1 John 3:1-10
Children of God
1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
4Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
5But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
6No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
7Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
8The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
Berean Standard Bible
The writer calls the family to look at the Father's love: believers are called children of God, and that is what they are. The world does not recognize them because it did not recognize Him.
There is still a future dimension. We are God's children now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed. When Christ appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. The hope of seeing Jesus leads to purification rather than speculation.
The letter then speaks strongly about sin. Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness. Christ appeared to take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. No one who remains in Him keeps on making sin the settled direction of life.
This language does not mean a Christian never commits a sinful act. Chapter 1 has already said that believers must confess sins. Chapter 2 has provided an Advocate for those who fall. Chapter 3 is addressing a pattern of lawlessness that refuses Christ's work and treats sin as normal.
The contrast is between practicing righteousness and practicing sin. The writer says the one who practices sin is of the devil, while the Son of God was revealed to destroy the devil's works. The children of God are distinguished by righteousness and love for a brother.
John's Gospel says those who receive Jesus are born of God. Romans says believers receive the Spirit of adoption and cry out to the Father. 1 John places identity before conduct: because God has made us His children, our conduct should no longer make peace with lawlessness.
Families need this balance. Do not label a struggling child as though one failure defines his identity. Do not call persistent harm harmless because everyone uses the word grace. Identity in God's family gives both security and a new direction.
How We Know
John 1:12-13 says those who receive Jesus are given the right to become children of God, born of God rather than human will. Romans 8:14-17 describes adoption by the Spirit and access to the Father. 1 John connects present identity as God's children with future likeness to Christ and a rejection of practiced lawlessness.
Questions
1 What has the Father given believers?
AnswerHe has given them love so they can be called children of God.
2 What will happen when Christ appears?
AnswerBelievers will be like Him because they will see Him as He is.
3 What is sin?
AnswerSin is lawlessness.
4 How are the children of God distinguished?
AnswerThey are distinguished by practicing righteousness and loving their brothers.
What This Means for Us
Live from the security of being loved by God, not from a need to prove yourself. Confess failures, reject settled patterns of harm, and let God's family identity shape conduct.
Prayer
Father, thank You for calling us Your children. Purify our hope, forgive our failures, and give us courage to reject lawlessness and practice righteousness with love. Amen.