1 John 3

1 John 3 focuses on the deep love of God that has been shown to believers, making them His children. This chapter also emphasizes the contrast between living in righteousness and living in sin, urging believers to demonstrate their relationship with God through holy living. The chapter draws clear lines between those who follow Christ and those who live in sin, while also highlighting the importance of love as evidence of being God's children.

1 John 3:1 (NKJV)
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."

God's love is so profound that He has called us His children. This is a great privilege, and it signifies a deep relationship with God. However, because we are now part of God's family, the world does not understand or recognize us, just as it did not recognize Jesus. Our identity as children of God puts us at odds with the world’s values and ways, but this is a sign of being transformed by God's love.

1 John 3:2 (NKJV)
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

Even though we are already God's children, our full future glory has not yet been revealed. When Christ returns, we will be transformed to be like Him, reflecting His character perfectly. This hope of transformation gives believers assurance and motivation to live in a way that reflects their identity as children of God, knowing that they will one day see Christ in His fullness.

1 John 3:3 (NKJV)
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

The hope of being like Christ and seeing Him in His glory drives believers to pursue purity. Just as Jesus is pure and holy, so are we called to live lives that reflect His purity. This pursuit of holiness is a natural response to the love and hope we have in Christ.

1 John 3:4 (NKJV)
"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness."

Sin is described here as lawlessness, a direct violation of God's will. When someone lives in sin, they are living in rebellion against God’s law. This verse emphasizes that sin is not just a mistake or a minor flaw, but a serious breach of God's commands, reflecting a heart that is out of alignment with His will.

1 John 3:5 (NKJV)
"And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin."

Jesus came into the world to take away our sins, and He Himself is sinless. His mission was to free us from the bondage of sin, both in its power and its guilt. Since Jesus is pure and without sin, those who are united with Him should also strive to live free from sin, reflecting His righteousness.

1 John 3:6 (NKJV)
"Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him."

To abide in Christ means to remain in close, continual fellowship with Him. Those who do this will not continue in a lifestyle of sin. A person who lives in ongoing sin demonstrates that they have not truly come to know Christ. Knowing Jesus leads to transformation and a desire to live in righteousness, not sin.

1 John 3:7-8 (NKJV)
"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

John warns believers not to be misled. A person’s actions reveal their true nature. Those who live righteously reflect Christ, but those who live in sin are following the devil, whose rebellion against God started from the beginning. Jesus came to destroy the devil's works, which include sin, rebellion, and lawlessness, showing that living in sin is incompatible with following Christ.

1 John 3:9 (NKJV)
"Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God."

Those who are born of God have a new nature, one that resists sin. The “seed” of God, likely referring to the Holy Spirit or God’s life-giving power, remains in the believer, making a life characterized by sin impossible. This doesn’t mean believers never sin, but that they cannot continue in habitual, unrepentant sin because they belong to God and have been transformed by Him.

1 John 3:10 (NKJV)
"In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother."

Here, John draws a clear distinction between God's children and the devil’s children. The key difference is the practice of righteousness and love. Those who do not live in righteousness or fail to love their fellow believers show that they are not truly God's children, regardless of what they might claim.

1 John 3:11-12 (NKJV)
"For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous."

The core message of the gospel from the beginning is love for one another. John contrasts this love with the example of Cain, who acted in hatred and jealousy, killing his righteous brother, Abel. Cain’s evil actions reflected his separation from God, while Abel’s righteousness reflected his closeness to God. This serves as a warning against letting jealousy or hatred rule in our hearts.

1 John 3:13 (NKJV)
"Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you."

Believers should not be surprised if they are hated by the world, just as Cain hated Abel. The world often reacts with hostility toward those who live righteously, because righteous living exposes the world’s sin. This is part of the believer's experience, as they follow Christ, who was also hated by the world.

1 John 3:14 (NKJV)
"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death."

Love for fellow believers is evidence that we have passed from spiritual death into eternal life. If someone lacks love for their fellow Christians, they are still spiritually dead, separated from the life of God. True faith is always accompanied by love for others, particularly within the family of God.

1 John 3:15 (NKJV)
"Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

John makes a strong statement, equating hatred with murder. In God’s eyes, hatred toward another person is akin to taking their life, because it reflects the same heart of malice. No one who harbors such hatred can have eternal life, since their heart is filled with darkness, not God’s love.

1 John 3:16 (NKJV)
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

Jesus' sacrifice defines the true meaning of love. He willingly gave up His life for us, and in response, we are called to show the same kind of self-sacrificial love for others, especially for our fellow believers. This verse calls Christians to a higher standard of love—one that is willing to give everything for the sake of others.

1 John 3:17 (NKJV)
"But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

John points out the practical nature of love. If someone has material resources and sees a fellow believer in need but refuses to help, they are not demonstrating the love of God. True love is generous and compassionate, seeking to meet the needs of others. A lack of compassion reveals a lack of God's love within.

1 John 3:18 (NKJV)
"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

Love is not just about words or feelings; it must be expressed through actions. John encourages believers to show their love in concrete ways, demonstrating its authenticity through deeds. This is a reminder that words alone are insufficient—genuine love always results in tangible acts of kindness and service.

1 John 3:19-20 (NKJV)
"And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things."

When we act in love, we gain assurance that we belong to the truth. Even when our hearts feel guilty or condemned, we can find comfort in knowing that God is greater than our feelings. He knows everything, including our true motives and the depth of our faith, and can provide peace when our own hearts are unsettled.

1 John 3:21-22 (NKJV)
"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."

When our hearts are at peace and do not condemn us, we can approach God with confidence in prayer. John connects this confidence to obedience—those who keep God's commandments and live in a way that pleases Him will receive what they ask from Him. This shows the link between faith, obedience, and answered prayer.

1 John 3:23 (NKJV)
"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."

John sums up God’s command in two parts: belief in Jesus and love for others. Faith in Christ is the foundation of the Christian life, and love for one another is the natural outflow of that faith. These two are inseparable, and together they fulfill God's commandment for believers.

1 John 3:24 (NKJV)
"Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."

Abiding in Christ is evidenced by obedience to His commands. Those who live in obedience have the assurance that Christ abides in them, and they in Him. This mutual indwelling is confirmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to believers as a guarantee of His abiding presence and power within them.