3:8ff - John isn't saying that your only hope for ever being saved is by living a perfect life. He is telling us that sinlessness should be our goal...why would it be anything else? You cannot save yourself and you will never be perfect, but you should be striving towards the perfection of Jesus to honor His mercy on you. This passage sums it all up. It's about what you gear your life towards - godless people literally practice sin...they develop sinful living habits...work on them...practice them. Those seeking righteousness and longing to walk in the footsteps of Christ will practice and develop righteousness.
3:12-13 - Cain murdered out of jealousy. A portion of the world will always hate Christians because deep down they know we are walking in the truth and it brings the the falsehood of living for anything else to the surface of their lives.
3:17 - What a stinging accusation against our culture and my life. Stinging...painful...and hitting really close to home. God please open my eyes to the needs of the people of this world and give me the strength not to buy into our materialistic culture any longer.
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