September 17, 2020
Like the gospel of John, the book of 1 John is filled with sharp contrasts: light and darkness, truth and falsehood, love and hate. In John’s mind, things are fairly black and white with little if any grey area. In refreshingly simple terms, John writes his first epistle in order to give the people of God a better understanding of how they can know that they are saved, how they can tell the difference between true and false believers. He calls the church to be in a state of continual growth in faith, in obedience, and in love; let’s heed that call together as a church as we read this letter!
John continues to lay before his audience different tests and measures that they can use to discern those who are truly God’s children from those who merely claim to be God’s children. The first test he gives us in this chapter is the contrast between the habitual behaviors of believers versus those of unbelievers. John proclaims the incomparable love that God has shown us in making us His children in Christ, and then asserts that all who are truly God’s children, all who place their hope in Christ in this way, purify themselves as Christ Himself is pure. John contrasts this with those who, rather than purifying themselves, make a practice of sinning; he says that all who make a practice of sinning also practice lawlessness and are of the devil.
This contrast is between the habitual behaviors we exhibit in our lives: is your life characterized by a pure and holy lifestyle, or is it characterized by habitual sin? We all sin and fall short in many ways of course, but what characterizes your living? According to John, if habitual sin characterizes you more than pure living in Christ does, any claim you make to be God’s child is a false one.
The second standard that John sets before his audience in this chapter is the contrast between love and hatred. All who are born of God have love for the people of God; in contrast, anyone who hates another believer gives evidence that they have not been born of God. So we are called to love one another, even as Christ has loved us!
In loving one another as Christ loved us, John sets another challenge before us. The love that Jesus demonstrated towards us was not merely theoretical; He demonstrated it by dying for us, through His actions. John warns us here that merely claiming to love one another, without action to back it up, demonstrates that the love of God is not in us. God’s love moves us to action, just like He demonstrated His love through action!
1 John 3
3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 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. 7 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. 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.
Love One Another
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- Why is love that does not act in compassion no real love at all? How can we do better at loving in the same way Christ has loved us?
Father,
Thank you for another day. May I use this day to its fullest.
May I always pause to tell and show my wife the love I have for her. May I speak kind words of encouragement to my children and make tons of memories with my grandkids.
May your loving kindness beam from me today. May I see others as you see them. Use me Father to help them.
Fill me Father with your Holy Spirit. Guide all my thoughts, all my words, all my actions. May my all be pleasing in your sight.
Will there be someone, today, crossing my path who needs to know Jesus as your only son, the redeemer of lost souls? Through you Holy Spirit speak through me.
Throughout this day Father, let’s work together.
Humbling praying through the name of Jesus Christ, my savior.
Amen
Amen Terry! Your prayer/words so resonate with my hearts desire!?
AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!! What you prayed here is perfect to the ways I need to live. This has helped me so much. Thank you, Terry for your words.??????
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have commanded us to love one another as we would want someone to love us. You have set the perfect example before us by sending Jesus who died on the cross for “our” sins, not His. That is true love… putting others before ourselves. If we have not given ourselves totally to Your service then we are but an empty vessel. Please cleanse our bodies any fill them with Your living waters, so as we go through life we can splash living water on everyone we meet. I ask this in the most holy and precious name of Jesus, Your son. Amen.
Thanks for the wonderful and beautiful words of Prayer ?.
Gracias padre amado por lavar nuestros pescados, gracias por tu amor inmenso que diste a tu hijo unigénito en la cruz del calvario para con su sangre derramada limpiar todos nuestros pescados gracias porque aún siendo nosotros pescadores tú nos amaste y nos guías por el camino de La Verdad ayúdanos a no desviarnos nunca a serte fiel a buscar cada día más de ti llámame de tu espíritu santo dame sabiduría para y muéstrame lo que tú tienes para mí gracias por la familia que me has dado bendícela y protégela gracias por hoy descansamos en ti mi padre amado porque cada mañana tus promesas se renuevan tú nos dices que el que guarda tus mandamientos permanecemos en ti y tú permanece en nosotros Gracias padre en nombre y por amor de tu hijo amado amén ?
Knowing You are with me is all the comfort I need, Lord. Help me reach out to others who are in need and seeking You.
DEA R HEAVENLY FATHER THANK FOR ANOTHER DAY THANKS FOR HEARING PRAYERS AND ANSWERING IN YOUR TIME LEAD ME TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS YOUR LOVE US .AMEN
Let my life glorify You in every way. I will love others not in word or tongue, but in deed and truth.
Lord, today and every day let others see Jesus in me. Help me be a beacon of your love today and every day and to all I encounter.
Lord help me continue to be a light to those you do not believe in you. When someone is ugly to me thank you for showing me forgiveness and that I must pray for them.
Thank you for your Spirit Lord, that has transformed me to be saved, and that continues to work in me to sanctify me into the image of Jesus by loving sacrificially. I pray I have the discipline to harness your Spirit’s power to its full potential.