Tyndale Open Study Notes1 John 3

• When Christ returns, we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. God’s children bear the image of Christ and will share in his glory (see Romans 8:18–30).

• Those who have this hope keep themselves pure, seeking to become more like Christ as they await his glorious return. It is partly for this reason that God’s children will not be ashamed when Christ comes (1 John 2:29).

This section explains what it means to live a pure life (3:3). Being part of God's spiritual family requires living a pure life. A life full of sin shows that someone is not truly God's child. Sin is not suitable for the new nature that comes from spiritual birth.

John encourages Christians to do what is right to show they are united to Christ and his righteousness. Children of God do not make a practice of sinning. However, this is different from the kind of “sinlessness” claimed by the false teachers (see 1:5–10 and corresponding study notes).

• remains in Him: The Greek word menō means “to remain” or “to stay.” It describes “abiding” or “remaining” in Christ (John 15:1–8) instead of departing into false teaching. When we live in ongoing and dependent fellowship with Christ, and when we remain faithful to the apostles’ teaching, we will not continue in sin.

• continues to sin: This verb describes sin as an ongoing or repeated action. John was not saying that a single act of sin means a person does not know God. Instead, if a person continues to sin without turning away from that sin, that pattern shows a lack of relationship with God.

destroy: This word does not mean “to destroy completely.” It means “to break down,” “to undo,” or “to make ineffective” (see Ephesians 2:14). Christ did not completely destroy Satan. Instead, he came to undo the works of the devil by freeing people from sin and from the terrible results of sin.

To practice righteousness means to live in a right relationship with God. This is different from what the false teachers claimed. They taught that their spiritual life was not affected by what they did in their physical bodies. Living righteously does not mean that we live perfect lives (1:8). It means we confess our sins and stay in a right relationship with God (1:9).

John now emphasizes that Christians need to love one another (see John 13:34).

Cain, who belonged to the evil one: Cain was jealous that Abel received approval from God. This jealousy led to murder (Genesis 4:8). God judges hatred, just like the outward act that results from it (see Matthew 5:21–22).

Having love for our fellow Christians is clear evidence that we have been born again and will have eternal life instead of death and judgment (see Romans 6:23; James 5:20; Revelation 21:8).

Christ’s example shows that real love requires self-sacrifice. We follow his example when we care deeply about the needs of other people. This means giving our time, effort, prayers, and possessions to help them. In some cases, it may even mean giving our lives to meet their needs.

Those who truly love (3:16–18) can feel confident that God accepts them. This kind of love shows that their faith is real and that they have new life in Christ (see 4:7–8).

John gives a new way to recognize who has the Spirit. The Spirit does not belong only to a small group of people who claim to have special knowledge but do not show changed lives. Instead, the Spirit comes to all believers and leads them to live in obedience as followers of Christ (Galatians 5:22–23).