Lesson 611

(Lesson 611)(04-20-13) 1 John 3:1-12, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 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. 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. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Today's lesson is among the most important written in the pages of the New Testament.

In the first portion, John describes a child of God, a Christian believer in Jesus Christ, one who has accepted the promise of God the Father through faith in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.

John explains how the spirit of those of us whom have accepted the heavenly gift of eternal salvation are "born" of God, just as Jesus was, and CANNOT sin. He goes on to specify what constitutes the "sin" that identifies the lost, that being, "whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." In Romans 4:4-8 Paul explains how those of us whom have accepted Christ attain the sin-free righteousness required to be recognized as a "righteous" child of God, "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth RIGHTEOUSNESS WITHOUT WORKS, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

It is herein clearly established that through "faith" we are made righteous before God through the perfection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The mark of a true believer is that he/she will always put their love for God and the welfare of others above all else, including themselves, having absolute faith that the sacrifice of Jesus is the ONLY thing that "JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY"~