Read verses 4-5. What does it mean for us to overcome the world? How does our faith in Christ offer us this victory?
Read verses 6-8. What significance do you find in Jesus coming by water and blood? How does the Spirit's testimony confirm this?
Read verses 9-11. How does believing in the Son of God give us the testimony within ourselves? What is the testimony?
Read verse 12. Can you have the life without the Son? What does this mean for the teaching of a “second blessing”?
Read verse 13. What assurance do we have as believers in the Son of God? How can this knowledge affect our confidence?
Read verses 14-15. How might this passage easily be misinterpreted? What does it really mean in context? (Hint: Use verse 16 to help you.)
Read verses 16-17. What is the difference between “the sin leading to death” and “the sin not leading to death”? Why can’t we pray someone out of the sin leading to death?
Read verse 18. What does it mean that no one who is born of God sins? How exactly does the finished work of Christ keep us safe from the evil one?
Read verses 19-21. Discuss the contrast between being of God and the world lying in the power of the evil one. How does knowing the truth affect your perspective on the world’s belief systems?