August 12, 2022
Abiding Doesn't Mean Adding More to Your To-Do List.
1 John 3
Hannah Sneed
Central Truth
Abiding doesn't mean adding more to your to-do list.
Key Verse | 1 John 3:23-24
And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1 John 3
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 1 3:2 Or when it 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.
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. 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 2 3:9 Greek his 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.
Love One Another
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, 3 3:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 14, 16 that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, 4 3:24 Greek him and God 5 3:24 Greek he in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Footnotes
[1] 3:2 Or when it appears[2] 3:9 Greek his
[3] 3:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 14, 16
[4] 3:24 Greek him
[5] 3:24 Greek he
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 1 John 3
I used to think "love" was a cheap way to describe Christianity. I realize now that I was wrong—big time.
At the beginning of this chapter, John speaks of what believers are: God's children. As God's children, we look forward to becoming more like Jesus, and we abide in God. Notice how John defines abiding in God. Abiding means we keep God's commandments (1 John 3:24).
Now, if you're like me, your mind might go straight to read your Bible, share the gospel, try to sin less . . . and that's exhausting. But look again! John describes the commandments God asks us to keep: Believe in Jesus and love one another (1 John 3:23). That's it!
Great, so you believe Jesus is the Son of God, but what does it mean to love others? The world has seemingly twisted love into what it is not and has rejected what it actually is. God defines love through Jesus' life. Love is pursuing the greatest good for every individual as far as it is able to be attained, even to the point of death.
The thing about you and me is that we hear "love one another" and then try to do it in our own strength. But we are not the source of love, so our attempts are fruitless. We find ourselves unwilling to love certain people or unwilling to go out of our way when it's inconvenient.
Remember, just like our belief in Jesus is given to us by the Spirit (we can't muster it up ourselves—John 6:44), so also the love that God requires can only come from Him. God is the source of love: both the love we have for Him and the love we are to show others. So submit yourselves to the Spirit, and allow Him to produce in you not only belief but also love.
Life as children of God looks like believing in Jesus and loving others, and the Holy Spirit gives us the desire and the power to do both. What God requires of us, He gives us the ability to do (2 Corinthians 12:9). How freeing!
Discussion Questions
1. How have you been defining what it means to "abide in God"? Has that led to rest or to striving?
2. How can you pursue the greatest good for those around you this week?
3. What do you need God's help with this week? Maybe it's loving a friend who has hurt you or bringing dinner to a family in need. Ask God to give you the desire to love, whatever the cost.
4. Take two minutes to meditate on God's love, and thank Him for loving you first.