Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.
1 John 3:4 NLT
There are passages of Scripture that feel like a warm blanket… and then there are passages that feel like a mirror held a little too close to your face.
1 John 3:4–10 is the second kind.
And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.
Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.
But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.
1 John 3:5-10 NLT
This text is not interested in soothing our religious nerves. It is interested in revealing what kind of seed is actually growing in us. And John — pastoral, apostolic, and unflinchingly honest — does not soften the contrast.
This is a discernment passage. Not for pointing fingers outward, but for opening eyes inward.
What John Is Not Doing
Before we step into the fire, let’s clear some smoke.
John is not:
- Calling believers to become sinless superheroes
- Giving the church permission to rank sins and sinners
- Teaching salvation by perfect behavior
- Encouraging suspicion-driven judgment
If we read this passage as a license to police other people’s lives, we’ve already missed the spirit of it.
Discernment is not judgment.
Judgment condemns.
Discernment reveals.
One throws stones. The other turns on lights so you can find the door.
The Contrast John Is Making
John uses stark, almost uncomfortable language:
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness…” (v.4)
“No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning…” (v.6)
“Whoever practices righteousness is righteous… whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil.” (vv.7–8)
That’s not poetic fluff. That’s diagnostic language.
John is not talking about occasional failure.
He’s talking about ongoing allegiance.
The Greek idea here is pattern, practice, trajectory.
In other words: What direction is your life actually moving?
Two Seeds, Two Outcomes
John frames humanity around two sources:
- The seed of God
- The seed of the enemy
Both seeds produce fruit. Over time, the fruit tells the truth.
This is not about perfection.
It’s about parentage.
“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil…” (v.10)
Evident doesn’t mean instantly obvious.
It means eventually undeniable.
Church Attendance vs. Following Jesus
Here’s where this passage steps on our toes — lovingly, but firmly.
Sunday church attendance does not make someone a follower of Jesus.
- Singing songs does not equal abiding.
- Serving on a team does not equal surrender.
- Knowing Christian language does not equal living a crucified life.
Following Jesus means He is not just admired… He is obeyed.
You can sit in a garage every Sunday and still not be a car.
John is saying: Don’t confuse proximity to holy things with transformation by a holy God.
Discernment Starts With Us
This passage is not a measuring stick for them.
It’s an invitation for us.
Ask the questions John is provoking:
- What sins am I making peace with instead of repenting from?
- Where have I confused grace with permission?
- What patterns does my life consistently produce?
Repentance is not shame-driven groveling.
It is Spirit-empowered course correction.
Prophetic Clarity Without Religious Cruelty
The prophetic voice does not exist to humiliate sinners. It exists to awaken sleepers.
Light does not accuse darkness.
It simply shows what’s there.
And when the light reveals something that doesn’t belong, repentance isn’t punishment — it’s freedom.
The Takeaway
This passage leaves us with a simple, unsettling, hopeful truth:
You are becoming something.
Not by what you claim.
Not by where you attend.
But by who — or what — you follow.
Jesus didn’t say, “Attend Me.”
He said, “Follow Me.”
And following Him will always, eventually, leave evidence. What is the fruit of your life preaching undeniably?
Prayer
King Jesus, we come without pretense or performance. We lay down every divided affection, quiet compromise, and place where proximity replaced obedience.
Shine Your light on our hearts — not to shame us, but to free us. We renounce agreement with sin, distraction, and self-rule, and we receive again the gift of repentance that realigns our lives with Your truth. Replant Your living seed within us, that our desires, habits, and direction would bear fruit worthy of Your Name.
Let our lives tell the truth about who we belong to. Empower us by Your Spirit to walk in righteousness, love what You love, and turn quickly when You correct us. We choose to follow You — fully, faithfully, and with joy. Amen.
Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
1 John 3:9 NLT
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