What has the Father's love bestowed upon those of us who believe in His Son? vs. 1
That we would be called children of God.
Because we are children of God, how does the world relate to us and why? vs. 1
The world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Currently we are children of God. What will we be like when Jesus appears for us and why? vs. 2
We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
When we set our hopes on the coming of the Lord, what does it do for us? vs. 3
Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Those who practice sin continually are lawless, not regarding the laws or commands of the Lord. (vs.4) What was the Lord's purpose in appearing on earth and dying on the cross? vs. 5
He appeared in order to take away sins;
When we abide in the Lord (who has no sin), can we be creatures of sin or ones who have habitually sinful lives? vs.6
No one who abides in Him sins;
No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. [MSG]
We know that in 1 John 1:10, we were told that if we say we do not have sin, we have been deceived, but if we confess our sin, we are forgiven. It does not mean that we cannot have occassional sin, it means that belonging to Him, we would not have a habitual sinful lifestyle. We have already seen the word 'practice' above; those who 'practice' sin do not belong to Him.
John does not want us to be deceived. If someone practices righteousness (right things), they are righteous...but if they practice sin habitually, who do they belong to and how do we know? vs.7,8
The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
Again, what was the purpose of God's Son appearing on earth and dying on the cross? vs. 8
To destroy the works of the devil.
If we are born of God, and have the seed of God within us that brought about our new birth, can we practice sin in our life? vs. 9
No one who is born of God practices sin; he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. [ESV]
John tells us that the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious. Who is not of God? vs.10 - Name 2 things
- anyone who does not practice righteousness
- the one who does not love his brother
Compare and contrast Cain and Abel as found in vs.11-12. What do we learn from their example?
Cain, who was of the evil one, slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
What should not surprise us? vs. 13
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
How do we know that we have passed from death into life in Christ? What is the evidence that we are born again? vs. 14
Because we love the brethren.
What does hating another make us guilty of? vs. 15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer;
What did Jesus tell us in Matthew 5:21-24?
“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Back to 1 John 3
How did Jesus show us what love is? vs.16
He laid down His life for us;
What are some practicial ways we can show lay our lives down for our brethren? vs.17
When we see a brother in need and open our heart towards him.
If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it. [MSG]
If we close our hearts to those in need, what does that show about our lives? vs. 17
The love of God doesn't abide in him.
If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. [MSG]
We should not only love others with our words, but how do we show that we love them? vs.18
In deed and truth.
With actions and in truth. [TNIV]
When we are actually doing deeds of love, we know that we are of the truth, truly children of God, and this will 'assure' our hearts before Him, even when our own heart would 'try' to condemn us. Who is greater than our heart or personal feelings? vs. 19,20
God is greater than our heart.
Who knows all things and therefore knows our hearts better than we do? vs. 20
God knows all things.
When we assure our own hearts before God, and don't allow our heart (or feelings) to condemn us, what does it give us? vs. 21
We have confidence before God
When we have confidence in our relationship to God by doing things that we know are pleasing to Him, how does this effect our prayer lives? vs. 21,22
Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
What are the commandments of God we are to obey? vs.23 - Name 2 things
- believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ
- love one another, just as He commanded us
What did Jesus say in Gospel of John 6:29?
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
What did Jesus say in Gospel of John 15:12?
This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
When we believe in Him and love others, we are abiding in Him and He is abiding in us. (vs.24a)... Who is abiding in us that causes us to know we abide in the Lord? vs. 24
The Spirit whom He has given us.
What did Jesus say about the Spirit in John's recorded Gospel account? Write out things He told them from the verses that follow:
John 14:17- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 15:26 -
When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.
John 16:13 - But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
A couple of verses in Romans will be good for us to look at as well concerning being a child of God and knowing who we are by the Spirit that abides in us. Look up these verses and write them out:
Romans 8:14 -
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:16 - The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.
Do you have the Spirit of God abiding in you? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord? Examine yourself and see if you love others because of God's love that has been placed there by His Spirit. This is the distinguishing mark of the child of God.
Summarize this chapter and post a prayer if you would like.
God’s love for us is unique. First John 3:1 may be translated, “Behold, what peculiar, out-of-this-world kind of love the Father has bestowed on us.” While we were His enemies God loved us and sent His Son to die for us! The whole wonderful plan of salvation begins with the love of God.
Since we have experienced the love of the Father, we have no desire to live in sin. An unbeliever who sins is a creature sinning against his Creator. A Christian who sins is a child sinning against his Father. The unbeliever sins against law; the believer sins against love.
For a child of God to sin indicates that he does not understand or appreciate what Jesus did for him on the cross. The emphasis here is not on sins (plural), but on sin (singular): “Whosoever practices sin.” Sins are the fruit, but sin is the root.
Sin is basically a matter of the will. For us to assert our will against God’s will is rebellion, and rebellion is the root of sin. It is not simply that sin reveals itself in lawless behavior, but that the very essence of sin is lawlessness. No matter what his outward action may be, a sinner’s inward attitude is one of rebellion.
John does not deny that Christians sin, but he does deny that Christians can live in sin. A person who can enjoy deliberate sin and who does not feel convicted or experience God’s chastening had better examine himself to see whether or not he is really born of God.
How does a child of God go about overcoming the desires of the old nature? He must begin each day by yielding his body to God as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1). He must spend time reading and studying the Word of God, “feeding” his new nature. He must take time to pray, asking God to fill him with the Holy Spirit and give him power to serve Christ and glorify Him.
As he goes through the day, a believer must depend on the power of the Spirit in the inner man. When temptations come, he must immediately turn to Christ for victory. The Word of God in his heart will help to keep him from sin if only he will turn to Christ. “Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Ps. 119:11).
If he does sin, he must instantly confess to God and claim forgiveness. But it is not necessary for him to sin. By yielding his body to the Holy Spirit within him, he will receive the power he needs to overcome the tempter.
A good practice is to claim God’s promise: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13, nasb).
Each of us must answer honestly before God:
- Do I have the divine nature within me or am I merely pretending to be a Christian?
- Do I cultivate this divine nature by daily Bible reading and prayer?
- Has any unconfessed sin defiled my inner man? Am I willing to confess and forsake it?
- Do I allow my old nature to control my thoughts and desires, or does the divine nature rule me?
- When temptation comes, do I “play with it” or do I flee from it? Do I immediately yield to the divine nature within me?
The life that is real is honest with God about these vital issues.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 3:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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