New Testament Reading Plan Week 37: 1 John 3–3 John
First John 3:1 contains one of the clearest affirmations of who we are in relation to God. Take a few minutes to reflect on the dramatic emphasis the apostle John conveys here. You can even go word by word or phrase by phrase to let these words sink in. How remarkable it is that God shows us such great love! How shocking and gracious it is that the God of the universe calls us his children!
One phrase in 1 John 4:8 is often taken from its context: “God is love.” As C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity, “All sorts of people are fond of repeating the Christian statement that ‘God is love’. . . . Of course, what these people mean when they say that God is love is often something quite different: they really mean ‘Love is God’. They really mean that our feelings of love, however and wherever they arise, and whatever results they produce, are to be treated with great respect. Perhaps they are: but that is something quite different from what Christians mean by the statement ‘God is love’.” Reflect for a moment on the differences between those two phrases (“God is love” and “love is God”). How does 1 John 4 help you see God’s love more clearly? How might this understanding of God's love change shift how you love others?
Our culture often thinks of love as a feeling: you’re either in love or you’re not—and if you’re not in love, there’s simply nothing to be done about it. Yet 1 John is clear on this point: love isn’t only a feeling, though our affections play an important role. Consider how John ties our faith and our love together in chapter 5:3–4. As you read through the rest of the chapter, remember how love is the motivation: it’s why God rescued us from sin, and now it’s why we obey his commands.
Does 2 John seem like the Cliff’s Notes version of 1 John? To be certain, the apostle affirms some of the same themes from 1 John. Yet it’s still God’s living and active Word for us. Consider the specific encouragements and warnings in 2 John. What does John applaud in his readers? What does John warn against? Which sticks out to you today?
Third John calls us to think about how we love and protect God’s people. How does John urge the Church to care for one another (vv. 5–8)? How does John model correction for false teachers (vv. 9–12)?
New Testament Reading Plan Week 37: 1 John 3–3 John