Readings:
2 Chronicles 4-5
Sirach 13
1 John 3

1 John 3

John continues his theme of being children of God that closed out chapter 2. He goes on to say that if we are God’s children we cannot sin. But previously he said that anyone who says they’re free of sin is a liar. So how can both these statements be true? John isn’t saying that we won’t sin at all once we become believers, but that as believers we will not continue in sin.

There’s a big difference between committing a sin, and then being contrite and remorseful over it, and living in a sinful situation. This is why people who are living in a situation that is objectively wrong are told to remove themselves from that situation and be reconciled to the church, not to go to confessing and continue doing the same sin everyday without attempting to amend your life.

Even now we are the children of God because we possess the firstfruits of the Spirit. However, since we are not yet fully saved or renewed, we are also children of the world. This explains why we are still able to sin. Insofar as we are sons of God by the regenerating Spirit, we cannot commit sin; and yet, if we say that we have no sin, we are only deceiving ourselves.

Saint Augustine, On the Merits and Remission of Sins 2, 10

A true child of God seeks to break these sinful habits and these cycles that we can find ourselves in. We don’t just say “this is who I am” we ask God to make us more like who he is, we turn and seek a different path. That’s what John is saying here.

John transitioned back into love, both for God and neighbors. This is the highest commandment and everything flows from that. If we believe in Jesus, with the kind of allegiance swearing faith that Paul talked about, then we will follow the orders of our messiah and king, and the first order is to love one another. That’s how we “abide in him”

Tomorrow’s Readings:
2 Chronicles 6-7
Sirach 14
1 John 4