1 John 2:28-3:10

1. 2:28-3:3 The apostle, having begun in verse 29 to show that the test of sonship is righteousness of life, is carried away by the marvel of the new birth into a rapturous ourburst of wonder and joy. Whence comes our sonship? How does the world regard it? What will be its future glory? How should this affect us now? Cf. Col. 3:4,5.

2. 3:4-9. These verses resume the expand the truth of 2:29. What five reasons are given to show that sinning is utterly incompatible with being a child of God?

1. 2:28-3:3 The apostle, having begun in verse 29 to show that the test of sonship is righteousness of life, is carried away by the marvel of the new birth into a rapturous ourburst of wonder and joy. Whence comes our sonship? How does the world regard it? What will be its future glory? How should this affect us now? Cf. Col. 3:4,5.

Our sonship comes from the grace of our God because He regenerates us out of his mercy. The world does not recognize our true "identity" because they don't know the father. Like father, like son. We are now children of God, but an even glorious future lies ahead: when Jesus comes back, we will be like Him. Think about it: we human beings one day may partake the very Nature of God, we will be like God. Adam and Eve tried to be like God by their own understanding and effort, but God himself will make all His sons and daughters to be like His Only Begotten Son Jesus one day. If we have this hope in our mind, we should "cleanse ourselves".

2. 3:4-9. These verses resume the expand the truth of 2:29. What five reasons are given to show that sinning is utterly incompatible with being a child of God?
1. Sinning is against God's law
2. Jesus comes to cleanse our sins. If we keep sinning, it is doutful that we accepted Jesus.
3. Habitual Sinning suggests that one never really knows God because God is light, there is no darkness in him at all.
4. Sinning belongs to the devil and Jesus' work is to undo the work of the devil.
5. A person born of God does not sin because the very life of God in him does not allow him to sin and is incapable of sinning.