Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:7-10
Before we begin examining this fantastic passage, let’s make sure we understand the context and the overall message John is conveying. For starters, the entire second half of chapter two (v. 18-27) warns the reader against the antichrists who have come into the world. John makes it clear how the antichrists think, talk, and live. In verse 28, John transitions back to addressing his flock about their responsibility as children of God, which he names them in chapter 3:1. From chapter 2:28 through chapter 3:10, John is speaking to Christians about their responsibilities to God, themselves, and to others. Now, let’s go to the above passage.
Fresh on the reader’s mind is the antichrist, and John again reminds his reader to not be deceived by anyone. His next statement hold so much truth! “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.” How can this be? There is most certainly a difference between practicing something and being something, isn’t there?
2 Corinthians 5:21 is the best place to look in order to understand this idea. Paul summarizes it concisely by saying:
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
I am blown away by the reality of this verse. Join it with the understanding that God did this while we were sinners who deserved His wrath, and it becomes unimaginable and nearly unbelievable if it weren’t for the fruitful evidence of its truth in and through the lives of Spirit-filled Christians. This explains how John can say that whoever practices righteousness is righteous as Jesus is righteous.
There is a responsibility, however, on our part that must not be overlooked. Practice. What is the one thing that anyone will tell you when you ask how they got so good at basketball or reading or getting fat? Whether you are Lebron James or a coach potato, you get good at things by practicing them! Sure, people can have great aptitudes for certain things, but that doesn’t replace dedication and practice.
Something has become clear to me as I have meditated on this passage. If you are like me, you probably don’t like practicing things that you are bad at or can’t possibly see how improvement could take place by practicing. Practicing anything is time consuming. It requires patience and persistence in spite of not always seeing the results we want. It requires faith that the practice will eventually yield the results that we desire. Sometimes it requires blindness, doesn’t it? Is it faith that drives a 5 foot tall 30 year old to practice to get into the NBA? Or is it blindness or lunacy?
As I think about practicing righteousness, I’m surprised that I ever began the journey when I think of how completely awful all of us humans are at it! Righteousness goes against our very nature (Ephesians 2:1-3). We aren’t born with the ability to practice righteousness. We can do things that appear righteous, but they are not guided by pure righteousness apart from Christ. They only resemble righteousness.
The only way to truly practice righteousness is to be born of God through Jesus Christ. This is why it is so easy for John to make such a bold claim here. He understands this idea so well! He knows that the true believers have been given the desire to practice righteousness, and he knows that that desire will never depart from their hearts, because it was God who put it there, and God remains faithful. He knows that it is not dependent on human will or exertion, but on God.
And so we return to the word that I pray rings more clear to you now than it did when you began reading this: Practice.
Is it worth the effort to keep practicing righteousness even though it is challenging and humbling most all the time? Is it worth the frustration and sorrow that result from failure? Is it worth denying our human nature and sowing to our new nature in Christ even though our flesh, the world, and the devil unite to mock us and destroy us?
When we count the cost, is it worth it to practice righteousness?
There has never been nor will there ever be anything more worth our time.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:3, 4
Saints! Practice righteousness. Do good. Await your Savior. Join Him in glory.
1 John 3:7-10
Before we begin examining this fantastic passage, let’s make sure we understand the context and the overall message John is conveying. For starters, the entire second half of chapter two (v. 18-27) warns the reader against the antichrists who have come into the world. John makes it clear how the antichrists think, talk, and live. In verse 28, John transitions back to addressing his flock about their responsibility as children of God, which he names them in chapter 3:1. From chapter 2:28 through chapter 3:10, John is speaking to Christians about their responsibilities to God, themselves, and to others. Now, let’s go to the above passage.
Fresh on the reader’s mind is the antichrist, and John again reminds his reader to not be deceived by anyone. His next statement hold so much truth! “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.” How can this be? There is most certainly a difference between practicing something and being something, isn’t there?
2 Corinthians 5:21 is the best place to look in order to understand this idea. Paul summarizes it concisely by saying:
For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
I am blown away by the reality of this verse. Join it with the understanding that God did this while we were sinners who deserved His wrath, and it becomes unimaginable and nearly unbelievable if it weren’t for the fruitful evidence of its truth in and through the lives of Spirit-filled Christians. This explains how John can say that whoever practices righteousness is righteous as Jesus is righteous.
There is a responsibility, however, on our part that must not be overlooked. Practice. What is the one thing that anyone will tell you when you ask how they got so good at basketball or reading or getting fat? Whether you are Lebron James or a coach potato, you get good at things by practicing them! Sure, people can have great aptitudes for certain things, but that doesn’t replace dedication and practice.
Something has become clear to me as I have meditated on this passage. If you are like me, you probably don’t like practicing things that you are bad at or can’t possibly see how improvement could take place by practicing. Practicing anything is time consuming. It requires patience and persistence in spite of not always seeing the results we want. It requires faith that the practice will eventually yield the results that we desire. Sometimes it requires blindness, doesn’t it? Is it faith that drives a 5 foot tall 30 year old to practice to get into the NBA? Or is it blindness or lunacy?
As I think about practicing righteousness, I’m surprised that I ever began the journey when I think of how completely awful all of us humans are at it! Righteousness goes against our very nature (Ephesians 2:1-3). We aren’t born with the ability to practice righteousness. We can do things that appear righteous, but they are not guided by pure righteousness apart from Christ. They only resemble righteousness.
The only way to truly practice righteousness is to be born of God through Jesus Christ. This is why it is so easy for John to make such a bold claim here. He understands this idea so well! He knows that the true believers have been given the desire to practice righteousness, and he knows that that desire will never depart from their hearts, because it was God who put it there, and God remains faithful. He knows that it is not dependent on human will or exertion, but on God.
And so we return to the word that I pray rings more clear to you now than it did when you began reading this: Practice.
Is it worth the effort to keep practicing righteousness even though it is challenging and humbling most all the time? Is it worth the frustration and sorrow that result from failure? Is it worth denying our human nature and sowing to our new nature in Christ even though our flesh, the world, and the devil unite to mock us and destroy us?
When we count the cost, is it worth it to practice righteousness?
There has never been nor will there ever be anything more worth our time.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:3, 4
Saints! Practice righteousness. Do good. Await your Savior. Join Him in glory.
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