1 John3

The chapter opens by extolling God's profound love in making believers His children, instilling a hope of future likeness to Christ that purifies. It sharply contrasts those who practice righteousness as children of God with those who commit sin as children of the devil, emphasizing that Christ came to destroy sin. A central theme is the commandment to love one another, demonstrating true faith through deeds rather than mere words, and assuring believers of God's presence through obedience.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

The Love of God and Our Future Hope

1
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. ​
2
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. ​
3
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure. ​

Righteousness vs. Sin

4
Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness. ​
5
But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
6
No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. ​
7
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
8
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. ​
9
Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. ​
10
By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. ​

The Commandment to Love One Another

11
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ​
12
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous. ​
13
So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. ​
15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer. ​
16
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. ​
17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? ​
18
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. ​

Assurance, Confidence, and Obedience

19
And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence: ​
20
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things. ​
21
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. ​
23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us. ​
24
Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us. ​

Study Notes for 1 John 3

Verse 1

John emphasizes the astounding nature of God’s love, resulting in our adoption as His children. The world’s ignorance and rejection of believers is expected, as it first rejected Christ (knew him not).

Verse 2

This verse highlights the tension between the present reality (we are sons of God) and the future glory. The promise that 'we shall be like him' refers to the full spiritual and physical transformation at Christ’s return (cf. Phil 3:21).

Verse 3

The hope of future glory (v. 2) serves as a powerful motivation for present sanctification. True hope in Christ leads to active self-purification.

Verse 4

John defines sin as 'transgression of the law' (lawlessness, anomia). Sin is thus a willful rebellion against God’s established moral order and rule.

Verse 6

The Greek verb tense used here denotes continuous action. 'Sinneth not' means one does not habitually or continuously live a life characterized by sin. Abiding in Christ makes a lifestyle of sin fundamentally incompatible with the believer’s nature.

Verse 8

Those who habitually practice sin demonstrate that they belong to the devil’s domain. The purpose of Christ’s manifestation was precisely to destroy the spiritual and moral effects of Satan’s works.

Verse 9

The 'seed' of God refers to the eternal, life-giving principle implanted by the Holy Spirit through regeneration. Because of this spiritual nature, the true Christian cannot live in a continuous state of willful sin.

Verse 10

This verse provides the practical test for distinguishing God's children: the consistent practice of righteousness and the active love for fellow believers.

Verse 11

This introduces the second major test of genuine faith: love. This message was a core teaching ('from the beginning') of the Christian faith.

Verse 12

Cain is presented as the archetypal example of the unrighteous, whose hatred and murder of his righteous brother (Abel) stemmed from his own evil works.

Verse 14

Love for fellow believers is not the cause of salvation, but the primary evidence that one has experienced the spiritual shift 'from death unto life' (regeneration).

Verse 15

John equates hatred with murder, aligning with Jesus’ teaching (Matt 5:21-22). Unresolved hatred is incompatible with the eternal life that indwells believers.

Verse 16

Christ's sacrificial act sets the ultimate standard for Christian love. If He gave His life for us, we must be willing to make significant sacrifices, even potentially our own lives, for our brethren.

Verse 17

John moves from sacrificial love to practical, material love. To have the means to help a needy brother but refuse compassion indicates a lack of genuine divine love residing within the heart.

Verse 18

True love must be demonstrated actively in concrete actions ('in deed and in truth'), not merely expressed through eloquent words or empty promises.

Verse 19

The evidence of active love (v. 18) confirms that we 'are of the truth,' providing a foundation for assurance and peace in our hearts before God.

Verse 20

If our conscience condemns us, we find assurance in the fact that God’s knowledge is perfect and His grace surpasses our self-condemnation, especially when we are seeking to walk in truth.

Verse 22

Effective prayer is tied to obedience. We receive what we ask because our lives are characterized by keeping His commandments and seeking to please Him.

Verse 23

John simplifies the Christian life into two inseparable requirements: faith in Jesus Christ and love for one another. These two duties summarize the essence of God’s will.

Verse 24

Obedience confirms our communion with God (dwelleth in him). The ultimate confirmation of this mutual indwelling is the internal witness of the Holy Spirit, which God has given us.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options