One day I came home to discover my wife Sofia sorting pinto beans. She had made a bulk purchase at a Brazilian market. Now she was sorting her purchase into two piles. On her left was a small group of pebbles that had been removed from the beans. On her right was a much larger grouping of pinto beans.
When she had started, although her purchase appeared to only contain beans, she needed to sort through it to distinguish between genuine beans and rock hard impostors. We did not want to chip a tooth!
Similarly, nearing the end of the ďŹrst century after new religious teachings had sprung up, the aged John realized his fellow Christians needed a handbook. They needed confidence that they were on the right path plus they also needed the ability to distinguish between those born of God and those merely claiming to know God.
John knew that some of those who were claiming to âhave fellowship with Godâ (1 John 1:6), âto know Godâ (1 John 2:4) and who were asserting âI love Godâ (1 John 4:20) were not only deceived, but their teachings and convictions were confusing the faithful (1 John 2:26). Those early Christians needed to examine what was being proclaimed in the name of God, because some of it was false (1 John 4:1-3).
SigniďŹcantly, John neither informed his readers how to become Christians, nor did he distinguish between Godâs people and the world at large. Rather, his focus was upon equipping early Christians to handle their religious context â two incompatible groups both claiming to belong to God.
Given the nature of the doctrinal and behavioral problems of the new teachings, it was an easy matter for John to distinguish the two groups by composing a list of characteristics identifying who had been born of God. His list does not inform how to become a child of God. Rather, if someone had already become God’s person, then these characteristics would be evident.
- âEveryone who is doing righteousness has been born of himâ (1 John 2:29).
- âEveryone who has been born of God does not sinâ (1 John 3:9).
- âEveryone who loves has been born of God and knows Godâ (1 John 4:7).
- âEveryone who is believing that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of Godâ (1 John 5:1).
- âEveryone who has been born of God overcomes the worldâ (1 John 5:4).
- âEveryone who has been born of God does not sin, but the One begotten of God keeps himâ (1 John 5:18).
Johnâs little handbook remains signiďŹcant for us today. Not only does it teach us many truths such as how God should be transforming our lives, but it also reminds us that, depending upon what transpires in our world, sometimes it can be necessary to do some sorting.
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