1 John 3:4-24 The Marks of a Transformed Life

Have you ever watched the show "Pawn Stars"? In every episode, you'll see people bringing in different items they want to sell or pawn for money. Inevitably, there is a story behind the item and a claim of authenticity. Predictably, the guys behind the counter will banter over the value and try and talk the seller down. Eventually, they decide that they'll need to call in an expert to see if the item is authentic. Whether it's a rare coin, an ancient document, movie memorabilia, or a painting, they seem to have an expert for everything, which is pretty cool when you think about it. Often, the experts do authenticate the items, and it helps the seller get far more money for the item than they were about to settle for. Well, this idea of authenticating things to see if they are real or a fake didn't originate in the pawn shop. The apostle John was teaching this principle long ago. And today we're going to dive into 1 John 3:4-24 to get a masterclass in how to know if someone is a real Christian or a fake. Welcome to the Apostle John's two-part authenticity test that every Christian should learn.

Before we dig in, take a few minutes to read 1 John 3:4-24 on your own. Grab your Bible and read it in at least two different translations. We suggest choosing two from this list: NIV, ESV, NLT, NKJV, NASB. This will help you get a better feel for the passage before we break it down together.

Setting the Scene: 1 John 3:4-24

If you've ever wrestled with what it really means to be a follower of Jesus, this passage is like a tough-love coach for your soul. John, who wrote this, was talking to a group of believers who were dealing with some fake teachers and their own internal struggles. He doesn’t pull any punches. John is all about the proof – not just saying you believe, but showing it. Some folks back then might have been getting a little too comfortable with sin, thinking their "spiritual" status somehow made it okay.

Back in the early church, things were pretty clear-cut. You were either in or you were out. And "in" meant totally changing your life. John isn't just making suggestions; he's laying down the law about what it means to be truly born of God.

Think about what John says about sin and breaking the law in verse 4. The Greek word for "lawlessness" here, anomia, literally means "without law." It's not just about breaking a rule; it's about outright rebellion against God’s plan and his way of doing things. As Craig S. Keener often explains, Jewish people understood sin as deliberately going against God’s promises. So for John, sin isn’t some accident; it’s a choice to turn away from God's very nature, which is light and love.

Rabbit Trail 1: "Lawlessness" - More Than Just Breaking Rules

John uses a powerful Greek word for "lawlessness" in verse 4: anomia. This isn't just about jaywalking or taking an extra cookie. In the Jewish way of thinking, which John was deeply rooted in, anomia points to a deep rebellion against God's established order and His covenant with His people. Think of it less like breaking a traffic law and more like declaring yourself above the entire legal system of a country.

For most of you reading this, you might resonate with the idea of a worker who constantly disregards safety protocols, not just by accident, but because they believe the rules don't apply to them, or they have a "better way." It's a fundamental disrespect for authority and established principles. John isn't talking about accidental slips; he's talking about a lifestyle where God's will is actively ignored or dismissed as irrelevant. This helps us see that sin, in John's eyes, is a serious affront to God's character and His loving desire for order in our lives, not just an unfortunate mistake.

Then John throws in the good news about Jesus: "You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin" (v. 5). This is the bedrock of our hope! Jesus didn't just come to be a good example; he came to completely deal with the power and punishment of sin. Understanding how Jewish people thought about sin, forgiveness, and the Messiah helps us really get these New Testament truths. John is making it clear: living "in Christ" means actively joining him in his sin-destroying mission, not just agreeing with it in your head.

The passage keeps going, talking about what it means to be "born of God" (vv. 9-10), saying that those born of God "do not go on sinning." Now, this can be a tough one for many. Does it mean true Christians never mess up? N.T. Wright wisely points out that John isn't saying you'll be perfect and never sin. Instead, he's talking about your overall life direction. Someone truly born of God won't have a lifestyle of just constantly sinning without a care. Their path is moving away from sin, not towards it. There’s a deep change in what they want and where they're headed. This new birth gives them a divine "seed" (the Greek word is sperma), a life principle from God, that makes a life of non-stop sin just not fit with who they are now.

Rabbit Trail 2: The "Seed" of God - What Does "Born of God" Really Mean?

When John talks about those "born of God" not continuing in sin, he uses the phrase that they have God's "seed" (sperma in Greek) in them (verse 9). This isn't just flowery talk; it carries a deep meaning about new life and a new nature.

Think about it like this: if you plant an apple seed, you expect an apple tree to grow, not a weed or a concrete block. The sperma contains the genetic code, the very essence, of what it's meant to become. Similarly, when John says God's "seed" is in us, he's talking about a spiritual DNA, a life principle from God himself, that's planted in us when we're "born again."

This "seed" fundamentally changes our nature and desires. It means that a true Christian, having God's very nature within them, will no longer have a desire for a lifestyle of habitual, unrepentant sin. Their true identity and spiritual trajectory are now away from sin and towards God's holiness and doing what's right. It's not about being perfect, but about a deep, internal shift in our very being that makes a life of constant, deliberate rebellion against God feel completely out of place. It's proof of the new life God has given us.

Finally, John talks about the big command to love each other (vv. 11-18). This isn't an option; it’s a must-have sign of real faith, totally different from the hate shown by Cain. Love, for John, isn't just a warm fuzzy feeling; it’s active, selfless, and practical. "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (v. 18). This is where our faith gets its hands dirty, where it moves from just ideas to actually doing something.

There's more to this STUDY GUIDE

BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FURTHER FOR:

• Questions to chew on and discuss (or for your journal)

• A Journey Group Discussion Starter (use in your small group time)

• Modern Day Application Ideas

Want to watch the video version of the Daily Bible Podcast Episode that corresponds to this study guide? Here you go!

Questions for You to Chew On and Discuss

• How does John’s idea of sin as "lawlessness" change or confirm what you already thought about sin?

  
  

• If being "born of God" means not living in constant sin, what does that practically look like in your daily grind?

  
  

• How can you really show love "with actions and in truth" this week, not just talk about it?

Journey Group Discussion Starter

John seems to be saying that how we get along with God is directly tied to how we get along with other people. Discuss how being holy and showing love go hand-in-hand in the Christian life. Can you have one without the other?

Want to learn more about our Journey Groups (Small Groups online or in person)

Modern-Day Application:

For us today, 1 John 3:4-24 is a serious wake-up call to look at our lives. Do our actions match what we say we believe? Are we really trying to live right and genuinely loving our fellow Christians? This passage pushes us to move beyond just surface-level faith and really live a life changed by God’s Spirit. It’s about turning away from sin for good and pouring out radical love. It’s about actually living out our identity as God’s kids in real, practical ways.

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN

Welcome to YourJesusJourney.com! We're an exciting, out-of-the-box ministry dedicated to helping you understand the Bible, find Christian friends to study God's word with, and grow as a disciple-maker. To kickstart your journey, visit our website and click the "Free Gift" button at the top to grab your free E-Book, "Stop Reading the Bible Wrong: 7 Strategic Shifts that Change Everything." It’s like spiritual glasses for your soul!

So, if you're tired of doing your spiritual journey solo, and you'd like to dive deeper into these truths with some amazing people who won't judge your questionable snack choices during Bible study (we've all been there!), then it's time to join a Journey Group! Head over to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more, get connected in one, or even learn about starting your own. Your future spiritual besties are waiting!

Go to https://www.yourjesusjourney.com/journeygroups to learn more about Journey Groups, get connected in one, or even learn how to start your own. It's like a spiritual potluck, but instead of questionable casseroles, we share insights and grow closer to God. See you there!

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There's lots more to see and learn on our website, from our "what we believe" page to hundreds of blogs. We encourage you to swing on by and take a look around at www.YourJesusJourney.com!

EXCITING DREAMS TAKING SHAPE

From road life to dream home base! 🚚➡️🏡 After years of traveling, God led us to an incredible spot in Arizona to build a ministry hub & bless others. You won't believe how it happened! ✨ Watch our new video to see the first glimpse! 👇

For the past three years, Kaila and I have been living life on the road, exploring and serving wherever God leads us. It's been an incredible journey, but carrying everything we own and constantly navigating started us dreaming of something more: a home base. A place to lighten our load, simplify, and most importantly, create a space where we can truly bless others. This video is the first glimpse of that dream!

As full-time traveling missionaries and founders of YourJesusJourney.com, we live on a modest income, relying on the generosity of others to support our three-fold ministry vision: helping people understand the Bible in context, finding Christian friends, and equipping disciple makers. So, you might be wondering, how are we able to pursue something this ambitious? About a year and a half ago, Kaila’s beloved dad passed away. With his passing, Kaila inherited their expansive family home and horse property on the breathtaking North Shore of Lake Superior, in beautiful Ontario—the place she grew up, where she rode her first bike and horse, and learned to drive. After much prayer and seeking God’s guidance, we decided to sell the property. What you see here came as a result of that incredible blessing, and all the work unfolding in the next year or two will also be funded by it.

Ultimately, it’s all God’s money, God’s land, and God’s resources—we simply want to be faithful stewards, investing what He’s entrusted us with to serve our family, friends, and help countless others experience God and the lessons of the Bible in a whole new way. We prayed and searched high and low, from Texas to Idaho, and God consistently drew us back to this breathtaking location in Northwest Arizona. Imagine: a spot overlooking the world's densest Joshua Tree forest, just minutes from the Grand Canyon, with epic mountains in our backyard! Our deepest desire for this place is to be a haven for renewal. A spot where our kids can visit, Kaila's mom can stay, and friends can gather. But even bigger than that, it's a launchpad for new ministry—a place to invite people to rest, recharge, share meals, grow friendships, and truly be renewed in the desert sun. We're already dreaming of leading hikes, teaching Bible lessons, and hosting retreats.

There’s a lot of exciting work ahead, but we're stepping out in faith, trusting God every step of the way. We’re so excited to share this new chapter with our family, friends, and all of you! If you want to learn more about our ministry, please visit YourJesusJourney.com. And if you have any questions, or just want to send your prayers or encouragement, please fill up that comment section or reach out directly at YourJesusJourney@gmail.com.

We've journeyed through the Bible, verse by verse, for over 15 books now! We take each passage and break it down into easy-to-understand chunks of plain English. Along the way, we uncover fascinating historical details and explore the cultural context, truly bringing the scriptures to life in a way that resonates. Forget dusty footnotes and words that send you reaching for a thesaurus – we make God's Word approachable and meaningful for everyone. And because we know you're eager to dig even deeper, make sure to subscribe to the Daily Bible Podcast and catch the video podcast each day that complements these blogs!