"Loved and Loving: John's Epistles" -- Open Dialogue with Dr. Martin Hanna

[Martin Hanna]

Dear Sabbath School Scholars,
Please join me in sharing questions and thoughts on this quarter’s Sabbath School Study Guide on "Loved and Loving: John's Epistles." This forum is intended to be a place for raising questions related to the Study Guide and for respectfully considering each others perspectives. Where we disagree, let us disagree agreeably.

[Barrington Brennen]

Dr. Hanna, why do you think the three letters of John were written? If it is really dealing with heresies of the day do we have similar heresies today?

[Martin Hanna]

Thanks for getting our discussion started, Pastor Brennen!

"False teachers spreading error among the saints? Deviant views on the nature of Christ? Power struggles in the church? Theological errors spreading in the pews? Folk needing assurance of salvation? Others needing to know that faith must lead to obedience to the law?

"Sounds like our church today, right?"

Fortunately, John did not only write about the problems. He presented the solution in Jesus Christ. The memory text identifies a major reason why he wrote. He announces: "we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14, NKJV). Praise the Lord!

At the same time, John does address the problems in the Church, and so must we. Like John we must do this with a loving attitude. So here are some questions for discussion arising from the lesson. Lets discuss them with a spirit of love for each other.

1. What is the truth about the nature of Christ?

2. Is there good church politics and bad church politics? Or is all church politics bad?

3. Can we be absolutely sure that we are saved? Can one be truly saved and then fall from salvation?

4. Do we have the truth in our church in an absolutely pure form? Or do we have to examine ourselves to correct errors and to grow in our understanding of truth?

5. How do you explain Paul's teaching (a) that we are justified without the works of the law (Rom 3:28) and (b) that the doers of the law will be justified (Rom 2:13)?

Choose one or more of these questions and share your thoughts. You don't have to answer all the questions. And remember, let us dialog in love and patience with each other.

[Randolph Bowlin]

Thank you Dr. Martin Hanna for your scholarship sharing.

[Kareem L. Black]

As the bible says, in God "there is no darkness at all." If we are in Christ how can we walk in darkness? The world craves an easy religion, which equates to salvation with minimal sacrifice but we can't be half and half with God. He requires a total commitment. My admonition brethren is let's follow Christ and walk as he walked. Abiding in Him is our only assurance of salvation.

It has been an observation that there have been attempts to water down the cutting truths of the gospel and the piety of the Christian walk. There has been some gradual compromising along the way leading to more blatant infractions upon the will of God. The level of deception especially self-deception is so prevalent that many profess that "we're only human" and "we all make mistakes" as excuses to cover up or to downplay sin. Is sin something to play with, if the cost of salvation was the blood of Jesus Christ? Can there ever be an excuse for sin, in the light of all that God has done to redeem fallen man? What sin do you have to commit? Really?

Happy Sabbath

[Martin Hanna]

Thanks for your contribution to our discussion Kareem! The message of John’s Epistles reminds us of the seriousness of our sin and the power of Jesus to save us from our sin.

On the one hand, John teaches that we must be willing to confess or admit our sin (1 Jn 1:9). If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1:8). If we say that we have not sinned we make him a liar and his word is not in us (1:10). Fortunately, if we sin, we have Jesus as our advocate with the Father (2:1).

On the other hand, John writes to encourage us not to abide or continue in sin (2:1). The one who is born of God and abides or continues in Christ does not and cannot abide or continue in sin (3:4-9). If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1:9). The sin that is confessed, forgiven, and cleansed is the sin that does not lead to eternal death (5:16-17).

May God help us to admit our sins and to accept God’s forgiveness and cleansing!