This chapter embraces the following subjects:
I. The fact that Christians are now the sons of God, 1 John 3:1-3.
(1)We are the sons of God, and this will explain the reason why the world does not appreciate our character, or understand the reasons of our conduct,1 John 3:1 1 John 3:1.
(2)The consequences of sustaining that relation to God, or of being regarded as His sons.
(a) We shall be like him when he appears, 1 John 3:2.
(b) We shall purify ourselves under the influence of this hope, 1 John 3:3.
II. The fact that he who is an adopted child of God does not commit sin, 1 John 3:4-10.
(1)All sin is the transgression of the law, 1 John 3:4;
- Christ was manifested to take away our sins, 1 John 3:5;
(3)He that commits sin is of the devil, 1 John 3:8; and,
(4)As a matter of fact, he who is of God does not commit sin, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 3:9-10.
III. True religion will be manifested by love to the Christian brotherhood, 1 John 3:10-18.
(1)As a man who is not righteous cannot be a true Christian, neither can he who does not love his brother, 1 John 3:10.
(2)It is the solemn command of the Saviour that his followers should love one another, 1 John 3:11.
(3)The importance of this is seen by the opposite conduct of Cain, 1 John 3:12.
(4)Love to the brethren furnishes the most certain evidence that we have passed from death unto life, 1 John 3:14.
(5)A man who hates another is in fact a murderer, and, of course, cannot be a true child of God, 1 John 3:15.
(6)We should be stimulated to the love of the brethren by the example of the Saviour, who laid down his life for us, 1 John 3:16.
(7)If we see a brother in want, and have the means of aiding him, and do not do it, we cannot have the love of God dwelling in us, 1 John 3:17-18.
IV. We may have evidence that we love God by the consciousness of our feelings toward him, as well as by outward acts toward his friends, 1 John 3:19-21.
V. If we keep His commandments our prayers will be answered, 1 John 3:22-23.
(1)There is an assurance that we shall receive what we need if we ask it, and keep his commandments, 1 John 3:22.
(2)The particular commandments on which the efficacy of prayer so much depends, are:
(a) That we believe on the name of the Saviour, and,
(b) That we love the Christian brotherhood, 1 John 3:23.
VI. We may know that we abide in God by the spirit which he has given us, as well as by keeping his commandments, 1 John 3:24.
This chapter, therefore, is occupied mainly with stating what are the evidences of true piety; and, in order to determine this question, there is perhaps no part of the Bible that may be studied with more profit than this portion of the writings of John.