1 John 3:1-24
The Apostle John emphasizes God’s love for us as seen in Christ, urging us to love one another and obey God’s commands.
- Children of God:
- John opens by marveling at the love the Father has lavished on believers, allowing them to be called children of God.
- This identity as God’s children is real, though the world does not recognize them because it did not recognize Jesus.
- Hope in Christ’s Return:
- Believers have the hope that when Christ appears, they will be like Him because they will see Him as He is.
- This hope motivates them to purify themselves, just as Christ is pure.
- Sin and Righteousness:
- John clarifies that committing sin is lawlessness, and since Jesus appeared to take away sins, those who live in Him do not continue to sin.
- Whoever does what is right is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.
- Love and Hate:
- The passage contrasts love and hate: not loving one’s brother is akin to the way Cain, who belonged to the evil one, killed his brother.
- True love is demonstrated by Jesus’ example, who laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
- Practical Love:
- John emphasizes practical expressions of love: if we have material possessions and see a brother or sister in need but have no pity on them, how can the love of God be in us?
- Love should not be merely words or speech but shown through actions and in truth.
- Confidence Before God:
- This true, action-oriented love gives believers confidence before God because their hearts do not condemn them, and they receive from God whatever they ask because they obey His commands and do what pleases Him.
- God’s command is to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded.
- Living by the Spirit:
- The passage concludes by discussing the role of the Spirit: those who obey God’s commandments live in Him, and He in them, and this is confirmed by the Spirit He gave us.
3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
3:12 Not as Cain, 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.
3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.
And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.