August 10, 2016 1 John 3
Much has been written about positive and confident attitudes in regards to success and accomplishment. It is quite evident that the one who lacks confidence is not likely to complete anything of significance. The driving force of such a life is “I can’t.” My dad used to tell us often, “can’t never could and never would.” This truth illustrates the problem of a believer without confidence that he is called by God, empowered by God, and sent out by God. Hence, if the devil can introduce doubt in the life of a believer, he has destroyed the vibrant work opportunity of that individual. John recognized the danger of that doubt and has written this work to help the believer gain confidence in their walk with Christ.
His first encouragement in chapter 3 is to remind us we are loved by God. In fact, the depth of that love is demonstrated in the announcement that God has adopted us as his own children. You could say the death of Christ on the cross paid our adoption fee. We may not know what all that looks like, but we are his children just the same. And because we are his children, we are motivated to live up to the name he has given to us. Here is how a person knows whether they are children of God: they do not practice unrighteousness. He is speaking of sin. The language of the paragraph is referring to continual sin. It does not mean a believer has reached sinless perfection, it does mean he cannot live in continual sin due to the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit. The one who is striving for righteousness (practicing) rather that striving for unrighteousness (practicing) is a child of God. At the heart of striving for righteousness is a desire to please God.
There are consequences to seeking God’s righteousness and loving others as God commands us to love. Those consequences will be a world that hates us. A believer is an agent of love for all men. John questions the salvation of men who hate other men. In fact, when a believer loves in word or deed, the accusations made by his own heart simply fade away by the confidence in doing right. When one does right in the sight of God in terms of loving others, confidence comes to the heart that he is righteous.
And what is the result of this loving behavior: Answered prayer. Believe Jesus is the Son of God, that is the incarnate God, love others thereby keeping his commands, and he will abide in you giving you confidence. Instead of a weak Christian with little confidence, you will be a strong Christian living in the confidence only God can give.
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