Monday, 19th October 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文
「你看父賜給我們是何等的慈愛，使我們得稱為神的兒女；我們也真是他的兒女。世人所以不認識我們，是因未曾認識他。」
——約翰一書3:1，和合本
引言
弟兄姊妹，當我們說「天父愛我們」的時候，我們想到的是甚麼？
我們可能想到祂供應生活的需要、垂聽禱告、在困難中幫助我們。這些都是祂慈愛的表達。但約翰一書第三章一開始，就邀請我們看見一份更深的恩典：
「你看父賜給我們是何等的慈愛，使我們得稱為神的兒女；我們也真是他的兒女。」
我們原是神所創造的人，卻因犯罪遠離祂。如今，天父竟然藉着耶穌基督，使我們成為祂的兒女。這份愛把我們帶進與祂的關係中，讓我們真正屬於祂。
很多時候，我們用自己與父母相處的經驗，理解天父的慈愛。我們渴望被接納、被照顧、被肯定；若曾經受傷，也可能覺得天父同樣難以親近。然而，天父的愛超越我們在人間所經歷的愛。我們需要藉着祂的話，認識這份慈愛，也認識祂所賜的新身分。
約翰寫信的時候，教會經歷分裂，也受到錯誤教導影響。有些人聲稱認識神，卻沒有遵守祂的命令，也沒有愛弟兄。因此，約翰提醒信徒：神兒女的身分，應當在生活中顯明出來。
今天，我們一起從這一章，思想怎樣活出神兒女的生命。
一、領受天父的慈愛，認定兒女的身分（3:1–3）
「親愛的弟兄啊，我們現在是神的兒女，將來如何，還未顯明；但我們知道，主若顯現，我們必要像他、因為必得見他的真體。凡向他有這指望的，就潔淨自己，像他潔淨一樣。」
——約翰一書3:2–3
約翰說：「我們現在是神的兒女。」
這份身分是天父賜下的恩典。我們藉着信靠耶穌基督，被祂接納，得着從祂而來的新生命。
約翰特別說：「我們也真是他的兒女。」這是一份真實的關係。天父使我們屬於祂，讓我們可以親近祂，也在祂的愛和管教中成長。
第一節接着說：「世人所以不認識我們，是因未曾認識他。」
世界不認識天父，因此也不能真正明白屬祂之人的身分和盼望。當我們按照主的話生活，選擇誠實、饒恕、持守聖潔，甚至為了順服祂而放下利益，別人未必能夠理解。
我們需要省察：我們是否為了得到人的認同，漸漸放下神的話？當人的期待與主的心意不同時，我們願意跟隨誰？
神兒女的生活，需要以天父的心意為方向。
約翰也讓我們看見將來的盼望：「主若顯現，我們必要像他。」
我們現在仍有軟弱，生命還未完全，但主正在更新我們。將來見祂的時候，我們必要像祂。這個盼望，也推動我們今天認真跟隨主。
所以，第三節說：「凡向他有這指望的，就潔淨自己，像他潔淨一樣。」
潔淨自己，包含從罪污中分別出來，讓思想、動機、言語和行為接受主的光照。
我們可能在外表上很敬虔，心裏卻仍容讓嫉妒、苦毒、不潔和驕傲。因此，潔淨也需要進入內心：當主指出我們裏面的問題時，我們是否願意承認，讓祂改變？
因為知道自己是蒙愛的兒女，我們就可以坦誠面對天父；因為盼望將來像主，我們就願意今天接受祂的更新。
領受天父的慈愛，會使我們珍惜兒女的身分，也願意活出與這身分相稱的生活。
二、住在基督裏面，活出離罪行義的生活（3:4–10）
「凡犯罪的，就是違背律法；違背律法就是罪。你們知道主曾顯現，是要除掉人的罪；在他並沒有罪。」
——約翰一書3:4–5
約翰接着指出，神兒女的生命與罪有根本的衝突。
罪是違背神的律法，拒絕祂對我們生命的掌權。我們不能只按照自己的喜好，決定甚麼可以做；也不能因為大家都這樣做，就認為沒有問題。
有時候，我們知道某件事不合神的心意，卻仍然為自己辯護：「我的情況比較特別。」「我已經很辛苦了。」「神知道我的軟弱。」
天父確實知道我們的軟弱，也憐憫我們。祂的慈愛會帶領我們悔改，幫助我們離開罪的轄制。
第五節說，主顯現是要除掉人的罪；第八節也說，神的兒子顯現，是要除滅魔鬼的作為。
既然基督來是要除掉罪，我們就不能一方面說自己住在祂裏面，另一方面卻安心容讓罪支配生活。
第九節說：
「凡從神生的，就不犯罪，因神的道存在他心裏；他也不能犯罪，因為他是由神生的。」
我們需要連同整封書信理解這句話。第一章已經說，若說自己無罪，就是自欺；第二章也說，若有人犯罪，在父那裏有耶穌基督作中保。
約翰知道信徒仍可能跌倒，但他強調：從神而生的人，不能把罪當作正常、可以安心停留的生活。
我們若跌倒，就應當認罪回轉，靠主對付罪。認罪也包含願意離開罪，不能成為繼續犯罪的藉口。
第九節指出原因：「因神的道存在他心裏……因為他是由神生的。」
從神而來的新生命，使我們對罪有新的態度。從前不在意的，今天受到提醒；從前不肯承認的，今天願意認罪；從前一直容讓的，今天願意靠主改變。
第七節說：
「小子們哪，不要被人誘惑。行義的才是義人，正如主是義的一樣。」
行義，就是在實際生活中遵行神的心意。在金錢上誠實，在承諾上守信，做錯了願意承認，傷害了人願意道歉，面對試探願意停止。
這些行動不能替我們換取神兒女的資格，卻顯明神的生命正在我們裏面工作。
第十節說，從行義和愛弟兄，可以看出人生命的歸屬。這提醒我們，信仰不能只停留在口裏的宣稱。
今天，我們可以問自己：有沒有一件主已經提醒我的事，我仍然不願意順服？有沒有一個行為，我一直替自己找理由，卻不肯面對？
讓我們帶着信心回到主面前，接受祂的赦免，也接受祂的引導，踏出順服的一步。
三、效法基督的捨己，以行動彼此相愛（3:11–24）
「我們應當彼此相愛。這就是你們從起初所聽見的命令。」
——約翰一書3:11
神所賜的新生命，也要在弟兄姊妹的關係中顯明。
約翰先提到該隱。該隱因自己的行為是惡的，兄弟的行為是善的，就殺了兄弟。
當人不願意面對自己的惡，就可能把別人的善看成威脅。看見別人受到肯定、蒙神使用，心裏生出比較和嫉妒；若一直容讓這些心思，就可能發展成仇恨。
因此，第十三節說：
「弟兄們，世人若恨你們，不要以為希奇。」
行義、屬神，不保證得到世界的接納。我們不能以是否受歡迎，衡量自己是否忠於主。但即使面對敵意，我們仍要持守主所賜的愛。
第十四節說：
「我們因為愛弟兄，就曉得是已經出死入生了。沒有愛心的，仍住在死中。」
愛弟兄，是已經出死入生的證據。神把新生命賜給我們，這生命就會在愛中顯明。
所以，第十五節嚴肅地說：「凡恨他弟兄的，就是殺人的。」
主看見我們內心的仇恨。我們需要省察：我是否一直拒絕某一位弟兄姊妹？我是否因為受過傷，就盼望對方也不好過？我是否口裏說愛主，卻一直不願意讓主處理自己的苦毒？
主知道我們的傷痛，也願意帶領我們走向醫治，學習饒恕，以合乎真理的方式對待人。
那麼，我們從哪裏認識愛？
「主為我們捨命，我們從此就知道何為愛；我們也當為弟兄捨命。」
——約翰一書3:16
耶穌基督為我們捨命，顯明愛願意為別人的益處付代價。
約翰隨即把這份愛帶進日常生活：當我們看見弟兄缺乏生活所需，自己有能力幫助，卻把憐憫的心關起來，神的愛怎能住在我們裏面呢？
第十八節說：
「小子們哪，我們相愛，不要只在言語和舌頭上，總要在行為和誠實上。」
愛需要成為具體的行動。在家庭中，願意花時間聆聽；在教會中，主動關心被忽略的人；看見實際的缺乏，按能力伸出援手；在衝突中，願意承認自己的責任，尋求和好。
當我們這樣回應主，第十九節說：
「從此就知道我們是屬真理的，並且我們的心在神面前可以安穩。」
真實的愛，使我們看見神的生命正在自己裏面工作，也幫助我們在祂面前得着確據。
然而，有時候我們仍因自己的不足而受到內心責備。第二十節說：
「我們的心若責備我們，神比我們的心大，一切事沒有不知道的。」
神知道我們的一切，包括我們的罪、動機、掙扎和真實的悔改。我們需要誠實來到祂面前：有罪就承認，需要改變就順服；也不要單憑自己的感受，就斷定神已經棄絕我們。
第二十一至二十二節接着談到在神面前坦然無懼，以及禱告蒙應允。當我們遵守祂的命令、行祂所喜悅的事，我們的生活和祈求就越來越與祂的心意一致。
我們親近天父的根基是基督的救恩，而順服和相愛，使我們在與祂相交的生活中得着確據。
第二十三節把神的命令歸結為：
「信他兒子耶穌基督的名，且照他所賜給我們的命令彼此相愛。」
信靠基督與彼此相愛，緊緊相連。第二十四節再指出，遵守神命令的人住在神裏面，神也住在他裏面；我們藉着祂所賜的聖靈，知道祂住在我們裏面。
我們每天都需要住在主裏，領受祂的供應，順服聖靈的提醒，讓祂的愛藉着我們流向身邊的人。
總結
弟兄姊妹，天父賜給我們何等的慈愛，使我們得稱為神的兒女；我們也真是祂的兒女。
這份恩典成為我們生活的起點。
因為我們是蒙愛的兒女，就認定自己的身分，存着見主的盼望潔淨自己。
因為我們從神而生，就住在基督裏面，認真離開罪，實行公義。
因為我們領受了基督捨命的愛，就願意付代價，以行動和誠實彼此相愛。
今天，讓我們把所領受的恩典，帶進一個具體的回應：有需要承認的罪，就向主承認；有需要改變的行為，就靠主改變；有需要關心的人，就踏出一步去關心。
願我們在每天的選擇、言語和關係中，活出神兒女的生命。
Key Scripture
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”
—1 John 3:1, NKJV
Introduction
Brothers and sisters, when we say, “Our heavenly Father loves us,” what comes to mind?
We may think of His provision, His answers to prayer, or His help during difficult times. These are all expressions of His love. But at the beginning of 1 John 3, John invites us to see an even deeper grace:
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”
We were created by God, yet through sin we became separated from Him. Now, through Jesus Christ, the Father has brought us into His family. His love brings us into a relationship with Him. We belong to Him.
Often, we understand our heavenly Father’s love through our experiences with our earthly parents. We long to be accepted, cared for, and affirmed. If we have experienced hurt, we may also find it difficult to draw near to God. Yet the Father’s love goes beyond the love we have experienced on earth. Through His Word, we learn to understand His love and the new identity He has given us.
When John wrote this letter, the church was experiencing division and the influence of false teaching. Some people claimed to know God, yet did not obey His commandments or love their fellow believers. John therefore reminded the church that their identity as God’s children should be evident in their lives.
Today, let us consider how we can live as children of God.
- Receive the Father’s Love and Embrace Our Identity as His Children (3:1–3)
In verses 2–3, John tells us that we are already God’s children. Although the fullness of what we will become has not yet been revealed, we know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him. Everyone who has this hope in Christ purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
Our identity as God’s children is a gift of grace. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are welcomed by the Father and receive new life from Him.
This is a real relationship. The Father makes us His own. We can draw near to Him and grow through His love and discipline.
Verse 1 also explains that the world does not know us because it did not know Him.
The world does not know the Father, so it cannot fully understand the identity and hope of those who belong to Him. When we follow His Word—choosing honesty, forgiveness, and holiness, or giving up an advantage in order to obey Him—others may not understand.
We need to examine ourselves: Are we gradually setting aside God’s Word to gain people’s approval? When people’s expectations conflict with the Lord’s will, whom will we follow?
As God’s children, our lives must be directed by our Father’s will.
John also points us towards our future hope: when Christ appears, we will be like Him.
We still experience weakness, and our lives are not yet perfect. But the Lord is renewing us. When we see Him, we will be like Him. This hope moves us to follow Him faithfully today.
That is why verse 3 connects our future hope with our present purity.
To purify ourselves means turning away from sin and bringing our thoughts, motives, words, and actions into the light of Christ.
We may appear devoted on the outside while allowing jealousy, bitterness, impurity, or pride to remain within. Purification must therefore reach our hearts. When the Lord reveals something within us, are we willing to acknowledge it and allow Him to change us?
Because we know we are His beloved children, we can be honest before our Father. Because we hope to be like Christ, we willingly receive His transforming work today.
Receiving the Father’s love helps us treasure our identity and live in a way that reflects who we are.
- Abide in Christ and Live a Life of Righteousness, Turning Away from Sin (3:4–10)
In verses 4–5, John explains that sin is lawlessness and that Jesus appeared to take away our sins. There is no sin in Him.
John shows us that the life of God’s children is fundamentally opposed to sin.
Sin involves rejecting God’s will and His authority over our lives. We cannot decide what is right simply according to our preferences. Neither can we justify something because everyone else is doing it.
Sometimes we know that something is against God’s will, yet we continue defending ourselves: “My situation is different.” “I have already been through so much.” “God understands my weakness.”
Our Father does understand our weakness, and He is merciful. His love leads us to repentance and helps us escape the power of sin.
Verse 5 tells us that Christ appeared to take away sins. Verse 8 tells us that the Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
Since Christ came to take away sin, we cannot claim to abide in Him while comfortably allowing sin to govern our lives.
Verse 9 speaks strongly about those who have been born of God: God’s seed remains in them, and sin is incompatible with the life they have received from Him.
We must understand this alongside the rest of the letter. In chapter 1, John says that we deceive ourselves if we claim to have no sin. In chapter 2, he tells us that if anyone sins, Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father.
John knows that believers can still stumble. His emphasis here is that those who are born of God cannot treat sin as a normal way of life in which they can comfortably remain.
When we fall, we must confess our sin, turn back to God, and rely on Him to deal with it. Confession includes a willingness to turn away from sin. It must never become an excuse to continue sinning.
God’s life within us changes our response to sin. Things we once ignored now trouble our conscience. Things we once refused to admit, we now confess. Things we once tolerated, we now seek God’s help to change.
In verse 7, John warns us against deception and explains that practising righteousness reflects the righteousness of Christ.
Practising righteousness means doing God’s will in everyday life: being honest with money, keeping our promises, admitting our mistakes, apologising when we hurt someone, and turning away from temptation.
These actions do not earn us a place in God’s family. They show that His life is at work within us.
Verse 10 connects righteousness with loving our fellow believers. Our spiritual identity becomes evident through the way we live and love. Faith cannot remain merely a verbal claim.
Today, we can ask ourselves: Is there something the Lord has already shown me that I am still unwilling to obey? Is there a behaviour I keep defending instead of facing honestly?
Let us return to the Lord in faith, receive His forgiveness and guidance, and take a practical step of obedience.
- Follow Christ’s Sacrificial Love and Love One Another Through Action (3:11–24)
In verse 11, John reminds us that loving one another is the message we have heard from the beginning.
The new life God gives us must also become visible in our relationships with other believers.
John first mentions Cain. Cain murdered his brother because his own works were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
When people refuse to face their own wrongdoing, they may see another person’s goodness as a threat. When someone else receives recognition or is used by God, comparison and jealousy may arise. If these attitudes are allowed to grow, they can develop into hatred.
In verse 13, John tells believers not to be surprised when the world hates them.
Living righteously and belonging to God do not guarantee the world’s acceptance. Popularity cannot be our measure of faithfulness to Christ. Even when we face hostility, we must continue walking in His love.
Verse 14 explains that our love for fellow believers gives us evidence that we have passed from death to life. A life without love remains in death.
Love is evidence of the new life we have received. God gives us life, and that life becomes visible through love.
That is why verse 15 speaks so seriously about hatred, describing the person who hates a fellow believer as a murderer.
The Lord sees the hatred within our hearts. We need to ask: Am I continuing to reject a brother or sister? Because I have been hurt, do I secretly want that person to suffer? Do I say that I love the Lord while refusing to let Him address my bitterness?
The Lord knows our pain. He is willing to lead us towards healing, teach us forgiveness, and help us treat others according to His truth.
Where, then, do we learn what love is?
Verse 16 points us to Jesus Christ laying down His life for us. His sacrifice teaches us to give ourselves for our fellow believers.
Christ shows us that love willingly bears a cost for another person’s good.
John immediately brings this into everyday life. When we see a fellow believer lacking basic necessities, and we have the means to help, will we open our hearts and respond?
In verse 18, John calls us to express love through sincere action.
Love needs to become practical. At home, we can make time to listen. In church, we can reach out to someone who has been overlooked. When we see a material need, we can help according to our ability. In conflict, we can acknowledge our responsibility and seek reconciliation.
Verses 19–20 then connect this sincere love with assurance before God.
When we see His love producing fruit in our lives, we gain evidence that we belong to the truth. Our hearts can find reassurance in His presence.
Yet sometimes our hearts still condemn us because of our failures. John reminds us that God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
God knows our sins, motives, struggles, and genuine repentance. We must come honestly before Him: confessing sin, obeying where change is needed, and refusing to conclude from our feelings alone that He has rejected us.
Verses 21–22 speak of confidence before God and answered prayer. As we obey His commandments and do what pleases Him, our lives and requests increasingly align with His will.
Our access to the Father rests on Christ’s saving work. Obedience and love give us assurance as we walk in fellowship with Him.
Verse 23 brings God’s commandment into focus: we are to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another.
Faith in Christ and love for one another belong together.
Finally, verse 24 explains that those who keep His commandments abide in God, and God abides in them. We know that He abides in us through the Spirit He has given us.
Each day, we need to abide in the Lord, receive His strength, and respond to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, allowing His love to reach others through us.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, consider the wonderful love the Father has given us: through Jesus Christ, we belong to His family.
This grace is the starting point of our daily lives.
Because we are His beloved children, we embrace our identity and purify ourselves in the hope of seeing Christ.
Because we have been born of God, we abide in Christ, turn away from sin, and practise righteousness.
Because we have received Christ’s sacrificial love, we willingly give of ourselves and love one another through sincere action.
Today, let us respond to this grace in one practical way. If there is sin to confess, let us confess it. If there is behaviour to change, let us rely on the Lord and change it. If there is someone who needs our care, let us take a step towards that person.
May our choices, words, and relationships reveal the life of our heavenly Father, as we live as His children.
Leave a Reply