1, 2, and 3 John
Class Four

1 John Chapter 3

1Jn 3:1  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.

“For God so loved the world...” (John 3:16a).  God saves us, because He loves us.  “God is Love” (1 John 4:8,16).  He did not save us because we had any merit within us.  The only reason He came to earth, died on the cross, arose from the grave, went back into heaven to prepare a place for us, and is planning on coming back again to get us is very simply, because he loves us.  The World can not understand this, because they don't know Him.  But He died for them as well and is longsuffering, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9)

1Jn 3:2  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.

Many people say that we “are” in the image of Christ now, but we are NOT.  Mankind was made in the image and likeness of God, but when we sinned, we lost that image.  We are not in the image of mankind.  When we get saved, our Spirit is reborn, but our bodies are still earthly, sinful, corruptible.  But, when Christ comes back, we will be changed, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:52), and made back into the image and likeness of God.  We don't know what that is yet, but we know it is going to happen..  God told us so.

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Knowing this, we should strive to be “Christ like” as much as possible.  We should strive to be “holy (1 Peter 1:14) even as He is.

1Jn 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 
1Jn 3:5  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 
1Jn 3:6  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Now, we just read a few verses ago that if we say we don't have sin, we lie.  Here it says if we abide in Him, we don't sin.  Is this a contradiction?  NO.  When it says we all have sinned, it is talking about in the flesh.  Here, Scripture is talking about abiding in Christ.  This is speaking about our Spirit self. Our spirit does not sin, because we are in Christ.  This again goes back to the difference between a Child of God, and a lost person... the heart or inner spirit being.  The lost do not care, they sin, and have no remorse for it.  The child of God may sin in the flesh, but the spirit inside grieves and repents and purifies itself.  In Christ, it can not sin, even though the flesh may.

1Jn 3:7  Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 
1Jn 3:8  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.

The word “committeth” carries the meaning of “continuing”.  It is the prolonged version of the word “to do”.  Literally it means to continue sinning.  He that (continues to sin) is of the devil.  We are still sinners, but we strive to be more and more like Christ daily.

1Jn 3:9  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.

 
1Jn 3:10  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.

Love One Another

1Jn 3:11  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 
1Jn 3:12  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. 
1Jn 3:13  Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Here again is the difference between a child of God, and the lost world.  We have Spirit God living within us.  God is love, therefore, we should also have a spirit of love towards others.  The lost world does not have this.  Hate and evil lives within their hearts.  Even though sometimes they may seem to love, they hate God (antichrist), and therefore, they hate you.

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 
1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 
1Jn 3:16  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. 
1Jn 3:17  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? 
1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Again, if God dwells within you, it should manifest as love for others.

1Jn 3:19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 
1Jn 3:20  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 
1Jn 3:21  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 
1Jn 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 
1Jn 3:23  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. 
1Jn 3:24  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.

As you can see, loving one another, keeping God's Word, and confessing that we are sinners are all signs that God truly does dwell within us.  Those things being absent... One should do some serious searching of their heart.