1 John 3

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on 1 John 3

1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
4Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
5But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
6No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
7Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
8The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
11This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
13So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.
15Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.
16By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
18Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
19And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:
20Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God,
22and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
23And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
24Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us.
— 1 John 3

Related Resources from Heartlight

God’s Power in His People...
Illustration of 1 John 3:9-10 CEV

Illustration of 1 John 3:9-10 CEV -- God’s children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power lives in them and makes them his children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God’s children from the devil’s children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.

Dear children, let us not love with...
Illustration of 1 John 3:18

Illustration of 1 John 3:18 -- Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Dear children, let us not love with...
Illustration of 1 John 3:18

Illustration of 1 John 3:18 -- Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Destroying the Devil's Work
Illustration of 1 John 3:8

Inspirational illustration of 1 John 3:8 -- He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

God Wants Us to Be Compassionate &...
Illustration of 1 John 3:17 AMP

Illustration of 1 John 3:17 AMP -- But whoever has the world’s goods (adequate resources), and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him, how does the love of God live in him?

He who does what is sinful is of the...
Illustration of 1 John 3:8

Illustration of 1 John 3:8 -- He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

How great is the love the Father has...
Illustration of 1 John 3:1

Illustration of 1 John 3:1 -- How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

If anyone has material possessions and...
Illustration of 1 John 3:17

Illustration of 1 John 3:17 -- If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

Love One Another
Illustration of 1 John 3:11

Inspirational illustration of 1 John 3:11 -- This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

Share the love
Illustration of 1 John 3:17

Inspirational illustration of 1 John 3:17 -- If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

The Great Love of Our Father
Illustration of 1 John 3:1a

Illustration of 1 John 3:1a -- See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!

This is the message you heard from the...
Illustration of 1 John 3:11

Illustration of 1 John 3:11 -- This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

This is the message you heard from the...
Illustration of 1 John 3:11

Illustration of 1 John 3:11 -- This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

True Love
Illustration of 1 John 3:18

Inspirational illustration of 1 John 3:18 -- Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

We are His children.
Illustration of 1 John 3:1

Inspirational illustration of 1 John 3:1 -- How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Cross References for 1 John 3

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.