
That You May Know
1 John 5:6-13
God’s testimony and our possession of eternal life in Christ gives us great assurance.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: The Letters of John by John Stott; Reformed Expository Commentaries: 1, 2, & 3 John by Douglas Sean O’Donnell
Christian Birthmarks
1 John 5:1-5
Genuine Christians bear the marks of belief, love, obedience, and victory.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Preach the Word: 1, 2, & 3 John by David L. Allen; Reformed Expository Commentaries: 1, 2, & 3 John by Douglas Sean O’Donnell; In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life by Sinclair Ferguson
We Love Because He First Loved Us
1 John 4:13-21
God’s love for us leads us to love others.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; ESV Study Bible; Preach the Word: 1, 2, 3, John by David L. Allen; The New American Commentary: 1, 2, 3, John by Daniel L. Akin; The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
God IS Love
1 John 4:7-12
God IS love and has manifested love to us in his Son; therefore God’s children love one another.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Preach the Word: 1, 2, 3, John by David L. Allen; The New American Commentary: 1, 2, 3, John by Daniel L. Akin; No Trinity, No Love (blog) by Jared Wilson; The Heidelberg Disputation by Martin Luther; Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
Test the Spirits
1 John 4:1-6
Authentic Christians discern and cling to the truth concerning Christ by God’s word and Spirit.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; Reformed Expository Commentaries: 1, 2, & 3 John by Douglas Sean O’Donnel; A Theology for the Church, ed. by Daniel Akin
Reassurance Comes
1 John 3:19-24
When our heart condemns us in light of the great demand to love one another, reassurance comes through knowing who God is, obeying what God commands, and enjoying whom God gives.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible
Loving God’s Family
1 John 3:11-18
The command for the children of God to love each other reveals the reality of our salvation and lead to generous action.
RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible
Reasons for Confidence as a Child of God
1 John 2:28-3:10
God is the reason we can live as his children now and be confident for the future.
RESOURCES: The Letters of John - John R.W. Stott, Christ-Centered Exposition: 1,2, & 3 John - Daniel Akin, The Story of God Bible Commentary: 1,2, & 3 John - Constantine R. Campbell, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament - Karen H. Jones, Sermons of Tim Keller