# Overview 1 John Chapter 3 begins by highlighting the incredible love that the #Father has lavished upon believers, calling them children of #God. This identity as God's children is not merely a title but a transformation, setting believers apart from the world that does not know God. The chapter emphasizes the hope that believers have in becoming like #Christ when He appears, which motivates them to purify themselves just as He is pure. This call to purity is contrasted with the practice of sin, which is lawlessness. The text clearly states that Christ appeared to take away sins and that in Him there is no sin. As children of God, believers are not to continue in sin, for those who are born of God cannot persist in sinful practices because God's seed abides in them. The chapter further delineates the difference between the children of God and the children of the #devil. This distinction is evident in the practice of righteousness and love for one's brother, which is a defining characteristic of those born of God. The message from the beginning is to love one another, not following the example of #Cain, who murdered his brother #Abel out of jealousy. This call to love is foundational, with the assurance that love is the evidence of passing from death to life. The chapter concludes by affirming the assurance believers have in their relationship with God through love in action and truth. By keeping God's commandments and believing in the name of His Son [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] #Christ, believers abide in God, and He in them, confirmed by the Spirit He has given them. ## Theological Insights 1 John 3 delves deeply into the theme of #righteousness and the #identity of believers as #children of God. The chapter begins by highlighting the profound love of the Father, which allows us to be called His children. This identity is not just a title but a transformative reality that sets believers apart from the world, which does not know God. The chapter emphasizes the contrast between the #children of God and the #children of the devil. Those who are born of God do not continue in sin because God's seed remains in them (1 John 3:9). This concept echoes the transformative power of the new birth, as mentioned in [[John/John Chapter 3]], where Jesus speaks to #Nicodemus about being born again by the Spirit. The call to live righteously and love one another is a central theme, reflecting the commandment of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] in [[John/John Chapter 13|John 13:34-35]] to love one another as He has loved us. This love is not merely emotional or verbal but is demonstrated through actions and truth, as stated in 1 John 3:18. The chapter also addresses the confidence believers have before God, particularly when their hearts condemn them. This assurance comes from the fact that God is greater than our hearts and knows everything (1 John 3:20). This divine knowledge and understanding align with [[Psalm/Psalm Chapter 139]], where #David speaks of God's intimate knowledge of him. Furthermore, the concept of abiding in Christ is reiterated as a mark of true believers, connected to the obedience to His commandments. This abiding relationship is reminiscent of [[John/John Chapter 15]], where Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His followers as branches, emphasizing the necessity of remaining in Him to bear fruit. The chapter concludes by reinforcing the role of the #HolySpirit in confirming our status as God's children and in empowering us to live out the command to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another. This assurance of the Spirit is foundational for the believer's confidence in their relationship with God. ## Thematic Connections ### Love as the Defining Mark of Believers 1 John 3 emphasizes love as the hallmark of those who are children of #God. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, notably in [[John/John Chapter 13|John 13:34-35]] where Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. Similarly, [[1 Corinthians/1 Corinthians Chapter 13]] portrays love as the greatest of all spiritual gifts, underscoring its foundational importance in the Christian life. ### The Contrast Between Sin and Righteousness The chapter delineates a clear distinction between sin and righteousness, asserting that those born of #God do not continue to sin. This theme aligns with Jesus' teachings in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 7|Matthew 7:17-20]], where He discusses the fruits of righteousness, and with Paul's exhortation in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 6|Romans 6:1-14]] about living a new life in Christ, free from the bondage of sin. ### The Hope of Becoming Like Christ 1 John 3:2 offers the promise that believers will be like Christ when He appears. This hope is connected to the broader biblical theme of transformation into the image of #Christ, as seen in [[Philippians/Philippians Chapter 3|Philippians 3:21]] and [[2 Corinthians/2 Corinthians Chapter 3|2 Corinthians 3:18]], which speak of the believers' ultimate glorification and conformity to Jesus' likeness. ### The Nature of God's Children The chapter affirms that those who practice righteousness are born of #God, echoing Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in [[John/John Chapter 3|John 3:3-8]] about being born again. This concept of spiritual rebirth is foundational to understanding the identity and nature of God's children, as also highlighted in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 8|Romans 8:14-17]], where Paul describes the Spirit’s role in confirming our identity as God's heirs. ### The Call to Love in Action and Truth In 1 John 3:18, believers are urged to love not only in words or speech but in actions and truth. This aligns with James' teaching in [[James/James Chapter 2|James 2:14-17]] about faith being evidenced by works, illustrating the biblical principle that genuine love manifests in tangible deeds. This theme is also reflected in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 25|Matthew 25:31-46]], where acts of kindness and service are presented as integral to following Christ. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Revelation of God's Love 1 John 3 emphasizes the love of #God as revealed through [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]]. This love is a fulfillment of the prophecy and promise of God's profound love for humanity, as seen in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 54|Isaiah 54:10]], where God declares that His steadfast love shall not depart. The chapter underscores that believers are called children of God, a realization of God's promise to bring His people into a familial relationship with Him, as seen in the prophetic writings of the Old Testament. ### The Promise of Transformation In 1 John 3:2, the text speaks of believers being transformed to be like Jesus when He appears. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy of transformation found in [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 12|Daniel 12:3]], where the wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky. The transformation into the likeness of Christ is a part of God's redemptive plan and prophecy, highlighting the ultimate hope and future glory for believers. ### The Defeat of Sin 1 John 3:5-8 discusses Jesus' manifestation to take away sins, fulfilling the prophecy of a coming savior to defeat sin, echoing the promise found in [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 53|Isaiah 53:5-6]], where the servant of the Lord bears the iniquities of many. Jesus' role as sin-bearer fulfills these Old Testament prophecies, emphasizing His purpose to destroy the works of the devil and to purify His people. ### The Call to Righteousness This chapter calls believers to live righteously, reflecting the prophetic call to holiness found in the Old Testament. In [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31|Jeremiah 31:33]], God promises to write His law on the hearts of His people. 1 John 3 reiterates this prophecy by emphasizing the importance of living righteously as evidence of being born of God, showing the fulfillment of God’s new covenant people walking in His ways. ### The Assurance of Eternal Life 1 John 3:14 speaks of passing from death to life, which aligns with the prophecy of eternal life promised to God's people, as seen in [[Ezekiel/Ezekiel Chapter 37|Ezekiel 37:12-14]], where God promises to open graves and bring His people into the land of Israel. This assurance of eternal life through love and faith in Christ fulfills the Old Testament hope of resurrection and eternal communion with God. ## Verses - **1 John 3:1** - "See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him." - **1 John 3:2** - "Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is." - **1 John 3:3** - "And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure." - **1 John 3:4** - "Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God." - **1 John 3:5** - "And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him." - **1 John 3:6** - "Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is." - **1 John 3:7** - "Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous." - **1 John 3:8** - "But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil." - **1 John 3:9** - "Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God." - **1 John 3:10** - "So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God." - **1 John 3:11** - "This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another." - **1 John 3:12** - "We must not be like #Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous." - See [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 4]] for the story of Cain and Abel. - **1 John 3:13** - "So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." - **1 John 3:14** - "If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead." - Compare with [[John/John Chapter 5]]. - **1 John 3:15** - "Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them." - **1 John 3:16** - "We know what real love is because [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]] gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." - **1 John 3:17** - "If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?" - **1 John 3:18** - "Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." - **1 John 3:19** - "Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God." - **1 John 3:20** - "Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything." - **1 John 3:21** - "Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence." - **1 John 3:22** - "And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him." - **1 John 3:23** - "And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us." - **1 John 3:24** - "Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us."