Living as God’s Children—Loved, Changed, and Called to Love (1 John 3:1–24)
Have you ever stopped to think about how much God loves you? Not just in a general, distant way—but in a close, personal way?
In 1 John 3, the apostle John writes about something amazing: we are not just followers of God—we are His children. And because of that, our lives should be marked by love, obedience, and hope.
Let’s break this down into a few key truths from this chapter.
We Are God’s Children
John starts with wonder and joy:
“See what great love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God!”
Think about that—the God who created the universe calls you His child. That’s how much He loves you. It’s not because of anything we did to earn it. It’s a gift of love.
Because of this, we can live with hope. One day, when Jesus returns, we will be like Him—free from sin and full of His glory. That promise should inspire us to live in a way that honors Him.
God’s Children Don’t Live in Sin
This section might sound strong at first, but John’s point is important. He says that those who truly belong to God don’t make a habit of sinning.
“No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.”
This doesn’t mean that Christians are perfect. We all stumble. But if someone claims to know God but keeps doing wrong and doesn’t care, it shows something is off in their heart.
Jesus came to take away sin and destroy the work of the devil. So if we belong to Him, we should want to live differently. That includes choosing honesty over lies, love over hate, and right over wrong.
God’s Children Love One Another
John goes back to a simple message:
“Love one another.”
He uses Cain (who killed his brother Abel) as an example of what hate leads to. Then he reminds us that true love is shown through action, not just words.
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
Real love is helping others, caring for those in need, and showing kindness—even when it’s hard. That’s the kind of love Jesus showed when He laid down His life for us. And we’re called to love others in the same way.
Our Hearts Can Be Confident Before God
Sometimes we feel guilty, or like we’re not doing enough. But John encourages us:
“If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts.”
God knows us completely, and if we are walking in love and truth, we can have peace in His presence. When we obey Him and love others, we can pray with confidence, knowing He hears us.
John ends the chapter with a summary:
“Believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another.”
That’s what God asks of us—faith in Jesus and love for others. And when we do this, we remain in Him, and His Spirit lives in us.
Final Thoughts
1 John 3 reminds us of who we are and how we should live:
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We are deeply loved—God calls us His children.
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We are called to live differently—not stuck in sin, but walking in light.
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We are commanded to love—not just with words, but through real action.
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We are invited to live with confidence—knowing God sees our hearts and is greater than our doubts.
Let this truth shape your day. You are God’s beloved child. Let His love change you—and flow through you to bless others.
1 John 3:1-24 (WEB)
3:1 See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.4 Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him. 6 Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another— 12 unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.13 Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.16 By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth and persuade our hearts before him, 20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; 22 so whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded. 24 He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.