Day 529: How to spot a Christian - 1 John 3 vs 1 - 10

1 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.

4-6 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 

7-9 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 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. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for his 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. 1 John 3:1-10 English Standard Version

We often recognize where someone comes from when they start speaking. Whether they're from Scotland, Australia or India, their accent gives them away. The apostle John describes something in today's verses that should make Christians easy to recognize. But he starts by saying what people CAN'T see about Christians. What is that, and why can't people see it? (vs 1 -2)

Christians are God's children! He expresses how amazing that is by the phrase 'see what kind of love the Father has given to us!' Children often look like their parents, but the reason people can't see that in Christians is because they don't know what God is like. And what makes it more difficult is that, in this current life, the final picture hasn't been shown yet. Just like other people, Christians also go through the battles of life, and grow old and die. But, says John, that will all change when Christ returns and Christians are changed to be like Him.

But there is something in this life that makes it possible to spot the Christians. What is that? (vs 3)

There is an ever increasing purity about their lifestyles. The hope of one day seeing the Saviour who died for their sins causes them to want less and less of sin in their lives, and more and more of God's holiness. What do vs 4-6 show about a Christian's attitude towards doing wrong?

Christian's realize that choosing wrong ways is the same as despising God's laws that were given for our good. They know that it was their sins that took Jesus to the cross. So there's no way they can call Jesus Lord if they are casual about doing wrong. It's this desire to live a holy life that sets Christians apart from those who care little about God. Does this mean Christians NEVER do anything wrong? (vs 7-9)

Not at all. In this world Christian's are still vulnerable to temptation and can fall into sin's snare. But John uses phrases like 'make's a practice of sinning' and 'cannot keep on sinning' to show that sin is not the Christian's chosen or habitual path. It is those whose lives have been deceived by Satan who follow wrong ways without any pangs of guilt or regret. Jesus referred to the Devil as 'a liar and the father of lies.' (John 8:44) Because God's Spirit now lives in Christians they can never be comfortable about sin. Some sin may intrude into their life, and for a while seem to be getting the upper hand, but God will enable them to escape it's clutches. They can’t continue in it.

That's why, in vs 10, John says that it soon becomes evident whose children we are - God's, or the Devil's. Is righteousness our regular practice? Do we love fellow Christians in the way God has called us to love one another? Does the longing for Christ's return cause us to purify our lives through putting into practice all He called us to do?