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Ladies Daily Devotional
2-14-08
All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version unless stated.

The Children of God Identified

By Dena Ivie

"In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10)

Is every human being a child of God? The verse just read answers this question. Each individual chooses to become a child of God or a child of the devil, and this choice is made evident. How is the choice made known to others? Again, look to this verse for the answer. The one who does not practice righteousness or the one who does not love his brother is not of God. If one is not of God, then he is of the devil.

How does one practice righteousness? Psalm 119:172 defines righteousness: "My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness." Does that indicate one must keep all God's commandments perfectly to practice righteousness? We understand none of us are perfect, but it is possible to practice righteousness. To practice is to perform or observe repeatedly in order to improve or maintain proficiency. To practice righteousness, one would do the commandments of God. "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous." (1 John 3:7)

What if one is seeking to practice righteousness, but occasionally sins? If one is seeking to practice righteousness, he is also seeking to walk according to God's word, so he has a means of forgiveness. "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7) To "walk in the light" is to walk in a manner pleasing to God; that is, to practice righteousness. However, we must remember that righteousness is not according to our standards, but it is according to God's criteria. 

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." (Romans 10:1-3)

From these verses, we understand that without submitting to the righteousness of God, there is no salvation. Therefore, to be of God, one must be in submission to the righteousness of God and then continue to practice the righteousness of God.

What about the second part that identifies whether one is a child of God or a child of the devil? One who is a child of God will love his brother. "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." (1 John 4:20-21)

When one does not love his brother, it is manifest that he is not of God.

Ask yourself, how are you recognized: as a child of God or as a child of the devil? Being a child of God is very special, but it requires doing (practicing) the righteousness of God, and loving others.

Questions

1. Read 1 John 3:10, "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." God's word explains how to identify the children of God. What is the first requirement listed in this verse that identifies whether one is a child of God?

2. Define the term "righteousness." Then read Psalm 119:172 and write the meaning of "righteousness" given in this verse.

3. What does it mean to "practice righteousness?"  Use scripture to prove your answer.

4. If one is "practicing righteousness," does that mean he / she must become perfect? Explain your answer.

5. Discuss Romans 10:1-3, "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."

6. Thought question: Romans 10:1-3 was written about the Jews who rejected Jesus and the salvation He offers. Do these verses apply today to anyone?  If so, to whom and how would they apply?

7. What is the second requirement (in 1 John 3:10) in order to be identified as a child of God?

8. Discuss 1 John 4:20-21, "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

9. Give another verse in the New Testament commanding Christians to love one another.

10. Read John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." These verses call the devil a murderer and a liar. Must one murder or lie before he / she is considered a child of the devil? Explain you answer, using scripture.

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All Scripture is taken from the NKJ Version.  Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson,Inc.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.

 

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