First John Chapter Three

We begin chapter three with the reminder of the great love (agape) of God the Father for each one of His redeemed children. This amazing love brings us from sin's condemnation into a state of living under the power of God's Holy Spirit. Now the wonderful knowledge of His expression in our lives, as God's called/redeemed children, abides with us. Yet the world does not know ("ginoskei" from "ginosko" to know, discern, understand) us because the world does not know God the Father. In verse one we have God's great, marvelous manifestation of His love by freely, without cost or works on our part, giving spiritual sonship to each of us who have received Christ as our Savior and Lord.

In verse two John says we are to be like Christ Jesus when he appears ("epahnerothe" from "phanerothe" to make clear, to reveal). This manifestation of Christ's glory becomes our glory as well for we shall see Him. This glorification of Christ Jesus with all the redeemed will be our final state as the children of God the Father for all eternity. Now by faith in our standing and calling as children of God, we must make it our aim to abide in the Holy Spirit's molding by purifying ("hagnizei" from "hagnos" meaning pure, chaste, innocent, blameless, purify morally) ourselves even as Christ Jesus was pure in His commitment to the will of His Father God.

Verse four continues with the factor of sin's denial of God's rule in the life lived in sin. Since God's law is broken by sin then there must be satisfaction and justice meet to pay sin's penalty. This is what Christ Jesus has done by freely giving His life on Calvary's cross for sin's just payment as remembered by John in verse five.
Verses 6-11

John continues his call for abiding in Christ Jesus, the Son of God, Who gives to us new life of walking in the Spirit and Who leads us into His righteousness ("dikaiosunen" from "dikaiosune"/"dike" meaning justice, right, virtue, godliness, means for justification). Those who abide ("menon" which is present active meaning to continue remaining) in Christ will not sin ("ouk hamartanvei" which is present active). Here John says plainly that the true child of God is not to sin. It is contradictory for a Christian to walk/remain/abide in Christ and sin. Jesus never sinned and we who live under the power of the Holy Spirit's control are NOT led into sin or the practice of sinning. We were practicing sinners when we lived/abided in our Adamic carnal, worldly, selfish nature and ways. Now we must put the "old man" away to death and become dead to the appeals of the old fleshly, carnal nature as further described by the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9.

The carnal living person is not abiding in Christ, under the Holy Spirit's control. Verses seven and eight affirm the one living and practicing righteousness is righteous even as Christ Jesus is righteous, while the one living in sin is of the Devil ("diabolou" from "diaballo" to throw, convey over, to defame, inform against, to slander, a traitor). In the life of a Christian/Saint, the truth of God's pure righteousness is a contrast against the works of unrighteousness and sin of those under the control/direction of the Devil/Slander "diabolos".

Verse nine states that everyone born again ("gegennemenos", perfect passive meaning to be borne from "gennao" meaning to bear) of God, in contrast to being of the Devil, does not practice sin ("hamartian ou poiei", which is present active).

The born from above person does not go on practicing sin. Since in the new birth from above, the seed of God's word is planted in the heart/life of the believer and continues to abide there for growth into the likeness of Christ Jesus, known sin will not be practiced by the saint/believer. In this way the children of God are seen as differing in their righteous character from those who are abiding in sin.

Therefore, in verse eleven it is love ("agape" from "agapao" meaning to love, value, esteem, to delight in, to set in store upon, devotedness), which guides us in Christ to love one another, and we will practice acts of righteousness and kindness/mercy in loving fellowship with all saints and others as noted in verse eleven. We are commanded to love and we are empowered to love when we abide in Christ and His Spirit abides in us.

Verse twelve gives the example of Cain's murder of his brother Abel in raging jealousy over the good work of faith found in Abel's offering of the firstling of his flock in contrast to Cain's offering of the fruit of the farmed ground. God did not accept with blessing the offering of Cain. God further counseled/challenged Cain about sin and his need to resist sin (Gen.4). Hatred and sin go hand in hand. Faith and righteousness also go hand in hand in pleasing and serving God.

Verse thirteen carries the comparison of Cain's jealousy of Abel to the point of murdering Abel and the world's hatred of true followers of Christ Jesus. Worldly unbelievers have no great appreciation of true Christian values and love for God in Jesus Christ. Christians are mocked, persecuted, and murdered by the rage of those who love the world and make their commitment to this dark world's promises of wicked gain.

Verses 14-15 explain that we cannot abide in Christ as the children of God and hate one another Hating your brother is equated to murder even as Cain murdered Abel. Also we show our love of our brother by our new life ("zoen aionion" life eternal) in Christ which is a life of sacrificial love. Do not those who possess eternal life in Christ also love life and love sharing that rich wonderful life with those around them?

Verses 16-18 reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ for us in His dying on the cross to redeem us from our sins. And so we are filled with the same spirit of love for one another and give our life's (bios) goods in ministry to the brotherhood and family of God in Christ as we find them in need. Our love is more than words of expression, in that it gives to help meet the need of our brother.

Verses 19-24 tell that we should truly love in life's opportunities toward each other in Christian service. In these verses John again uses two of his favorite words: love and truth (agape and aletheia). It is the new, but old, commandment that we love each other in truth, not in desertion and neglect but in faithfulness and in fidelity: "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another...."(verse 23). Dwelling in Christ is constantly abiding/walking in love towards each other in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as the body of Christ (all Christian believers).

Verse 24 indicates that the one who abides (memei) in Christ, is in constant communion with Christ Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding within his heart and life. The true saltiness of Christ's presence reaches out to the world of people and ministers the love of God to all. This one truly keeps and demonstrates faithful obedience to the will of God the Father, and each one knows ("ginoskomen" from "ginosko" to know, discern, understand) individually that Christ dwells in his/her heart and life.