1 John 3:1-10
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
Devotion
As John closed out chapter two, he showed us that righteousness, not knowledge, is the principal mark of a person who has been born again of the Spirit of God. John is telling us that the way we recognize true believers is by their godly lives and not by their lips. God’s children reflect His characteristics. In chapter three, John begins by saying that we are the children of God. Every day we thank Him and rejoice that we are His sons and daughters. Of course, this is made possible because of God’s love as demonstrated in the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus!
In verse two, John makes the point that we are still a work in progress. While on this earth, God is transforming His children to be more like Jesus! This work will be ongoing until we go to be with Jesus, or He returns to take us to our heavenly home. He goes on to communicate that as we live in anticipation of His coming, this will motivate us to live a holy life while on this earth.
In the verses that follow, John will write about the two natures of the believer in action. In verse four, John states a universal truth from which there is no escape and to which there is no exception. God has given us the Law so that we can know we are sinners. The Law was never given to save; it was given to reveal to man that he is a sinner. In Romans chapter three, Paul writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Everyone sins. Everyone falls short of God’s glory or holiness. We are born into this world in sin and have inherited this sinful nature from our father Adam. Sin is not just making a mistake. Sin is living in active rebellion against God.
John’s point here is to encourage and inspire his readers toward holy living. He has already written that as believers we will still commit acts of sin (1 John 2:1-2). The distinction being made here is the difference between individual acts of sin and a lifestyle of sin. As believers, we will commit acts of sin, but we will not live an ongoing lifestyle of sin. So, anyone who lives for Christ does not live an ongoing lifestyle of sin. The Spirit of God will not allow this (see Hebrews 12:4-11).
John closes out this section by basically saying that if we abide in Christ, we will forsake a lifestyle of sin. The true evidence that we are God’s children is seen in holy living and our willingness to love one another. In his commentary on 1 John, J.V. McGee writes, “There are two families in the world. The teaching of the universal fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man I consider to be a heresy. The Bible doesn’t teach that God looks upon all people as His children. The Lord Jesus said to the religious rulers, ‘Ye are of your father the devil…’ (John 8:44). There are the children of God and the children of the Devil…” God knows our hearts and knows whether or not we really have been born again and are His children.
Questions to Ponder
Are you truly a child of God? Is God’s love evident in your life? How does your love for Jesus show? What is the most difficult part of living a holy life in our culture today? What do you believe is the key to experiencing victory over the old sinful nature that resides within you?
Prayer Points
- Praise our Father for His great love that He has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God.
- Ask our Father to cause His love to overflow from Your life.
- Invite the Lord to infill you with His Spirit, ground you in His love, and give you a heart that yields to Him throughout the day.
Suggested Prayer
Father in Heaven, I praise You for being faithful, good, and just. Lord, thank You for Your love that is inside each one of us. God, I ask that Your love and holiness would overflow from my life as well as Your church. Help each one of us to reflect Your heart and love. Thank You, Abba, that when we fall short, we turn to You, repent, and You forgive as far as the east is from the west. Thank You, Lord, for Your provision, power, and presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.