1 John, Chapter 3
© 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights reserved

1 John 3:1-10
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.
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 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
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.
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.
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.

We who have been called by the Father and aware of where we came from also know how much the Father loves us! His love is so great that we are called the children of God. We face great jealousy because the world has no idea who we are. Satan knows us as enemies, because of Christ’s victory at the cross, but Satan’s children have been blinded to the Truth. They do not know us, nor do they know God the Father.

Dear friends, Now, at this moment, we are God's children! However, in this age it is not clear what we shall eventually become. But, we do know that when Christ appears we shall be like Him. And, we shall see Him as He is: God the Son! Those who have this hope of the resurrection in Christ keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.

Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God's law, because sin is breaking of the law. Christ Jesus appeared in order to take our sins away. He can do that because there is no sin in Him.

Those who live everyone who live in union with Christ do not continually sin! And, whoever does continually sin has never known him. Don’t be deceived!

Whoever does righteously does so because he/she is righteous as Christ Himself is righteous. And, whoever continually sins is led by the Devil, because the he has sinned from the very beginning. Christ Jesus came to live among men for the purpose of destroying the Devil and all that he has done.

The children of God do not sin. They are forgiven! The Father’s Holy Spirit has taken up residence within them, and so God is now their Father, and do not continue to sin.

There is a great difference between the spiritual offspring of God and the children of Satan. Those who do not do what is righteous cannot do it they love neither the Father nor His children.

1 John 3:11-24
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
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.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
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.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
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.
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?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
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.
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.

From the beginning of the gospel you have heard the message that we must love one another. We should not follow Cain! He was a child of the Wicked One. He murdered his brother Abel.

Why did Cain murder Abel?

Because, His works were evil while Cain’s works were righteous! It was a matter of jealousy.

Don’t be surprised if those of the world hate you. They hate Him and we are in Him, so they also hate us.

In Christ Jesus we have passed from death to life! The lost are infected with death!

We are to love one another as He loves us. The fact is that we belong to Christ!

Those who have not been called to acknowledge Christ’s are at this very moment spiritually dead. And, those who hate us are murderers. Murderers do not have eternal life in them.

So how do we know what love is?

Christ has given us His life. He died so that we may live. And so, We are to offer our lives is service to others by unashamedly telling them about Christ!

The world needs what we now have, and yet, in their spiritual depravity they deny Him. We should not the close our hearts to them. We are to show the lost the true love of God. We call that evangelism. And yet, many Churches no longer evangelize.

How can we remain silent and yet claim that we love God?

The children of God should not be just use empty words and talk. We are to express true love, and it is shown in action…Christ appointed work. That is how we will know that we belong to the Truth.

Remember, if your conscience condemns you God is greater than your conscience!

And if your conscience does not condemn you it is because we live in His presence.

If our desires are entwined with His, we gain from him whatever we ask, because we are obedient to Him. We believe in his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as Christ commanded us. Those who obey God live in unity with Him.

Chapter 4

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