Introduction
There’s a story of a man who left home once he turned eighteen. He headed to California to see the world for himself. But he hadn’t been in the state 15 minutes when an armed robber took his savings and his car. A kind Samaritan drove him to Los Angeles and gave him $20, but he soon found out that making your own way in life is hard work. Without money or a place to live, he soon became too dirty to do anything but beg. Each morning he would walk along Santa Monica Boulevard with his hand out, asking people for change. One day a lady gave him a dollar which he quickly pocketed so that he could approach the next pedestrian. He stretched out his hand, but couldn’t say anything – the man was his father. He was so thin and grimy his father didn’t recognize him at first, but as soon as he heard his son’s voice, he embraced him. “I’ve been looking for you,” he said. Looking back as an older man, that son realized that before he knew the man was his father, he’d asked for a few coins. But his father would have willingly given him everything he had. Do you know God, or is He just another stranger to you – generous but unknown. Learn how to know God in 1 John 5:19-21…
Observation
Pray
Ask for your heavenly ‘tour Guide’ to walk you through this passage and point out to you its significant points. Because He knows you, the Holy Spirit can give you a personalized tour that impacts your life directly.
Read Focus Verses
Walk through 1 John 5:19-21 and notice how God concludes this precious book we’ve been studying.
Place it in Context
If you have a little extra time, you might listen to the whole book of 1 John. This will expand your understanding of these concluding verses, and help put all the pieces of the various passages you’ve studied together. Consider listening to 1 John every day this week during your commute, a meal, or as you fall asleep at night.
Keyword – Know
The key word of this passage which brings to light its theme, is the word know.
God’s Family
As you go through these verses marking the word know, notice what Christians know.
Knowledge
What five things do Christians know according to this passage?
Find the Theme
What word appears three times in verse 20, and creates a kind of theme for the verse?
Keyword - True
The word true is a theme for verse 20.
Notice Who Is True
As you mark the word true, notice who or what is true.
Who is True
Who is True according to verse 20?
The Whole Wide World
What is the state of the world according to verse 19?
So We Can Know
What, according to verse 20, has God given His people so that they will know Him?
Final Instruction
What is the final instruction of this book?
Interpretation
Not One
Romans 3:10-12 expands on the description of the world given in 1 John 5:19. Notice the universality of this truth.
Who Understands
According to Romans 3:10-12 who seeks to know and understand God and His truth?
What Has God Done
This is a very serious problem. According to 1 John 5:20, what has God done about it?
Truth Speaks
Notice how Jesus speaks about God’s Word in John 17:17.
Connection
How would you explain the connection between God being true and His Word being truth?
Who is of God
Verse 19 speaks of those who are of God. 1 John has given us many characteristics of those who are of God. Notice how they are summarized in 1 John 3:23-24.
Characteristics of God’s People
What are the characteristics of God’s people found in 1 John 3:23-24?
True God and Eternal Life
Compare the end of 1 John 5:20 with Jesus’ words in John 17:3. Notice the similarities.
Knowing God
In both of these verses, what brings eternal life?
Divine Teacher
Notice the source of this knowledge in John 14:26.
That You Might Know
Who teaches believers to know God?
Think about It
Why do you think God leaves His people with the exhortation to keep themselves from idols as He closes this book?
Idols of the Heart
Watch this video, and notice some of the idols we are most prone to worship today.
Application
Do You Know?
Do you know God? Do you know that you are His and have eternal life in Him? How?
Identifying Idols
What are some idols of your heart which you struggle not to worship?
Keep Yourself
How are you going to keep yourself from each of those idols today?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you grow in your knowledge of God. Don’t forget to listen to 1 John this week!
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