1 John 3

• 1John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

The world doesn't understand or accept a child of God because they do not know or understand God. Those who persecute and badmouth people who believe in the fundamental truth of God's word are actually denying God Himself. If they hate Him, they will hate those that follow Him.

Those that persecute do not know the Father nor the Son, Jesus (Yeshua) The world also fails to see and understand how much God loves them and how much God wants to give them eternal life. God can't allow us to inherit eternal life with our sin still remaining because sin would forever continue and there would never be no end to suffering. The sin problem has to be dealt with. Jesus was sent to us to take away our sin by first making Himself the final sacrifice for the sins of the whole human race. 

This sacrifice will only count for those who believe this and call upon the name of Jesus to take away their sins and be filled with the spirit of God. The process of being born again by the spirit or baptized into the body of Christ takes place at the time of true conversion to Jesus Christ. This is not an outward acceptance to a new religion, it is an inward change that takes place when one turns away from sin and turns to the savior, Jesus Christ. Water baptism alone can never change the inward man. How can water save a person if no change takes place in the soul and spirit of that same person? By trusting in only religion rituals and ceremonies, one can possibly miss the real salvation entirely and not be changed on the inside. 

• John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 
• 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

I repeat this for emphasis: Those that torture or kill people for what they believe, even if they claim to be believers in Jesus, do not know the Father nor the Son. 

Through Christ we have a new way of love and the desire to save, not destroy. We have to leave the final judgment of unbelievers up to God who knows the hearts. In the matter of conscience, God has to be the judge. We are to preach the word, reprove, rebuke and teach sound doctrine. Whether or not one believes what we preach is up to God to judge. He is the only one with the power to save anyway so we cannot judge another person's conscience. We can judge by law someone who commits a crime like stealing because we have to have law and order to live safely, but we can't judge someone's conscience and try to force them to be Christians or believers. That is not our job and it never should have been attempted by any sect. 

• 1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 

When Jesus came and died on the cross, was buried and rose again from the dead, that gave us the hope also that when we die, we shall be raised from the dead with a new body just like Jesus has now.

Jesus didn't just raise in the spirit and is existing in spirit form. He has a body that can't die again. This is what we will have. We can't picture it right now exactly how we shall be. We know we shall be like Him and it is our hope. This is what Jesus came in the flesh to accomplish. He came to make the way for our salvation and that we who believe can receive a body that can never die again.

To keep sin from continuing forever though, we have to have our sins not only forgiven but cleansed and gone. Sin has to be gone before we can receive our new bodies that can't die. That is why we have to be born again by the Holy Spirit. It is a change that comes inside us. It is more than just a conversion to a religion. It is more than just mental assent to belief in God. It is something within that only God can see. We may see the fruits of this but we can't really see a person born again by the spirit. 

God's eternal purpose when He created mankind will be fulfilled on that day. Unfortunately, it will only count for those who believe and receive His gift of salvation that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. God doesn't force His will on us and those who refuse His gift and thereby choosing to remain in their sins; at the point of death will not receive a new body that can't die but will suffer eternal judgment and torment in a soulish state without a body.

The soul is the part of us that feels pain and suffering. The soul is what Jesus came to save. Our bodies perish, our spirit is the part that worships and the soul is the real us that feels. In hell that soul will feel pain. God is not a mean God. Hell had to be created for the rebellious devil and one third of the angels that sinned. Sin has to be stopped one day. Only those that die physically with their sins still in their souls, will go to hell. A baby has never sinned so we don't have to worry about babies and children who have not yet learned to sin. Baptizing them in water has no benefit since one has to be born again by the spirit to be saved from sin. A baby may be born with a sinful nature but it isn't counted against him unless he grows to the age where he or she actually sins knowingly. Sin is what separates us from God and causes us to be lost. If a baby does no sin, he can't be lost. 

I do not like to see people who live for Christ just because of the fear of hell. Once a person comes to the full knowledge of God the Father and Jesus the Son, and are baptized into the body of Christ by faith in Christ, we then serve the Lord because we love Him. It is a joy everyday to wake up and consider, "This is a day that I can have more fellowship with the Lord and enjoy His presence." I know we do not always feel the presence of the Lord but if the spirit of God has come into a life, He is there. 

• Jesus said:
  John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

This is what causes a person to be lost. Their sins. If we do not get rid of sin, we will be lost. Jesus came to take away our sins. We can't emphasize that enough. If we reject Jesus, we remain in sin. If we do not believe Jesus is the one sent from God to pay the penalty for our sins and take away our sins, we will die lost forever. 

• 1John 3:3 And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

Believing these words written in the previous verse 2 that we shall be like Him, purifies us. The word purifies the believer when he or she begins to believe. Faith in Jesus is powerful. It can change a soul from darkness into a person full of light. 

Notice that in the book of Acts where Peter preaches to the household of Cornelius, just as soon as the people present started to believe what Peter was preaching, the Holy Spirit fell upon each one of them. Believing the word Peter preached brought them salvation and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Gentiles also were given the Holy Spirit and the gift of salvation. It is not exclusive to one particular nation of people. This is for everybody. 

• Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 
• 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
• 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. 

What a wonderful gift to be born again, free from sin and have the promise of life eternal.

• 1John 3:4 Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 

When we are living in sin, we are not using restraint and we are not abiding by the teaching of God's word. It is similar to a person who breaks the law of the land we live in. A person who defies the law and steals, kills and harms others, is considered lawless. If we sin willfully and do things Jesus commands us not to do by ignoring the word of God, we too are lawless even though we may not be breaking the law of the land we live in. We may not kill or steal but if we lust after someone's wife or husband, if we lie, cheat or commit fornication, we may be allowed by law to do so but by the law of God we would be sinning. 

• 1John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. 

Sin will kill our souls and destroy us eternally. That is why Jesus came to save us from sin. He came to take away our sins. He never sinned in any point fulfilling the law of God. His death when He did not deserve to die because He had no sin, can count for us who would be eternally lost because we have sinned. This is only accomplished in us if we believe in the one who came to die for our sins. He came to take away our sins. If we sin after Jesus saves us from sin, we must repent as soon as we discover this sin. Sin must not remain in us. We are not sinners saved by grace. We were sinners saved by grace. We are not to be considered sinners after we receive God's gift of salvation. If God cleanses us from sin, then we are not sinners. 

• 1John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him.

The way to keep sin from returning to us is to continually abide in Him. If we ignore the word of God and return to sin, we are as one who has never known Him. He that sins willfully knowing it is sin, does not know Jesus Christ. I didn't say this, the word teaches this. Whoever abides in Christ does not sin. If we sin, we are not abiding in Christ. 

• 1John 3:7 My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: 

Fruits of a spirit filled life is that they do righteousness. If we are struggling with sin after we are saved from sin, we are not abiding in Christ or walking in the spirit. We are still in the flesh. We need to be filled with the spirit God has provided for all who believe and obey Him. 

• Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 

God provides everything we need to live in this world but still be able to avoid sin and walk in harmony with Him as Adam did in the garden before he fell into sin. Christ reverses the curse that Adam brought upon his descendants.

• 1John 3:8 he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

We were sinners and that sin was killing us spiritually. We were dead in sin with no hope. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil which is sin that was destroying us. We who believe in what He did on our behalf are free from sin. If we are claiming Jesus Christ and are still in the bondage of sin, we are not what we claim to be. 

Those who claimed to be Christians in the middle ages or in any age that had other believers burned to the stake or tortured, did not know God. They may have had a religion called Christianity but they did not know Jesus Christ or God our Father. Salvation and being born again by God's Holy Spirit is more than just accepting a religion called Christianity. 

If you persecute and bad mouth a Jew, you do not know the Father nor the Son. If you persecute or bad mouth another believer because they believe a little differently than what is considered orthodox faith, then you do not know the Father, nor the Son, Jesus. 

We can preach, teach, exhort, correct, admonish, live as an example but Jesus never gave us permission to harm anyone. 

• Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 

• Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

This doesn't mean that we can't fight for our country in a war or defend ourselves when someone comes to attack our family. This means that we are not to harm anyone who does not believe what we teach or preach. 

If someone comes to attack our children, we must stop them. If someone refuses to believe the way we believe, we let God judge them. 

If a false teacher comes in our congregation, pray them out. The power of prayer works. We must never physically harm anyone because of the way they believe because they may be right and we may be the ones in the wrong. At all cost avoid harming a child of God. 

I say this to warn people of faith. I read so many accusations on the Internet and cringe when I hear what they have to say sometimes. 

It is okay to point out false doctrine if it can be proven by the word, but to accuse someone of being "not of God" or being "of the devil" because they speak in tongues or because they don't speak in tongues is the kind of judging that Jesus said not to do. Speaking in tongues is part of the gift of God that God gives as a sign of His presence among us. Whether there are fakes and imitators, I don't know. Tongues is speaking in a language unknown to the speaker unless He also has the gift of interpretation. It is not something strange or weird. It is a gift from God and I cringe when I read some of the stuff on the Internet against people who speak with tongues. If you don't understand something, leave it alone. By love serve one another. Walk in love. Leave each other alone in matters of conscience. If error can be proved by the word, that is one thing but speaking in tongues is in the word.

There are things going on that I too do not understand. I don't have to go along with all that comes along but I must be careful not to accuse anyone falsely because I have not seen the light they supposedly have seen unless the word makes it clear what they believe and do is wrong. 

• 1John 3:9 Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God. 
• 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 

When we are genuinely saved by the blood of Jesus, we are not to walk any longer in unrighteousness. The seed of God is within us and we don't have to sin. We are saved from sin and have His spirit within us so we don't have to sin. John is not giving us no hope here for in the very first chapter of this epistle, John speaks of the way out of the bondage of sin.

1 John 1:9 gives us the answer if we do sin after we have believed. I believe the word here is explaining that if we sin willfully and do not repent, then it is proof that we are not the children of God. If we sin without any desire to please God or repent, then we most probably were not genuinely saved to begin with. If we were, then we lost our first love and fell away from the salvation we were given. If we continue in this way, we are lost. If we repent, we are restored to our place in Jesus Christ. 

John is explaining clearly that a child of God does not willfully sin without repenting. We are not to follow those that do so. 

• 1John 3:11 For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:

This is John's main theme of his epistles. Love. If the early believers had maintained that first love for the Lord and for one another, perhaps the middle age persecutions would never have occurred. John most probably knew that a great apostasy was coming when the backslidden congregation of God would marry the government of this world and completely fall away from the truth of the word, persecuting and killing those that tried to bring the people back into the way of truth.

The apostle Paul seemed to have warned the people of the same thing. If they killed other believers for their faith, then the ones doing the killing did not know the Father or the Son. The words of Jesus Himself declare that. They killed in the middle ages thinking that they were doing God a service. Those that kill and persecute people because of what they believe even if what they believe is wrong, do not know the Lord. Jesus said it, I didn't. Jesus never gave His followers any authority to kill, persecute or harm dissenters. 

Preach, teach, exhort, pray, correct, admonish, comfort and encourage but let God do the judging. Do not physically harm someone who believes things differently. I know I continually speak about the sins of the past. The reason is not because I want to judge or criticize those who did wrong but because I want to keep it from happening again. I don't want to badmouth anyone who claims to be part of the true church in any way. If we have been part of any religion that persecuted or hated people for the way they believed, we should open up, admit what went wrong and make it right so that those awful things will not be repeated and we can come clean before God and teach the way of salvation truthfully. The truth involves love, faith, and repenting of sin but these things cannot be forced upon anyone. 

• 1Corinthains 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 

Some judgments have to occur like judging whether or not one speaks truth but judging someone's soul and pronouncing a sentence upon them it God's to judge. 

• 1John 3:12 not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 

When we harm or kill, it is declaring that we are of the wicked one. We are doing what Cain did. The first murder was over religion. If we preach Jesus Christ and in turn start to harm others physically, that will undermine our testimony in the worst way. It proves that we are not who we claim to be for love is the fruit of the spirit, not hate. 

When I say the word, love, I am not describing the love the world thinks of as love but the love from God that is pure, holy and without selfishness. 

1. 1Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 
2. 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
3. 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 
4. 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 

The word charity above means love. 

• 1John 3:13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 
• 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death. 

Jesus said that the way people will know whether we belong to Him or not is if they love one another. If we bite and devour one another, it is a sign to the world that we are not what we claim to be. 

Hate is death. When we hate the wicked one is influencing us. We pass from death into life when we love one another in the Lord. 

• 1John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 
• 16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
• 17 But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? 

True religion will bear the fruit that comes from love. True love is never allowing sin without correction for if we do not correct someone who may be sinning repeatedly, they will be lost. Love is not accepting everything that comes along and never correcting error. That would be hate actually. If we do not correct our children, they grow up to be very spoiled and without respect for the law. Love is treating them kindly even though they sin but not giving consent to their sin. We don't have to love sin and false doctrine but we have to love those that disagree on doctrine.

• 1John 3:18 My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. 

Saying we love is not enough. It must be in deed and in truth. Going around hugging people is not enough either. Showing love in how we treat people says more. 

We must not be a "be ye warmed and filled person" with a hug and a smile. Love is providing what they need if we have it to give wanting no credit or public acknowledgement in return. God has to shed this in our hearts. If we have trouble with this type of love, go to the source who is our Lord Jesus and ask for help. 

• 1John 3:19 Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him: 
• 20 because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 
• 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
• 22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
• 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. 

If we can do this we will automatically keep all the commandments. A person is not going to commit adultery or fornication if they truly believe in Jesus and love one another. 

• 1John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. 

Being filled with the spirit is another proof that we are the children of God. 

Fruits of true believers can be summed up by these things:
1. Love one for another
2. Obeying the commandments of Jesus Christ
3. Being filled with the Spirit of God given to those that obey Him. 

This can only be accomplished by abiding in Jesus Christ. 
 -DC

1 John 4