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.