The open doorway of a lamp-lit courtyard house at evening, two pairs of small children’s sandals on the threshold and a man’s wool cloak hanging on a peg beside the door.

The Book of

1 John 3

What kind of love brings you into the family? John says you are God’s children now, and it shows in how you live and love.

24 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–2:27In the lightGod is light; confess and obey
2:28–4:6Children of GodBorn of Him, doing what is rightChapter 3
4:7–5:12God is loveLoved by Him, we love each other
5:13–21Knowing for sureEternal life in the Son

Children of God

1 John 3:1

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We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.

Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness. But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.

Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.

Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Two ways of life

Whiteboard

John sets two ways of life side by side. A child of God still stumbles and still confesses (1:9; 2:1), but sin is no longer his home: he does what is right and loves his brother, because “God’s seed abides in him.” The other way goes back to the devil, and that is exactly what Jesus came to undo.

Question

Quick question

John gives the reason Jesus came in one plain sentence.

Why, John says, was the Son of God revealed?

Love One Another

John

John

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.

1 John 3:14

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

A rocky hill outside a city wall at dawn, seen from far off, one bare, empty Roman execution stake with a rough crossbeam, small on the skyline against a breaking sky.

By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

0:07

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

John

Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

1 John 3:20

Reflect

In action and truth

John writes, “let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.” Think of one brother or sister whose need you have seen lately: a meal, a visit, a bill, a lonely week. What is one thing you could actually do for them this week? Write it down, and a day to do it.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.

And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.

And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.

1 John 3:24

Pray

Children of God

Thank the Father for the love that calls you His child: “And that is what we are!” If your heart is accusing you today, remember that “God is greater than our hearts.” Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit, to keep you trusting His Son, and to make your love for others real, in action and truth.

You’ve experienced

1 John 3

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A verse to carry with you

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

1 John 3:1

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