1 John 3:4-24.  By the time John wrote his letters, he had to draw a distinction between true believers and false. False prophets had begun deceiving the church, and false Christians were present in the churches. John asserted that true Christians would be the people who keep Christ’s commandments, and do what pleases him (22).  True believers do not continue to practice sin (4-5). Instead they profess belief in the name of Christ and show that faith by loving one another (24). Faith yields love which yields righteousness.

LORD, lead us to a genuine faith which rejects sin, professes your name, and pleases you by loving one another.