All gave some. Some Gave All. Lest we forget.

Daily Devotional Tuesday 21st July 2020

by William Moody

1 John 2:28–3:10

Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3:1 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. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears1 we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 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. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s2 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.

Footnotes

[1] 3:2 Or when it appears
[2] 3:9 Greek his

(ESV)

John speaks about being children of God and highlights how believers are distinctive children. Righteousness is a sign of being God’s child (v28-29) and stops us shrinking when Jesus comes again.

Believers are loved by God but misunderstood by the world (v1). A world out of step with God will see believers as unusual. The Christian has a glorious future (v2) – ‘we shall be like Him’, changed into the glory and purity of Jesus. This hope leads to seek purity now (v3).

Having focused on the believers’ glorious future, John now focuses on practice that is incompatible with this future (v4-10). Practicing sin is lawlessness and rebellion against God (v4). Sin is inconsistent with what salvation is and who Jesus is (v5).

Abiding in Jesus and knowing Jesus do not fit with life of sin (v6). Righteousness shows a link to Jesus who is righteous (v7). Sinning fits with belonging to devil (v8), but the Son of God has come to destroy the devil’s works. Rebirth brings home this victory and takes away a life of sin (v9) Practicing righteousness is the key evidence of this happening and belonging to Jesus (v10). There is no middle ground.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.