N.T. Lesson 46: He Will Dwell with Them, and They Shall Be His People

"Lesson 46: “He Will Dwell with Them, and They Shall Be His People”," New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (2002)

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Purpose

To encourage class members to face the future with hope because they know that the forces of evil will be overcome and the Savior will reign in triumph.

Preparation

 http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-12-12-55.asp

1. 1. Read, ponder, and pray about the following scriptures:
   
   1. a. Revelation 5:1–5; 6. John sees through revelation a book with seven seals and observes some of the events of the first six seals, or time periods. He sees that Satan has fought against the righteous in all time periods.
      
   2. b. Revelation 19:1–9; 20:1–11. John sees that Satan will be bound and Christ will reign in triumph during the Millennium.
      
   3. c. Revelation 20:12–22:21. John learns that after the last judgment takes place, the righteous will dwell with God.
      
2. 2. Additional reading: Doctrine and Covenants 77; Bible Dictionary, “Revelation of John,” 762–63.
   
3. 3. Suggestion for teaching: “Above all, the most important preparation is of yourself. Prepare so as to have the influence of the Holy Ghost” (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently [1975], 219). Each of us should be striving to live as the Savior lived and to teach as he taught. Prayerfully consider what you can do to ensure that you are teaching with the influence of the Holy Ghost.
   

Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Display a recent newspaper, and point out two or three distressing articles, such as accounts of crimes or natural disasters.

• • How do you feel when you read about incidents such as these? (Do not discuss individual incidents in detail.)
  

Have a class member read 2 Timothy 3:1.
 1 This know also, that in the ^alast days perilous ^btimes shall come.

Point out that we are living in the last days, in the times the Apostle Paul described as “perilous.” Explain that one of the challenges of living in the last days is learning to conquer fear and despair so we can overcome trials and temptations. This lesson will discuss how we can find hope and courage through an understanding of the events to come in the last days.

Scripture Discussion and Application

Discuss how the following scripture passages can help us have hope as we face the difficulties of the last days. Help class members understand that the righteous do not need to fear the Second Coming.

1. Satan fights against the righteous.

Discuss Revelation 5:1–5; 6. Invite class members to read selected verses aloud. Explain that the first three chapters of the book of Revelation pertain to John’s time (see lesson 45). The rest of the book deals with events that were future to John, from the Apostasy that occurred after the death of the Apostles to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the final judgment.

Explain that chapters 5 and 6 of Revelation use the symbol of a book “sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1). Each seal represents a thousand-year period of the earth’s temporal existence (D&C 77:6–7; see the third additional teaching idea for more information on the seven seals). In chapter 6, the Lamb (Jesus Christ) opens the first six seals, showing John some of the events associated with each time period.

• • One thing we learn from chapter 6 is that Satan has fought against the righteous throughout the history of the earth. According to Revelation 6:4–11, what are some ways he has done this? (Answers may include those listed below.)
  
  1. a. Violence and warfare (Revelation 6:4, 8)
     
  2. b. Hunger and famine (Revelation 6:5–6, 8. Explain that the Roman penny was an average day’s wages and a measure of wheat was one day’s worth of food for one person; verse 6 indicates that a day’s wages would only buy a day’s worth of food for one person.)
     
  3. c. Persecution (Revelation 6:9–11)
     
• • What tactics does Satan use today to try to overcome the righteous?
  President Gordon B. Hinckley stated:
  “That war, so bitter, so intense, has gone on, and it has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They’ve indulged in lying and deceit. They’ve employed money and wealth. They’ve tricked the minds of men. They’ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every other unholy and impure practice to thwart the work of Christ. …
  “[Opposition] has been felt in the undying efforts of many, both within and without the Church, to destroy faith, to belittle, to demean, to bear false witness, to tempt and allure and induce our people to practices inconsistent with the teachings and standards of this work of God. …
  “The war goes on. It is waged across the world over the issues of agency and compulsion. It is waged by an army of missionaries over the issues of truth and error. It is waged in our own lives, day in and day out, in our homes, in our work, in our school associations; it is waged over questions of love and respect, of loyalty and fidelity, of obedience and integrity. We are all involved in it” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 55–58; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 42, 44–45).
  
• • After making the comments quoted above, President Hinckley added, “We are winning [the war against Satan], and the future never looked brighter” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 58; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 45). How can we maintain hope and a positive outlook as we fight the war against Satan? What resources do we have to strengthen us against the power of Satan and his followers? (Answers may include the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets, priesthood authority, temples, and association with other members of the Church.)
  

2. Satan will be bound, and Christ will reign in triumph during the Millennium.

Read and discuss Revelation 19:1–9 and 20:1–11.

• • John identified many plagues, wars, and judgments that would occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Revelation 8–16). Then, in Revelation 19, he described the coming of the Lord, symbolized by a marriage supper (Revelation 19:7–9). What does the wife of the Lamb represent? (The Church of Jesus Christ.) What does the symbol of the marriage supper, with Christ as the bridegroom and the Church as the bride, suggest about the relationship between the Lord and his Church?
  
• • What must we do to be invited to this marriage supper?
  Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “The elders of Israel are now issuing the invitations to the marriage supper of the Lord; those who believe and obey the gospel thereby accept the invitation and shall sit in due course … at the marriage feast” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 3:563–64).
  
• • The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the Millennium, a thousand-year period when Christ will reign personally upon the earth. What will happen to Satan during the Millennium? (See Revelation 20:1–3.) What will life be like when Satan is bound? (
• See 1 Nephi 22:26   26 And because of the ^arighteousness of his people, ^bSatan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of ^cmany years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel ^dreigneth.
•  
•   D&C 45:55, 58
•  55 And ^aSatan shall be ^bbound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men.
   
  
   58 And the ^aearth shall be given unto them for an ^binheritance; and they shall ^cmultiply and wax strong, and their ^dchildren shall ^egrow up without ^fsin unto ^gsalvation.
   
•  How can we limit the power of Satan in our lives right now?
  
•   After the Millennium, Satan will be loosed for a season, and one last great battle will be fought between the armies of God and the armies of Satan (Revelation 20:7–8; D&C 88:111–13). This is sometimes called the battle of Gog and Magog. What will be the result of this great battle at the end of the Millennium? (See Revelation 20:9–11; D&C 88:114–15.) Since the result of the battle is already known, what is our responsibility regarding this victory?
  President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle—and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?” (“In His Steps,” Ensign, Sept. 1988, 2).
  

3. After the last judgment, the righteous will dwell with God.

Read and discuss selected verses from Revelation 20:12–22:21.

• • After the last great battle, the final judgment will occur. What can we learn from Revelation 20:12 about how we will be judged? What blessings will come to those who are judged to be righteous? (See Revelation 21:3–7. List class members’ responses on the chalkboard. Answers may include those listed on the next page.)
  

The righteous will:

1. a. Dwell in God’s presence (Revelation 21:3).
   
2. b. No longer experience death, sorrow, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
   
3. c. Inherit all things as sons and daughters of God (Revelation 21:7).
   
4. • How can knowledge of these great blessings help us as we face difficulties in mortality?
   
5. • Revelation 21:10–22:5 describes the celestial glory of the earth and the city in which those who have attained celestial glory will reside. Why is there no temple in the celestial city? (See Revelation 21:22. The purpose of the temple is to bring us closer to God and teach us of his plan. When we live with him again, temples will no longer be necessary.) What does Revelation 22:14 tell us we must do to be able to enter the gates of the eternal city?
   President David O. McKay told of a vision in which he saw a beautiful city, many people dressed in white, and the Savior:
   “The city, I understood, was [the Savior’s]. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness.
   “But who were they?
   “As if the Savior read my thoughts, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words: These Are They Who Have Overcome the World—Who Have Truly Been Born Again!” (Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss [1976], 60).
   

Conclusion

Point out that the New Testament ends with a message of great hope. Prophets like John the Revelator have seen the things that are to come and have told us of the blessings we will receive if we remain righteous and endure to the end. Testify that the righteous will triumph at the end of the world. Encourage class members to take courage and hope from this knowledge as they stand against wickedness and seek to overcome the obstacles of this life.

Additional Teaching Ideas

The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.

1. The dangers of setting our hearts on worldly possessions

• Revelation 18:11–18 teaches that the wicked will mourn the loss of their worldly possessions and be amazed that a great worldly kingdom could be destroyed in a brief time. When have you seen worldly possessions destroyed or lost in a brief amount of time?
  
• What are the dangers of setting our hearts on worldly things? In what ways do worldly things distract us from spiritual things?
  

2. The First Resurrection

Have a class member read Revelation 20:4–6. To help class members understand these verses, share the following information (on the next page):

?  The First Resurrection, or the resurrection of the just, will begin at the Savior’s Second Coming. Those who will receive a celestial or terrestrial reward will come forward in this resurrection (D&C 88:98–99). The Second Resurrection, or the resurrection of the unjust, will not begin until the end of the Millennium. Those who will receive a telestial reward and the sons of perdition will come forward in this resurrection (D&C 88:100–102).

3. The seven seals in the book of Revelation

The following chart provides additional information about each of the seven seals. The chart may also be useful in understanding the structure of the book of Revelation. Note that events are listed chronologically, according to the time periods in which they occurred. They should not be confused with the dispensations of the gospel.

First seal	The creation and fall of Adam and Eve; the ministry of Enoch and the translation of his city into heaven (Revelation 6:1–2).
Second seal	Noah and the Flood (Revelation 6:3–4).
Third seal	Ministries of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses; the Exodus; the period of reign by judges (Revelation 6:5–6).
Fourth seal	The period of reign by kings; the division of the kingdom; the conquering of the kingdoms (Revelation 6:7–8).
Fifth seal	The birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; the establishment of his Church and the ministry of the Apostles; martyrdom of the Apostles; the Apostasy (Revelation 6:9–11).
Sixth seal	Continuation of the Apostasy; restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith; signs of the times manifest (Revelation 6:12–17; 7:1–8).
Seventh seal	Wars, plagues, and desolation; Second Coming of the Lord (Revelation 8:1–19:21). Millennium of peace (Revelation 20:1–6). Satan loosed for a season, the last great battle, and the final judgment (Revelation 20:7–15).
After the seventh seal	The earth is celestialized (Revelation 21:1–22:6).

• • Point out that the first five seals are covered in 11 verses, the sixth seal is covered in 14 verses, and the seventh seal is covered in 226 verses. What does this emphasis teach us?
  

Point out that John gave the most attention to the events of our time period and the one to come. The book of Revelation was written for our day, and our lives will be blessed as we study it and prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

The Third Epistle of John

John commends Gaius for his help to those who love the truth.   /Geye us/

1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater ^ajoy than to hear that my ^bchildren ^cwalk in truth.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the ^abrethren, and to ^bstrangers;

6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the ^apreeminence among them, ^breceiveth us not.   /deye ought ra fees/

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, ^aprating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth ^agood is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our ^arecord is true.

13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen ^awrite unto thee:

14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-11-11-53.asp

The Second Epistle of John

John rejoices because the children of the elect lady are true and faithful.

1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

The word elder is a title applied to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood, whether they be ordained to the specific office of elder or not ( D&C 20:38 ).

2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6 And this is ^alove, that we ^bwalk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the ^cbeginning, ye should walk in it.

7 For many ^adeceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an ^bantichrist.

These were the Docetists, Gnostic heretics who insisted that Christ was a phantom and ministered in appearance only. Matter is evil, and Christ could not have been a material being, for that would make him evil by association. Christ did not suffer for men’s sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross; he only seemed to suffer. ( Dokein in the Greek means “to seem or appear,” hence Docetism.) 

8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have ^awrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your ^ahouse, neither bid him God speed:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed is ^apartaker of his evil deeds.

John was actually telling his readers to refrain from wishing prosperity and success to those whose lives and teachings were not in harmony with gospel truth. John is not suggesting that common courtesy cannot be extended to those who teach contrary doctrines. But in his time, the phrase he used also meant to welcome one into the home, to accept him as a guest. It was this kind of hospitality that enabled the itinerant preachers to exist and carry on their work. Thus, extending greeting was akin to supporting the work of these teachers.

12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not ^awrite with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-11-11-53.asp 
As the shadows of apostasy increasingly overtook the church, its leaders earnestly sought to meet the challenge. Thus John and Jude warned the former-day saints of “ungodly” and false men who had “crept in unawares.” ( Jude 1:4, 15 .) Their perverse doctrines and conduct were polluting the church and leading the unsuspecting astray. John and Jude forthrightly identified these errors and counseled the faithful how they might resist them.
Similarly, in our own time church leaders have cautioned the Latter-day saints of the false men teaching incorrect doctrine. The modern prophets have spoken as unequivocally as their predecessors, and not surprisingly they have described problems remarkably parallel to those of the early church. Satan’s tools and man’s nature have not changed.
“There are some as wolves among us. By that, I mean some who profess membership in this church who are not sparing the flock. And among our own membership, men are arising speaking perverse things. Now perverse means diverting from the right or correct, and being obstinate in the wrong, willfully, in order to draw the weak and unwary members of the Church after them.” (Harold B. Lee in CR, Oct. 1972, p. 125.)
Who are these people? What are their false ideas and ungodly practices? How can you fortify yourself against their deceptions? If you suspect someone of “speaking perverse things,” what is your obligation both to them and to the Church? 

Place and Date of Writing  -- All the evidence, and it is very scanty, suggests a date and place identical to that for First John somewhere near the turn of the first century at an unknown place in the Roman Empire. Indications in the letters suggest that Gnosticism is still the apostle’s dominant concern. While we cannot be certain as to the exact order in which the three letters of John were written, there is no solid evidence for accepting them in any other sequence than that in which they presently appear in the New Testament. 

“The Church is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed, or malicious enemies. A greater hindrance to its progress comes from faultfinders, shirkers, commandment-breakers, and apostate cliques within its own ecclesiastical and quorum groups.” (David O. McKay in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 9.) 

“There is creeping into our midst, and I warn you brethren about it, and I urge you to meet it, a great host of sectarian doctrines that have no place amongst us. The gospel in its simplicity, is to be found in the revelations, the teachings of the Prophet and the early leaders of the Church. We shall make no mistake if we follow them. We shall make mistakes . . . if we try to harmonize our simple beliefs with the philosophy and the speculations of sectarian doctrines. When you can hear in our Sunday Schools in some of our most prominent wards, that we do not need to worry much about or think much about the first vision, we do not need to think very much about the atoning sacrifice of Christ—that is a mystery; . . . we would better be careful.
“We must not ‘liberalize,’ and I put that term in quotes, our teachings; we must accept them as God gave them to us and there must be amongst us unity in faith. . . .” (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in CR, Oct. 1944, pp. 117–18.)

Do you “invite” the brethren into your life by studying their conference addresses?
Do you give as much credence to the statements of the living prophet as to those of the past?
In order to justify a personal belief, do you attempt to pit the statements of one general authority against another?

 

The First Epistle General of John

Chapter 1 of The First Epistle General of John

The Saints gain fellowship with God by obedience—We must confess our sins to gain forgiveness.

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have ^aseen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our ^bfellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

[“To have fellowship with the Lord in this life is to enjoy the companionship of his Holy Spirit, which makes us one with him; and to have fellowship with him in eternity is to be like him, having that eternal life of which he is the possessor and originator.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:374.)]

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Chapter 2 of The First Epistle General of John

Christ is our Advocate with the Father—We know God by obedience—Love not the world—Anti-Christs will come in the last days.

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. ^aAnd if any man sin, we have an ^badvocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the ^apropitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole ^bworld.
[ Alma 42:12–25 ).]

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we ^akeep his commandments.

[“Since the very fact of knowing God, in the ultimate and full sense, consists of thinking what he thinks, saying what he says, doing what he does, and of being like him, thus having exaltation or godhood—it follows that saved souls must advance and progress until they acquire his character, perfections, and attributes, until they gain his eternal power, until they themselves become gods.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:377.)] 

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his ^acommandments, is a ^bliar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso ^akeepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are ^bin him.

6 He that saith he ^aabideth in him ought himself also so to ^bwalk, even as he walked.

7 ^aBrethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, ^awhich thing is true in him and in you: because the ^bdarkness is ^cpast, and the true ^dlight now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that ^aloveth his ^bbrother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and ^awalketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

12 I ^awrite unto you, little ^bchildren, because your sins are forgiven you ^cfor his ^dname’s sake.

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the ^aworld, neither the things that are in the ^bworld. If any man love the world, the ^clove of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the ^alust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the ^bpride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the ^cworld.

17 And the ^aworld ^bpasseth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the ^cwill of God ^dabideth for ever.

18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that ^aantichrist shall come, even now are there many ^bantichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an ^aunction from the ^bHoly One, and ye know all things.  unction = anointing 

“This unction, this holy anointing, is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which gives them access to the infinite wisdom of the Father and the Son so that they may know all things as fast as they are able to bear them.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:383.) 

21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a ^aliar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is ^bantichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that ^aacknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the ^abeginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

25 And this is the ^apromise that he hath promised us, even ^beternal life.

26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that ^aseduce you.

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man ^ateach you: but as the same ^banointing ^cteacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth ^arighteousness is ^bborn of him.

Chapter 3 of The First Epistle General of John

The sons of God will become like Christ—Love for others is required to gain eternal life—Obedience ensures us an answer to our prayers.

1 Behold, what manner of ^alove the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the ^bsons of God: therefore the ^cworld knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the ^asons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall ^bappear, we shall be ^clike him; for we shall ^dsee him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this ^ahope in him ^bpurifieth himself, even as he is ^cpure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin ^atransgresseth also the law: for ^bsin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our ^asins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him ^asinneth not: ^bwhosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither ^cknown him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that ^acommitteth ^bsin is of the devil; for the devil ^csinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the ^ddevil.

9 Whosoever is ^aborn of God ^bdoth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

JST
“Whosoever is born of God doth not continue in sin; for the Spirit of God remaineth in him; and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God, having received that holy spirit of promise.” 

10 In this the children of God are ^amanifest, and the ^bchildren of the devil: whosoever doeth not ^crighteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

11 For this is the ^amessage that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12 Not as ^aCain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death unto ^alife, because we love the ^bbrethren. He that ^cloveth not his brother abideth in ^ddeath.

15 Whosoever ^ahateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no ^bmurderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we the ^alove ^bof God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his ^abrother have ^bneed, and ^cshutteth up his bowels of ^dcompassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, let us not love in word, ^aneither in tongue; but in ^bdeed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and ^aknoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we ^aconfidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ^aask, we receive of him, because we ^bkeep his ^ccommandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And this is his ^acommandment, That we should ^bbelieve on the ^cname of his Son Jesus Christ, and ^dlove one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And he that keepeth his commandments ^adwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he ^babideth in us, by the ^cSpirit which he hath given us.

Chapter 4 of The First Epistle General of John

Try the spirits—God is love and dwells in those who love him.

1 Beloved, believe not every ^aspirit, but ^btry the ^cspirits whether they are of God: because many ^dfalse prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby ^aknow ye the ^bSpirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the ^cflesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is ^anot of God: and this is that spirit of ^bantichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5 They are of the ^aworld: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God ^aheareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby ^bknow we the ^cspirit of truth, and the spirit of ^derror.

Verses 7-11:  The Father loves us dearly.  

7 Beloved, let us ^alove one another: for ^blove is of God; and every one that loveth is ^cborn of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not ^aknoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might ^alive through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he ^aloved us, and ^bsent his Son to be the ^cpropitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

 1 Nephi 11:16-23

 16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the ^acondescension of God?

 17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

 18 And he said unto me: Behold, the ^avirgin whom thou seest is the ^bmother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

 19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the ^aSpirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

 20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a ^achild in her arms.

 21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the ^aLamb of God, yea, even the ^bSon of the Eternal ^cFather! Knowest thou the meaning of the ^dtree which thy father saw?

 22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the ^alove of God, which ^bsheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the ^cmost desirable above all things.

 23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most ^ajoyous to the soul.

 John 13:34-35 

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye ^alove one another; as I have loved you, that ye also ^blove one another.

 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have ^alove one to another.

12 ^aNo man hath ^bseen God at any time. If we love one another, ^cGod ^ddwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

“No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” ( Inspired Version .) 

13 Hereby know we that we ^adwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do ^atestify that the Father ^bsent the Son to be the ^cSaviour of the ^dworld.

15 Whosoever shall ^aconfess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that ^adwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he ^ais, so are we in this world.

18 There is no ^afear in ^blove; but perfect ^clove casteth out fear: because fear hath ^dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We ^alove him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and ^ahateth his ^bbrother, he is a ^cliar: for he that loveth not his ^dbrother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not ^eseen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who ^aloveth God love his brother also.

What does it really mean to love our brothers? 

Chapter 5 of The First Epistle General of John

Saints are born of God through belief in Christ—Water, blood, and the Spirit testify of Christ—Belief in Christ is required in order to gain eternal life.

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

2 By this we know that we ^alove the ^bchildren of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

3 For this is the ^alove of God, that we ^bkeep his commandments: and his commandments are not ^cgrievous.

4 For whatsoever is ^aborn of God ^bovercometh the world: and this is the ^cvictory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that ^aovercometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is he that ^acame by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the ^bSpirit that beareth ^cwitness, because the Spirit is truth.

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the ^aFather, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are ^bone.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the ^aSpirit, and the water, and the ^bblood: and these three agree in one.

9 If we receive the ^awitness of men, the ^bwitness of God is greater: for this is the ^cwitness of God which he hath testified of his Son
10 He that ^abelieveth on the Son of God hath the ^bwitness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the ^crecord that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us ^aeternal life, and this ^blife is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I ^awritten unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal ^blife, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his ^awill, he ^bheareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ^aask, we know that we have the petitions that we ^bdesired of him.

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17 All unrighteousness is ^asin: and there is a ^bsin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is ^aborn of God ^bsinneth not; but he that is begotten of God ^ckeepeth himself, and that ^dwicked one toucheth him not.

19 And we know that we are of ^aGod, and the whole ^bworld lieth in ^cwickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and ^aeternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

http://institute.lds.org/manuals/new-testament-institute-student-manual/nt-in-11-11-52.asp
1 John—a Letter to the Christian Communities, ca. A.D. 96

INTRODUCTION

Suppose you had lived in the days of Jesus and had actually spent time in his presence. Suppose that you had heard him teach, had seen the miracles he had performed, and had felt by the Spirit the power of the testimony he bore of himself—that he came into the world to do the will of the Father, which included giving his life. Further, suppose you were a witness to his resurrection and had been privileged and worthy enough to see and feel the wounds made during his sacrifice, in part, for your sins. How would you feel toward the Savior? How would you feel about a teaching spreading among some of your fellow Christians that Jesus didn’t really suffer for anyone’s sins but merely seemed to do so? Further, that he really wasn’t a partaker of mortality but only appeared to be, and that the physical body the Lord displayed after the resurrection was an illusion? This was the problem faced by the apostle John. It appears that some Christians had adopted an early form of Gnosticism and were teaching that Jesus could not have truly come in the flesh, for God is holy and could have nothing to do with contaminating matter. To explain the Savior’s presence on earth, the Gnostics set forth two arguments: either Christ was only apparently human or else the spirit which inhabited Jesus’ mortal body descended into the man Jesus at the time of his commitment to God in baptism and departed just prior to his suffering on the cross. Thus Christ did not really suffer for our sins; it was only the man Jesus who was crucified. The first of these philosophies was known as Docetism, so called from the Greek word dokeo, “to seem or appear,” and the latter was known as Cerinthianism, named for Cerinthus, its primary proponent in the first century.
John wrote, among other reasons, to dispel such notions. Note his insistence that he had personally seen and “handled” the “Word of life” ( 1 John 1:1, 2 ), a strike at Docetism. Notice also his vehement statement that whoever “denieth that Jesus is the Christ” is a liar ( 1 John 2:22 ), a slap at Cerinthianism. Finally, notice his declaration that “every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” is not of God but is anti-Christ ( 1 John 4:2, 3 ). 

“The doctrines expounded include how to gain fellowship with God; how to know God and Christ; how to become the sons of God; how to abide in the light and love the brethren; how to dwell in God and have him dwell in us; how to be born again and gain eternal life.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:371.) 


Fellowship:
What, you may ask, is the unique fellowship that the Saints can enjoy but which cannot be enjoyed outside the Church? To find the answer to this question, read carefully 1 John 1:3–7 . John declares that in the church of Christ two types of fellowship are necessary. What are they? Which of these must precede the other?
Do you see that to John, fellowship with God and Christ must precede that of one person to another? Why is this order a necessity for true fellowship?
The message of John’s letter is that we must become partakers of the fellowship of God and his children if we are to obtain eternal life. This can be done only as we love and serve both God and each other. Only in this way can there be true fellowship. How much sense does it make for a person to say, “I love God” but then display hatred towards one of his children? Conversely, how much sense is there in the statements of those who say they love their fellow men but disavow the existence of God? 

***“ When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.” (Ezra Taft Benson in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 35.)