Love On: A Study Through 1 JohnSample

By Danny Saavedra

“Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God's children."—1 John 2:29 (NLT)

As a parent, I’ve come to find that family resemblance is more than looks. It’s always fun when you look at your kids and see your nose, your jawline, or your eyes . . . but it’s even more telling when you look at your kids and see your temperament and attitude, your vocabulary, your sense of humor, and your passions. That goes well beyond the surface to a more profound family resemblance. 

Today’s verse is about family resemblance. John writes, “Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God's children.” In other words, because Jesus is righteous, as we walk in the shadow of our Savior, teacher, shepherd, and co-heir, we, like my kids do with me and my wife, begin to think, speak, walk, and act like Him. The longer my kids are alive and in the presence of my wife and I each day, the more they begin to resemble us in the deepest of senses. Likewise, the longer we’re alive in Christ, born again, and intentionally in His presence daily, the more we’ll resemble Him in the deepest of senses!

Now, there’s something I need to address. The apostle says that “all who do what is right are God’s children.” You may be thinking, I know people who aren’t Christians who do what is right. Does that mean they’re God’s children? I can see why you’d think that, but we need to understand the full meaning of what is being said when John uses the word right.

Just like with family resemblance, to do what is right goes beyond the mere outward appearance. It’s not a notion of right based on the world’s standards; it’s not based on laws or codes. Instead, it’s based on the same thing Abraham’s righteousness was . . . Genesis 15:6 (NLT, emphasis added) says, “And Abram believed the Lord, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 

Our faith in Christ makes us righteous, it makes us children of God. And as we walk with Him in the light, people will see the family resemblance! So, friends, let us commit today to intentional, daily time in the presence of Christ so that we’ll look more like Him and less like what we used to resemble (1 John 3:7–10).

DIG: In your family, who do you resemble?

DISCOVER: What does it mean to be righteous, to do what is right?

DO: Spend an additional 15 minutes daily, on top of what you already spend with the Lord, for the next few weeks. See what difference it makes in your daily life!