I John 3:7-8
I John 3:7 Dear children, let no one deceive you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous,
just as He is righteous;
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
in order to destroy the works of the devil.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of John’s first epistle.
Now remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock are doing so by their living as well as by their teaching. That is, in addition to denying Christ, they claim that it does not matter how you live outwardly in the body. Instead, for them salvation is a purely inward spiritual matter.
Therefore, John has reminded his readers that faithful living is an essential part of abiding in Christ because it is an essential part of what grace and salvation are doing in each believer.
In our text this morning John reminds his readers that one’s manner of living inevitably reflects its source.
Verse 7
Notice at once where we are in the conversation: John has built his case about the centrality of righteous living and now he is turning to apply it. Notice then John addresses his flock as dear children. Importance: throughout this epistle John has expressed his apostolic authority and divinely given charge as one who is sent by God to care for the children of God. In other words, in John’s address we hear an expression of the Father’s love and compassionate instruction. In turn, John’s demeanor and genuine concern for his flock’s wellbeing stands in stark contrast to the false teachers’ harsh, manipulative, and self-centered treatment of those who follow them. Notice then what John tells his flock: John instructs his readers not to let anyone deceive them. Importance: remember the false teachers who are troubling John’s flock claim that true salvation/grace means that it does not matter how you live in the body or the way that you treat others. Instead, they claim to have true spiritual righteousness. That is, in contrast to all the fuss over transient earthly living, they claim that their brand of spiritual enlightenment provides what really matters to an ethereal God. As such, they hold that they are the righteous, enlightened, and spiritual ones who have the true path to God. Notice then John’s response: John says that it is those who actually practice righteousness who are righteous (not just those who simply make unfounded claims based on bad theology). However, notice the clarification in the verb tense: the verb “practices” is a customary present tense verb. As such, it points to a standard/normative behavior. In other words, John is not talking about those who follow God perfectly without setback or stumble. Instead, John is talking about those whose governing/overarching desire is to seek God and to please Him FN#1.
Next, notice the reason/basis for John’s teaching here: John says that the one who practices righteousness is righteous just as Jesus is righteous FN#2. Importance: the conjunction John uses here “just as” has shades of both comparison (just as) as well as causation (because)FN#3. In other words, verse 7 tells us that the believer is righteous just as Jesus is righteous because Jesus is righteous. In other words, because Jesus is righteous, the grace and salvation that He provides yields like righteousness in His children. Simply put, John underscores the fact that God’s children resemble their Savior because it is their Savior who gave them the new life that is theirs. In other words, the fruit reflects the root from which it has come. Notice then John’s point: John urges his readers not to be deceived by the claims of the false teachers or be seduced by their wayward living. Instead, John reminds us that the new life that God gives results in a new living, which reflects the righteous character of its giver more and more each day.
Verse 8
Next, notice the contrast: immediately after discussing righteousness, John turns to consider those who practice sin. However, notice once again, the verb tense provides clarity. Just as in verse 7, the verb “practices” is a customary present tense verb. As such, it points to a standard/normative behavior. In other words, John is not talking about people who struggle, stumble, and thus commit sins (plural). Instead, John is talking about people who are given over to the condition of sin (singular). As such, sin is the underlying nature that defines all they do. Simply put, verse 8 is not discussing imperfect believers. Instead, verse 8 is describing folks whose lives are untouched by salvation and grace. As such, they have no concern/regard for God in anything they do. Notice the result: John says that the one who practices sin is of the devil. That is, he is like the devil (he is of the same ilk as the devil). Not only that, the one who practices sin is also under the devil’s sway (he is one of the devil’s number). How? FN#4 Simply put, the unbeliever’s rebellion is of the same sort as that of the devil. In turn, the unbeliever’s rebellion seeks the very same objectives as that of the devil (a comprehensive denial, rejection, and independence from the one true living God). As such, the unbeliever reflects and is (wittingly or unwittingly) an active participant in Satin’s agenda.
Next notice the basis for John’s claim: John says that it is evident that the one who practices sin is of the same ilk as the devil because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. Importance: notice at once the dual consistencies: the devil has been about sin and rebellion from the start and has not ceased or relented. In the same way, sin and rebellion are the unbeliever’s normative practice. Not only that (like the devil) the unbeliever persists in this sin and rebellion without repentance or turning to God. In other words, once again John reminds his readers that the fruit looks like the root from which it came (we either reflect grace and healing or we reflect sin, separation, and rebellion).
Next, notice the corrective: John says that the Son of God (the one who is God and who was sent by God to save mankind), appeared in order to destroy the works of the devil. In other words, far from condoning, enabling, or being indifferent towards sin, Jesus came to utterly abolish sin. Notice the result: there is nothing about sin that does not matter to God. Instead, the entire direction/ objective of grace is away from sin and towards righteousness, forgiveness, and healing.
Bottom line: notice at once the point of John’s entire discussion in verses 7-8: John places unchecked sin next to grace backed change and asks you to consider which one looks like Christ and the salvation that a righteous Christ gives. John then instructs you not to be deceived or pulled off course by anything that does not look like Christ and which leads you contrary to God’s Word. Instead, you are to abide/remain in Christ, with Christ, and according to Christ. That is, you are to seek with your life the very things that Scripture says that grace is doing in your life. Why? Your efforts are not alone or in vain.
Footnotes
1] More and more each day: God matters to them. God’s instructions/Word are at the forefront of their decision making process. God is their first love/concern in all they do. In the words of the great American theologian, Willy Nelson, “you are always on my mind”
In turn John is discussing causation. John is not saying that you are (or become) righteous because you practice righteousness. Instead, John says that you practice righteousness because you are righteous. At the same time, neither is John discussing degrees. That is, John does not say that you are righteous to the degree that you practice righteousness. Instead, John is talking about folks who have received a fundamentally new nature. As such, the entire direction of their life is turned towards God.
2] Throughout this passage John is not using the expected personal pronoun “Him” to refer to Jesus. Instead, John’s language is much stronger here. John is using the demonstrative (pointing) pronoun “that one” to refer to Jesus. In other words, in the face of the false teachers’ claims, John is constantly pointing us back to Jesus, back to “that one single one” who is the definitive revelation of God by God and the only source of salvation available to mankind. Simply put, John turns our eyes off of the world and it false teachers and places them squarely back on Jesus.
3] The conjunction John uses here is καθὼς. Within its range of meanings it has both a comparative sense (just as) as well as a causal sense (because)- The way John employs this conjunction here in verse 7 bears shades of both (comparison and causation)
4] First note what John is not saying: John is not suggesting that the unbeliever is as broken or as sinful as they could possibly be; nor is he suggestion that they are as thoroughly evil as the devil. Instead, John is saying they are the same sort as the devil and their lives are on the same trajectory. In other words, you can be of the same sort as another and not be of the same extent as they are.