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STUDIES IN
FIRST, SECOND & THIRD JOHN
Lesson 10 Children of
the Lord and of the Devil, How to tell them apart
Text: I John 3:4 - 10
Now that John has told us that everyone who has
the glorious hope of the new body within himself
purifies himself, he proceeds to tell us the difference
between God's children and the devil's children.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin
transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression
of the law.
Whosoever - every individual - who is committing (or
practicing) - (Present, active, Participle -
showing a continuing action) Sin is an act of
lawlessness. If one is not afraid to defy federal law,
will he stop at violating a state law or a county
ordinance? Then what about those who defy the highest
authority of all? Paul said this spirit of lawlessness
was working in his day.
2 Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already
work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be
taken out of the way.
Sin is:
1. lawlessness - defiance of authority
2. any unrighteousness 1 John 5:17
All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto
death. is the opposite of holiness
3. Anything not of faith Rom 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he
eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is
sin.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was
manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
And ye know that He (I John 2:1)
was manifested (He stood as a lamb slain from
the foundation of the world
-
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in the book of
life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
but was shown openly in these last times.
1 Pet 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last
times for you, - in order that sins
(including the lawlessness of defiance) He might bear (airo
- to lift up and carry away) and in Him is NO SIN.
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth
not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known
him.
Everyone in Him remaining (abiding) (present
participle) doesn't sin. One cannot bring forth the
fruit of the Spirit and of the flesh at the same time.
If this were not a true statement, then verse 5 could
not be true; To try to remain in Christ while practicing
sin would make sin to be IN HIM! Every one sinning
(pres. part) has not seen Him 1 John 1:1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1 John 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have
seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was
manifested unto us;)
1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare
we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us:
and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with
his Son Jesus Christ. nor has (never at any
time) known Him.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man
deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous,
even as he is righteous.
Let no man lead you astray - learn to be a fruit
inspector. Mat 7:15 Beware of false
prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but
inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good
fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good
fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them.
Note that we are to judge by what a person DOES
and not by what he says. Painting a sign on a crabapple
tree will not make it produce golden delicious apples.
The one who is DOING righteousness is righteous in the
same manner that He is righteous.
It was to fulfill all righteousness that Jesus
INSISTED on John's baptism. Mat 3:14 But
John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of
thee, and comest thou to me?
Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer
it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all
righteousness. Then he suffered him. None
other had been ordered by God and any other would have
been defiance of authority and hence -SIN. If you are
ABIDING in Christ, then you MUST insist on the same
things He insisted on! That authority was given to His
church and to defy her authority is SIN.
It was righteousness when Abraham had faith
enough to DO. Rom 4:3 For what saith the
scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto
him for righteousness.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was
accounted to him for righteousness.
A lost man might imitate some of the doing but a
lack of faith will soon cause him to turn back. This is
the basis of what John is about to tell us. The word of
God is to instruct us in righteousness. It doesn't
matter what you think or feel or what anyone else might
have to say - Righteousness is following God's
instructions.2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness: God is absolute and must
therefore demand absolute righteousness.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the
devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he
might destroy the works of the devil.
The one doing (pres. part.) sin is ) of (ek)
the devil. (here is the opposite of verse 7.) because
from the beginning, the devil sins. For this reason (
the one I am about to give) the Son of God was
manifested; That He might undo - loose - (luo)
the works of the devil. Gen 3:15 And I will
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou
shalt bruise his heel. No use claiming to
be joined to Christ if you can't cut loose from the
works of the devil; pride, self-will, disobedience, etc.
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not
commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot
sin, because he is born of God.
The one having been born of God - this is
speaking of that which is born of God in the New Birth.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must
be born again.
John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is
born of the Spirit.
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth.
While the Spirit is of God and cannot sin, the
flesh is still of Adam and has the old nature. This is
what led Paul to the conflict he told about in:
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto
me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin,
working death in me by that which is good; that sin by
the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but
I am carnal, sold under sin.
Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I
would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I
consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but
sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present
with me; but how to perform that which is good I find
not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the
evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more
I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do
good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the
inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into
captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver
me from the body of this death?
1 John 3:10 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.
This is the way you can tell the children of God
and of the devil. The one not doing (part.}
righteousness is not of God, nor the one who isn't
loving (part) his brother.
NEXT: The Power and Consequences of Divine Love
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