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In this manner the children of The God1 and the children of the Devil2 are evident3 – every person not practicing righteousness is not from The God,4 nor is the person not showing compassionate affection to a fellow member.5
| 1 | The children of The God: See above. Compare John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:3, 4, 23. God-born occurs 9 times 1 John 3.9; 4.7; 5.1, 4, 18. The process of coming to “know” the Father is one experienced by Jesus in the flesh despite billions of years as God’s close associate The Word. (John 17:25 and notes on Matthew 11:27) Many millions claim to “know” God but John is going to give simple lessons in how to know one knows. |
| 2 | Children of the Devil: There can be another fatherhood. (Compare John 8:41, 42; Hebrews 12:8 KJV) The unrighteous are those who do not obey God’s law; that is, they are not law-abiding. This may be through ignorance or deliberately (Acts 17:30; Hebrews 10:26; 2 Peter 2:21) |
| 3 | Evident: That is, manifest. The Greek is EPHANEROTHE. Or, TCN: distinguish; BAS: it is clear. Compare Malachi 3:18. |
| 4 | Every person not practicing righteousness is not from The God: Or, WEY: no one who fails to act righteously is a child of God; PME: the man who does not lead a good life is no son of God. |
| 5 | Not showing compassionate affection to a fellow member: 1 John 4:8, “The person who does not show compassionate affection is not acquainted with God, because God is compassionate affection.” [NCMM Paraphrase] Compare 1 John 3:23. |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose 1 John 3:10 as the theme verse of chapter three – Sinless Children. Christians are children of a Father’s love. [1-3] When Christ returns and becomes visible Christians will know what they are to become. Those with this hope “purify themselves just as the Son is pure.” True Christians are not habitual sinners. [4-8] Christians should not be deceived: Christians should be characterized by righteousness like Christ. Those born of God do not habitually practice sin. [9-12] The children of God and the children of the Devil may be identified by this: the unrighteous and unloving are not of God. John uses the example of Cain and Abel.
How can a Christian know love? [13-18] Christians have stepped from death to live because they continue to show love. The right kind of divine love is that shown by Christ – self-sacrificing love. Those who hate or love less another Christian are the same as murderers. Hate and love may be manifest by how a Christian cares for those in need. How can we know when God is in our hearts? [19-24] By observing God’s commandments. God’s commandment includes two major things: faith in His Son, and showing love to one another.
Abba our Father bless those who love one another.
[9 September 2002]
Thus is the distinction clear between God’s children and those of the devil. God’s children are full of love and live holy lives. Those of the devil are the opposite.
