Begotten by God

Read: 1 John 3:7-10

What is the implication of being built on the Rock that is Christ? It is this: since Christ is holy, then we too must be holy. In fact, as Jesus himself says, we must be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect. Such is God’s will for those who are His children. “Children, let no one deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.” (v.7).

Further, there are only two camps one can belong to in this world and in the next, that of God or that of Satan. What distinguishes the two? It is sin. “Whoever sins belongs to the devil” (v.8a). But all of us sin. Yes, but that is not the natural disposition of one who belongs to God. “No one who is begotten by God commits sin” (v.9a). Indeed, how can one in whom Jesus dwells and is a temple of the Holy Spirit be with sin? “He cannot sin because he is begotten by God.” (v.9c).

So when we continue to sin, we are not fully and firmly founded on the Rock that is Christ. We still have the world in us. We still succumb to the influence and works of the evil one. We still live by the flesh rather than the Spirit. How can we transition to one who fully belongs to God?

First, we must be holy. We must always act in righteousness. “No one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God” (v.10b). We must always be conscious of who we are and what we have become, children of God renewed in His Spirit. We must know that we are called to be another Christ. We must be 24/7 for Jesus.

Second, we must love those whom God has given us as our brethren in Him. Belonging to God excludes “anyone who does not love his brother.” (v.10c). It is easy enough to love God because He is lovable, but to love one’s brother is a challenge. But our brothers are also other Christs. We all belong to the one body of Christ on earth. We would never think of maligning or fighting with or insulting Jesus, but we do so with our brethren. We must see Christ in them and act accordingly.

“In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain” (v.10a). Who do you belong to? On what is your house built? Whose child are you?