This post is Day 12 in a series of studies about “1 John”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

1 John – Day 12

All who believe in Jesus are known as children of God. The Greek word used here for know means recognise. In our modern times, many know that Jesus walked the earth, but they do not recognise Him as being The Only Son of God, Saviour of the World. How sad!

1 John 3:1-3

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.

The Thought

As you read these verses slowly feel John’s excitement as he shares the good news that all who believe in Jesus are known as “children of God”. The Greek word used here for “know” means recognise. In our modern times, many know that Jesus walked the earth, but they don’t recognise Him as being The Only Son of God, Saviour of the World. How sad!

But John’s good news continues. He assures his readers that at Jesus’ return to earth, we will change to be even better. We will be like Him!! Not necessarily in physical appearance, but one with Him in spirit. Having the same thoughts, seeing things the same way, reacting to things in a way that Jesus did.

In the last sentence, John encourages us to live righteous lives, to keep ourselves holy for Jesus. The standard is VERY high, because none of us is without sin (Day 4, 1 John 1:8). John is not judging us, but encouraging us to aim high.

Action

Do you feel as though you are one of the “children of God” that John mentions here? One that others recognize when they see your reactions to different situations?

Pray for those you have fellowship with, that you will be able to encourage each other in your walk of faith, and that you will all be recognisable as “children of God”.