In 1 John 3:4-10, the apostle John presents a dichotomy of sorts—a dichotomy, not between deep faith versus shallow faith, or a strong Christian versus a weaker one. Rather presents a dichotomy between saving faith and non-saving faith, between a true Christian and a fraudulent one. And his takeaway is straightforward. Those saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ—who trust in what Christ accomplished on the cross rather that what they must accomplish for him under the Law—live like it. That is, they practice righteousness, not sinfulness. They love one another rather than lust after each other. A true Christian, John says, does not and will not use their freedom from the Law as an excuse to practice lawlessness.
10 - Walking In Righteousness
1 John 3:4-10
August 21, 2022 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 John 3:4–10
More from
1-3 John
01 - Introduction: Walking In Truth & Love
May 29, 2022 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann
The three small letters written by the apostle John—1-3 JOHN—were written to the third-generation church in around Asia minor who had lost the conviction of the first-generation church (and even struggled to maintain the beliefs of the second-generation church). John saw flagrant deceptions accepted as gospel truth and a lazy church that was slow to correct and quick to capitulate. Out of his remarkably retentive memory—no doubt quickened, inspired, and energized by the Holy Spirit—John wrote 1-3 JOHN to remind his readers about what it means to walk worthily in the manner of Christ.
02 - The Word Of Life
June 5, 2022 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 John 1:1–4
In the person of Jesus Christ there appears to be a living dichotomy, where two contrasting things exist in one man at the same time. That is, Jesus has both a divine nature and human nature. As such, he is the God-man who, as the 'word of life', brings life everlasting to those who believe in him as the Word of God made flesh. But how, exactly, does this wonderful truth affect and effect believers? In 1 John 1:1-4, the apostle John reminds us that the 'word of life' allows us to be in fellowship and communion with God whereby the life and likeness of Christ in us becomes more evident to those around us.
03 - Walking In The Light
June 19, 2022 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 John 1:5–10
To have genuine fellowship with a holy God, we must walk in the light, as God Himself is in the light. It’s easy to claim to have fellowship with God—as so many self-deceived people do—but it’s another thing altogether for it to be true. And so, in 1 John 1:5-10, the apostle John provides a litmus test that, to his inspired way of thinking, was sure to separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares, the straw from the chaff, and the authentic from the inauthentic. Let he who has ear to hear, let him hear!