1 John Bible Study, Evidence #2 Have you turned from sin? Sunday January 1, 2023
|   | 9:00 AM Bible Study 1 John Bible Study Evidence #2 Have you turned from sin? “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, …” 1 John 5:13 “Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?” Luke 6:46 (AMP) “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. . .” 1 John 2:1 “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.” 1 John 2:1(NLT) Remember, John learned to look deeper, rather than accept a simple testimony from a person who claimed to be a Christian, because Christ taught him to verify salvation by a person’s fruit. Our Lord warned in Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT) by saying, 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Jesus continued in verses 21-23 and clearly warned that many, many people would unite with the church and become known to the world as Christians. But, most of these people will be fakes. They would be deceived and sincere, but still, not real. And the only way to know for sure was evidence that existed beyond the surface, way beneath the sheep skins. Christ proclaimed that those who broke God’s laws were fake, even if they were popular and even preachers, sincere and spiritual leaders, and even miraculous and famous. Here’s what Jesus warned. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ Matt 7:21-23 (NLT) So let’s carefully examine John’s second evidence. Download the student pdf here … Evidence #2 Have You turned From Sin Student 
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 The great Messiah left us here, in this very day, to BE THE LIGHT! He calls us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) It is not what we say, it is what we do that shines brightly and opens the eyes of all who “walk in darkness”. Our neighbors do not see Jesus, nor understand the gospel. But, they understand that giving gifts to their kids, family, and friends is what love is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Our neighbors saw love when they came to our fall festival and received our free gifts of friendship, kindness to their children, and food. We were the light when darkness was celebrated. The neighbors who do not know Jesus, but brought shoe boxes to our church for needy kids across the world, saw we love others. We were the light! In December we will continue to be the light of the world. When we take our focus off of our own pleasures and turn our eyes to our neighbors who live in Port Saint Lucie, we shine brightly. “… if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5)
The great Messiah left us here, in this very day, to BE THE LIGHT! He calls us to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) It is not what we say, it is what we do that shines brightly and opens the eyes of all who “walk in darkness”. Our neighbors do not see Jesus, nor understand the gospel. But, they understand that giving gifts to their kids, family, and friends is what love is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” Our neighbors saw love when they came to our fall festival and received our free gifts of friendship, kindness to their children, and food. We were the light when darkness was celebrated. The neighbors who do not know Jesus, but brought shoe boxes to our church for needy kids across the world, saw we love others. We were the light! In December we will continue to be the light of the world. When we take our focus off of our own pleasures and turn our eyes to our neighbors who live in Port Saint Lucie, we shine brightly. “… if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5)