What is the meaning of 1 John 3:10? By this the children of God are distinguished John moves from doctrine to evidence. Faith that stays hidden is not biblical faith; it shows itself. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Likewise, “You will recognize them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). In other words: • The gospel creates a visible change. • That change is clear enough to “distinguish” believers from unbelievers. • Assurance grows as these outward marks line up with God’s Word (2 Corinthians 13:5). from the children of the devil Scripture acknowledges only two spiritual families. Jesus told hostile listeners, “You belong to your father, the devil” (John 8:44). Paul writes, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The contrast is stark: • God’s children walk in light; the devil’s children linger in darkness (Ephesians 5:8). • God’s children submit; the devil’s children rebel (James 4:7). • God’s children bear fruit; the devil’s children produce works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-23). John’s wording is not name-calling; it is spiritual reality. Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God “Practice” signals pattern, not perfection. We stumble (1 John 1:8-9) yet pursue obedience. John has already said, “Everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him” (1 John 2:29). Here he states the negative: if righteousness is absent, new birth is absent. Consider: • Salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), yet grace produces “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). • James echoes John: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). • Righteous living includes honesty, purity, generosity, humility—evidence that Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). Habitual sin without repentance reveals an unchanged heart (1 John 3:8). nor is anyone who does not love his brother Love is the family resemblance believers must bear. John says, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers” (1 John 3:14). Jesus calls it His “new commandment” (John 13:34). If love is missing, the claim to know God is hollow (1 John 4:20). What does brother-love look like? • Compassion that moves beyond words to action (1 John 3:17-18). • Forgiveness that mirrors Christ’s forgiveness (Colossians 3:13). • Generosity that meets practical needs (Acts 4:34-35). • Patient encouragement that builds others up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The example of Cain (1 John 3:12) shows the opposite: hatred, jealousy, indifference. Such a spirit belongs to the “evil one,” not to God’s children. summary 1 John 3:10 draws a sharp dividing line. True children of God can be recognized by two family traits: ongoing righteousness and active brotherly love. Absence of these traits exposes an unregenerate heart aligned with the devil. The verse is not about earning salvation but about displaying the life that salvation produces. God’s grace changes both conduct and relationships, marking His people out for a watching world to see. |
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