STORY GUIDE 1 JOHN 2:7-17

LIVING IN THE LIGHT

New Testament Lesson #238

The Apostle John wrote the gospel of John. He world the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes
and the boasting of what he has and does comes not
also wrote three small letters that are found near the
from the Father but from the world. The world and its
end of the New Testament. John is writing these letters
desires pass away, but the man who does the will of
to believers to encourage them in their faith. He also
God lives forever (1 John 2:15-17).
desires to motivate them to live the right way because
Thats a powerful lesson we need to learn, to not
of their association with God.
love the world, but love God with all our hearts and
In Johns first letter, he describes in the opening
minds!
chapter how God is light; in him there is no darkness
at all (1 John 1:5). For those who believe in God and
POINTS TO CONSIDER:
His promises, they are His children. Because of this,
they need to associate with His light and not walk in
Jesus made a similar point connected to not loving
darkness, meaning we should not behave in a way that
the world, by emphasizing to his disciples on what
goes against God. Specifically John writes, If we
they should be focusing their attention. He tells
claim to have fellowship with him (God) yet walk in
them: So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat?
darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we
or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
For the pagans run after all these things, and your
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his
heavenly Father knows that you need them. But
Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:6-7).
seek first his (Gods) kingdom and his righteousness,
John continues to emphasize the importance to walk
and all these things will be given to you as well.
in the light in chapter 2. This means obeying Jesus
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
commands. Whoever claims to live in him must walk
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
as Jesus did, John writes (1 John 2:6). And, Anyone
enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:32-34).
who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is
still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in
John recorded how Jesus said that he was the light of
the light, and there is nothing in him to make him
the world. John writes, When Jesus spoke again to
stumble (1 John 2:9-10).
the people, he said, I am the light of the world.
John is making it clear that doing the right thing
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
according to Gods commands, is living and walking in
but will have the light of life (John 8:12).
the light. The opposite behavior or disobeying God is
walking in darkness. As John says, whoever hates his
People in the world that are not interested in God
brother is in the darkness and walks around in the
love the darkness in the world much better than the
darkness; he does not know where he is going, because
light associated with God. John writes in his gospel,
the darkness has blinded him (1 John 2:11).
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world,
John goes on to encourage all ages of people to
but men loved darkness instead of light because their
whom he is writing, children, fathers, and young men.
deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the
They need to appreciate what they have received from
light, and will not come into the light for fear that
God through Jesus. They are Gods children, and He is
his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the
their Father. They have received the forgiveness of sins
truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
through Jesus. They should not be concerned or
plainly that what he has done has been done through
troubled by things in their lives, because you are
God (John 3:19-21).
strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have
overcome the evil one (1 John 1:14).
Jesus taught his disciples how they too were to be
He then makes an important point, emphasizing the
the light of the world. Matthew records how Jesus
need to not love the things associated with darkness.
taught them, You are the light of the world. A city
Loving darkness is the same as loving the world and
on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a
everything that is associated with it. However, those
lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on
things will all come to an end. But those with God and
its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
associated with Him will live forever.
In the same way, let your light shine before men,
John writes it this way: Do not love the world or
that they may see your good deeds and praise your
anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).
love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the
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 ANSWER KEY 1 JOHN 2:7-17

LIVING IN THE LIGHT

New Testament Lesson #238

ANSWER KEY:

PATH 1
Anyone who loves his brother lives in the light.

PATH 2
Anyone who hates his brother is still in darkness.

Do not LOVE the WORLD or anything in the

WORLD. For EVERYTHING in the WORLD the
CRAVINGS of SINFUL people, the LUST of their
EYES and the BOASTING of what they have and do
comes not from the FATHER but from the WORLD.
The WORLD and its DESIRES PASS AWAY, but the
person who DOES the WILL of God LIVES
FOREVER.

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