1 John 3:7-10 English Standard Version
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s[a] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
From this text John is saying that we definitely need a reality check—regularly.
Do we say we are children of God?
What fruit do we have to show for it!
Are we saying what is right but doing what is wrong?
Are we talking about love but acting out in anger and bitterness?
Sadly, what we do is the reality, not what we say.
What is the proof that we are children of God?
Matthew 5:43-48 English Standard Version
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Is it this: Do we act in love toward all of our brothers and sisters? (Matthew 5:43-48
Ouch.
I admit there are always few people I don’t think much of, not to mention loving them.
This text can even make me question whether I am truly God’s child.
So in the face of this question, I must cry out for grace:
“No, Lord, I must confess that I do not always do what is right, nor do I always love my brother or sister. Please forgive me. Give me Christ’s righteousness and love.”
And this is what John is writing about.
Earlier in this letter John says:
“My dear children, I write this to you now so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8
The Devil Defanged …
By grace alone, every believer in Christ has been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).
We live in the world now as children of light and endeavor to bear the fruit of that light (Ephesians 5:8-9).
Yet as glorious as this may be, we know that darkness is not yet fully eradicated from our lives.
The truth is that everyone who becomes a citizen of Christ’s kingdom is caught up in a cosmic conflict of eternal significance.
Praise and honor unto the Lord, the Evil One has been powerless to prevent God’s adopted children from knowing salvation—but having tasted that measure of defeat, he now vigorously seeks to do everything in his power to prevent us from living as true heirs of our Father’s eternal kingdom.
He is totally committed to disrupting and destroying what it means for us to “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1) and to “walk as children of light” (v 8).
His one great aim is to stop you and I from implicitly trusting in Christ—to deviate, to knock you off the narrow road before you reach the gates of glory.
We should not ignore the alarming terms which Scripture uses to describe the devil and the urgent terms in which we are urged to withstand him.
Peter urges us to “be sober-minded” and “watchful” because our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Satan is a real and merciless vicious enemy. He trades in doubt, division, and destruction, continually, relentlessly, without hesitation, coming at us both ethically, morally and intellectually. With the high ferocity of a supernaturally empowered beast, he prowls, seeks to maul us and shred our faith to pieces.
What is a Christian to do when faced with such a vicious enemy?
The good news for us is this: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
Though he may still prowl, his defanging has already begun, and ultimately, he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
Defeat is certain for the devil and his minions—and, through Christ, victory over him is yours, Christian.
In Christ, God has given you the spiritual power to “stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
He offers you indestructible armor in the gospel and His very word as your sword (v 11-17).
When you fall, you are forgiven. The devil has no power over you. James puts our charge succinctly: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
So, where is the battle for you?
Is it against a particular sin or in a certain trial?
Take up the means of grace God offers you in Christ—including your company of fellow soldiers—and, simply believing the gospel of God, force the prowling lion to retreat!
In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….
Praying ….
I Will Bless the Lord
Of David.
26 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.[a]
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 