As we continue reading from the book of 1 John, I’d like to ask whether you’ve ever been able to spot a child for the first time and know who their parents are? Maybe you see the family resemblance in a child running around at church or school, or you can spot mannerisms or speech patterns as you talk with a child, and tell yourself, “This has to be that parent’s son or daughter”.
Much has been said about “nature vs. nurture”, but I’m convinced that both biology and parental influence impact this family resemblance. I know of an adopted daughter whose sense of humor aligns with that of her adopted dad far more than her skin tone matches his. There’s no cheek swab that will connect the two, but their family relationship is far more obvious than a DNA match!
In this letter from the apostle John, he describes how to spot 2 other kinds of children, based on a spiritual perspective.
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.
1 John 3:10 NIV
Righteousness and love for each other are hallmarks of followers of Jesus. We are not saved because we are good and love others, but once we choose to follow Jesus – once we choose to make Him the Lord of our lives and obey Him as an act of love for Him – the results should be clear…even obvious.
That doesn’t mean that Christians don’t still battle against temptation (and sometimes we might lose a skirmish), but followers of Jesus should be readily identifiable. This is not necessarily by wearing cross necklaces or T-shirts that announce their faith (although if that’s what God tells you to do, be who He wants you to be), but rather by our love and our righteous behavior.
This expectation of love for one another wasn’t new to this letter, though. Consider a passage from the gospel of John (another book of the Bible by the same author), sharing words of Jesus.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 NIV
Here we find that, overlapping with love and good deeds, Jesus’ followers must obey His commands. This is how we show Jesus that we love Him. In fact, rather than being how we show that we love Jesus, obeying Jesus might actually be how we love Jesus, with the understanding that love is not just a claim, but a choice that cannot help but result in action.
This also aligns with what it means to be a disciple of Jesus – a follower of Jesus – as we seek to be like Him. After all, Jesus didn’t command us to follow any principles that He wasn’t willing to live out Himself. As He demonstrated love for humankind, and always did what was right, so must His followers.
So, what do your actions say about who your spiritual father is? Does your righteousness and love for other followers of Jesus attest to being a child of God? (If you love Jesus but still sin sometimes, don’t dwell on your mistake, though: Jesus paid for all of our sins, and once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we can recommit to following Him each day.)
Or, does your sin and even hate for other people – people who God loves – reflect a different lineage? If you are tired of that, and would like to live a better life – a life of purpose and power, lived in the love of God – Jesus’ offer remains open to you, no matter what you have done! God is ready and waiting to adopt you from a life enslaved to sin (and its consequences), into a life of fulfilment and joy. You just have to accept His offer.
Regardless of where we started, may you and I show the world around us that we are children of God, and no longer part of a family who rejects Him.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 2, 2025
References:
- 1717 Bible Studies, 1, 2, and 3 John, © 2025 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1, 2 & 3 John, by Morris M. Womack. © 1998 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 