NT Come Follow Me 49
Introduction:
“God Is Love”
People were already questioning whether Jesus was
resurrected back when John and Jude were teaching the people. Be believing.
1 John 4:1–3
If people testify that Christ came back in the flesh, then they are witnesses
for Him and true. If they confess not the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then
they have the spirit of antichrist.
2 John 1:7 Deceivers and those with the spirit of antichrist confess not the resurrected Christ.
John gave his testimony to such.
1 John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.”
Continued in JST:
“This is the testimony which we give of that which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.”
John taught the people of God’s love and how we should love one another.
John 13:23; 20:2 John had personally experienced the Savior’s love for him.
In these latter day’s we can hold on to the gospel of Jesus
Christ, the gospel of love.
1 John 4:18
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth
out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect
in love.
Personal Study: God is light, and God is love.
1 John 1:5 God is light. There is no darkness in Him at all.
2:8–11 If we hate others, we are in darkness. If we love our brothers and sisters, we are abiding in the light.
3:16, 23–24 Surely God and Jesus love us. The Father sent His Son, and He gave His life for us. We should also be willing to do so for each other. We need to believe on the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. And we should love one another as He has asked us to do. If we keep His commandments, we will dwell in Him and He in us, and we can know this through the Spirit.
4:7–21 Powerful testimony of God’s love for us and why we should also love our brothers and sisters.
Two of the most
important scriptures for all Christianity and humanity:
John 3:16–17 16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
12:35–36, 46 Jesus declares to us that He is the light, and asks us to walk with Him in the light.
15:9–14 Jesus followed His Father’s example of love; He opened Him in every particular; Jesus has also loved us, and we can show our love for Him be keeping His commandments.
19:25–27 Jesus asked John to take care of His mother after He died. He asked for them to be as a mother and son to each other. How we choose to act towards one another is how we treat the Lord Himself.
What experiences have taught you that God is light and love? When I live close to the Spirit and trust in Him, I feel love and light and peace and joy.
Personal Study: “If we love one another, God dwelleth in
us.”
See Scripture
sections for 1 John 2-4 and 2 John.
2 John 1:9
If we abide in the doctrine of Christ, we have both the Father and the Son.
I need to do better to set aside fears and let the peace of the Father and the
Son be with me throughout each day and not. Feeling the witnessing presence of
the Holy Ghost and realizing Their love is so important. It is life.
Personal Study: I can become like Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:28; 3:2 “Little children, abide in him; that, when he
shall appear, we may have confidence … [and] we shall be like him.”
1 John 2:24–29 Staying on the covenant path will lead us to eternal life through the Father’s and the Son’s love. The promise is sure. We have been anointed to become heirs. If we do righteously, we are born of Him.
3:1–3 See what manner of love God has given to
us, that we can be called His sons and daughters.
“when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in
him purifieth himself, even as he is pure”
Moroni 7:48 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.”
Doctrine and Covenants 88:67–68 67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.
Personal
Study: Has “no man … seen God at any
time”?
1 John 4:12
JST “No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe.”
God the Father has
manifested Himself to faithful individuals many times, including John himself.
Acts 7:55–56 Stephen looked up to heaven and God and Jesus standing on His right hand.
1 Nephi 1:8 Lehi saw the heavens open and God sitting on His
throne surrounded by angels.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:23 Joseph and Sidney saw Jesus on the right hand of God, and heard a voice bearing record that He is the only begotten of the Father.
Joseph Smith—History
1:16–17 Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son, and the Father
introduced His Son and told Jospeh to hear Him.
Personal
Study: As I exercise faith in Jesus
Christ and am born again, I can overcome the world.
When you read 1 John 5, look for what we must do to overcome the world
and gain eternal life.
What things must you
do as you strive to overcome the world? The Spirit will tell you. Are you
listening?
Personal Study: “[Build] up yourselves on your most holy
faith.”
Work on keeping your
faith in Jesus Christ strong.
See reading section
for Jude.
Family Study: Loving One Another Brings Light into our
Lives
1 John 2:8–11
Remember the darkness is past! The true light, Jesus Christ, shineth. If you
love your fellow men, you are walking in the light.
Family Study: Increasing in Confidence of the Love of
God.
1 John 3:21–22
Do not belittle your fellow saints, so that your confidence and their
confidence can increase. We are greatly blessed by our Heavenly Father, as we
keep His commandments; and He will give us whatever we ask of Him.
Family Study: Loving God Means that We Keep His
Commandments
1 John 5:2–3
We are so blessed when we keep His commandments, with His Spirit, peace and
joy, so that we realize that His commandments aren’t grievous.
Family Study: Walking in Truth
3 John 1:4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that
my children walk in truth.”
Family Study: Earnestly Contend for the Faith
2 Mercy unto
you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
Jude 1:3–4
Don’t allow evil philosophies and worldly people to distract you from the love
of God. Those who deny Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want to derail you. Be
sure to hold to the rod, stay on the covenant path and contend for the faith.
What does 1 John teaches about the light and love of
God?
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-jn/1?lang=eng
The Saints gain
fellowship with God by obedience—We must confess our sins to gain forgiveness.
Vs 3-10 The gospel of
repentance allows us to have fellowship with the Father and the Son. Truth is
found in Them and in obedience to their commandments. If we are faithful to our
covenants, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all sin.
Look for the words “abide” and “dwell” as you
read 1 John 2–4.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-jn/2?lang=eng
Christ is our
Advocate with the Father—We know God by obedience—Love not the
world—Anti-Christs will come in the last days.
Vs 1-2 Jesus came so that we
could overcome sin through Him; not just us, but the whole world. He is our
advocate with the Father.
Vs 3-5 We cannot know God
if we don't keep His commandments.
Vs 6 If we claim Jesus as
our Savior, we should strive to walk as He walked.
Vs 12 Jesus Christ has
atoned for all little children. There is no sin in them. They have known the
Father.
Vs 17 Think celestial. Set
your sights on God's will and eternity.
Vs 18-20 Pray from those
who have apostatized that they might find their way to repentance and
forgiveness. Many of them are no longer of us. Although we may love them, it is
important for our love and allegience to be with and to the Lord.
Vs 22-23 This is interesting. It seems that John thought that those who
deny that Jesus is the Christ and that God is the Father are liars. It appears
that they have made a conscious choice to deny light and truth.
If we acknowledge the Son, we also acknowledge His Father.
Vs 24-25 Hold on to the testimony of the Plan of Salvation always. Let it abide
in you; continue in the Son and in the Father. Then you will the promise of
Eternal Life fulfilled in your behalf.
Vs 27-29 Because of your
anointing, you can know the truth through the teachings of the Holy Ghost. Seek
revelation. Attend the temple. Be righteous, and abide in Him.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-jn/3?lang=eng
The sons of God will
become like Christ—Love for others is required to gain eternal life—Obedience
ensures us an answer to our prayers.
Vs 1-3 The glorious plan of
Happiness allows us to become the children of God once again by entering into
covenants with Him. What we will inherit is beyond our current comprehesion,
but when he comed again, we will see Him as He is.
Vs 7-10 Not all choices
are equal; not all life styles are exalting. Only through doing righteousness
can we have His Spirit to be with us and be born of Him. Choosing evil is
ignoring God's commandments and following the devil. We can't be children of
the devil and heirs of the kingdom of God.
Vs 11 God has always
commanded that we should love one another.
Vs 15 If we hate our
brother, we murder hope and faith and the opportunity to serve and help lift
and save our brother. We should desire that everyone be given the opportunity
to Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.
Vs 16 Jesus laid down His
life to save us. We should be willing to do the same for each other. More
especially, we should devote our lives to restoring life to those who are dead
to the truth, just as Jesus does.
Vs 18 How can you show
your love in deed and in truth?
Vs 23-24 Trust in the
Spirit that Christ sends you as a witness of His love, that He is with you.
Continue to dwell in Him.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-jn/4?lang=eng
Try the spirits—God
is love and dwells in those who love Him.
Vs 2-3 Those who confess that
Jesus was born in the flesh and was resurrected again in the flesh is of God.
Those who deny Jesus Christ's divine Sonship and resurrection are of the spirit
of antichrist.
Vs 4 We are as God's
little children who have overcome; because God who is in us is greater than he
(Satan) that is in the world.
Vs 6 Those who know God
will hear us and the missionaries. They will recognize the Spirit of Truth.
Vs 7-13 God loved us and
sent His Son. We also should love one another. Beautiful scriptures:
7 Beloved, let
us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that
loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that
loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was
manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for
our sins.
11 Beloved, if
God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man
hath seen God at any time. If we love one
another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know
we that we dwell
Vs 14-21 John was with Jesus in his Mortal Ministry, and Jesus was again
with Him after His resurrection. He boldly confesses that Jesus is the Son of
God. If we do the same, God will dwell in us, and we in Him; just as John has
done.
Beautiful scriptures:
14 And
we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the
Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever
shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and
he in God.
16 And
we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he
that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein
is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him,
because he first loved us.
20 If
a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is
a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen,
how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And
this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his
brother also.
As you read 1 John 5, look for what we must do to overcome the world
and gain eternal life.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-jn/5?lang=eng
Saints are born of
God through belief in Christ—Water, blood, and the Spirit testify of
Christ—Belief in Christ is required in order to gain eternal life.
Vs 1-2 If we love the Father, we
love the Son who is born of Him. If we love God, we love all the people of the
earth, who were his spiritual sons and daughters before this life. If we love
God and keep His commandments, we cannot ignore the two most important, to love
God with all we have and are and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Vs 5-9 We can overcome the world by living the doctrine of Christ and being
baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
There is a witness of Jesus Christ's divity at the time of His baptism, as He
was obedient to His Father, and His Father spoke from Heaven, and the Holy
Ghost descended in the sign of a dove.
We also have been born of water and blood. To be born of the
Spirit, we must be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.
Vs 10-13 If we believe in Jesus Christ
as the Son of God, we will have eternal life given to us as a gift, which life
is in God's Son, who died and lives for us.
We must believe on the name of the Son of God, even Jesus Christ.
Vs 14-15 Have faith that God wants to give you all good gifts. Believe in Him
and His love for you. Petition HIm and know that He will give you the righteous
desires of your heart.
Vs 20-21 Stay true to God
and His Son. This is eternal life. Stay away from idols and substitutes for the
peace and security that only comes from God.
Look for the words “abide” and “dwell” as you
read 2 John.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-jn/1?lang=eng
John rejoices because
the children of the elect lady are true and faithful.
Vs 1 ff Is the Elect
Lady Mary, whom Jesus told John to take care of as his own mother? Is it
someone else? Is it all the righteous women of the Church? Is John writing to
you?
Vs 5-8 Keep the same
commandments that have always been taught, especially that we should love one
another. Don't let deceivers still your joy now or your most precious future
reward.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/3-jn/1?lang=eng
John commends Gaius
for his help to those who love the truth.
Vs 4 Every parent is happy when
they hear their children are walking in truth; but, John's words go beyond
that. John says these words also in relation to those he has taught and those
he has shared with in the church.
Vs 14 It is so important
to learn peoples names and address them by name.
https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/jude/1?lang=eng
Contend for the
faith—Some angels kept not their first estate—Michael disputed about the body
of Moses—Enoch prophesied of the Second Coming—Mockers will come in the last
days.
Vs 1-2 Jude is the brother of
James, and so he is also the brother of our Lord Jesus. Here he addresses the
faithful saints with blessings of mercy, peace, and love.
Vs 3 How are you earnestly
contending for the faith?
What does Jude
1:10–19 teach you about those who fight against God and His work?
Vs 12 ff Descriptions of
those who mock spiritual things and seek to deceive good Christians.
Vs 14-15 Enoch prophesied
how these ungodly people will be brought to judgment.
Vs 17-19 Remember the apostles warned you about these
mockers who walk after their own ungodly lusts, are sensual, and don't have the
Spirit.
What do you learn from
verses 20–25 about how to keep your faith in Jesus Christ strong?
Vs 20-25 I can keep myself in the love
of God by
1. building myself up in the Faith of Jesus Christ.
2. Praying with and seeking the Holy Ghost.
3. Seeking the mercy of Jesus Christ which is unto life eternal
life.
4. Show compassion to others and make a difference.
5. Save others from fear; pull them out of the fire; help them get
past their axieties and feel hope and faith again.
Jesus is the One that can keep you from falling, and present you
faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
6. Give glory to Hm and praise His majesty, dominion and power,
today, and always, forever.
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