January 28, 2016
Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:7-10
7Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8The 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. 9No 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. 10This 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.
Questions for Reflection:
How does John begin this portion of his letter? Why do you think he chose the phrase “dear children” to refer to the readers? What does the phrase insinuate? John’s subtle reminder of his care and concern for the readers is followed up by an imperative. What does he instruct the church to make sure they avoid in verse 7?
If you remember from our study of the setting of John’s letter, he was writing to a church in the midst of division and crisis. There was a group of individuals who were splitting the church around poor theology. They were telling people that how they lived no longer mattered. They were giving individuals within the church the license to sin freely. Into this situation, John speaks clearly in this passage. John was not afraid to confront the problem that was facing those he loved and had discipled. How is this the loving response by John?
What point does John make when instructing the church into proper belief and action? John tells the church that what you do reflects the one who leads your life. If our actions are righteous, we are following the example of the one who is righteous. If our actions are sinful, we are following the lead of the devil. When the Holy Spirit moves into our lives, our fundamental identity and behavior changes. We cannot simply know about Jesus; true belief will bear itself out in how we live. As the 19th century English theologian FD Maurice wrote, “the knowledge of Christ involves practice.”
John is casting a vision for the Christian ideal. What is the Christian ideal according to John’s letter above? According to John, how can we identify the children of God? What is it about their lives that points to the shift that has happened in their life? A natural conclusion to these verses is the thought that we can earn God’s approval and continue to earn our salvation by our performance. That is not what truly is happening here. Rather, our actions are influenced by what we have experienced.
In the spring of 1986, I was walking with my parents to a spring training baseball game when I saw the starting first baseman for the New York Mets get out of his car. I ran over and introduced myself to Keith Hernandez and asked for his autograph. He signed my baseball card that day while I carried his bat bag toward the players’ entrance. From that day forward, I have been a Keith Hernandez fan. I loved watching him play baseball. I laughed during his guest appearance on Seinfeld. I even enjoy seeing him on his Just for Men commercials. Why? Because of how he interacted with me and what he gave me. The gift and the experience shaped my future behavior. So it is with Christ.
We have been given an incredible gift. When we accept the work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross on our behalf, it should create a tidal wave of love and devotion. Because of his great love for us, we respond with honor, fidelity, devotion. We do not act righteous in order to be saved; we act righteously because we are saved. How can your life better reflect the incredible work that Jesus Christ has accomplished on your behalf? How can you live out the Christian ideal in a way that will bring greater glory to Him? Spend time in prayer and reflection around those questions today.