Grace Community
God still speaks today - through His perfectly sufficient written Word. What God says satisfies our intellectual hunger, and what He says shows the Beauty of His love for His people. Truth and Beauty come together in one place: God in His Word.
Grace Community
1 John 1:5-2:6 Peter Sharp
Read 1 John 1:5-2:6
How does understanding that this passage is primarily about sanctification rather than justification change the way you read it? The passage says "the blood of Jesus...purifies us from all sin" (1:7). Is this a one-time event or an ongoing reality? What's the significance?
In verses 8 and 10, John warns against claiming to be without sin. How might Christians today fall into this trap, even if they wouldn't explicitly say "I have no sin"? Do you tend to approach your Christian life more like "a blackboard wiped clean once that we must keep clean" or as constantly needing grace? How does this affect your relationship with God?
When you sin, is your first instinct to hide, make excuses, or confess? What does this reveal about your understanding of God's character? What's the difference between healthy conviction of sin and unhealthy, paralysing guilt? How can we tell the difference in our own lives?
How comfortable are you with being real with some people around you, not hiding things from God and others"? What makes confession difficult for you?
How can we cultivate a church culture that encourages "walking in the light"—being honest about sin—rather than pretending to have it all together?
The passage emphasises keeping God's commands, specifically believing in Jesus and loving one another (1 John 3:23). How does your life demonstrate these two commands practically?