1 John3:1-7 – John does not speak of sinless perfection in the life of the believer but of the new perspective given to the believer. Our focus is upon Christ and His work in the redeemed child of God.
We know we are God’s children now and in the future we shall be like him. The context indicates that Christians are in danger of being led astray. The Devil has children known by their hatred of the brethren. Over against this, Christians know they are the children of God because they love the brethren. Christians can guard against the Devil by the knowledge that they are the children of God now and in the future they shall be like God. 1
John says in v. 1 “See what love” It is a common cliché, ‘God loves you.’ How do you know for sure? What proof do you have? John says we see the love of God in the fact that God calls us his children. Behind God’s considering us his children is the price paid on the cross to make us his children. In Christ God paid for our sins and thus we are acceptable to him. On the basis of the cross God has adopted us as his children. Why would God do this? Are we worthy of his sacrifice? It was a matter of pure, undeserved grace.
An Evening Prayer: Merciful Father, whose guiding hand has brought us to the completion of this day, we humbly pray You to stay with us and shelter us in quiet hours of the night that we who are wearied by the changes and changes of this passing world may rest in Your changeless peace. 2
Sources:
The 1877 painting “The road to Emmaus,” Robert Zünd 1826-1909 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
1 Lectionary Preaching Work book Series B, John Brokhoff © 1981 CSS Publishing, Lima OH
2 An Evening Prayer, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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