September 1, 2019

1 John 5:1-5

1. Pastor Nate began by saying that we must consider whether or not we are saved. So what helped you to consider your spiritual condition? How can we help others to consider this weighty matter?

2. When looking at 1 John 5:1, Pastor Nate said about faith that it is, “not the quality or quantity of our faith that matters, but the object of our faith that saves.” How does this news help us understand that salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone?

3. Then while unpacking the mark of faith from v. 1, we heard several questions posed: “Who is Jesus according to the Scriptures?” & “What has Jesus accomplished & what will He accomplish according to the Scriptures?” Take time as a group to think through how you would answer those questions.

4. Then we looked at the tense of verbs in v. 1 to see that belief is only in light of God’s regenerating work…that God is the author of salvation. So what are ways people can undermine this truth concerning salvation? What are ways we can take credit for what God has done?

5. We saw in 1 John 5:1-3 how faith is revealed through our love for God & love for God’s people. Then in v. 3 we see that love is connected to keeping the commandments. Why does an attitude of obedience reveal what we really love?

6. While looking at 1 John 5:3, we considered how we are to practice God’s commands. Pastor Nate gave the example of Ephesians 4:32 to highlight a command we can know, but may not necessarily practice. What are other commands that we remember, but can easily fail to practice?

7. It was said that, “Greater dependence on the power of the Spirit of God leads to greater obedience to the Word of God.” What are examples from your life where you’ve seen this to be the case?

8. At the end of 1 John 5:3, we read about the commands of God that they are not burdensome, we were encouraged to see them as gifts from God for our good. Why do we often find it hard to believe that God’s commands are for our good?

9. As we finished with 1 John 5:4-5, we talked about the victory found in Christ over the world. We, who are in Christ, were exhorted to be of good courage as we engage the world. So what are ways this news of victory can propel you to be of good courage for the glory of God?