The two groups which make up humanity are naturally divided, and categorized by John’s description:
“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).
The characteristics of these two groups are easily discerned. In other words, it is necessary only to know them to know where they abide. The differences are “manifest.”
The children of the devil
They do not practice righteousness
They do not practice love (here for a brother in Christ).
The children of God
They practice righteousness
They love their brethren in Christ
Consider, if one strives to be righteous and yet is at strife with his brethren he can’t accurately claim to be a child of God. Consider, if one loves the brethren but lives a profane life he can’t accurately claim to be a child of God.
Can you and I rightly claim that we are children of God in every sense? We pray it is so, but it is not if these characteristics are not both present in our daily walk!
