We're just going to be reading the first eight verses of 1 John chapter 3.

And this is the Apostle John, the same man who wrote First John, wrote the Gospel of John.

But he's writing First John, he's writing this letter a few decades after he wrote the Gospel of John.

And this is what he writes, 1, chapter 3, verses 1 through 8.

He says, behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called

children of God. Can I get an amen? He says, therefore the world does not know us because it didn't

know him. Beloved, John often referred to the church as beloved. He says, beloved, now we are

children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he's revealed,

who is that? That's Jesus. When Jesus is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.

Verse four, whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness and sin is lawlessness. And you know that he was

manifested. In other words, you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin.

Now check this out. This is a gut punch right here. Whoever abides, everybody say abides.

He says, whoever abides in him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen him nor known him.

Little children, let no one deceive you he who practices

righteousness is righteous just as he is righteous but he who sins is of the devil for the devil has

sin from the beginning and for this purpose this is our key verse today, for this purpose, the son of God

was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. Let's pray one more time. God, we love you.

We invite you into our Bible study. Open up our ears to hear from you. Open up our hearts, Lord.

Soften our hearts. We want to hear from you, God. Would you teach us? Would you bless my dad now as he's guests speaking down in Atlanta? Bless him. May your hand a favor be upon him. But for those of us who are here and watching online, would you just do now a brand new, fresh work in our hearts, Lord? Here we are, just to receive from you now through your word by your spirit.

In Jesus' name, and all God's people said. Amen. You may be seated. Now, as I mentioned earlier,

we're going to really focus on verse 8, but what I want to do just real quickly with you is I want

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