1 John 3-5

• 3:1-3 – It’s pretty incredible to think of ourselves as children of God. We have been adopted into his family because he loves us and wants us.
• 3:3 – “Little children” is how God is referring to us, his children. Not necessarily to children as defined by age
• 3:16-18 – Jesus didn’t just talk about loving us, he showed us by dying for us on the cross. If we simply say we love our neighbors, our words are worthless. We must show it with our actions.
• 3:19-24 – Salvation through grace does not exempt us from following God with our lives. We are still to follow his commands and live according to his will – actually even more so because of the gift of salvation.
• 4:1-6 – This section encourages us to use discernment in who we trust and listen to. It also explains the difference and reminds us that the Spirit of God is greater than the spirits of the world.
• 4:7-12 – The love we have for one another is love from God. God loved us first which then shows us how to love others.
• 4:18 – This is how we can decipher what is true love – it does not operate on fear.
• 5:3 – This is powerful because often we feel that if we obey God our lives will be boring and lifeless, but this reminds us that following God’s commands is actually beneficial and freeing for us.
• 5:13-15 – When we believe in Christ, we receive eternal life. We also have a connection with him so that he hears our prayers.
• 5:18 – When we accept Christ we are to be transformed, which means we change and leave behind sins and walk towards righteousness. This, of course, is a process.