Whose child are you? (1John 3:1-12) 011107
This passage talks about two things: we have a God who loves us like a Father (v1-3) and how can we know that we are the children of God (v4-12).
God loves us like a Father and we are His children. This is a privilege, not something we can earn. This is grace, not works. This goes contrary to the philosophy of the world, which promotes: you got to work for what you want, there is no free lunch. But in God’s economy, there is abundance of goodness and blessings for those whom He has called as children. This is the amazing grace of God.
But the devil also has children: those who practice lawlessness (v4), those who sin (v8) and those who do not practice righteousness (v10). These are the children of the devil. Apostle John had no apology to label these people as the children of the devil. In his context, he was helping the first century Christians to be clear and sure of their identity, and at the same time realize the opposition was real and there could be children of the devil among them and they needed to be differentiated from them. Apostle John was writing to the church, He was writing to "Chirstians", and He was writing to us as well. Therefore, the question we should ask: whose children are we? God or devil? How do we know?
Look at your life. Did we practice righteousness? This is the theme throughout this passage. Apostle John was encouraging His readers to practice righteousness (v7, v10 and v12), and make no mistake about it. Being righteous seems to be a very abstract concept, but it is actually a very practical thing to do. Question: how do we practice righteousness? How can we be righteous?
Let’s get a few things clear. First, we are can be righteous only when God enables us to. It is by His grace we are made righteous. In other words, righteousness is from God, apart from Him, we cannot be truly righteous. Second, we are abide in Him (v9). Unless we abide in Him and know God and His words in a very personal way, we will not know how to act righteously. Because living out His words is living in righteousness. And thirdly, we are to love one another (v11). We can never act or practice righteousness alone. We need our friends who are around us to allow us to practice righteousness, especially (not exceptionally) fellow Christians, because we are the children of God.
I am a child the God. Whose child are you?
HHS…
Abel…
