Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

God's message to us? Love one another. 1 John 3:11-12  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12)  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.    Under the flawless guidance of God's Spirit, John gave us a timeless message. It is a message of truth from God that connects back to creation. This timeless message is that we should love one another. Adam and Eve were to love one another. Their children were taught to love one another. This is a universal message from God. The fall of man into sin ruined the innocence and moral purity enjoyed by Adam and Eve. The command to "love one another" is followed by a negative example that is opposite of the love we are called to.  Cain and Abel were the offspring of Adam and Eve. Yet, one son rose up and murdered the other son.  Why did Cain kill Abel? Because God acce

Jesus came to destroy Satan's e vil works.  1 John 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Satan sinned from the beginning. Jesus was ordained to destroy the devil's works, from the beginning .  John continues to teach about those who profess to know Jesus Christ, but live in a state of constant sin. Those who profess faith in Christ but have a life pattern marked by sin, are of the devil.  This connects with the truth that those who say they know Jesus Christ, but do not keep His commands, are liars (1 John 1:6: 2:3-4; 9-11). The Spirit of God guided John to remind us that the devil sinned from the beginning. This connects with creation and Genesis 3, where Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin. Thus, he sinned from the beginning.  The Holy Spirit also teaches us that Jesus Christ was born as a man for the specific intent of destroying the

God's love must impact our lives. 1 John 3:1-3  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   In this chapter, John has helped us think about and rejoice in the Father's love for us. He reminds us about the glory of each believer being a fully adopted child of God. The apostle also tells us to remember that the world hated Jesus and will hate His disciples.  Then, he turned our eyes to the future appearing of Jesus Christ to take His church home to heaven.  All of these things are true, Christians are urged to live a holy life that seeks to honor God in all that we think, say and do. Next, the Spiri

The world does not know Jesus Christ or His disciples.  1 John 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  John 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.  We examined this great truth from the Holy Spirit guided writing of the apostle John.  It is always worth taking time to think about what kind of love the Father has for us. We noted that His love is a saving, sanctifying, life changing love.  It is a love that includes full adoption of each repentant sinner into the family of God, giving us full legal status as His children, the sheep of His pasture. However, we also see today, that this is a love that the world (nations, cultures and people) cannot know, apart from saving faith in Christ.  John's gospel also noted that Jesus Christ the Creator, was in the world and the world knew Him not.  The sinner walks in

What kind of love does the Father give to us? 1 John 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  The word "Behold" is always used to catch our attention on the truth that will follow. It has a sense of urgency that we must turn our thoughts and focus to the truth that follows. The Spirit of God guided John to help us think about "the manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us." God wants us to think about His love for all mankind and for believers in Christ.  Sinners saved by repentant faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God, are now called sons of God. The Father's love is a regenerating, renewing love. Titus 3:4-7  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  5)  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing

{Please remember that I published archive indexes to help you find topics that we have studied over four years of ministry with the blog.  The index for years 2019 to 2021 was posted September 7, 2022. The index for 2022 was posted January 24, 2023.}   Under the guidance of God's Spirit, the apostle John shared important truth for the church to hear and heed.  He has addressed false professions of faith in Christ. Those who say they know Jesus but do not keep His commands, are liars. Those who say they love God and hate their brother or sister in Christ are liars. Those who say they love God but live for the world, do not have the truth dwelling in them. John  followed these litmus tests by giving us explicit warnings about the spirit of antichrist.  Those who have the spirit of antichrist, do not abide in the apostolic doctrines.  They deny the deity and eternal existence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Stay in the Word of God and abide in Christ.  1 John 2:24  Let that therefore abide