At the outset of our study in I John 3:1-24, it is a marvelous truth to know that we possess eternal life. However, in evidence of that truth, the Lord expects us to live righteously, for I John 2:29 says: “If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of God.” As children of God, positionally we have been accepted in Him!
I John 3:1-24 may be outlined as follows: I. The Position of the Believer and His Practice of Righteousness – I John 3:1-18; II. Manifesting Righteous Living in Relation to Prayer – I John 3:19-24.
I. The Position of the Believer and His Practice of Righteousness – I John 3:1-18
The grand Apostle John begins verse 1 by inviting us to contemplate the marvelous love the Father has bestowed on us. It is hard for the world to perceive that we are children of God because they do not know God. The world cannot understand us because it didn’t understand Him.
Verse 2 informs us that a wonderful prospect awaits us. We will be transformed at the marvelous appearing of Christ. With such a marvelous transformation everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (v. 3). Contrary to the purity John referred to in verse 3, the committal of sin is lawlessness (v. 4). A person who sins does what is wicked, for sin is wickedness. Sin must not be taken lightly. To underscore the seriousness of sin, John mentioned that Christ appeared so that He might take away our sins. Christ died a redemptive death – He was our sin offering. He was without sin. Christ is able to remove the guilt of sin and to provide the power to deliver us from the habit of sinning (v. 5).
In verse 6, the believer who abides in Christ does not practice sin – he doesn’t live in it! Because there was some confusion between sin and righteousness involving the doctrine of the antichrists (false teachers), John warned his readers to not be led astray by these false proclaimers. He stated in verse 7 that: “He who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.” Only righteousness springs from a righteous nature. However, he who does what is sinful is of the devil. All sin is satanic in nature, regardless of the kind or degree of the sin (v. 8).
By participating in sin, one is opposing the work of the Son of God who came to put an end to the activity of Satan (Hebrews 9:28a). In verse 9, one who is born of God does not sin because God’s seed remains in him, and he cannot sin because he has been born of God. God’s seed is His Nature, given to each believer at the point of salvation (St. John 1:13; 2 Peter 1:4).
In verse 10, the Apostle John asserted that righteousness distinguishes children of God from children of the devil. John reminded his readers of “the message that ye heard from the beginning” (v. 11). This was the Lord’s command to “love one another.” Love was an integral part of the gospel message not as a requirement for salvation, but as evidence of belonging to Christ (I John 2:7-10; St. John 13:34-35).
Referring to the negative example of Cain, John declared that Cain was wicked, who slew his righteous brother Abel, for Abel’s work was righteous and Cain’s works were evil (v. 12).
John referred to unbelievers in verse 13 as “the world.” The world, under the control of Satan, hates believers. In verse 14, John wrote that believers have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. As believers, we have left the sphere of death to the sphere of life. Faith in Jesus Christ gains eternal life, but love for fellow believers is the evidence of eternal life. In verse 15, John asserted that: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. One who hates does not have eternal life. A person who habitually hates gives evidence that he is not saved. John is not asserting that a person who commits murder is beyond forgiveness and cannot enter into life eternal; however, a person cannot habitually hate and be saved!
In verse 16, if one wants to know the essence of God’s love, then one needs to ponder the sacrifice of Christ. While the giving of Christ’s life for us was an exhibit of love to be marveled at, it was also an example to be followed. We cannot die for someone’s sin as Jesus did, but we can express our love in other ways. One way to put our love into action is to give sacrificially of our substance to others (v. 17). The distinguishing mark of a Christian’s love will be expressed in his sharing of his material possessions with others.
In verse 18, self-sacrificial love is required of us as believers. As stated, it may not be necessary to give our lives, but we can share our substance. As believers, we are to manifest God’s love in deed and truth and not just in lip service.
II. Manifesting Righteous Living in Relation to Prayer – I John 3:19-24
The word hereby connects verse 19 with John’s previous thought in verse 18. When a believer walks in Christlike love, he assures himself that he is “of the truth,” which is a way of saying he is saved. As Christians we need to “assure our hearts before Him” (v. 19) because sometimes our hearts condemn us (v. 20). “Heart” refers to the entire inner person, with emphasis here on the conscience. Our conscience judges thoughts and deeds on the basis of the knowledge we have, but the conscience is not infallible.
We may have a condemning heart; however, “God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (v. 20). While our conscience can be wrong, God always sees the truth. When our heart condemns us, we first ought to examine ourselves to be sure we are not harboring an unconfessed sin. If our heart no longer condemns us, we have “confidence toward God” (v. 21). The word “confidence” means freedom of speech. In connection to our approach before God, we have openness and boldness.
In verses 22-23, freedom to approach God in prayer is only part of the blessing that comes with an uncondemning heart. We are assured that whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him.” The necessary conditions for answered prayer are keeping God’s commandments and doing that which pleases Him (v. 22). Believers who are doing the will of God will also pray according to His will. The secret to answered prayer is not striving to keep a set of rules but living a life under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
In verse 23, the commandments that John wrote about could be summarized in one two-fold commandment: “That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another.” In verse 24, the life of obedience proves union with God since no one can live it on his own. A further assurance that Christ abides in us comes from the witness of “the Spirit which He hath given us” (v. 24).
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
