1 John 5:1-12 (NIRV)
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children as well. 2 Here is how we know that we love God’s children. We know it when we love God and obey his commands. 3 In fact, here is what it means to love God. We love him by obeying his commands. And his commands are not hard to obey. 4 That’s because everyone who is a child of God has won the battle over the world. Our faith has won the battle for us. 5 Who is it that has won the battle over the world? Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 Jesus Christ was born as we are, and he died on the cross. He wasn’t just born as we are. He also died on the cross. The Holy Spirit is a truthful witness about him. That’s because the Spirit is the truth. 7 There are three that are witnesses about Jesus. 8 They are the Holy Spirit, the birth of Jesus, and the death of Jesus. And the three of them agree. 9 We accept what people say when they are witnesses. But it’s more important when God is a witness. That’s because it is what God says about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts what God says about him. Whoever does not believe God is calling him a liar. That’s because they have not believed what God said about his Son. 11 Here is what God says about the Son. God has given us eternal life. And this life is found in his Son. 12 Whoever belongs to the Son has life. Whoever doesn’t belong to the Son of God doesn’t have life.
Discussion:
1. V.1 What does it practically mean to be "born of God"? How does this "birth" change a person's life and perspective?
2. V.1-2 connect loving God with loving His children. How are these two loves intertwined? How can we demonstrate genuine love for fellow believers?
3. V.3 Why does John say God's commandments are "not burdensome"? How can we cultivate a heart that finds joy in obedience?
4. V.4-5 speak of overcoming the world through faith. What does "overcoming the world" mean in a contemporary context? How does faith in Jesus Christ enable us to do this?
5. V.6-8 discuss the testimony of the Holy Spirit, the birth of Jesus, and the death of Jesus. How do they testify to the reality of Jesus Christ?
6. V.9 emphasizes that God's testimony is greater than human testimony. Why is God's testimony considered superior?
7. V.10 states that "Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts what God says about him." How does a believer possess this internal testimony? What does this mean for personal assurance of faith?
8. V.11-12 declares that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. How does this truth differ from other worldly views of life after death?
9. How does the act of believing in the name of Jesus Christ, differ from simply knowing about him?
