Study of 1st John - Clint Davison - 11-15-2020
Teacher
Lesson Summary
During the November 15, 2020 class, the teacher examined 1 John 3:28‑29, emphasizing that believers must "remain in Him" so they will not be ashamed at Christ’s return. He explained that knowing Christ intellectually (the Greek oídē) is insufficient; true discipleship requires experiential knowledge (gínōskō) expressed through righteous living. By comparing children’s likeness to their fathers, he illustrated how the Holy Spirit shapes believers to resemble God, producing love, confidence, and victory over the world. The lesson connected this passage to other key verses—Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 2:6, 4:7, and several verses from chapter 5—showing that love, belief, and sinlessness are tangible marks of being born of God. The central message was clear: authentic faith is demonstrated by practice, not merely by doctrine, and this practice guards believers against shame and false teachings as they anticipate Christ’s second coming.
Key Scriptures
Now, little children, remain in him so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know this as well. Everyone who does what is right or does righteousness has been born of him. See what great love the father has given us, that we should be called God's children. And we are. The reason the world doesn't know us is that it didn't know him. Dear friends, we are God's children now. And what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
if you know that he is righteous, you know also that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.