(Photo by Xavier Coiffic on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)
Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.
In Lesson 93, we are going to study the first part of 1 John 3:10.
Let’s read this part of the verse:
1 John 3:10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God…
Let’s go over the definitions of the words.
By (1722. en) this (3778. houtos, hauté, touto) — means by this or by means of this.
The (3588. ho, hé, to) children (5043. teknon) of God (2316. theos) — means those born of God.
Are (1510. eimi) distinguished (5318. phaneros) — means are evident, visible, plainly seen, or made manifest.
From the (3588. ho, hé, to) children (5043. teknon) of the (3588. ho, hé, to) devil (1228. diabolos) — means those characterized by the devil. Diabolos means the slanderer or false accuser.
Anyone (3956. pas) who (3588. ho, hé, to) — means each and every one.
Does not practice (4160. poieó) — means does not do, practice, or carry out. In this context, it refers to a habitual pattern of practice.
Righteousness (1343. dikaiosuné) — means what is right and approved by God.
Is (1510. eimi) not (3756. ou, ouk, ouch) — means does not belong to or is not identified with.
Of (1537. ek or ex) God (2316. theos) — means from God, belonging to God, or originating from God.
In other words, by this, the true identity of people is made evident. Those born of God are distinguished by lives that increasingly reflect God, while those characterized by the devil reflect his nature. Everyone who does not habitually practice what is right and approved by God does not belong to God’s family.
There are ultimately two spiritual families: the family of God and the family of the devil. In this verse, John shows us how to identify which family a person belongs to. Our actions provide evidence of our spiritual identity. How we live reveals who we belong to.
There is no middle ground. The children of God are those who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. As they mature in Christ, they will increasingly reflect His righteous character. The Holy Spirit produces this transformation as believers abide in Christ and walk with Him. Their lives will increasingly bear the fruit of the Spirit.
This does not mean believers are sinless. Christians still have a sin nature and will sin. The difference is how they respond to sin. The believer is convicted, confesses their sin, seeks God’s forgiveness, and desires to turn from sin and obey His Word. As they mature, they grow in obedience and increasingly reflect the righteousness of Christ.
In contrast, those who continually reject righteousness and live in unrepentant, habitual sin demonstrate that they do not belong to God. John describes them as the children of the devil because their lives reflect his character and pattern. The devil is in rebellion against God. He is the slanderer and false accuser who seeks to accuse, defame, and destroy.
John is not teaching that Christians never sin. He is contrasting the overall direction and practice of a person’s life. The child of God practices righteousness, while the child of the devil practices sin.
In Luke 6:43, Jesus teaches that a good tree does not bear bad fruit, just as a bad tree does not bear good fruit. This connects with 1 John 3:10 because the fruit of our lives provides evidence of who we belong to. Those who belong to God will increasingly practice righteousness, while those characterized by the devil will be marked by a pattern of sin and rebellion against God.
A child of God may still fall into sin, but their life should not be characterized by habitual, unrepentant rebellion. In the same way, someone characterized by the devil will not have a life marked by the consistent practice of righteousness.
Luke 6:43 No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
In John 8:44, we see Jesus confronting the religious leaders. He tells them that their behavior identifies them with the devil. Those who belong to the devil reflect his character and desire to do what he does.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
In 1 John 3:7, we learn that those who practice righteousness are righteous, just as Christ is righteous. Those who belong to the family of God will increasingly reflect Christ by practicing righteousness as a pattern of their lives.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
In conclusion, your life will reflect which spiritual family you belong to. Does your life reflect that you are part of the family of God or the family of the devil?
If you belong to the family of God, your life will increasingly reflect Christ as you practice righteousness and walk with Him.
Or are you living in continual, unrepentant rebellion against God and refusing to practice righteousness? This is evidence that you do not belong to the family of God.
Be encouraged. When you are born again, you will not live a perfectly sinless life. However, over time, you should grow and mature to become more like Christ. Practicing righteousness takes practice.
When you sin, quickly recognize it and confess it to God. Ask for His forgiveness and cleansing. Ask Him to give you the strength to resist sin, obey His Word, and walk humbly with Him.
Here’s a prayer to help you to respond to today’s lesson:
God, thank You that by putting my faith in Christ, I have been born into Your family. Please help me mature in my walk with You. Help me recognize the areas of my life where I am sinning, and give me the strength to resist sin and practice righteousness. Help me to increasingly reflect the character of Jesus in the way I live. Amen.
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Listen to these lessons over and over again.
Meditate on God’s Word throughout the day. Pray continually. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
If you have any prayer requests, please share them in the comments.
Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
