1 John 3

What love; we are sons of God 1
Disobedience to law is sin; righteousness 4
Children of God and of the devil are revealed by actions 10
Knowing love in action; receiving as believers 16
As we keep His commandments He abides in us 24
Text Comments
.1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
.2  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.
.3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
  1 - What manner of love John invites us to consider the awesome love of God in providing a new birth for us jn0229.
  2 - Like him What a joy it will be! Then may we continue sinful habits waiting for Him to take them away? Not at all. John is describing those who are already sons and daughters of God that the world cannot understand v1, and those who purify themselves after the pattern of Christ v3 ph0319. Also at ps01715.
.4 ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
  The NIV reads "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness."
.5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
.6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
.7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
 8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
.9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
   4 - Sin is transgression Here is John's plain language. This verse and the rest of the chapter help keep us from feeling righteous when we are breaking the law. Both translations (at left) are good ones. We just remember that the John had the law of God in view. It defines the purity of v3.
    I heard a television speaker explain how lawlessness is bad at the end of time. His idea was that we should learn to blindly follow those in authority keeping the laws of the United States. See ac0529, 2th0203b,
  5 - Take away See jn0129.
  9 - Born of God ... not ... sin They have lost their new birth or never had it jn0305.
.10  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
.11 ¶ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
 12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
 13  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
.14 ¶ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
.15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

  15 - Hateth If we have not forgiven someone in our hearts, we come into this category. This doesn't mean we should not expect people to pay what they owe us or work for what we've paid them for. We must not let their sin cause ours.
.16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
.17  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 ¶ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
  18 - Love ... in deed and in truth mt0721, lu1036f.
.22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 ¶ And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
  22 - Whatsoever we ask Notice the condition for receiving. When this promise is expressed in most of the passages in the books of John and Matthew, the condition for receiving is assumed but not stated. And for here, we might add that we should ask in the name of Jesus. 1jo0514.
  23 - Commandment The law of love. mt2236. Also consider that the law may be expressed in various ways.
.24  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
  24 - Abideth in us Compare jn1504.
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