Who are "the children of the devil" (1 John 3)?

[BCsenior]

1 John 3: NASB
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who is born of God practices sin,
because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 By this the children of God
and the children of the devil are obvious:
anyone who does not practice righteousness
is not of God …

“the one who practices sin is of the devil” (v.8)

“the children of the devil … anyone who does
NOT practice righteousness is not of God.” (v.10)

The children of the devil practice sin!
Can they really expect to get to heaven?

 

[Call me Nic]

1 John 3: NASB
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who is born of God practices sin,
because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 By this the children of God
and the children of the devil are obvious:
anyone who does not practice righteousness
is not of God …

“the one who practices sin is of the devil” (v.8)

“the children of the devil … anyone who does
NOT practice righteousness is not of God.” (v.10)

Can the children of the devil
(who practice sin)
really expect to get to heaven?

Sons of Belial have been given over to a reprobate mind. Romans 1 says they are full of all unrighteousness. These are people who are past feeling, who have seared consciences. They’re not your average sinner. They are haters of God, and will never come to believe in Christ because their foolish hearts have been darkened.

 

[BCsenior]

Sons of Belial have been given over to a reprobate mind. Romans 1 says they are full of all unrighteousness. These are people who are past feeling, who have seared consciences. They’re not your average sinner. They are haters of God, and will never come to believe in Christ because their foolish hearts have been darkened.

IMO, Romans 1 is talking about non-believers.
1 John was written to believers.

 

[Call me Nic]

IMO, Romans 1 is talking about non-believers.
1 John was written to believers.

How can a believer be a son of the devil? John 1:12 says that those who receive Christ are given the right to become the sons of God. Those who believe are the sons of God.

One cannot believe and be a son of the devil. Makes no sense.

 

[BCsenior]

How can a believer be a son of the devil? John 1:12 says that those who receive Christ are given the right to become the sons of God. Those who believe are the sons of God.
One cannot believe and be a son of the devil. Makes no sense.

Denominations that teach eternal security are wrong!
How many more dozens of NT verses will it take
for you to "see" this?

There is only one way out
for those insisting in eternal security, which is ...

God's many dire warnings in the NT are only there
to help His elect to get on the narrow path to heaven.
Meaning He has been bluffing, exaggerating, lying even
... in His many NT dire warnings about losing salvation.

 

[Call me Nic]

Denominations that teach eternal security are wrong!
How many more dozens of NT verses will it take
for you to "see" this?

There is only one way out for those insisting in eternal security.

I thought we were talking about who the sons of the devil were. Why did you suddenly change the topic to eternal security?

Why are you so stuck on condemning Christians who trust in the grace and promises and work of God? You need to check your pride friend.

 

[BCsenior]

I thought we were talking about who the sons of the devil were. Why did you suddenly change the topic to eternal security?

The children of the devil are NOT going to heaven!
This is where eternal security comes in.

 

[Call me Nic]

The children of the devil are NOT going to heaven!
This is where eternal security comes in.

The children of the devil are those who have a reprobate mind. The children of the devil cannot be believers, because the children of God are all by default believers. I already proved that to you with John 1:12. 1 John 5:1 also proves this. I can’t make you believe what the scripture says, only you can decide that.

 

[Dave-W]

The children of the devil are NOT going to heaven!
This is where eternal security comes in.

The gospels talk about the tares growing up with the wheat in the congregation. Our Lord talked about those who said in the final judgement about all the things they did for the Lord; but He says “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” He called them workers of iniquity. (Transgenerational effects of sins and transgressions)

Those people were never saved to begin with, so eternal security is not the issue here.

 

[BCsenior]

News Flash ...
Many BACs in our glorious churches (lol)
are habitual practitioners of da sinning!
... end of News Flash

1 John 3:7-8 NASB
"Little children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous,
just as He is righteous;
the one who practices sin is of the devil"

I.E. Your church has deceived you!

 

[Roidecoeur78]

Considering Jesus included the Sanhedrin as children of the devil, generally speaking, anyone that believes or says they are in right relation to God just because they say so, by their own authority, also fall into the "devil's children" category. Anyone that chooses to pursue, live for, and cling to, what's "good for business"(and coincidentally the comfort and luxury based lifestyle it affords) rather than living to pursue, live for, and cling to, a personal relationship with Yahweh; and doing that by conforming to Christ's example of speaking truth rather than what is pleasing, living to relieve the poor and sick that aren't related to you at all, and being willing to die for doing so, and even praying for those that might be killing you even as they are killing you. Anyone that hears His words and does not do them can be said to be unbelievers, because if they actually believe that what he said and did is the only way to be saved then they would do it, but instead they wish to have their cake and eat it too. They desire and love the things of this world, but want to believe they are going to escape destruction and claim to love God at the same time, just like the Sanhedrin. 1 John 2:15-16

 

[Neostarwcc]

Wow... Just wow...

 

[BCsenior]

Wow... Just wow...

Yes, eternal life was a free gift, but this incredible
undeserved grace is not guaranteed to last forever.

Gifts can be taken back, seals can be broken, etc.
(especially if you're God).

You can fall away from the faith.
You can be estranged from Christ.
You can fall from grace.
You can draw back to perdition.
You can take the mark of the beast
and be cast into the Lake of Fire.
(NT references for all of the above are available)

Lots of free will choices!

What do you think all of the (promised)
testings are all about?
Oh yes, I forgot, rewards. (lol)

Many BACs are getting the picture lately
... true BELIEF produces OBEDIENCE!

 

[nonaeroterraqueous]

News Flash ...
Many BACs in our glorious churches (lol)
are habitual practitioners of da sinning!
... end of News Flash

You have a loose definition of a born-again Christian. An unrepentant sinner is a born-again Christian?

 

[1stcenturylady]

1 John 3: NASB
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who is born of God practices sin,
because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 By this the children of God
and the children of the devil are obvious:
anyone who does not practice righteousness
is not of God …

“the one who practices sin is of the devil” (v.8)

“the children of the devil … anyone who does
NOT practice righteousness is not of God.” (v.10)

The children of the devil practice sin!
Can they really expect to get to heaven?

No. The key is having repented of all sin and then is given/been baptized in the Holy Spirit. 1 John 3:9 shows the Spirit is the "seed" within him so that he cannot sin. He has a new nature that hates sin. He has been born again of the SPIRIT.

 

[1stcenturylady]

IMO, Romans 1 is talking about non-believers.
1 John was written to believers.

1 John was written TO believers ABOUT the difference between true Christians and antichrists/Gnostics. 1 John 4:1-3

 

[1stcenturylady]

How can a believer be a son of the devil? John 1:12 says that those who receive Christ are given the right to become the sons of God. Those who believe are the sons of God.

One cannot believe and be a son of the devil. Makes no sense.

John also shows us that the sons of God have been freed from the bondage of sin.

John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

 

[BNR32FAN]

1 John 3: NASB
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who is born of God practices sin,
because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 By this the children of God
and the children of the devil are obvious:
anyone who does not practice righteousness
is not of God …

“the one who practices sin is of the devil” (v.8)

“the children of the devil … anyone who does
NOT practice righteousness is not of God.” (v.10)

The children of the devil practice sin!
Can they really expect to get to heaven?

What are your thoughts on the contrast between Ephesians 2 and Ephesians 5? In Ephesians 2 we see that Paul is undoubtedly speaking to believers and in Ephesians 5 (especially verses 1-6) it appears that they can fall back to being sons of disobedience and be in danger of God’s wrath.

 

[1stcenturylady]

I thought we were talking about who the sons of the devil were. Why did you suddenly change the topic to eternal security?

Why are you so stuck on condemning Christians who trust in the grace and promises and work of God? You need to check your pride friend.

Grace is not freedom TO SIN, but power not to sin. No one can not sin while in their fallen nature, and why many struggle. That is the struggle depicted in Romans 7; it is life under the law WITHOUT the Spirit because they are still in their fallen nature/flesh. Romans 8 is about having the Spirit and walking therein. They have not yet been born again of the Spirit. They have never truly repented of all sin and cried out to Jesus for His power to be free. Then the Spirit that is then given them kills the desire to sin. You can not go back and forth between walking in the Spirit, and walking in the flesh. It is either one path or the other that you choose. It is why Paul say not to grieve the Spirit, nor quench Him. If you do, you will start sinning again and become its slave again and fall from grace to damnation.

There are false teachers that tell you, you cannot stop sinning, and you don't have to, and claim you are saved just by believing in Jesus, but even the demons believe and tremble. Belief and obedience go hand in hand. This is what Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 2:18-22.

 

[Residential Bob]

1 John 3: NASB
7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you;
the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
8 the one who practices sin is of the devil;
for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one who is born of God practices sin,
because His seed abides in him;
and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 By this the children of God
and the children of the devil are obvious:
anyone who does not practice righteousness
is not of God …

“the one who practices sin is of the devil” (v.8)

“the children of the devil … anyone who does
NOT practice righteousness is not of God.” (v.10)

The children of the devil practice sin!
Can they really expect to get to heaven?

You think that's something. Get a load of this:

Gal 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.​

What believer never does any of these things? Looks like no one inherits the kingdom.

Maybe we're all children of the devil.