The Untransformed Life Error (1 John 2:28-3:10)

Early Errors
A Study of 1st John

1. What are the key words in this section? Write them down along with how often they appear:
* This section has a 315-word count. Read through this section with a friend or friends and try to determine some of the KEY words -- words that appear most often (hint: key nouns/verbs, not as, be, in, is, of, on, so, to, us, will, etc).

Children, appear, sin/sinning, right/righteous, continue, etc

2. What do we mean when we say “He’s his father’s son” or “She’s her mother’s daughter”? How can you tell someone has been ‘born of’ God?

We mean that the child shares his/her characteristics or gifts/abilities or mannerisms (etc) with his/her parent. Likewise, if someone is a child of God, they too will share some of His traits.


3. What do you think John has in mind when he says “What we will be has not yet been made known”?

What the mature Christian church (or individual) will look like is un-clear just like we cannot perfectly predict the appearance a child will have 25 years from now. John could be referring to the resurrection bodies as well.

4. John seems to be very repetitive in today’s passage. Do you think he feels this point is very important?

29 Born of Him  Do what is right
3 Hope in Him  Purifies himself
6 Lives in Him  Stops sinning
9 Born of God  Stops sinning
10 Child of God  Does what is right

He's being repetitive b/c this is his central point. God's true people have transforming behaviors.

5. In what sense does John mean the word ‘know’ in verses 1 & 6? Why is this significant?

We tend to use the word 'know' to talk about information. Biblically, however, the word 'know' is fuller and could well be defined "to have proper relations with." Abraham 'knew' his wife and she bore him a son (you get the point). John is saying that the world does not relate properly to the church b/c they don't relate properly to Christ. Some people 'knew' Jesus informationally, but didn't relate properly to Him. The powerful point here is that when someone relates properly to Jesus, they will not 'continue' to sin.

6. When was Satan’s work destroyed? (8)
This passage, along with many others, suggests that we do not wait for the 2nd Coming to defeat Satan, Satan was destroyed when Jesus appeared (past tense). We have the authority necessary for victory here and now.