1 John 3:1-10 Lesson 460

1 John 3:1-10
Lesson 460

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

We are God's children (3:1-2)
Righteousness (3:4-10).

The two themes in this passage, seeking Christ and Christian love, are continued in lesson 461.

Also -
Verses 3:1-3 are an excellent read when discouraged.

"Christ the Redeemer" on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The statue stands 126 feet tall, including the base.

Study Tip:

Scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below.
Also, check the "Margin Notes" in blue and click on the links.

The First Epistle of John

The King James Bible

1 John 3:1-10
Children of God

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.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

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.

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.

Margin notes:

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." (3:1) - "Look at the love God has shown us; we are called the children of God." Read John 1:12 and Romans 8:16-17.

"The world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (3:1) - "The world doesn't recognize us, because it didn't recognize Him (Jesus)."

"Now are we the sons of God." (3:2) - John 1:12 reinforces this verse, that believers are the children of God.

"It doth not yet appear what we shall be." (3:2) - "It isn't yet clear (to us) what we shall be." "As long as we remain in these bodies, we will groan and suffer. We are looking forward to the blessed hope and the glorious reappearance of Jesus. Then we will receive our glorified bodies." (Paraphrased from Harold G. Ihlefeldt 1920- 1971).

"When he shall appear." (3:2) - "When Jesus returns."

"Purifieth." (3:3) - To purify is to free oneself from sin. How? By drawing closer to God (James 4:8) and obeying His truth (1 Peter 1:22).

"He is pure." (3:3) - "Christ is pure."

"Ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins." (3:5) - "You know that Jesus came to take away our sins."

"In him is no sin." (3:5) - "There is no sin in Christ." Because he is free from sin, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice to take away the sins of the world.

"Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him." (3:6) - "Whoever willfully and repeatedly sins has not seen or known Jesus."

"Even as he is righteous." (3:7) - "Even as Jesus is righteous."

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested." (3:8) - "This is why the Son of God came."

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." (3:9) - This doesn't mean that it is impossible for a believer to sin. We are all sinners by nature. This verse means that believers will resist sin when the Holy Spirit lives in them. See "Today's Questions" below.

"In this the children of God are manifest." (3:10) - "In this you can tell who the children of God are."

What will we be like when Christ returns? Read 1 Corinthians 15:42-49 and Philippians 3:21.

New Living Translation

1 John 3:1-10

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.

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.

3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God's law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's questions:

1. How do we know when we're "born of God? (3:9)

2. If we sin, does that mean we aren't "born of God?"

"The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible." (Dwight L. Moody 1837-1899)

Answers: (Do you agree?)

1. "We are "born of God" when the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us Jesus' new life. Being born again is more than a fresh start; it is a rebirth, receiving a new family name based on Christ's death for us. God forgives us and totally accepts us. The Holy Spirit gives us a new mind and heart, lives in us, and begins helping us be like Christ. Our perspective changes, too. We have a mind that is renewed day by day by the Holy Spirit (see Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:22-24). So we must begin to think and act differently."

(From the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2520)


2. "No. There are difficulties in conveying the idea of the original language into English. As a result, some readers may feel that this passage indicates God doesn't recognize our struggle with sin. They think that one sin causes them to lose their place in heaven.
  In reality God sees our struggle all too well. He does not expect new Christians to mature and bear fruit over night. But John emphasizes an increasing conformity of a person's will to the will of God. If, however, a person shows no sign of change, and in fact his life is characterized by sin, John says that the person has not been born of God."

("The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation; Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 1763)


Application thought for the day:

Are you applying the lessons learned from the Bible to your life?
Remember, the most essential part of Bible study is using what you learn to make yourself a better person.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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