The Evidence of a Child of God: One Who Practices Righteousness
Epistles of John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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It’s been several weeks since we’ve been in the letter of First John and the break we took with Palm Sunday and Easter came at an awkward time in the passage so I want to catch you up! The end of chapter 2 closes by introducing the idea that those who abide in the Jesus will take on His righteousness and will practice righteousness because they have been born of Him. This is to imply that they are His children.
Then in the first three verses of chapter three, John spends a moment thinking about just how incredible it is that God loved us so much that we could be called children of God.
In our passage this morning, John will return to the concept that what a person practices defines who they belong to.
With this context in mind, let’s stand together and read 1 John 3:4-10.
Jory’s question about Blue Bell.
We begin here with this first point.
Abide in Jesus because he came to take away our sins
Abide in Jesus because he came to take away our sins
John draws a comparison from the end of chapter 2 where he writes “everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.” In contrast, this passage begins with a focus on those who practice sin. It is helpful to remember at this point that this is not just a reference to occasional sin. Instead, the practice of sin is what happens often and is a habit. This is an important differentiation because we will still sin occasionally, unfortunately. But John is not highlighting the one off sin as a sign of practicing lawlessness. He’s referring to what a person does so often that it could be referred to as their craft. It is a habit that has been formed and takes place regularly. What can a person do to alleviate this practice of sin?
Verse 5 centers on the solution that’s already been provided. It was the main purpose of Jesus’ appearance on earth to atone for the sins of the world. It is because there was no sin in Him that he became the perfect spotless lamb that was needed for a sacrifice. It is because of the sacrifice of Jesus that the practice of sin will not be followed as explained in verse six.
Those who abide in Jesus will have no desire to continue the old sinful ways. John clearly states that those who continue to sin in this regular way have not known God or seen Him in their life.
This is a point where we all ought to pause for a moment. Is there any sin in our lives that we continue to participate in regularly? This is the sort of sin that we might be known by or may be hidden from everyone except ourselves. Yet, we take part in it regularly and it is a part of who we are. What we come to next is why it is so important that we are honest with ourselves and be sure that there is no practice of sin within us.
The second and final point this morning is
The deception that a child of God can live in sin is real and evidence of lack of salvation
The deception that a child of God can live in sin is real and evidence of lack of salvation
“Little children, let no one deceive you.” As has been the case when John refers to those he is writing to in such an affectionate manner, this is a serious matter. The reason he has made these statements regarding the practice of sin is because there was likely an idea in the community that a person could still know God and practice whatever sin they liked. John states quite clearly that this couldn’t be further from the case. Instead, we ought to practice righteousness. The reason why this ought to be our goal and aim is because Jesus, who is our Lord, Savior, and hope, is righteous.
Verse eight goes beyond just explaining that those who practice sin not only are children of God but actually belong to the devil because he has been sinning from the beginning. This is a striking difference between who we belong to. Once again, we are reminded that if we desire to be righteous, it is possible because Jesus, the Son of God, came in order to destroy the works of the devil.
Because the likeness of Jesus is now in us because we have been born of Him, then it certainly makes sense that we would not make a practice of sinning.
Now, verse 10 is where I want to spend our remaining time and look at one particular word. John says that “by this it is evident…” it is because we no longer practice sin that we are children of God. Well, who is it evident to? It is absolutely evident to those who look at our lives and see what it is that we practice. They see the righteousness of Jesus in our lives and know that we belong to Him.
However, I want to turn our attention inward. It should also be evident to ourselves that we belong to Him. At the end of the day, it can become far too easy to put on a mask and make others believe that we are walking the right way and thinking the right way. But it is between me and God what is going on in EVERY aspect of my life.
So, is it evident who you belong to?
And at the end of verse 10, we have an introduction to the next section: evidence of belonging to God is found in loving one another.