Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — The Epistle of 1 John 3:11 – 4:6

Study 4 From the Books of John is: The Epistle of 1 John 3:11 – 4:6

1. 3:11-18. By what various arguments does John show, in verses 11-15, that mutual love is the essential mark of the children of God and that hatred is inadmissible? After what manner should we love? See verses 16-18 and cf. Jn. 15:12; Eph. 5:1, 2.
2. 3:19-24. A digression on the subject of assurance before God. The apostle first considers the case of a Christian whose heart condemns him. How is such a person to be reassured? See verses 19, 20. Cf. Heb. 6:9, 10. Next the apostle considers the case of a Christian whose heart does not condemn him, because he is practicing all the characteristics of a truly Christian life – obedience, love, and faith. What blessings does this man enjoy See verses 21-24.
3. What two tests are given here by which to know whether a prophet is, or is not, speaking by the Spirit of God? See especially 4:2 and6; see also Note 2 below.
   Notes
   1. 3:14. Cf. Jn. 5:24. This gives the practical test whether a professed faith in Christ is genuine. Cf. Gal. 5:6b; Jas. 2:15-17
   2. 4:6. 'We are the God': the pronoun 'we' in the first half of this verse refers primarily, as in 1:1-3, to John as representing the apostles while not excluding those who, following after them, base their teaching upon the apostolic foundation.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — The Epistle of 1 John 2:28-3:10

Study 1 From the Books of John is: The Epistle of 1 John 2:28-3:10

We enter today upon the second section of the Epistle.

1. 2:28 -3:3. The apostle, having begun in verse 29 to show that the test of sonship is righteousness of life, is carried away by the marvel of the new birth into a rapturous outburst of wonder and joy. Whence comes our shonship? How does the world regard it? What will be its future glory? How should this affect us now? Cf. Col. 3:4, 5.
2. 3:4-9. These verses resume and expand the truth of 2:29. What five reasons are given to show that sinning is utterly incompatible with being a child of God?

Notes

1. 2:28. This verse gives clear proof that John, no less than Paul and Peter, believed in the Lord's second coming. See also 3:2; 4:17
2. 2:29. 'Born of him': the first reference of sonship in this letter.
3. 3:6-9. These verses do not mean that a Christian is incapable of sinning, nor that one sin is proof of an unregenerate nature, but that it is impossible for a true child of God to persist in habitual sin.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — The Epistle of 1 John 2:3-27

Study 2 From the Books of John is: The Epistle of 1 John 2:3-27

1. Verses 3-11. If a man claims to know God , to abide in Christ and to be in the light, what must be his attitude to (a) Christ's word and commandment; (b) the example of Christ's life on earth; (c) fellow-Christians?
2. Verses 18-29. Amid false teachers and defection, what three safeguards for continuance in the faith does John give? See especially verses 24-27. If a professing Christian falls away from the truth, what is proved thereby which , before the falling away, may not have been at all obvious?
3. Verses 15-17. With what two arguments does John support the commandment of verse 15? How may this commandment the reconciled with Jn. 3:16

Notes

1. Verse 7. Cf. Jn. 13:34, 35; 15:12.
2. Verse 8. John calls the old commandment new, both because of Jesus Christ by His teaching and living, has invested the old idea with a richer and deeper meaning, and because experimental Christianity is always new in kind or character.
3. Verse 15. 'The world': here it denotes human society as an ordered while, considered both apart from, and in opposition to, God.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — The Epistle of 1 John 1:1-2:2

Study 1 From the Books of John is: The Epistle of 1 John 1:1-2:2

1. To what unique experience in his life is the writer referring in verses 1-4? How does he describe it? Cf. Jn. 1:14. To what inestimable privilege did it lead him, and why does he want to make it known Cf. 1 Thes. 3:8-9.
2. The nature of God determines the condition of fellowship with Him. See verse 6-10 How has He made fellowship with Himself possible for sinful man? What is His provision to enable fellowship to be maintained, and to meet failure if it should occur?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — The Epistles of John

Study 0 From the Books of John is: The introduction of the Epistles of John

1 John and the Epistle to the Hebrews are the only two New Testament letters written anonymously; and in 2 and 3 John, the author merely introduces himself as 'the elder'. It is clear, however, that the three Johannine Epistles are by the same person, and there is a very strong case for saying that it is the same person as the author of John's Gospel. The evidence of the letters themselves, and the witness of early Christians, suggest that the writer is the apostle John. He writes as an eye-witness who has personally known the Lord (1:1-4; 4:14) . He writes as a teacher with great, indeed, with apostolic authority (2:8, 17; 3:6; 4:1; 5:20, 21). He writes as a pastor, with a deep concern both to defend and confirm the faith of the Church (2:1, 26; 4:1-6; 2 Jn. 9; 3 Jn. 4)

In the first Epistle, John sets forth three marks of a true knowledge of God and of fellowship with God. These marks are, first, righteousness of life, second, brotherly love, and third, faith in Jesus as God incarnate. Such characteristics distinguish true Christians from false teachers who, for all their lofty profession and Christian language, neither believe nor obey the truth.

In 2 and 3 John, the writer deals with the problem of giving hospitality to visiting Christians. False teachers were abusing the generosity of Christian people, and some advice was needed to help Christians in dealing with the situation.

Search The Scriptures —Study 21 — Isaiah 38 and 39

Study 21 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 38 and 39

For now, we are taking a short break from the book of Isaiah. Tomorrow we will start with the Epistles of John. Once that is done we will come back to the book of Isaiah.

The events of these chapters preceded Sennacherib's invasion. Hezekiah reigned twenty-nine years (2 Ki. 18:2). He probably fell ill in the fourteenth year of his reign. See Note on 36:1 in Study 20.

1. How does chapter 38 show forth (a) the power of prayer (cf. Jas. 5: 16b), (b) a loving purpose behind suffering (cf. Ps. 119:71, 75), (c) the completeness of God's forgiveness (cf. Ps. 103:12; Mi. 7:19), (d) the duty of praise (cf. Ps. 13:6)?
2. Wherein lay Hezekiah's sin in displaying his royal treasures and military might to the envoys of Merodach-baladan? Cf. 2 Ch. 32:31). How does the incident revel what was in his heart?

Notes

1. 38:7, 8. The sign was a miraculous alteration of the shadow on the sun-dial, and not necessarily of the sun in the sky. It may have been caused by eclipse or reflection, and appears to have been a local phenomenon only (cf. 2 Ch. 32:31).
2. 38:11 and 18. The thought that death cut them off from god make it a cause of dread to Old Testament believers. Contrast 1 Cor. 15:20, 55, 56.
3. 39:1. Merodach-baladan made himself king of Babylon in defiance of Assyria in 721 BC, but was taken captive by the Assyrian king Sargon in 709. Before his downfall he sough to secure himself against Assyria by foreign alliances, one of which was with Judah in 714. Hezekiah's sickness and remarkable recovery gave him occasion to make a first approach. Cf. 2 Ch. 32:31.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 20 — Isaiah 36 and 37

Study 20 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 36 and 37

We have now reached 701 BC, the year of Sennacherib's siege of Jerusalem, so long predicted. Chapters 36-39 repeat, with a few omissions and additions, the history recorded in 2 Ki. 18: 13 – 20:11. The course of Events seems to have been as follow: (1) After receiving the tribute demanded (2 Ki. 18:14-16), Sennacherib sent three envoys with an army to demand further the surrender of Jerusalem (36:1 – 37: 7). (2) This was refused and the Assyrian troops withdrew, but Sennacherib sent a letter to Hezekiah renewing his demands (37:8-35). This also was rejected, and the chapter concludes with a brief account of how God fulfilled His word (37:36-38).

1. 36: 4-10, 13-20. How did the Rabshakeh try to shake the confidence of the defenders of Jerusalem in the power of God to save them? What fact did he ignore which invalidated the basic assumptions of his argument? Cf. 37:18-20, 23-29.
2. Both Hezekiah and Isaiah recognized in Sennacherib's challenge a blasphemous insult to the living God (37:6, 7, 17, 23). How did this give them confidence? Cf. 1 Sa. 17:26, 36, 45-47.

Notes

1. 36:1. The chronological note is wrong, for 701 BC was Hezekiah's twenty -sixth year. Possibly the note belongs properly to 38:1, and has become misplaced. (see note under study 21 below).
2. 36:2, 3. Rabshakeh was the title of the Assyrian chief-captain, second to the Tartan or commander-in-chief. As there were envoys (2Ki. 18:17), so three Jewish high officials were sent to meet them.
3. 36:7. Whether in ignorance or in subtlety, the Rabshakeh spoke of Hezekiah's religious reformation (2 Ki. 18:4), as if it had been an act of disrespect towards God. Possibly to a heathen mind it appeared in that light.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — Isaiah 33-35

Study 19 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 33-35

The opening verses of chapter 33 reflect the excitement and panic which preceded Sennacherib's approach (verses 7-9) and the prophet's triumphant faith that the proud Assyrian would suffer defeat (verses 1-6, 10-12). The remainder of the chapter shows the profound effects of this deliverance, and paints a glowing picture of the coming kingdom. Chapters 34 and 35 present a striking contrast between the fearful doom of God's redeemed people (35).

1. In the picture of the Messiah's kingdom, given in 33:14-24, (a) what are the characteristics of His people, (b) what will the Lord be to them, and (c) what blessings will the enjoy?
2. Applied spiritually, what blessings are spoken of in chapter 35 which are available to believers now? In particular, can you discover in verses 8:10 four or five characteristics of the 'highway', i.e., the Christian life?

Notes

1. 33:18, 19. The things that terrified them before, such as Assyrian officials counting the tribute, will all belong to the past.
2. 34:6, 7. God's judgment of Edom pictured as a sacrifice in Bozrah, an Edomite city.
3. 34:16. 'The book of the Lord': this probably refers to a collection of Isaiah's previous prophecies. None of them shall fail. The Spirit of God will accomplish in history what the mouth of God's servant has declared in prophecy. Cf. 55: 11; Je. 1:9, 10.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Isaiah 30:18-32:20

Study 18 From the Book of Isaiah is: Isaiah 30:18 – 32:20

1. What blessings does God promise to His people after their trials? Cf. 30:18-29; 32:1-8, 15-20. How has the promise of a Teacher been fulfilled to us in Christ? Look up Jn. 14:26; 16:13, in this connection. Are we sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit (30:21)?
2. Many trusted in Egypt because she seemed strong (31:1). How does Isaiah here show the folly of this, as compared with trusting the Lord?

Notes

1. 30:25, 26. A poetic description of the blessings of the new age, to be interpreted symbolically as showing the abundance of God's provision. For the phrase 'when the towers fall', cf. 2:11-17.
2. 30:27-33. Notice the wealth of imaginative metaphor—the storm, the flood, the bridle. The meaning of verse 32 is not fully clear. Moffatt renders 'He clubs them down to peals of merry music'. 'Topheth' (verse 33, mg.) was the name given to the valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem, where the foul rites of human sacrifice were practiced in honour of the god Molech. Its original meaning seems to have been 'fire place', and Isaiah declares that God has prepared such a place for a great holocaust in honour of the king (of Assyria). There is a play upon words in the Hebrew, for the word for 'king' is melek (=Molech).

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