Slices
Prepare
How does a bride prepare for her wedding? How would your life look different if you were convinced that Jesus could return and take you home to be with him, perhaps even today?
Bible passage
God’s children and sin
28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
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.
Explore
After using end-times language to speak of the enemy, John now looks forward with hope and anticipation. Jesus is coming again! And because we are now children of God, we can look forward confidently and without shame (2:29). Those who hope for this bridegroom will purify themselves in anticipation!
The group that John was writing to was being bombarded by criticism from the group that had left the church (see 2:18– 26). They claimed to have a superior spirituality, but they were actually living with greater sinfulness. That context helps us understand what John writes in chapter 3, verses 4 to 10.
Christians do not achieve sinless perfection in this life, but the gospel makes a difference in our lives. While we may slip into sin (see 1:8; 2:1), our lives should not be characterised by persistent unchecked sin (3:6). The gospel is not just an external legal pardon for sin but also an internal, heart-transforming reality. The Spirit of God in us changes us from the inside out. So while Christians struggle with sin, we will not be defined by it. By God’s Spirit, we have a new spiritual DNA.
Respond
How has the Spirit working in you brought cleansing from sin? What areas of struggle is he still working on in you? Thank God for all he has done and will do in your life.
Deeper Bible study
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’1 Thank you, Lord, for such awe-inspiring love.
On our way to a rural mission station in Zimbabwe, we used to drive along a mountain ridge high above the African plains. The first time I did so, my colleague stopped the truck, inviting me to look at the view. ‘Look,’ she declared, ‘isn’t that just a fantastic sight?’ And it was, leaving me breathless at the wonder of God’s creation spread beneath my feet. Verse 3:1 is John’s similar invitation to pause, open our eyes and be amazed at the view! ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us’ (KJV). We are being asked to take time to contemplate this amazing love, to allow it to impact our consciousness, even to take our breath away.
This love is life-changing. He gives us a new name – the family name of the children of God – but more than that, he changes us deep within so that John can declare with confidence, ‘And that is what we are!’ (v 1). The knowledge of God’s love is meant to inspire change in our behaviour. The absence of such change would give rise to the possibility that we don’t know the Father’s love at all or, in extreme circumstances, that we are children of the devil (v 8). John wants us to look at the love of God and then have confidence in it. We need to remember that we are God’s children and that we bear the family likeness.
John uses the word ‘know’ nine times in these verses. He wants his readers to be ‘confident and unashamed … at his coming’ (2:28). In fact, the main reason for writing this letter is so that we will believe in the Son of God and have confidence in eternal life.2 ‘Loved with everlasting love, led by grace that love to know.’3 What a view!
Take a few moments to consider how God has lavished his love upon you. Plan to share it with someone else today.
1 Jer 31:3 2 1 John 5:13 3 George Wade Robinson, 1838–77
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jonah 3,4; Revelation 11
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for the leadership of Mission Partner Farne Christian Youth and Families Outreach. Pray for direction in the work of reaching young people and families in this area of north Northumberland.
Could you help us this Christmas?
We believe that every child should have the chance to discover Jesus, especially at Christmas!
But for many, hearing of his birth within the setting of the church is very unlikely. With an estimated 95% of children in England and Wales not part of a church, we're working harder than ever to take the good news of Jesus beyond the church in exciting and culturally relevant ways.
Your generous support will help us continue in our mission to create opportunities for children and young people to explore the Bible, respond to Jesus and grow in faith.
