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1 John Chapter Three
The Children Of God (3:1-3)
INTRODUCTION
1. In 1 Jn 2:29, for the first time John speaks of Christians as those
who are "born" of God...
a. It is an expression that will be used time and again throughout
the remainder of this epistle - 1 Jn 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4,18
b. It is a figurative expression, emphasizing that the Christian's
spiritual life is a result of the redemptive work of God - cf. Co
2:12-13; Ti 3:4-7
c. As a result of this working of God in our lives, we have been
"born again", and can therefore be properly called God's
"children"
2. That we can be called "children of God" was amazing to John, and in
our text (1 Jn 3:1-3) he desires that we reflect...
a. Upon the significance of being called the "children of God"
b. Upon the implications of what it should mean in our lives
[As we take the opportunity to reflect upon such things, we first
notice that this passage reminds us of...]
I. WHAT WE "ARE" AS CHILDREN OF GOD (1)
A. WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF GOD'S LOVE (1a)
1. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we should be called children of God!"
2. It is through the love of God that we can even become His
children - Jn 3:16; Ro 5:8; 1 Jn 4:9-10; Ti 3:3-7
3. It is an honor for God to even take notice of us as one of His
creatures (cf. Ps 8:3-4), how much love God must have to
allow us to become His children!
B. WE ARE UNKNOWN BY THE WORLD (1b)
1. "...the world does not know us..."
2. That is, they do not truly recognize or appreciate what we
have become in Christ
3. They may even deem us as religious fanatics, fools - cf. 1 Co
4:9-13
4. But this is understandable...
a. For the world did not (and still does not) really know
Jesus - Jn 1:11
b. And for now, our lives are "hidden" in Jesus - Co 3:3-4
[Loved and honored by God, unknown and sometimes despised by the world;
that is what we are today as the children of God.
But as stated by Paul in Co 3:4, when Christ comes we will "appear
with Him in glory"! This speaks of our condition in the future, and
John also writes of our future condition...]
II. WHAT WE "SHALL BE" AS CHILDREN OF GOD (2)
A. IT HAS NOT YET BEEN FULLY REVEALED...
1. Exactly what we shall be like has not yet been revealed
2. Which may be that due to our finite capability to comprehend
3. In general terms we have been promised a spiritual body and
immortality - cf. 1 Co 15:42-44; 50-53
4. But there is something else, hinted at by both Paul and
John...
B. WE SHALL BE LIKE JESUS!
1. "...we know that we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as
He is."
2. Paul also says that we will be like Jesus when He comes...
a. We shall bear the image of the "heavenly Man" - cf. 1 Co
15:49
b. Our lowly bodies will undergo a wonderful transformation to
become like Jesus - Ph 3:20-21
3. Though we cannot fully know what we will be like, it must
really be something, for as Christ is now, no man can really
see Him and live! - cf. 1 Ti 6:13-16
[This wonderful hope of what we will be some day should encourage us to
"stand fast in the Lord" (cf. Ph 3:20-4:1).
John also has something to say as to how this hope ought to influence
how we live, as he describes...]
III. WHAT WE "SHOULD BE" AS CHILDREN OF GOD (3)
A. OUGHT TO BE MOTIVATED BY OUR HOPE...
1. "everyone who has this hope..."
2. The hope of which John writes, of course, is the earnest
expectation that we will be like Jesus when He comes
B. DILIGENTLY INVOLVED IN PURIFYING ONE'S SELF...
1. The Greek word for "purify" is hagnizo {hag-nid'-zo} which means "to make clean, i.e. (fig.) sanctify"
a. It is closely related to the word for "holiness", which in
Greek is hagiasmos, {hag-ee-as-mos'}, meaning "holiness, sanctification"
b. It therefore involves the idea of being "set apart" for a
holy purpose, which Christians are taught to pursue - cf.
He 12:14
2. Properly motivated by the hope that Jesus will "transform our
lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" (Ph
3:21), the true child of God will work toward the purity
(holiness) seen in the Lord Himself
3. How can Christians purify themselves?
a. First and foremost by appropriating the cleansing power of
the blood of Jesus! - cf. 1 Jn 1:9
b. Only then can we hope to be truly holy and without blemish
- cf. Ep 5:25-27
c. But we also have an obligation to remove ourselves from
things that would defile us - cf. 2 Co 6:16-7:1
CONCLUSION
1. By virtue of God's love for us, and His working in us, we can truly
be called the "children of God"!
2. However, to become a child of God, and truly remain such, we must be
willing to cooperate with God...
a. When our faith joins with the working of God, we can become His
children! - cf. Co 2:12-13; Ga 3:26-27
b. As long as our faith remains strong, we have the assurance of
receiving the promises God has made - cf. He 3:12-14; 4:1-2;
10:35-39; Re 2:10
May the love our heavenly Father has shown in making us His children,
serve to motivate us to remain faithful to Him!
Sin And The Child Of God (3:4-9)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous study ("The Children Of God"), we saw that the true child of God purifies himself because of the hope of seeing Jesus
one day - cf. 1 Jn 3:2-3
2. In discussing "purity", the subject of "sin" naturally arises...
a. Which may be why John moves right into a discussion of "Sin And
The Child of God" - 1 Jn 3:4-9 (READ)
b. It also fits into John's overall theme of combating the Gnostic-
like influences that were teaching that sinning did not affect
one's relationship with God
3. How shall the true child of God regard sin? Is it something to be
taken lightly? Not if the apostle John has anything to say about it!
[Using verses 4-9 as our text, then, let's consider what John has to
say about "Sin And The Child Of God".
We begin by noticing...]
I. THE "DEFINITION" OF SIN (4)
A. AS UNDERSTOOD BY SOME...
1. Sin is nothing more than a violation of human relationships
2. Which can be easily resolved by correcting relationship
problems
-- While SOME sins may be a violation of "human" relationships,
the true meaning of sin goes much further than that
B. THE LITERAL MEANING OF THE WORD "SIN"
1. The Greek word for "sin" is hamartia {ham-ar'-tee'-ah}, and it literally means "to miss the mark"
2. E.g., as when an archer fails to hit the center of the target
3. So "sin" is some kind of action (or lack of it) in which one
fails to meet the goal intended by God - cf. Ro 3:23
C. AS DEFINED BY JOHN...
1. Sin is "lawlessness" (NKJV), or "transgression of the law"
(KJV)
2. The word for lawlessness (transgression) is anomia {an-om-ee' -ah}, which means "illegality, i.e. violation of law"
a. I.e., to break or violate a law, such as the law of God
b. E.g., to steal when the law says "Thou shalt not steal"
3. So sin occurs when you DO WHAT IS FORBIDDEN (commonly called
"a sin of commission")
D. AS DEFINED BY JAMES...
1. James describes another kind of sin - cf. Ja 4:17
2. So sin is also committed when you FAIL TO DO WHAT IS GOOD OR
COMMANDED (often called "a sin of omission")
a. E.g., failing to love your brother
b. While you may not do ill toward your brother, failure to do
good is just as much a sin!
E. IN BOTH OF THESE DEFINITIONS OF SIN...
1. One has failed to meet a certain standard (they have "missed
the mark")
2. In this case, the standard is the "law of God"
a. Which, when carefully noted, is designed to help us in our
relationships with...
1) God
2) Other people
3) Even self
b. Every command of God, both negative and positive, affect
these relationships in one way or the other
[Failure to understand the true nature of "sin" is one reason why there
is so much apathy toward it today. But every time we sin, we adversely
affect our relationship with either God, others, or our own selves!
Further insight into the terribleness of sin is gained by considering
what John says about...]
II. THE "ORIGIN" OF SIN (8a)
A. SIN IS OF THE DEVIL!
1. "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from
the beginning."
2. This statement of John is reminiscent of one made by Jesus in
Jn 8:44
3. From the beginning the devil has been the "father" or origin
of sin ("he is a liar and the father of it")
B. THOSE WHO SIN ARE OF THE DEVIL!
1. Since he is the "father" of sin, those who practice sin are
his children
2. "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your
father you want to do" - cf. Jn 8:44a
3. So when we "miss the mark" by either...
a. Doing what is forbidden
b. Failing to do what is commanded
...we demonstrate the influences of the devil in our lives!
[If sin can make one to be "the children of the devil", that ought to
tell us something about the terribleness of sin!
But there is something else that describes sin's terribleness, and that
is seen as we consider what John says about...]
III. THE "DEFEAT" OF SIN (5a, 8b)
A. THIS WAS THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST'S COMING...
1. "He was manifested to take away our sins" - 1 Jn 3:5a
2. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might
destroy the works of the devil." - 1 Jn 3:8b
3. As John the Baptist declared: "Behold! The Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world!" - Jn 1:29
-- To continue to walk in sin, therefore, is to undermine the
purpose of our Lord's coming!
B. CONSIDER WHAT IT COST JESUS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PURPOSE...
1. Nothing less than His own death! - cf. 1 Co 15:3
2. Nothing less than His precious blood! - cf. Ac 20:28; 1 Pe 1:
18-19
-- Does not this tell us something about the terribleness of sin?
[When we properly understand what sin is, and how terrible it must be
in God's sight, then for the "child of God" there can only be one goal:
what John describes as...]
IV. THE "REFRAINMENT" OF SIN (6-7, 9)
A. WHOEVER "ABIDES IN HIM" DOES NOT SIN... (6)
1. The phrase "does not sin" is present tense in the Greek,
suggesting a practice of not sinning
a. John has already affirmed that Christians sin - cf. Jn 1:
8,10
b. To say we have no sin is to lie, and to make God a liar
c. So John is talking about one who does not "continuously
practice sin"
2. Such is true of those who "abide in Him"
a. Those who "abide in Jesus" do not continuously engage in
sin
b. That is because they...
1) Let that which they have heard from the beginning abide
in them (i.e., the words of Jesus) - cf. 1 Jn 2:24
2) Strive to walk even as Jesus walked - cf. 1 Jn 2:6
3. But the one who continuously practices sin has neither seen
Jesus nor known him (despite any claims to the contrary!)
B. WHOEVER "HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD" DOES NOT SIN... (9)
1. Again, John uses the present tense when he says "does not sin"
a. He is not suggesting that one "born of God" never sins
b. But that one truly "born of God" does not continuously
practice sin
2. And why is that? Because "His seed remains in Him"
a. The "seed" is that life-giving principle that makes one a
child of God
b. Which clearly involves the Word of God - cf. Ja 1:18; 1 Pe
1:22-23
3. As long as one allows the "seed" (the Word of God) to remain
in him, he is "born of God"
a. As such he does not continuously practice sin
b. Nor can he continuously practice sin, if the "seed" is
remaining in him
c. Instead, he continuously practices righteousness! - 1 Jn
3:7
CONCLUSION
1. Again, it helpful to remember that John is dealing with precursors
to Gnosticism, and the idea that one can claim to be "born of God"
and not be concerned about sin in their life
2. But when we are aware of:
a. The "definition" of sin
b. The "origin" of sin
c. The "defeat" of sin
d. The "refrainment" of sin
...our attitude toward sin will certainly be different than those
John was having to combat!
3. What is your attitude toward sin?
a. Have you been born again through obedience to the Word of God
(the incorruptible seed)?
b. Are you letting that "seed" remain in you so that you do not
continuously practice sin?
How you answer can reveal whose "child" you really are!
The Necessity Of Brotherly Love (3:10-15)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous study ("Sin And The Child Of God"), we saw where John described two different kinds of people...
a. One who continuously practices sin, and is therefore "of the
devil" - 1 Jn 3:8a
b. One "born of God," who does not continuously practice sin - 1 Jn
3:9
2. John continues to illustrate the contrast between "the children of
God" and "the children of the devil" in 1 Jn 3:10, presenting two
criteria which distinguishes them:
a. Practicing righteousness
b. Brotherly love
3. Both of these "criteria" have already been introduced earlier in
this epistle...
a. John enjoined "brotherly love" as necessary to "abiding in the
light" - 1 Jn 2:9-11
b. He connected "practicing righteousness" to being "born of Him"
- 1 Jn 2:29; 3:7
4. It is primarily the subject of "brotherly love" that John expounds
upon throughout the rest of this epistle, including that which
serves as our text for this study - 1 Jn 3:10-15
[In these verses, John describes "The Necessity Of Brotherly Love",
giving us two main reasons why we MUST love one another. The first of
which is...]
I. IT DISTINGUISHES THE CHILDREN OF GOD (10-13)
A. TWO THINGS "MANIFEST" THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD'S CHILDREN AND
THE DEVIL'S CHILDREN (10)
1. The word "manifest" means:
a. To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal
b. To be evidence of; prove
2. That which clearly demonstrates the children of God are:
a. The practice of righteousness
b. The love of the brethren
3. Whereas those who are the children of the devil are clearly
revealed when they:
a. Do not practice righteousness
b. Do not have brotherly love
B. THE COMMAND TO LOVE IS "FROM THE BEGINNING" (11)
1. I.e., from the beginning of the gospel, spoken by Jesus
Himself - cf. Jn 13:34-35
2. Note that Jesus also stressed how loving one another would
make the children of God (His disciples) "manifest" to the
world: "...by this all will know" - Jn 13:35
C. EXPECT SOME CONFLICT BETWEEN THESE TWO "CHILDREN" (12-13)
1. Just as Cain killed his brother Abel
a. He who was of the wicked one killed his brother
b. The murder was sparked by the contrast between the works of
the two
2. So don't be surprised if the world hates you as well - cf.
also Jn 15:18-20
[When we follow the teachings of Jesus, especially His command to love
one another, it soon becomes evident ("manifest") that we are differentfrom those of the world. But that difference sometimes leads to
jealousy and its unpleasant consequences.
What imperative is there, then, to heed a command that makes us stand
out so? Well, as John continues...]
II. IT SIGNIFIES A PASSING FROM DEATH TO LIFE (14-15)
A. IT IS A MARK OF TRUE CONVERSION (14a)
1. Certainly brotherly love is not the ONLY indicator
2. Remember that we must also practice righteousness - cf. Ga 5:
22-23
3. But love for the brethren is a positive sign that true
conversion has occurred
B. WHEREAS LACK OF LOVE IS AN OMINOUS SIGN (14b-15)
1. That one "abides in death"
2. As we saw earlier, one who hates his brother "is in darkness
until now" - 1 Jn 2:9,11
3. Indeed, hating one's brother makes one a murderer! (just like
Cain)
4. And it should be self-evident that a murderer does not possess
eternal life!
C. WHEN CHRISTIANS DO NOT LOVE THEIR BRETHREN...
1. It MAY be an indication that true conversion never occurred,
and that they are Christians in name only
2. It MAY be that there was true conversion...
a. But the Christian is still a "babe in Christ" - cf. 1 Co
3:1-3
b. Or that what the writer of Hebrews feared has occurred -
cf. He 3:12-14
3. In ANY circumstance, it is not what God desires for us!
CONCLUSION
1. Two compelling reasons are therefore given by John for why we should
love one another:
a. It distinguishes the children of God
b. It signifies a passing from death to life
2. John will have more to say about love and its value, but may these
two reasons compel us to examine our hearts and our attitudes toward
our brethren!
"Let brotherly love continue." (He 13:1)
The Definition & Value Of Brotherly Love (3:16-24)
INTRODUCTION
1. The apostle John has given us two reasons in 1 Jn 3:10-15 for why
it is necessary that we love the brethren:
a. Along with practicing righteousness, it distinguishes the
children of God
b. It signifies a passing from death to life
2. But what does it really mean to love the brethren? And what
benefits do we receive in return when we possess brotherly love?
3. These two questions are answered by John in 1 Jn 3:16-24, which
serves as the text of this lesson entitled "The Definition And Value
Of Brotherly Love"
[Beginning in verse 16, we find...]
I. THE DEFINITION OF BROTHERLY LOVE (16-18)
A. JESUS EXEMPLIFIES WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE THE BRETHREN (16)
1. The word for love (Grk., agape), has often been described as
"active goodwill"
2. In giving His life for our sins, Jesus certainly demonstrated
goodwill in an active way
3. By meditating upon His example, we are "taught of God to love
one another" - cf. 1 Th 4:9
4. With Jesus' example, then, we come to understand what
brotherly love is all about: sacrificially serving others!
a. Therefore we should be willing to lay down our lives for
one another
b. In some cases, it may indeed involve "dying" for our
brethren; but it can also be "living" for them through
serving
B. AN EXAMPLE OF FAILING TO SHOW BROTHERLY LOVE (17)
1. John uses the example of not helping a brother when it is
within your power to do so
2. In view of Christ's love, how we can claim to have love if we
are not willing to sacrifice for a brother in need?
3. This illustrates that brotherly love is not only being willing
to "die" for someone, but willing to "live" for them as well,
through active service on their behalf
C. THEREFORE, AN ADMONITION TO "TRUE LOVE" (18)
1. An admonition prefaced by John's favorite term of endearment:
"My little children"
2. To love, not just in words, but truly, through deeds!
[We see, then, that "brotherly love" which 1) distinguishes the
children of God, and 2) signifies one as having passed from death to
life, must go beyond the spoken word or occasional hymn.
Patterned after the example of Jesus, "brotherly love" is manifested by
what one does, not just by what one says (cf. 1 Co 13:4-8).
The blessedness of such love is not only for the recipient, but also
for the giver, as we learn beginning in verse 19...]
II. THE VALUE OF BROTHERLY LOVE (19-24)
A. IT GIVES ONE ASSURANCE BEFORE GOD (19-21)
1. Love of the brethren is an indication that one is "of the
truth", just as it was an indication that one had passed from
death to life (1 Jn 3:14)
2. It is certainly not the only indicator (cf. 1 Jn 3:10), but
it does help to provide one with assurance of their salvation
3. The importance of such assurance
a. If our own hearts condemn us...
1) Because we know we do not love the brethren as we ought
2) Certainly God, who is greater and knows all things, will
know of our shortcomings in this area ("If conscience condemn us in known sin, or the neglect of known duty,
God does so too." - Matthew Henry)
b. But if our hearts do NOT condemn us...
1) Because we are loving the brethren as we know we should
2) This will make us able to approach God with joyful
confidence!
B. IT LEADS TO POSITIVE ANSWERS TO PRAYER (22-23)
1. Our prayers are more likely to be answered according to our
requests
2. Because we are keeping the commandments of God (of which
loving the brethren is one), and thereby pleasing Him
3. "Commandment-keeping" is a condition upon which God hears
prayer, just as it is a condition upon which Christ promises
His abiding love - Jn 15:10
C. IT ENSURES THAT ONE ABIDES IN CHRIST (24)
1. Abiding in Christ is contingent upon keeping His commandments
(and loving the brethren is certainly one of His commandments)
- cf. Jn 14:23
2. And how do we know that Christ truly abides in those who keeps
His commandments?
a. By the Spirit whom Christ has given
b. He (the Spirit) is the one Who reminded the apostles of the
key to abiding in Christ - cf. Jn 14:19-26
CONCLUSION
1. Aren't these three blessings what every true Christian desires...?
a. Abiding in Christ, and He in us?
b. God answering our prayers?
c. Confidence concerning our standing before God?
2. For these blessings to be ours...
a. We must allow Christ to teach us by His example what it really
means to have "brotherly love"
b. And then manifest such sacrificial service in our lives!
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue,
but in deed and in truth."
Does the love of God abide in you?
－－《Executable
Outlines》
The virtue of
spiritual fellowship
Our hearts do not condemn us
Have confidence before God
I.
We are His children
1.
Born of God
2.
Be like Him when He appears
3.
Pure as He is
II. Destroy the
devil’s work
1.
To do sinful belongs to the devil
2.
To hate sin is of God
3.
The wicked do sinful
III.
How to love one another
1.
Replace hatred by love
2.
Move others by words and actions
3.
Hearts at rest
－－ Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New
Testament》