7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
1 JOHN 3:7-10 ESV
From yesterday’s reading, we learned that Jesus purifies us, and He keeps us purified as we abide in Him. And today’s passage tells us that –
God’s children remain pure because we are born of God, and His seed abides in us!
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
1 John 3:9
There is a saying, “like father, like son.” Children inherit many features and characteristics from their parents – things from physical appearances to interests and tastes. Some inheritable traits are passed on to us genetically, and some are acquired and developed throughout our lives.
In the Gospel of John, John recorded the teaching Jesus had for Nicodemus about being reborn. And here, John reminded God’s children about the characteristics we inherited from God as He reborn us and made us a new creation. God gave us a new life, and His seed, his life, also lives in us! That means God’s good traits and characteristics are also in me. He has given us the ingredients we need to live a holy and victorious life!
The new life we receive from God brings real and observable changes. Those changes will be worked out in every aspect of our lives as we grow in Christ. One of the radical changes that happened to us is our aversion to sin. John tells us that there is a fundamental change in our relation to sin when we are born again. God is pure and righteous, and He hates sin. Just like we may pick up the interests and tastes from our parents, we also acquire the hatred of sin from God, our Father. These characteristics inherited from God are shown through our righteous actions, and they are evidence we are children of God.
The changes that come into our new life are not something we can forge. But, they are real because we remain in the Lord, and God lives in us. Such great love that the Father has lavished on us! He called us out from the darkness, cleansed us, and called us His children. We were not worthy, but He made us worthy to be called His children.
I’m forever humbled and amazed by the Father’s love! No one can love us like Him.
Lord, teach me how to love you and live for you in response to your great love.
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