1st john 3........marks of true Christianity.
The first two chapters focused on the believers fellowship with God, now in chapters 3-5 it is relationship with God which is emphasised. The repetition of the phrase “born of God” pervades the section which properly runs from chapter 2 v29 to the end of chapter 5. Verse 10 is the key to chapter 3 “In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother”.
Verses 1-10 Those who are born again should live righteous lives
Verses 11-24 Those who are born of God should love the brethren
These are two indispensable marks of Christianity, it is not defined in terms of profession, but in real terms of practical living, and there is no middle ground. We tend to think of progress in terms of ritual adherence to attendance at church meetings, or devotion to church practices. While these are necessary commitments, the emphasis in scripture is always on the development of Christian character.
Verses 1-10 Living righteous lives
Chapter 2 v29 properly belongs to the beginning of chapter three and launches a series of tests on the reality of new life, what it means to be “born again”. Here then is the first of these, the principle being that those who are born of God will reproduce the features of God “If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of God”. We have to understand then the meaning of biblical righteousness, otherwise these words will have no impact. The word “righteous” is taken from a root that means “straight”; it came from the tall reeds of the Mesopotamian rivers which were used in construction, so straight they could plumb walls and gates and windows. The idea of “straight” in spiritual terms is right in relation to God (the state of moral rectitude).. Righteousness is defined by the law, which we are now able to keep in our right relationship with God (Romans 8 v4 “...that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us”), but the standard is God Himself who is the perfection of all that is right and just and fair. He is the essence and the standard of all that is right and any reproduction of that is a sign we are born of God and have His life within us. He is righteous, everything else is wrong and unjust and evil.
There now follows a threefold “manifestation” in verses 1-10; a manifestation in the future verse 2 “...He shall appear..”; then there is a manifestation in the past and this is described in two ways, verse 5 “He was manifested to take away our sins...” verse 8 “..He was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil”. Now there is a manifestation in the present in verse 10 where “..the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil..” Manifestation just means the whole matter is made public, no more doubt or confusion, the truth is out! We know why He came, we know that He is coming again, we know the character of those who are His.
Verse 1 The wonder of what we are in the present
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God”. We are asked to contemplate, to ponder, a manner of love which is unique in all known existence. This is a love which is superior to all other loves, that God would make rebels His sons and give to them the highest status in the universe apart from the Godhead, and confer upon them blessings that are eternal. This is the true meaning of the Greek word “agape”. In this new relationship we are the sons of God, and as a consequence strangers to the world that knows Him not.
Verse 2 The wonder of what we will be in the future
“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”. We cannot comprehend what we shall be in the future, for it is beyond our ability now to take it in. When Paul was “caught up to the third heaven” he saw and heard things that are beyond description. John expanded a little further in the book of Revelation but he had to speak in symbols many of which are hard to grasp right now. There is a wonderful future ahead when we will be so dramatically changed, physically, aesthetically, morally and spiritually, to live in a new dimension beyond the ken of this present world. Enough for John to say “we shall be like Him” and that says it all.
Verses 3-6 The holiness we must pursue in the present
“He that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as He is pure”. The word “pure” is “hagnos” and refers to conditions within the very inner sanctum of the presence of God where no mixture is permitted, only that which is pure and unsullied and holy. Since our destiny is to be “like Him”, and He is the essence of purity, it is well we start here to develop features of godliness and rid ourselves of all impurities. In the language of the hymn writer Francis Bevan “Where no shade nor stain can enter, nor the gold be dim, there in holiness unsullied I shall walk with Him. Meet companion then for Jesus, from Him for Him made; glory of God’s grace for ever there in me displayed”.
All our sins have been dealt with by Christ but we have to cleanse ourselves from offending ongoing sins. We were not freed from sins to go on living in them. The continual practice of sin transgresses the law, the standard of which is still in force. Also it insults Jesus Christ who “was manifested to take away our sins”. “In Him is no sin” means He did not die for His own sins but for ours, for there was no sin in Him. For us to continue in sin is to perpetuate that which caused His grief. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not”. We cannot claim to abide in Him and continue sinning because He and sin are incompatible.
Verses 7-10 The deception we must avoid
We are to allow no one to deceive us in this matter, those who practice righteousness (moral rectitude in the sight of God) are right with God by grace and by practice, because God only ever acts in right ways, “..he that doeth (practices) righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous”. Everything else is from the devil the arch deceiver, the primary sinner, the father of lies, the enemy of all mankind. We are either the children of God or the children of the devil. This is the conclusion of this section, and what we are will be seen in our practice, how we live proclaims what we are. “He that commits sin is of the devil...” He is not speaking of spasmodic lapses into sin, rather living lives of sin, either excusing it, making light of it, or enjoying it and promoting it. Lists of sins are given in many bible portions particularly in Romans 1 verses 29-32. In Romans 1 we have the sins of heathenism, the depravity that comes from rejection of God. In Romans 2 we have the sins of hypocrisy, the delusion that comes from a false sense of God, and all of it has it’s source in the devil.
“For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Not only did He take away the offending root of sin, He removed the fruit of sin, by thwarting and frustrating the works of the devil, and ultimately He will destroy them altogether. Everyone who is born of God does not live in sin, does not fulfil the works of the devil. This is because “His seed remains in him and he cannot sin(cannot go on sinning), because he is born of God”. What we have here is an impossibility; God and sin do not dwell together, God and the devil are diametrically opposed, that is they will never be reconciled, they will be eternally separated, and it is therefore impossible for Christians who have within them the seed of Divine life to continue in sin. This seed will only grow and dispel sin, and instil righteousness. The children of God and the children of the devil are clearly defined by their lifestyle.
Verse 11-24 Loving the brethren Love as a first principle (11-12) This section is devoted to the principle of love to the brethren as an evidence of new life. It was first stated in verse 10 that those who don’t live by this principle have no Divine life within them. It could not be clearer than is stated in chapter 5 v1 “..every on that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him”. This is a stringent test for not all God’s family are loveable, yet the point of Divine love is that He loves even the most unlovely. Again he refers to “..the word from the beginning”, the first principles of Christianity. The opposite to love is hate and this is illustrated from the first man to be born into the world. Because of religious differences, he slew his own brother. God’s acceptance of his younger brothers’ offering and the rejection of his own, caused him to fly into an uncontrolled rage and he unlawfully murdered his brother. He proved himself to be “of the wicked one”, (not of God). Being of the wicked one he manifested the works of evil by killing his brother in a fit of jealousy.
The reality of love and hate (13-15) “Marvel not, my brethren if the world hate you...” Just as Cain hated his brother so all the children of the devil will hate the children of God, but that hatred should never be evident among God’s people. Love, not hate is to pervade the family of God. It is indeed one great evidence of salvation that we love one another “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren”. In the eyes of God hate (the attitude) and murder (the act) are one and the same. The Lord established this in Matthew chapter 5 verses 21-26, when He raised the standard of law to hitherto unknown levels. Love and hate begin in the mind and heart and we must deal with them there first. Hating my brother, calling him unworthy names, putting him down, maintaining a hateful attitude, counting him as worthless is tantamount to murder in the eyes of the Lord.
The perception and practice of love (16-17) This comes alone from God. We cannot really learn it from any other source. We perceive it by contemplating it and by putting it into hard practice. The love of God for us “laid down His life”, gave His all; love is not in the abstract, it is intensely practical. The proof of our love is that we will lay down our lives for the brethren. Love is proved in action , and such action that meets the very basic need of your brethren. This may be material or financial or spiritual, but it is the readiness to give of your resources at the point of need.
Fake love will only bring God’s condemnation and rob us of assurance(18-21) We become the beneficiaries of our goodness as directed by the Lord but the opposite is also true. We are to love our brethren in sincerity, “not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth”. Saying that we love someone, if it is not backed up by actions, is just vain talk. Professing love in flowery speeches if it is not evident in our attitude is contrary to the truth. This will affect our fellowship with God. “Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him”. God alone knows whether our love is according to His, because He knows what is in our hearts and He detects falsehood. “For if our hearts condemn us it is because God is greater than our heart and knows all things” (this is the best rendering of these words). The God who knows all hearts will either condemn us for our sham love, or assure our hearts and give us that inner peace when we are in step with Him. The result of true love to the brethren will be confidence toward God.
True love will enhance my prayer life (22-24) This assurance in our hearts and resultant confidence in God will greatly enhance and enrich my prayer life; “And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do things which are pleasing in His sight”. It must be by now clear, that answer to prayer is conditional for God will not regard any prayer from a sham heart. Scriptures abound with this principle; it was the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man”; it must be to “lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting”; “if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me”. If I want to enjoy a happy prayer fellowship with the Lord, it must be from an assured heart before Him. Psalm 84 v11 “No good thing will He withhold from him that walketh uprightly”. The imagery of the tabernacle service of old is that before engaging in prayer/worship service the Priests and Levites must cleanse themselves at the laver “Exodus 30 verses 19-21; Numbers 8 verses 6-7). Again “Who shall ascend into hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.....” Psalm 24 verses 3-4. This will involve keeping His commandments, the essence of which is faith in the Son of God and love to all the brethren. Keeping His commandments is not in our own power but in mutual fellowship with Him (“..abiding in Him and He in us,,”). This is not mere head knowledge but experimental knowledge through the inner working of the Holy Spirit.
The first two chapters focused on the believers fellowship with God, now in chapters 3-5 it is relationship with God which is emphasised. The repetition of the phrase “born of God” pervades the section which properly runs from chapter 2 v29 to the end of chapter 5. Verse 10 is the key to chapter 3 “In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother”.
Verses 1-10 Those who are born again should live righteous lives
Verses 11-24 Those who are born of God should love the brethren
These are two indispensable marks of Christianity, it is not defined in terms of profession, but in real terms of practical living, and there is no middle ground. We tend to think of progress in terms of ritual adherence to attendance at church meetings, or devotion to church practices. While these are necessary commitments, the emphasis in scripture is always on the development of Christian character.
Verses 1-10 Living righteous lives
Chapter 2 v29 properly belongs to the beginning of chapter three and launches a series of tests on the reality of new life, what it means to be “born again”. Here then is the first of these, the principle being that those who are born of God will reproduce the features of God “If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of God”. We have to understand then the meaning of biblical righteousness, otherwise these words will have no impact. The word “righteous” is taken from a root that means “straight”; it came from the tall reeds of the Mesopotamian rivers which were used in construction, so straight they could plumb walls and gates and windows. The idea of “straight” in spiritual terms is right in relation to God (the state of moral rectitude).. Righteousness is defined by the law, which we are now able to keep in our right relationship with God (Romans 8 v4 “...that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us”), but the standard is God Himself who is the perfection of all that is right and just and fair. He is the essence and the standard of all that is right and any reproduction of that is a sign we are born of God and have His life within us. He is righteous, everything else is wrong and unjust and evil.
There now follows a threefold “manifestation” in verses 1-10; a manifestation in the future verse 2 “...He shall appear..”; then there is a manifestation in the past and this is described in two ways, verse 5 “He was manifested to take away our sins...” verse 8 “..He was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil”. Now there is a manifestation in the present in verse 10 where “..the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil..” Manifestation just means the whole matter is made public, no more doubt or confusion, the truth is out! We know why He came, we know that He is coming again, we know the character of those who are His.
Verse 1 The wonder of what we are in the present
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God”. We are asked to contemplate, to ponder, a manner of love which is unique in all known existence. This is a love which is superior to all other loves, that God would make rebels His sons and give to them the highest status in the universe apart from the Godhead, and confer upon them blessings that are eternal. This is the true meaning of the Greek word “agape”. In this new relationship we are the sons of God, and as a consequence strangers to the world that knows Him not.
Verse 2 The wonder of what we will be in the future
“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”. We cannot comprehend what we shall be in the future, for it is beyond our ability now to take it in. When Paul was “caught up to the third heaven” he saw and heard things that are beyond description. John expanded a little further in the book of Revelation but he had to speak in symbols many of which are hard to grasp right now. There is a wonderful future ahead when we will be so dramatically changed, physically, aesthetically, morally and spiritually, to live in a new dimension beyond the ken of this present world. Enough for John to say “we shall be like Him” and that says it all.
Verses 3-6 The holiness we must pursue in the present
“He that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as He is pure”. The word “pure” is “hagnos” and refers to conditions within the very inner sanctum of the presence of God where no mixture is permitted, only that which is pure and unsullied and holy. Since our destiny is to be “like Him”, and He is the essence of purity, it is well we start here to develop features of godliness and rid ourselves of all impurities. In the language of the hymn writer Francis Bevan “Where no shade nor stain can enter, nor the gold be dim, there in holiness unsullied I shall walk with Him. Meet companion then for Jesus, from Him for Him made; glory of God’s grace for ever there in me displayed”.
All our sins have been dealt with by Christ but we have to cleanse ourselves from offending ongoing sins. We were not freed from sins to go on living in them. The continual practice of sin transgresses the law, the standard of which is still in force. Also it insults Jesus Christ who “was manifested to take away our sins”. “In Him is no sin” means He did not die for His own sins but for ours, for there was no sin in Him. For us to continue in sin is to perpetuate that which caused His grief. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not”. We cannot claim to abide in Him and continue sinning because He and sin are incompatible.
Verses 7-10 The deception we must avoid
We are to allow no one to deceive us in this matter, those who practice righteousness (moral rectitude in the sight of God) are right with God by grace and by practice, because God only ever acts in right ways, “..he that doeth (practices) righteousness is righteous even as He is righteous”. Everything else is from the devil the arch deceiver, the primary sinner, the father of lies, the enemy of all mankind. We are either the children of God or the children of the devil. This is the conclusion of this section, and what we are will be seen in our practice, how we live proclaims what we are. “He that commits sin is of the devil...” He is not speaking of spasmodic lapses into sin, rather living lives of sin, either excusing it, making light of it, or enjoying it and promoting it. Lists of sins are given in many bible portions particularly in Romans 1 verses 29-32. In Romans 1 we have the sins of heathenism, the depravity that comes from rejection of God. In Romans 2 we have the sins of hypocrisy, the delusion that comes from a false sense of God, and all of it has it’s source in the devil.
“For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Not only did He take away the offending root of sin, He removed the fruit of sin, by thwarting and frustrating the works of the devil, and ultimately He will destroy them altogether. Everyone who is born of God does not live in sin, does not fulfil the works of the devil. This is because “His seed remains in him and he cannot sin(cannot go on sinning), because he is born of God”. What we have here is an impossibility; God and sin do not dwell together, God and the devil are diametrically opposed, that is they will never be reconciled, they will be eternally separated, and it is therefore impossible for Christians who have within them the seed of Divine life to continue in sin. This seed will only grow and dispel sin, and instil righteousness. The children of God and the children of the devil are clearly defined by their lifestyle.
Verse 11-24 Loving the brethren Love as a first principle (11-12) This section is devoted to the principle of love to the brethren as an evidence of new life. It was first stated in verse 10 that those who don’t live by this principle have no Divine life within them. It could not be clearer than is stated in chapter 5 v1 “..every on that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him”. This is a stringent test for not all God’s family are loveable, yet the point of Divine love is that He loves even the most unlovely. Again he refers to “..the word from the beginning”, the first principles of Christianity. The opposite to love is hate and this is illustrated from the first man to be born into the world. Because of religious differences, he slew his own brother. God’s acceptance of his younger brothers’ offering and the rejection of his own, caused him to fly into an uncontrolled rage and he unlawfully murdered his brother. He proved himself to be “of the wicked one”, (not of God). Being of the wicked one he manifested the works of evil by killing his brother in a fit of jealousy.
The reality of love and hate (13-15) “Marvel not, my brethren if the world hate you...” Just as Cain hated his brother so all the children of the devil will hate the children of God, but that hatred should never be evident among God’s people. Love, not hate is to pervade the family of God. It is indeed one great evidence of salvation that we love one another “We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren”. In the eyes of God hate (the attitude) and murder (the act) are one and the same. The Lord established this in Matthew chapter 5 verses 21-26, when He raised the standard of law to hitherto unknown levels. Love and hate begin in the mind and heart and we must deal with them there first. Hating my brother, calling him unworthy names, putting him down, maintaining a hateful attitude, counting him as worthless is tantamount to murder in the eyes of the Lord.
The perception and practice of love (16-17) This comes alone from God. We cannot really learn it from any other source. We perceive it by contemplating it and by putting it into hard practice. The love of God for us “laid down His life”, gave His all; love is not in the abstract, it is intensely practical. The proof of our love is that we will lay down our lives for the brethren. Love is proved in action , and such action that meets the very basic need of your brethren. This may be material or financial or spiritual, but it is the readiness to give of your resources at the point of need.
Fake love will only bring God’s condemnation and rob us of assurance(18-21) We become the beneficiaries of our goodness as directed by the Lord but the opposite is also true. We are to love our brethren in sincerity, “not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth”. Saying that we love someone, if it is not backed up by actions, is just vain talk. Professing love in flowery speeches if it is not evident in our attitude is contrary to the truth. This will affect our fellowship with God. “Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him”. God alone knows whether our love is according to His, because He knows what is in our hearts and He detects falsehood. “For if our hearts condemn us it is because God is greater than our heart and knows all things” (this is the best rendering of these words). The God who knows all hearts will either condemn us for our sham love, or assure our hearts and give us that inner peace when we are in step with Him. The result of true love to the brethren will be confidence toward God.
True love will enhance my prayer life (22-24) This assurance in our hearts and resultant confidence in God will greatly enhance and enrich my prayer life; “And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and do things which are pleasing in His sight”. It must be by now clear, that answer to prayer is conditional for God will not regard any prayer from a sham heart. Scriptures abound with this principle; it was the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man”; it must be to “lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting”; “if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me”. If I want to enjoy a happy prayer fellowship with the Lord, it must be from an assured heart before Him. Psalm 84 v11 “No good thing will He withhold from him that walketh uprightly”. The imagery of the tabernacle service of old is that before engaging in prayer/worship service the Priests and Levites must cleanse themselves at the laver “Exodus 30 verses 19-21; Numbers 8 verses 6-7). Again “Who shall ascend into hill of the Lord, or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart.....” Psalm 24 verses 3-4. This will involve keeping His commandments, the essence of which is faith in the Son of God and love to all the brethren. Keeping His commandments is not in our own power but in mutual fellowship with Him (“..abiding in Him and He in us,,”). This is not mere head knowledge but experimental knowledge through the inner working of the Holy Spirit.
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