1 John 3:7-10

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

Introduction

This week’s Bible study is a continuation of 1 John chapter 3.  In my previous Bible study I covered the first 6 verses which combined with verses 7- 10 which we will be covering this week is crucial to better understand the concept of living in sin as believers.

What’s key for us to understand is that this message is directed to the believer, thus, we should pay careful attention to the language used and the way the author makes his point.  In our previous study we unequivocally understood three main points:

1. First, Christ has conquered sin, therefore we who believe in the Lord and have accepted Him, have dominion over sin.

2. Secondly, we understand that as believers, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, therefore where the Lord dwells, sin cannot coexist. Deliberately sinning which infers a life of sin after being born again, should prompt us to truly reevaluate our commitment to the Lord.

3. Thirdly, according to the author, those that continue to sin don’t know the Lord.

So, following the first 6 chapters, verses 7 to 10 provide greater detail regarding sin with an emphasis on the representation of sin, which is Satan.  So, let’s break down each verse and discuss it in detail.

Verse 7

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

The theme covered here is the importance of being aware of the impending dangers that are lurking to derail the believer from a straight path with God.  In 1 Corinthians chapter 15:33 Paul the Apostle said: 33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”   Apparently Paul is quoting Greek writer Menander, however, the understanding is not alien from the Bible.  In 2 Timothy 3:13, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  Satan’s objective is to lead us astray to lie and to deceive.  He is known as the father of lies.  John 8:44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

On the contrary, John says the one who is just, the one who does justice (righteousness), is like the Lord.  We must imitate our Heavenly Father, not the father of lies.

Verse 8

8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

We can see that in this verse John quotes Christ from John 8:44 in which John connects those that do evil to the father of evil.  All those that come from the Father – those that have been born again and have been redeemed to the Father cannot do what is counter to the Lord’s nature.   This is precisely why Jesus came to this earth to destroy evil.  Satan has been defeated for the third time – one in heaven, the second time at the Garden of Eden and the third time was at Golgotha – Christ as the final sacrifice when he overcame the cross.

Verse 9

9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

In this verse, we have the final nail on the coffin that explains the premise.  When we are born again, we are born of God; we are transformed and become renewed as a creation.  The Lord sees us through the blood of Jesus.  Our sins have been wiped away, and we are made perfect in the eyes of God.

Verse 10

10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.

With this final verse it culminates with the main point that you are either one or the other.  You can not live as a child of God and live in sin.  Believers must pick a side, which is something that can’t be delayed.  Logically, at the time of acceptance of God, we must reject a life of sin and embrace the perfectness of God.  However, there are far too many Christians today that think they can dabble in both worlds.  May the Holy Spirit rebuke these people and help them to move to a life of commitment to the Lord.

Christ speaks about Christians who believe that this double lifestyle is okay.  In Revelations 3:14-16, Jesus speaks to the church of Laodicea, and He has the following to say:

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

My question to you is, Are you a child of God or a child of Satan?   God demands 100% not 50/50, not a little bit of this or a little bit of that.  The goal is that we must commit wholeheartedly to move forward for the Lord.  As times become harder and the persecution mounts, the choice is yours… As for me I am with the Lord.