1st John 3: He who has this hope in Him purifies himself

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Parent Category: Division 7. Letters-James/Peter/John/Jude
Category: 1st John-Jude
  1. Overview
  2. Chapter & Audio
  3. Q&A

Overview

The third chapter of 1 John, explores the themes of sin, righteousness, and love, in relation to being children of God.

It's in this chapter that John explicitly communicates that God's children should strive to rid themselves of sin, focusing on love and righteousness, as the defining evidence of their faith.

Bible Study/Commentary

Verses 1-3: Children of God

John opens this chapter by marveling, at the love God has bestowed on believers, by allowing them, to be called children of God.

He states that the world does not see them as such, because it did not acknowledge God.

John further emphasizes the believer's hope, of becoming like Christ when he appears, and the purifying effect of this hope, on believers.

Verses 4-10: Sin and Righteousness

John makes a distinction between children of God, and children of the devil, by their actions.

He clarifies that sin, is lawlessness, and that Christ came, to take away sins.

Therefore, those who practice sinning, have neither seen God, nor have they known him.

He declares that the children of God, do what is right, and love their brothers and sisters, while the children of the devil, do not.

Verses 11-18: The Command to Love

Here, John repeats the central commandment of love, reminding his readers that love for one another should be the defining feature of their lives.

He uses the story of Cain and Abel to illustrate the contrast between hatred (which leads to death) and love (which leads to eternal life).

He further underscores that love is not just about words or speech, but should be demonstrated in action and truth.

Verses 19-24: Reassurance of God's Love

John assures believers, of their standing before God.

He notes that when their hearts condemn them, God is greater than their hearts and knows everything.

This section encourages believers, to have confidence before God, because of their obedience and faith, in Jesus Christ.

John ends the chapter by restating the importance, of abiding in God, through love and obedience.

Overall Summary

1 John Chapter 3 delves into, what it means, to be children of God.

The chapter contrasts, sin and righteousness, and love and hatred.

Believers, as children of God, are encouraged to seek righteousness, shun sin, and most importantly, to love one another, in truth and action, not just in speech.

The chapter reassures them, of their status before God, and emphasizes the importance, of abiding in Him.

1 John  3

The Command to Love

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Love One Another

11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Q&A

  1. a. Because His love has been bestowed on us, what are we called? 3:1
    b. Why does the world not know us? 3:1
    c. When are we children of God? 3:2
    d. What has not yet been revealed? 3:2
    e. When He is revealed, who will we be like? Why? 3:2
    f. What does everyone who has this hope do to himself 3:3
    • 1 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.
    • 2 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.
    • 3 And everyone
      who has this hope in Him
      purifies himself,
      just as He is pure.
  2. a. If a person sins, what are they committing? 3:4
    b. What is sin? 3:4
    c. What did He come to take away? 3:5
    d. How much sin is in Him? 3:5
    e. If a person abides in Him, what do they not practice? 3:6
    f. If a person practices sin, who have they not seen or known? 3:6
    • 4 Whoever commits sin
      also commits lawlessness,
      and sin is lawlessness.
    • 5 And you know
      that He was manifested
      to take away our sins,
      and in Him there is no sin.
    • 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin.
      Whoever practices sins
      has neither seen Him
      nor known Him.
  3. a. What do we know about anyone who practices righteousness? 3:7
    b. Will people try to deceive you about this? 3:7
    c. If a person practices sin, who are they of? 3:8
    d. What did the devil do from the beginning? 3:8
    e. For what purpose was Jesus manifested (came in the flesh)? 3:8
    f. If a person is born of God, what do they not practice? 3:9
    g. Why does His seed remain in him? 3:9
    • 7 Little children,
      let no one deceive you.
      He who practices righteousness
      is righteous,
      just as He is righteous.
    • 8 He who practices 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.
    • 9 Whoever has been born of God
      does not practice sin,
      for His seed remains in him;
      and he cannot sin,
      because he has been born of God.
  4. a. What is revealed or manifest in this? 3:10
    b. If a person does not practice righteousness, who are they not of? 3:10
    c. If a person does love his brother, who are they not of? 3:10
    d. What message have we heard from the beginning? 3:11
    e. Who are we not to be like? 3:12
    f. Why did Cain murder his brother? 3:12
    • 10 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.
    • 11 For this is the message
      that you heard from the beginning,
      that we should love one another,
    • 12 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.
  5. a. What should we not marvel about? 3:13
    b. How do know that we have passed from death to life? 3:14
    c. If a person does not love, what does he abide in? 3:14
    d. If a person hates his brother, what is he? 3:15
    e. What does a murderer not have? 3:15
    • 13 Do not marvel, my brethren,
      if the world hates you.
    • 14 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.
    • 15 Whoever hates his brother
      is a murderer,
      and you know that no murderer
      has eternal life abiding in him.
  6. a. How do we know love? 3:16
    b. What should we do? 3:16
    c. If you have the goods and see your brother in need, what is not in you if you close your heart to him? 3:17
    • 16 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.
    • 17 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?
  7. a. How are we not to love? 3:18
    b. How are we to love? 3:18
    c. What do we know by this? 3:19
    d. What does this assure? 3:19
    e. If our heart condemns us, who is greater than our heart? 3:20
    f. What does God know? 3:20
    g. If you close your heart to your brother in need, does God know it? 3:20
    • 18 My little children,
      let us not love in word or in tongue,
      but in deed and in truth.
    • 19 And by this we know
      that we are of the truth,
      and shall assure our hearts before Him.
    • 20 For if our heart condemns us,
      God is greater than our heart,
      and knows all things.
  8. a. If our heart does not condemn us, what do we have? 3:21
    b. If our heart does not condemn us, and we ask for something from God, what will happen? 3:22
    c. Why does He do this? 3:22
    d. What is the commandment did He give us? 3:23
    e. Why should we do this? 3:23
    • 21 Beloved,
      if our heart does not condemn us,
      we have confidence toward God.
    • 22 And whatever we ask
      we receive from 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.
  9. a. If you keep His commandments, who do you abide in? 3:24
    b. How do we know that He abides in us? 3:24
    • 24 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.