First John 3:1-10,13 tell us that those who are God’s true saints are, in His Words, “sons of God.” He also notes that the world, including the church world, does not recognize His sons for who they are. To the church world, God’s saints are children of Satan–deceived souls who serve the devil. This is not surprising because the religious people of Christ’s day said the same thing about Him. The world will continue to reject God’s sons throughout this age. Only at the return of Jesus will churched and unchurched alike recognize His brethren for who they are. The first recognition of the saints’ position with the Lord will take place when they are born again–changed from physical to spiritual bodily composition and rise to meet Him in the air. The entire world will witness this event. At that time true saints “shall be(come) like Him” in appearance due to having lived like Him while in the flesh. In order to have hope for rebirth one must “purify himself (now) even as He is pure” and must quit sin utterly by obeying His Law, for “sin is the transgression (breaking of) the Law” (1 Jn. 3:4). “Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” Anyone who claims to be His and continues to sin is not obeying His command to “do righteousness, even as He is righteous.” “He that commits sin is of the devil.” Remember that John is writing to the church, about the church. True saints do not sin because God’s “seed” (Word) remains (active) in them” and directs their lives. As a result they “cannot sin.” The Word “cannot” in the Greek language is comprised of two words: “dynamai”–to be able, have ability, have power to do, and “ou”–no, not, never, under no circumstance. “Whoever does not do righteousness is not of God.” The Word “do” denotes action, not merely faith. The righteous one is not to be surprised that “the world hates you.” This includes the worldly church whose darkness is exposed by the saints’ light. “All who will live godly (lives) in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). It was religious people who killed Timothy for living a godly life in Christ Jesus. The same is true for all of the apostles except John, who was placed on a prison island for the same reason. He was spared a martyr’s  death so that he could write the Book of Revelation.

Summary: The world and the worldly church believe that the sons of God are in reality sons of Satan. They believe this because they do not believe God’s Word and therefore cannot recognize those who obey it. Due to being deceived by Satan (Rev. 12:9), this attitude will not change during this age. True sons purify themselves by obeying God’s Word/Law and conducting themselves as did Jesus of Nazareth. Anyone (in the church) who refuses to obey God’s Word is a son of Satan. True saints can sin but refuse to do so.

By these and numerous other Scriptures we prove that Satan’s “all grace–no Law” theology is a lie. What is not Truth is a lie. Conditionless grace and salvation is Satan’s lie.

It is true that grace and salvation are free gifts from God. But one must qualify to receive those free gifts. An imaginary scenario explains how this works: I own a business. A man I do not know asks for a job. I hire him and give him a written job description for what I require him to do in order to receive a salary. He has done nothing to earn the job. I have hired him because he asked for a job. HE HAS THE JOB ONLY BECAUSE HE ASKED FOR IT. However, in order to keep the job and receive compensation HE MUST DO THE JOB ACCORDING TO MY WRITTEN JOB DESCRIPTION. God operates in the same way.  Showing up three times each week, ignoring my written job description and doing what he wants to do will cost him his job. Showing up three times each week at church, ignoring God’s job description and doing what one wants to do will produce the same result. L.J.