Part ten of the sermon series on the letters of John
The children of God belong to God. They do not belong to the world. If they loved the world and its ways, then the love of the Father is not in them. They are not genuine believers. Genuine believers know God, and they keep His commandments. They love fellow believers, and they do not hate, for hate is darkness. All who have the hope of eternal life purify themselves because Christ is pure.
1 John 3:3: And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
John would continue to remind them that those who abide in Him do not have a sinful lifestyle. Those who practice a continuous pursuit of sin are of the devil.
Purpose
John explains what it means to be pure through daily practice. He clarifies that the practice of sin is equivalent to lawlessness. Furthermore, the author reminds the readers that Christ appeared to take away sin because He has no sin. If one truly abides in Him, sin cannot be the lifestyle. It is not the practice; it is not the normal thing.
1 John 3:4-6: Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
But if believers sin, they can hold on to the promise of His forgiveness and cleansing through confession (1 Jn 1:9). Confession is an admittance of the sin, which God hates. It should be spoken in humility and contriteness; never in a lighthearted way. The one who does not admit the sin does not bring the sin into the light, which means a person who denies is in darkness.
Practice
John stated that Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. Thus, the one born of God does not practice sin, meaning sin is not a part of their lifestyle. Their life is about righteousness, which is made possible by God’s seed.
1 John 3:7-9: Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
The Son of God suffered, died, and rose again to destroy the work of the devil. Within John’s literary context, the devil’s work is sin or the ways of the world. Those born of God have the seed of God, which may refer to being children of God.
Proof
John made it crystal clear about who the children of the devil are. They are those who do not practice righteousness and those who do not love the fellow believer. The lifestyle of the believer is to keep His commands and love the community of believers.
1 John 3:10: By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
John recorded Christ saying, “You are of your father the devil” (Jn 8:44). People are either with God or with the devil. It is light vs darkness. It is either love or hate. It is either God or the world. The writings of John would prompt one to reflect on their spiritual status.
Application
1. Do not make sin your lifestyle. The only way is through faith in Him and abiding in His Word. Let us continuously immerse ourselves in faith-filled study of God’s word. Let us remain in the apostles’ teaching.
2. The Lord appeared to destroy the works of the devil, which include his sinful influence in our lives. Therefore, we pursue a lifestyle of righteousness, which is faith and obedience. Moreover, it is love for the brothers, and not loving the world.
3. Let us remind ourselves that we are children of God. Unless we are children of the devil, who practice sin, love the world, and hate their brother (sister). Our lifestyle should be as children of God.
Poem
God or the devil
by Ed Pilapil Jr
Now the only way to be sure
Is to have a faith that is pure
Born of God’s will, not of man’s will
Child of God and not the devil
Born of God, will remain in Him
Believers must not practice sin
Instead of sin, it’s righteousness
Looking forward to the fullness
It is completeness and fullness
In Him is only righteousness
The devil’s child practices sin
A lifestyle that does not know Him
They are approved by the devil
All those who are against God’s will
Therefore, let our hearts remain pure
In His Word, we can be so sure
Study Guide
1. According to John, why did the Son of God appear?
2. John used several contrasts in the passage. Name and explain each.
3. What are the characteristics of the children of God? What are the characteristics of the children of the devil?
Download Files
