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.

The Love of God and Our Future Hope

1
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. ​
2
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. ​
3
Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. ​

Righteousness vs. Sin

4
Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. ​
5
You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.
6
Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him, neither knows him. ​
7
Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. ​
9
Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. ​
10
In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother. ​

The Commandment to Love One Another

11
For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; ​
12
unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. ​
13
Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
14
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. ​
15
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. ​
16
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. ​
17
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? ​
18
My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. ​

Assurance, Confidence, and Obedience

19
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, ​
20
because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ​
21
Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;
22
and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. ​
23
This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Yeshua the Messiah, and love one another, even as he commanded. ​
24
He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave 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.

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