Daily Bible Plan - 1 John 3

09. April 2026

Devotion by Reverend Joseph Antwi

Theme: Sharing the Love of Christ to the Undying World — Church Without Walls

Devotion: 1 John 3:1–21 ⸻

Introduction

Hello, dear church family,

Grace and peace be unto you. Today we are looking at 1 John 3:1–21, and I want you to pay very close attention because John begins to deal directly with something very important — our identity as children of God.

⸻

1. Our Identity as Children of God (1 John 3:1)

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.”

Church, this is deep. We are not just Christians by name, we are not just people who attend church, we are children of God, and this identity must shape how we live and how we see ourselves.

⸻

2. The Expectation of Christ Produces Purity (1 John 3:2–3)

John continues by saying that we do not yet know what we shall become, but when Christ appears, we shall be like Him. And then he makes a powerful statement in verse 3:

“Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

So this means if you truly expect Christ, if you truly believe in His return, purity becomes your lifestyle. Church, purity is not optional; it is the evidence of expectation.

⸻

3. Sin Reveals Where We Are Abiding (1 John 3:4–6)

Verse 4 says in the NLT that everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, and we know that sin breaks the law of God. But then John says something very strong in verse 6:

“Anyone who lives in Him does not sin.”

Wow. That means sin is not just an action; it is a sign that we are not abiding in Him. Because if you are truly in Christ, you think like Him, you live like Him, you carry His nature, and since Christ did not sin, it means sin should not be your lifestyle.

⸻

4. Righteousness vs Sin — No Middle Ground (1 John 3:7–10)

John warns in verse 7 that we should not be deceived. He says those who do what is right are righteous, just as Christ is righteous, but those who keep on sinning belong to the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. And then he gives us hope:

“The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.”

So if Christ came to destroy sin, then sin should not be something we tolerate in our lives. And sometimes, church, not every challenge is just life or timing; some struggles can be connected to sin that has not been dealt with.

⸻

5. Abiding in Christ Produces a Pure Life

If you are truly dwelling in Christ, if you are living in the secret place, it becomes difficult to sin because you are in His environment, you carry His mind, and you reflect His nature. Once Christ did not sin, it means that as we abide in Him, we will not live in sin. And I pray for us that before Pentecost, we will walk in total purity in Jesus’ name.

⸻

6. Love One Another — The Core Message (1 John 3:11)

John then shifts to love and says in verse 11 that this is the message we have heard from the beginning: we should love one another. Church without walls is built on love, not just preaching, but living it.

⸻

7. Hatred Is Darkness (1 John 3:12–15)

He goes further to say in verse 15 that anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer at heart, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life in them. So hatred, jealousy, bitterness, and unforgiveness are not small things; they are signs of darkness.

⸻

8. The Standard of Love Is Sacrifice (1 John 3:16)

“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.”

Love is not just words; love is sacrifice. It is giving your time, your attention, your care, and sometimes just being there for someone, listening, counseling, and supporting them.

⸻

9. Love Must Be Practical (1 John 3:17–18)

John makes it very practical in verse 17: if you have enough to live well and you see a brother or sister in need but show no compassion, how can God’s love be in you? And verse 18 says:

“Let us not love in word or in speech, but in action and in truth.”

So it is not just saying “I love you,” our actions must prove it.

⸻

10. Confidence Before God Through Obedience (1 John 3:19–22)

John then tells us that even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and when we walk in obedience, verse 22 says that whatever we ask, we receive from Him because we obey Him and do the things that please Him.

⸻

11. A Father’s Reflection — Understanding God’s Heart

Let me bring it home. As a father, when my children — Liliana, Lisa, and Jason — do the right things, when they obey, when they speak well, when they respect each other, I feel joy and I feel like blessing them, I feel like giving to them and rewarding them. How much more our Heavenly Father, when we obey Him, when we walk in righteousness, when we love others, He delights in blessing us.

⸻

12. The Command — Believe and Love (1 John 3:23–24)

John concludes by saying this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another. And when we do this, we remain in Him and His Spirit lives in us.

⸻

Final Charge

Church family, if we are going to share the love of Christ to the world, then we must live in purity, walk in obedience, love in action, and reflect Christ, because we cannot give what we do not have.

⸻

Chair Time

Take time today to read 1 John 3:1–21 (preferably NLT), reflect deeply, pray for purity, and ask God to help you walk in love and obedience.

⸻

Closing

I hope this has spoken to you. Please scroll down and leave a comment and share what the Lord revealed to you, and take time to pray and let this word transform your life.

Say a prayer for us!!

Shalom

Rev Joseph Antwi