1 JOHN 3:4-10 - PAGE 1
MARKS OF A CHILD OF GOD
Real Christianity #11 (Studies in 1 John)
“Magistrate Anna Kross called a mother from among spectators in court to take care of her wayward son – charged with throwing bottles through plate-glass windows. But when the mother, a demure looking woman, stepped up to the bench she was arrested on a charge considerable more serious than against her son. She was accused of using a broken bottle to cut the throat of a woman neighbor. The woman neighbor was in the hospital for two weeks.
“The mother had gotten into a fight with her neighbor at a saloon. She picked up a beer bottle, broke off the bottom by striking it on a table and went to work with the jagged edge…” (Source Unknown)
No wonder the child was in trouble with the law. He was bearing a family resemblance to his mother.
In a Moody Magazine article, Gigi Graham Tchividjian said that while small snatches of spiritual refreshment do not replace the need for careful, in-depth Bible study, they can be a lifesaver for busy moms. As a busy mother of seven small children, Gigi found herself unable to take an hour or a half-hour a day for sustained devotions, so she took stock of her own mother’s example.
My mother had five children and often didn’t have time for long devotions. But I remember her Bible always open in a convenient place—the kitchen counter, her bedside table, beside the sofa, or even on the ironing board. In this way, she could quickly glean a promise or memorize a verse as she continued her work
Following her example, I often pray for each child as I iron a dress or fold a shirt.
I find myself thanking the Lord for their healthy bodies as I bathe them at night. I praise the Lord for their beds and hot running water as I change their sheets and scrub the tub.
I find I can worship Him as I sweep the terrace or trim the hedge or dust the living room. I can meditate as I take a walk or rake the leaves.…
These brief snatches of spiritual refreshment have often served as my spiritual lifeline. On days when my nerves are stretched to the limit and I feel myself drowning in confusion, slipping off for five minutes with the Lord buoys me like a life preserver. Gigi Graham Tchividjian, “How Do You Find the Time?,” Moody Magazine, November 1991, 72–73. Morgan, R. J. 2000. Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville
Gina learned from the positive example of her mother. She showed a family resemblance
As you know, we tend to bear physical resemblance to our parents. We also tend to bear emotional and mental resemblance to our parents. Most significantly we bear spiritual resemblance to our parents.
Please look at 1 John 3:10 - 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.
The first part of this verse makes a very interesting statement. This sentence tells us that the difference between the child of God and a child of the Devil is obvious! This implies that there will be a family resemblance! You will either have the marks of being a child of God, or the marks of being a child of the Devil!
A child of God is one who has been born into the Family of God.
A child of the devil is simply anyone who is not a child of God. There are many nice looking and well meaning people walking around who are the Devil’s children, simply because they have not trusted Christ. You do nothing to become a child of the Devil.
You trust Christ as your Savior to become a Child of God.
John 1:12-13 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: [13] Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 John 3:4-10 explains to us what the family resemblances are for the child of God and the child of the Devil. I have chosen mostly to emphasize the marks of the child of God, and to show you the family resemblance between the child of God and God Himself.
In our text we have four marks or characteristics of a Child of God:
1. HIS SIN HAS BEEN DEALT WITH – Vss. 4-5
The greatest problem mankind has is sin.
It is sin which separates man from God.
In verse 5 you see that in Jesus, who is God, there is no sin.
The moment Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, there was immediate separation between them and God.
Because God is righteous and holy, that is, separate from sin Himself, He can not tolerate sin. That’s why Ezekiel 18:4 says, The soul that sinneth, it shall die…
In order for God to make us His children, His true children that could carry His family resemblance, He had to deal with our sin.
1 John 3:4 - Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Here is a definition of sin. It is transgression of the law, or lawlessness. Transgression of the law is rebellion against God.
There are other definitions of sin in the Bible, but this one says that the one who practices sin practices lawlessness.
Transgression of the law is rebellion against God.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 - …Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...
Often our rebellion is inward and not outward. Often we appear to keep God’s laws on the outside, while on the inside we are rebelling against His rules. This also is sin.
Matthew 23:28 - Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Warren Wiersbe – “Little Judy was riding in the car with her father. She decided to stand up in the front seat. Her father commanded her to sit down and put on the seat belt, but she declined. He told her a second time, and again, she refused.
‘If you don’t sit down immediately, I’ll pull over to the side of the road and spank you!’ Dad finally said, and at this the little girl obeyed.
“But, in a few minutes she said quietly, ‘DADDY, I’M STILL STANDING UP ON THE INSIDE.’” Warren Wiersbe, TheExposition Commentary (New Testament) Volume 2 (Wheaton, Illinois, Victor Books,1989), p. 505
1 John 3:5 - And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Sin had to be dealt with if we are to be children of God.
Here is how God dealt with the sin.
He, meaning the Lord Jesus, the very Son of God was manifested, or appeared, to take away sins.
1 Peter 2:24 - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
If you are a child of God, your sins have been dealt with.
Ephesians 1:7 - In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
The first mark of a Child of God:
HIS SIN HAS BEEN DEALT WITH.
2. HE DOES NOT PRACTICE SIN BECAUSE HE ABIDES IN CHRIST
1 John 3:6 - Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Christian, as you look at this verse, you could panic.
You might say, “Well, I sin. Does this mean that I am not saved?”
Obviously not!
1 John 1:8-10 - If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The Christian does sin.
The Christian does fail God.
The Christian can commit sin.
But for us Christians, it is to be the exception and not the rule!
The Christian is one who abides in Christ.
He fellowships with Him, seeks to please Him, and seeks to live for Him. He talks to him and learns about Him.
As He abides in Christ, He confesses and deals with sin in his life, and receives cleansing, so that he does not continue to practice sin.
The Christian should examine his life regularly for sin, using such Scriptures as Proverbs 6:16-19 as a guideline.
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
The child of God, as he abides in Christ, does not make sin his habitual practice.
Notice though, that the unsaved person, the child off the devil, continues to practice sin and has not seen or know God.
If a person claims to be a child of God, and there is no change, there’s reason for suspicion.
1 JOHN 3:4-10 - PAGE 7
If you claim to have trusted Jesus as your Savior and that alleged trust in Jesus has not changed your behavior, I’d be very concerned!
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 John 2:4-6 - He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. [6] He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Marks of a Child of God:
1. HIS SIN HAS BEEN DEALT WITH.
2. HE DOES NOT PRACTICE SIN BECAUSE HE ABIDES IN CHRIST
3. HE PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS
1 John 3:7 - Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
John is talking here about practical righteousness or practicing righteousness.
The moment you were saved you became righteous in your standing or position before God. That’s positional righteousness.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Based on your faith in Christ, God views you as righteous.
That’s your position before God.
John is saying in verse 7 that the child of God will imitate his father. He will practice righteousness.
We often think of Christian living as not doing what is wrong. It is more than that.
The Christian life is doing what is right!
Matthew 23:23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
In this section of Matthew our Lord is pronouncing a series of woes upon the legalists of the day, the Pharisees.
He tells them that they are very scrupulous to tithe even the smallest things like a patch of mint leaves, and let go the weightier matters of the law. These weightier matters of the law, I feel, describe practical righteousness.
The weightier matters of the law, according to our Lord Jesus are “judgment, mercy, and faith”.
· JUDGMENT
Judgment is treating God and man fairly, according to God’s righteous standards.
For young people and children it includes obedience to parents, and as we grow up, taking care of them when they are older.
For those who shop judgment means telling the cashier when she gives you too much change.
For those who work, judgment means giving a fair days’ work in exchange for the pay agreed upon.
For those of us who have neighbors, judgment means respecting their property as much as I do my own.
For those who deal with the government it means being honest about the income we make and about the amount of taxes we owe.
· MERCY
If you read the Old Testament Law, you will find that there were provisions for mercy.
A poor man’s coat was not to be held as surety for a loan overnight.
The ends of a field were to be left unhavested so the poor could glean, thus having food.
There were cities of refuge for a man to flee, if he had accidentally taken a man’s life.
Today our Lord expects the righteous man to show mercy.
We are to forgive, even as God has forgiven us.
We are to help the poor and needy.
We are to humbly help those Christians who need correction.
We are called upon to assist one another in the local church.
Galatians 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
· Judgment
· Mercy
· FAITH OR FAITHFULNESS
God calls upon the righteous man to walk in faith.
God calls upon the righteous man to be faithful.
Faithfulness is consistency motivated by our faith.
Faithful to one wife or husband
Faithful to one God
Faithful to God’s people
Faithful in the job God has given you
We cannot practice righteousness without the Lord’s help and empowerment.
If we are saved we will have a desire to walk righteously. We will show indications of practicing righteousness, even though we will slip on occasion.
Marks of a Child of God:
1. HIS SIN HAS BEEN DEALT WITH.
2. HE DOES NOT PRACTICE SIN BECAUSE HE ABIDES IN CHRIST
3. HE PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS
4. HE HAS A NEW NATURE
1 John 3:9 - 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.
No one who is born of God practices sin!
There have been people who have gone astray for a time, but have come back.
They live in sin for awhile, but then the Lord gets hold of them, because they are children of God.
An example of this is truth is Franklin Graham. I assume that when he was a boy, his parents led him to Christ as Savior.
However, there was time as a teen that he did everything wrong, and went away from the Lord.
But then, there was another time, when he came back, and now serves the Lord through a ministry called THE SAMARITAN’S PURSE, and also preaches for His Father, Billy Graham.
Why is it difficult for a child of God to practice sin?
Because the child of God has a new nature which he received when he trusted Jesus Christ as Savior.
When a person is born of God, he is saved as result of God planting His seed in Him, being born again.
As the seed of a human will produce a human being bearing similar characteristics; and as the seed of the horse, dog, or cat will produce a similar horse, dog or cat; so will the seed of God received at the new birth produce a nature that is new and like God’s nature.
The old nature is sinful based in Adam.
The new nature is righteous, based in Christ.
Our job is to let the new nature control us and not the old one.
Romans 5:17 - For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Marks of a Child of God:
1. HIS SIN HAS BEEN DEALT WITH.
2. HE DOES NOT PRACTICE SIN BECAUSE HE ABIDES IN CHRIST
3. HE PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS
4. HE HAS A NEW NATURE