Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

1 John 3:4-7

Practice is not a one time thing, right? Even though I’ve been taking photographs since I was a teenager, lately I’ve been learning how to use my camera more effectively to get the kind of shot I want. I read manuals, watch videos and tutorials and take a lot of photos in the hope of learning to be a better photographer. What is it that you practice in hope of becoming proficient?

It’s good to be reminded that God is for us. He wants the best for us in every aspect of our lives. A single thought serves as bookends in the passage and it centers on reason for Christ’s “appearance.” He came to set us free from sin and to destroy the works of the devil.

In the passage above, John also addresses two practices. The first is the idea that a person who is following Christ does not continue to practice what he or she knows is sin and offensive to the idea of Christ’s righteousness.

In contrast, the person who follows Christ closely grows more and more. “Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.”