Skip to main content

1 John 3:10: It Is Evident Who Are the Children of God


1 John 3:10
[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. (ESV)

Many times we have heard people say, "Well, only God knows if that person is a Christian.  Only He can judge the heart." In the grand sense of God knowing all things I can certainly agree that God knows those who are his and those who are not.  However, here in His Word He has given us a means by which we can discern who belongs to Him and who does not.  In fact, the Apostle John says, "It is evident."

So, if it is evident, what is the evidence? First of all, John claims that those who do not practice righteousness are not of God.  Notice, that he uses the word "practice." The fact is, all men do some things right some of the time. A brutal dictator may care for his own children. Most people obey the laws of the highway.  And as many have often boasted, "Well, I've never killed anyone." But John is talking about practicing righteousness.  In other words, living a life of habitual righteousness; finding our identity in righteousness.  Those who do not belong to God cannot do this.

Ephesians 2:1–2
[1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— (ESV)

Paul makes clear that the person who is not born of God is actually following the prince of the power of the air.  The spirit that is at work in them is the Devil himself.  They cannot practice righteousness because they are in bondage to sin, and they practice sin, or unrighteousness.

The other test that John gives as to whether or not someone is born of God is whether or not they love their brother. I dare say that many people who claim to be born of God are failing this test.  Churches that are coming apart because of infighting, grudges, and spiteful conflict.  You can be sure that some of those who claim to know God will not hear Him say that He knows them.  How tragic.

 If you were on trial for your Christian faith would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Would your practice of righteousness and your love for your brother be the deciding factor that proved that you were born of God?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,
2 comments
Read more

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co
Post a Comment
Read more

James 2:18: I Will Show You My Faith By My Works

James 2:18 [18] But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (ESV) There are certain things in life that go together. Peanut butter and jelly. Double stuff Oreo cookies and milk. Faith and works. James raises the point that someone might argue that faith and works can be separated. "One will say, "You have faith and I have works." Is it ok for works to be separated from faith? James is making the argument that faith and works are not to be separated. James is saying to the one who has faith only, with no works, that he wants them to see his faith by his works. In other words, if you are going to claim to have faith, but have no works, you have no evidence of faith. If I am to believe that a person has genuine faith I can only see that by their works. Faith brings action. There are so many people to claim to have some kind of faith, yet when it comes down to it, their
Post a Comment
Read more