Day 131 - 1 John 3

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
Listen from:
V.1-2 We are NOW children of God. The next thing to learn is that we shall be like the Lord Jesus when He comes in glory (“E” on your chart). Every beauty, every excellence of His character will be reproduced in each of us. But read 2 Corinthians 3:18 and learn that the more we look at Him even now, the more like Him we become!
V.5-6, 9-10 The third great thing to learn — The believer who truly is the Lord’s, does not practice sin. He does not go on doing things which he knows to be contrary to God’s will. He has two natures, they hate each other. His new nature cannot sin. He can say “the new nature in me.” Then he will not feed the old nature, because he knows that God sees it as dead (Rom. 6:66Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Romans 6:6)).
V.14-15, 17 We have passed from death unto life! Many true believers do not know this. Another thing — we love other believers. If love has replaced hatred and selfishness in my heart, then I know I have passed out of death unto life (Read John 13:34-3534A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34‑35)). The test of love is this — if I have the means to help others, I do.
V.19-21 The believer has confidence in God. He who does not have a bad conscience in God’s presence, can look up and speak to God in prayer with happiness, as to a Friend with whom he is on good terms. But if there are sins on our conscience, then we cannot ask in confidence. We must confess them to be forgiven.
V.22 The believer has power to obtain from God by prayer whatever he asks. But we need to read the whole verse! If God is to listen to us, we must first listen to Him! Notice the two different things. There are many things that it would please God for us to do that He has not exactly told us in His book. A father is pleased when his children do the things which they know please him.