1 John 3:9-10 LEB
9 Everyone who is fathered by God does not practice sin, because his seed resides in him, and he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.
Those who are in Christ are fathered by Almighty God. The term fathered translates from the Greek word gennaō, which means to beget or bear. It refers to the physical act of becoming a parent, whether as a father or a mother. It is God who chooses us and calls us. In John 6:44, Jesus states, “No one is able to come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.” The only way we can come to know Jesus is if God has extended repentance and salvation to us as a gift.
It is God who works in the heart of a person who is spiritually dead and separated from Him before they can come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. We are chosen, and in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul uses the language of adoption to emphasize that it is God who has chosen, saved, and delivered us from the dominion of darkness (Romans 8:15).
If we have been adopted by God and become brand new creations in Christ, then the practice of sin on a regular basis has no place in our lives. We may struggle with temptation, especially early on in our relationship with Christ, but as we abide in Him, we are transformed to become more like Him. He supernaturally shapes and changes our desires to align with His purposes and will. God has placed within us The Holy Spirit. John writes of God placing His seed inside us. The word ‘seed’ is the Greek word ‘sperma’, which means seed and refers to the seed of plants or animals that is sown to produce offspring. It is where we get our word ‘sperm’. The purpose of sperm is to carry the genetic material that combines with the egg to produce offspring. In Christ, God places His seed inside us with the purpose of producing His character and nature within us. Though we live in this world, we are not of this world.
10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, namely, the one who does not love his brother.[1]
In this world, we are either a child of God or a child of the devil. The phrase “we are all just children of God” is false. While we are created in God’s image, sin separates us from Him from the moment we are born. From birth, we are driven by our sinful, selfish desires. However, by coming to Christ, we are adopted into God’s family, and the process of being transformed into His likeness and character begins to unfold.
What reveals whether a person is truly a child of God is how they live their life. Jesus says that you will know them by their fruits. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree does not produce good fruit. The fruit that is produced simply reveals what is truly on the inside. The word "evident" is derived from the Greek word "phaneros," which means visible, evident, or known. Evident means clearly revealed to the mind or the senses. Who we belong to will be evident for all to see. Our character and nature, who we truly are, will be revealed in time. We may be able to fool people at first, but sooner or later, who we truly are will come to light.
John states that the practice of righteousness is the true test of whether someone is from God. The key point made is whether someone genuinely loves their brother or sister in Christ. Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another.” He also responded to the question about the greatest commandment, which is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. If we are truly followers and disciples of Jesus, what will define our lives is our commitment to Christ and the love He has placed within us. It is impossible to love as Jesus has called us to love if we are not abiding in Him and fully relying on His grace. If we are indeed abiding in Him, we will become more like Him. The ability to live in righteousness and holiness is never dependent on human effort or ability; it is solely based on our connection and intimacy with Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Father thank you for your grace. Thank you for adopting us. Thank you for pursuing us. Help me every day to abide in you. To rely upon your grace and grow in greater intimacy with you. Help me to know your voice and leading. Father I pray that every desire would be surrendered and changed by you to align with your will and purpose. Remove from my life anything that would hinder your work. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
[1] W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 1 Jn 3:9–10.
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