Read & explore together
Children of God
This passage teaches that God’s love gives believers a new identity as his children. It also explains how that identity connects with hope, purity, righteousness and a clear break from sin.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In these verses, the writer addresses readers as beloved and little children. He speaks in the present about being children of God, then looks ahead to what will be revealed when he is revealed. The passage also contrasts children of God with children of the devil by their relationship to sin, righteousness and love.
1 John 3:1–10Main takeaway
Those called God’s children are shown by hope in him, doing what is righteous and loving their brother, rather than continuing in sin.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01God’s love names believers as his childrenThe passage opens with wonder at the Father’s love. That love is shown in this: believers are called children of God.
Explanation
The passage opens with wonder at the Father’s love. That love is shown in this: believers are called children of God. The writer says the world does not know them because it did not know him. This sets believers apart by their relationship to God, not by the world’s recognition.
02God’s children have a future hope that shapes life nowThe writer says, now we are children of God, even though all that we will be has not yet been revealed.
Explanation
The writer says, now we are children of God, even though all that we will be has not yet been revealed. He does say one clear thing: when he is revealed, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. This hope leads to purity in the present.
03Sin is lawlessness, and he was revealed to take away sinsThe passage defines sin plainly as lawlessness. It then explains why he was revealed: to take away sins, and no sin is in him.
Explanation
The passage defines sin plainly as lawlessness. It then explains why he was revealed: to take away sins, and no sin is in him. The contrast in verse 6 is very strong: whoever remains in him doesn’t sin, while whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.
04Righteousness and love reveal God’s childrenThe writer warns against being led astray and says the one who does righteousness is righteous.
Explanation
The writer warns against being led astray and says the one who does righteousness is righteous. He says the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. Verse 9 adds that whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin because his seed remains in him. Verse 10 ends with righteousness and love for a brother.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to verse 1, what shows the greatness of the Father’s love?
Look for the specific gift named in the verse and how it describes believers’ identity.
02What two things does the writer say about the future in verse 2, and how does verse 3 connect that future hope to life now?
Notice both what is not yet revealed and what is known, then link it to the call to purify oneself.
03In verse 10, what marks out the children of God from the children of the devil?
Read the verse carefully and list the two practical signs the writer gives.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 John 3:1–10
1See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.
2Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is.
3Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.
5You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him.
6Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.
7Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.
10In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.