A Study Of 1 John Chapter 3 Verses 1-10

There’s a fellow on Youtube who has a channel called, “Dad, how do I.” His name is Rob Kenny. And on his channel he explains how to do basic things. Like, how do I tie a tie. How do I change a flat tire. How do I shave. How do I make pumpkin bread. How do I fix a toilet and so on. Things that children need to be taught. And you might ask why? Why would he do that? Well, when he was 14 years old his own father looked him in the eye and told him that he didn’t want to be a father anymore. He left and never came back. And so this guy Rob vowed to never be like him. And just to help kids like himself he started his Youtube Channel. He’s called “The Internet’s Dad.” And today, he has over 2 million subscribers. People who watch him on a regular basis. Sometimes he’ll open his video, “Hey kids” Just like a father would talk to his own kids.

And that got me to thinking. I think God views us as His children in the same way Earthly Fathers view their children. You see, God is the One who established the family. He is the One who MODELED a Loving Father after Himself.

You might say, “Well, my father wasn’t always loving.” And I can say as a father I haven’t always been what God would have me to be. You see, sin came into the world and it literally messed up everything. Relationships between a husbands and wives, the relationships between children and parents and the relationship between a LOVING Heavenly Father and mankind.

But yet God has provided a way for that relationship to be restored. So let’s turn in our Bibles to 1 John 3. I’m going to be taking this a Verse at a time. We’ll start by reading Verses 1-10.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

PRAY

Verse 1. This Chapter starts out with the word “BEHOLD.” To behold something means to see something. John wanted the people to SEE the Love of God. But more than SEE the Love of God, John wanted the people to SEE HOW the LOVE of GOD was poured down upon them. And it’s been SHOWERED down upon you and I. How? By becoming the Children of God.

ILLUS: John Chrysostom was an important early Church leader in the 3rd century. He is known for his preaching and public speaking.

This is what Chrysostom preached concerning ANGELS and MANKIND.

He said, “The saints shall be exalted above the angels, for the angels are ministers, but the saints are sons. Angels stand in the courts of God; the redeemed stand in the family of God.”

And because we’re part of the FAMILY of GOD, the world doesn’t understand WHY we do what we do. They don’t know or understand God, therefore they don’t know or understand you and I. Why we are the way we are.

The world doesn’t understand HOW or WHY we show GRACE, LOVE and MERCY to those who don’t deserve it. And they don’t understand why we stand against SIN, EVIL and WICKEDNESS when it might cost us something.

We may lose Friendships and Opportunities along the way for STANDING FOR THE RIGHT and AGAINST THE WRONG.

We may even face PERSECUTION for doing the RIGHT THING. And many will not KNOW US. They won’t understand us. BUT GOD DOES. He is our Father and that’s really all that matters.