LOVE

SESSION 5 – KELLY MINTER // WHAT LOVE IS

IN THIS EPISODE

• Day 1 discussion of 1 John 5:6-13 | 2:56
• Day 2 discussion of 1 John 5:14-15 | 14:32
• Day 3 discussion of 1 John 5:16-17 | 29:11
• Day 4 discussion of 1 John 5:18-20 | 37:11
• Day 5 discussion of 1 John 5:21 | 48:03

INSTANT TAKEAWAYS

1 | The Water, the Blood & the Spirit

This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. | 1 John 5:6-13

The Apostle John talks us through why it is important that we believe that Jesus was fully human and fully divine during his entire earthly ministry. He cites that Jesus came by water which points to the proof of his humanity & he cites the blood which points to the proof of his divinity. He then points out that the Holy Spirit testifies to both the water and the blood which is more proof of Christ’s ministry. This is what the core of our faith is built on, that through his blood we are cleansed from our sins & through his death we also have victory over sin and death.

2 | When we ask according to his will

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. | 1 John 5:14-15

We have the privilege to communicate with the Father directly through prayer and we can be confident that he hears us when we ask according to his will. John talks us through how aligning our hearts with God’s will take the focus off of our will and put it on him.

3 | Life giving prayers

If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. | 1 John 5:16-17

John addresses the issue of when we see our fellow believers in sin, the best thing that we can do is to pray for them. He assures us that our prayers can bring life to our brothers & sisters and this is a way that we can upkeep the fellowship of believers and maintain our community.

4 | Summation thoughts from John

We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. | 1 John 5:18-20

John starts the wrap-up to his letter to Ephesus. He assures believers that as God’s children he keeps us safe from the evil one because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

5 | Life in Christ, not in idols

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. | 1 John 5:21

John’s very last words are a directive that we should keep ourselves from idols so that we are finding our true life in Christ, not in the false promises of idols.

SHOW NOTES

In our 5th study session of Kelly Minter’s book “What Love Is: The Letters of 1,2,3 John” we cover the books of 2 + 3 John. Some themes we see in this week’s study include truths that our core faith is built on, praying in God’s will, and keeping Christ first in our hearts. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for this discussion!

Below are some links we mentioned in the episode in case you want to take a closer look:

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