Since the fall of humanity, when Satan tricked Eve and then Cain killed Abel, the family of God and the family of Satan have been at war. John tells us that those who are in the family of God have been born again and are called children of God. As followers of Christ, we become more and more like Him each day, practicing righteousness and loving our brothers and sisters. Those who are in the family of Satan, John says, do not know God and make a practice of lawlessness, which is sin. If you are like me, you might be thinking, “I am confident that I have been born again, but I still sin. Does that mean that I practice lawlessness?” John says in verse 4 that the people who are not in God’s family make a practice of sinning. This means doing it over and over again with no intention of stopping. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who works in us and makes us more like Jesus each day. This process is called progressive sanctification. Over time, not overnight, as we seek God and abide in His Word, we begin to sin less.
The ultimate act of love was Jesus laying down His life in our place. Because of this, we are able to know and give love to our brothers and sisters in Christ by laying down our lives. John tells us in verse 17 that you can’t have God’s love abiding in you while, at the same time, denying help to your brother or sister in need when you are able to give it. As we receive God’s love, we should be quick to be a conduit of that love to those around us, not just by telling them about God's love or about how much we love them, but by showing them through our actions.
We don’t have to guess which family we belong to, God is greater than our doubting hearts! God is so good that He has given us ways to reassure us of our position before Him, and He has given us the Holy Spirit, who is in us. When we trust Jesus and love one another, we can know that we are in the family of God.
1. Verse 28 say that we can have confidence and not shrink in shame from Him at His coming. Do you have confidence in your position before God or do you struggle to believe you have truly been born again? Explain why.
2. John tells us that we cannot have God’s love abiding in us and not love our bothers and sisters. How is this challenging to you? Is there someone you struggle to show love to but should? Identify one way you can show that person love this week and do it!
3. What family do you belong to? Do your actions align with this? If not, how can you ask the Holy Spirit to work in you to change your actions and be a better conduit of God’s love?
Read 1 John 2:28-3:24 with your family and use these questions to guide your conversation about what 1 John 2:28-3:24 says and what it means for our lives today.
1. Read Romans 8:14-17 What does it mean that John says we should be called children of God?
2. What is the difference in practicing sin and sin as someone who abides in God? (Discuss how as believers this does not mean we get to sin without concern but instead we repent of our sin and ask the Holy Spirit to work in us.)
3. What is one way you can share God’s love with those around you this week through your actions? Once you have identified the way you can do this go and do it! Share how it went with those around you at home or at church!