Character Witness: The Children of God and the Children of the Devil

Introduction

In this portion of our reading, John focuses on those who are the children of God and the children of the devil. Again, John’s teaching confronts the false teachings of those who propose one can continue in sin and still be saved. The idea is this: “Jesus paid the price, so no matter what, I am saved.” John exhorts the believing community to abide in Jesus by practicing righteousness. That is the evidence of a one born of God and the one who does will have confidence at His glorious appearing. However, one who is born of the devil continues to practice sin because he/she does not know Jesus.

Children of God Abide with Confidence

1 John 2:28–3:3 ESV

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Remember, it is the Spirit of God who teaches about everything that is true, so therefore we abide (v. 27) John emphasizes abiding in Jesus again but this time, the focus shifts to His appearing. It is so that we may have confidence and not be ashamed when He comes. How does the believer abide? He/she continues to practice righteousness because He is righteous and that is evidence he/she is born of Him.

What kind of love has the Father given that they should be called the children of God? It is the giving of His Son, Jesus, as a propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 “10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Therefore, by faith we are His children. This now makes us different from those who are in the world. They do not know us because they do not know Him. Thus, their is a distinct difference between one who is born of God and one who is in the world.

Although they are children of God now, what they will has not yet been revealed. Nevertheless, John is confident that when Jesus appears the children of God will be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. What does He mean by this? This passage does not suggest we will become god’s. No other passages in the Scriptures attest to this. Also, Jesus is begotten, meaning a unique relationship with God. We are adopted. Begotten and adopted are not the same. We were born again. Jesus always was. Thus, becoming like Him means something else. (cf. John 17:24; Rom 8:18; 2 Co 3:18; 4:17; Phil 3:21). The children of God will see His glory and receive glorified bodies. We will become like Him in the manner of righteousness, sinless, and pure. Therefore, John bookends the appearing mentioned back in 2:28, with the one who hopes in Jesus purifies Himself as He is pure. Two things are highlighted here. First, the child of God is reliant upon Jesus, the Righteous and Pure One. Second, to purify oneself does not call for rituals or traditions. It is to simply fight against sin by abiding in Him through the Holy Spirit and keeping His commands.

Children of the Devil

1 John 3:4–6 ESV

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Anyone who continues in sin, is without a law. Essentially, they are a law unto themselves. This statement is a start reminder of the episode in the Garden of Eden where the man believed the serpents lie. The lie was man will become like God, knowing good and evil. Thus, man can then define what is good and what is evil outside of God’s moral and good law.

However, Jesus appeared to take away sins. John also emphasizes it is not a sinful being that takes away sin but a sinless Savior. Therefore, through Jesus, serving as the supreme example, John states no one can say they abide the sinless Savior, who takes away sin, and keep on sinning. The person that continues in sin has not seen him or known him (no relationship with Jesus).

A Reminder of the Differences

1 John 3:7–10 ESV

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

John commands the believers to not let anyone deceive them. The evidence of who’s child you are is what you practice or continue to do.

The one who practices righteousness is righteous, as He (Jesus) is righteous. Righteousness is not determined by how good you do something. Righteousness is about following the example of Jesus, hence why John says as He is righteous. Jesus serves as the example!

The one who practice sin is a child of the devil who as we know has been sinning from the beginning. These are the people who are considered the world who do not know us because they do not know Him. The ones who are lawless. The ones who deceive. The ones who claim to believe in God but continue to follow their own pattern of life. . . children of the devil!

Jesus’ reason for coming was to destroy the works of the devil. This means we have an opportunity for salvation.

God’s seed does not abide in the one who continues in sin. When sin becomes evident in a believer’s life, it pruned. That person experience grief in sorrow over their sin and cannot keep on sinning because he/she has been born of God. However, the child of the devil considers it normal and excuses it away in order to continue in it.

Thus why it is evident who are the children of God and who are the children of the devil. The one who does not practice righteousness or love his brother is not of God.