Sons of God
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Jesus is the love of God sent to us. We cannot love apart from God.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
To those who have been chosen by the Father and brought to the truth of Jesus by His Holy Spirit, oh what love we have, what Joy unspeakable and full of glory!
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
It is the work of grace!
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1 Pet 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 Pet 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
We are made pure first by the blood of Jesus. After this we remove wrong thinking, wrong ways, we cast down every thought that does not exalt Jesus. We are vessels for the masters use. It is up to us to present to him a clean vessel, free from the lusts and thoughts of the world.
2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Tim 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
2 Tim 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
Good and Evil
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
The same Greek word for committeth is used for transgresseth; Whosoever brings forth continuous sin brings forth the law: for sin is the transgression (breaking of, being lawless) of the law.
Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Jesus has removed the sins of those he has received unto himself, for he is God the Son, without sin. Yes, we do miss the mark on occasion, but the new nature in Christ hates sin.
If we abide in him, we do not continue in sin. Whoever sins continuously, has not seen Jesus and salvation, neither does he know him. Even though they may claim the title "Christian" they do not know the Lord.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Anyone can speak words to fool another, yet to see their life is the proof. The devil is a liar, he speaks one thing and does another. Or he speaks a lie to deceive. If someone repents we forgive, yet where is the fruit that follows repentance? John the baptist spoke a rebuke to false repentance.
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
What if someone wrongs you and has not repented? We forgive them in Jesus name, pray for them and allow God to move and right the wrong. This way our hearts are cleansed of anger and love comes in. We wish no person eternal damnation, instead, we pray for their repentance and restoration.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
God cannot sin, the devil may accuse and lie about his true self, but the evidence is against those who sin. Jesus destroyed the work of the devil on the cross. This power comes to us, when we abide in Christ.
Mat 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
1Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Whosoever is born of God doesn't have a sin nature. We are become good seed of the Lord that remain in him. If we are God's seed he will plant us where we will grow and produce good fruit for him.
1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Two different spirits produce different fruit. The fruit of the two spirits are discussed in Galatians 5.
First is the fruit of unrighteousness, the children of the devil, the spirit of iniquity that comes through the flesh. The purpose of this spirit is destruction and death;
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (unbridled lust)
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, (contention) emulations, (excitement of mind) wrath, strife, seditions,(divisions) heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The fruit of righteousness, of the children of God, is the fruit of the Spirit of God. This Spirit brings love and life;
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Lead me in paths of righteousness my Lord and my God.
Not as Cain
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
This love is between believers, because they have the love nature of God.
1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
Cain was warned by God to be obedient. God required a blood offering of a lamb, looking forward to Jesus as the final sacrifice for sins. Cain instead brought vegetables as a sacrifice. He wanted to do religion his way and to not obey God. God warned Cain about his wrong choices and bad attitude.
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
If you do well in obedience your offering is accepted. If you do not seek to do the right thing, sin is at the door of your heart. Satan desires you, you have power to choose good or evil.Yet the very next verse Cain destroys his righteous brother. This sets a pattern for those who allow satan to rule over them, they do not seek repentance and doing the right thing. Instead they try to kill those who are of God. This was the seem pattern in the Scribes and pharisees who sought to kill Jesus. It was not that he was evil, but that he was good and they were evil and jealous and full of wickedness. God is not asleep, he sees all of this.
Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Gen 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Those who follow satan are cursed, it is their own choice. But those who choose our Lord shall be blessed and delivered from the curse of sin.
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Prov 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
Jesus explained this to his disciples;
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
The first evidence of a new life is love for one another. We submit to God's will in unity, obeying his commandments. Thankful that we belong to God, are forgiven and are of his family. The Spirit of Christ goes along side of us.
Not so with those who serve satan. They lie and scheme and commit foul deeds, accusing and despising those of the truth. The spirit of death hovers over them.
1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
You can murder with words, as well as with actions, the end is death and damnation.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Oh, Father God open the eyes of the rebellious to receive true life in Christ Jesus. Protect the innocent ones Lord, for they belong to you. This story of offences is lived out all too often.
Meeting Needs of the Brethren
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
To give your life for the brethren is the ultimate sacrifice of love. Only Jesus died for us to secure the way to heaven through faith in him and making him our Master. Can you imagine dying for someone who despises you?
Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Judas left Jesus betraying him even to the cross. Had he have staid, he would have been forgiven. But no, he went out from him and betrayed him. This is the apostate spirit as in John 6:66.
John 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
In a marriage the Christian husband is to love the wife as Christ loved the church. (Eph 5:25) Even to die for her if need be. Is it any wonder that there is a feeling of great remorse when the marriage partner quits the marriage? It is like death and rejection. We are to be faithful and care for one another.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
The bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger and love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, esp. kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc. (Strong's Concordance)
We are to put feet to our faith, for love without action is not worth much. Most people have needs. We go to the family or the church family when our needs cannot be met. There was no government aid in the Bible without giving up all of ones resources. When government quits supplying, the family is to be your help. The church can help if a need is made known. The early church in persecution shared all things. The church was only obligated to support elderly widows.
1Ti 5:4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
1Ti 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
1Ti 5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
We do not give expecting anything in return. It is in giving that we receive in some other way, you cannot out give God.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
We are to give our lives out to others, meeting needs. If others refuse Christ they lose out. Lord make us a blessing to those who will receive your gifts. Amen
Know with Confidence
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
Sometimes it is satan condemning us, still our conscience knows to do the right thing;
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Ultimately the Holy Spirit will show you the truth of a matter. Sometimes a thing is true, as in Moses' calling, but the time was not yet come. Still if opportunity comes and a door opens, go through it, for it is opened by God to those of faith. An opportunity could pass you by. This includes finding a good job.
Believe and Love
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
We can't receive of the Lord if we will not believe. We can do all his commandments yet not give him control. Let not another control you by accusations, nor let another decide your future for you. Each must walk the life given to them, through faith and in his spirit. If we do good to another there should be no conditions or strings attached. Jesus died to set us free. Often we do not understand another's walk with the Lord, but we have not lived another persons life. Praise God we trust in Jesus, each from hearts coming from different experiences, each conforming to the image of Jesus. Some have little time, like my friend Randy, others have many years. Some are running out of time. All are loved and called of God.
1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Many miss God by missing Jesus. Jesus is the will of God, receiving him, making him our master and conforming to his image. This is the will of God. Always love one another, even if we do not understand one another. Encourage, exhort, build one another up in the faith. Abide in Jesus receiving his love and guidance. If your gift is giving, give. If you bake rhubarb pies and another does not receive your gift, don't force it. Don't take it personal, find someone who likes your pie, or better yet ask the person how you may please them? (Make mine apple?) But don't be a nuisance, follow the Spirit of God. Find a need and try to meet it. Love one another, but don't insist on your own way.
1 Cor 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Cor 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1 Cor 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1 Cor 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Lord help us to uplift one another both in meeting spiritual hunger and natural needs. All need love that comes from God. If we have faith in Jesus as our Lord and savior we will learn to hear him speak to us and we shall do his will. Lord make me a blessing.
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