One of the clearest and most magnificent ways God demonstrates his love is by bringing undeserving people into his family and calling them his children:

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are! (1 John 3:1)

But how can we know if we are children of God? There are many people who may consider themselves to be children of God, but are they correct in their self-assessment?

St. John wrote to correct a faulty view within the churches of his day that led many to claim they were children of God but in fact were not. He offers three tests for his readers to help them to determine whether they are God’s children or not.

According to John, the life of a child of God is characterised by:

1. Love not hate
2. Integrity not hypocrisy
3. Truth not error

Main text: 1 John 3:11-4:6