Nature vs Nurture
By Barry Adams
1 John 3:10
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. NIV
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. NIV
The Apostle John makes a jarring statement in 1 John 3:10 where he makes a statement that some people are children of God and some people are children of the devil. If we look at this verse at face value, John seems to be saying that the devil is actually the father of those who do not do right and do not love their brother and sister.
Even the remotest idea that the enemy of our souls could possibly be at the root of our origin is absolutely diabolical to me. For he is a created being and cannot create anything. So what is John actually saying when he makes this statement? I believe John is not speaking about people's actual creation origin, but about the external influences that cause them to be the way they are.
A few verses earlier in 1 John 3:7-8, John unpacks this a little more... 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. NIV
Jesus makes a similar point in John 8:41-44 when he is talking to the religious leaders of the day about who the predominant influence in their life was...
41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. NIV
Again, at first glance, this might appear that Jesus is actually telling these leaders that their father of origin is the devil. But when we begin to see was actually saying, He was speaking about what the predominant influence in their life was... Not who their father of origin was. Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God". So in essence, if God's fathering influence would have guided their hearts, their actions would have lined up with His heart. But since they wanted to kill Jesus, their actions lined up with the father of lies.
If you look at the Greek word for 'father', it is 'pater' which typically means father or parent. And that is the description used to describe God as Father. But it can also mean... 'the originator of transmitter of anything' or 'one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds' or 'one who stands in a father's place'. I believe these last 3 definitions of the word 'pater' could actually describe the devil's masquerading influence as a counterfeit father.
Though some believers might have the idea that the devil is actually a father based on these Scriptures, this is definitely not the case. The only ability the devil has is to deceive people. Jesus said that when he lies, he speaks his native language.
This is where the psychological study of 'nature versus nurture' is helpful for us to understand the difference between our genetic connections and our external influences. There are elements of our being that come from our biological connection with our parents and they are called 'nature'. And then there are external environmental elements that affect us after we are born that are called 'nurture'. We are all a product of a combination of both of these influences in our lives.
For example, our 3 children have genetic traits that have been passed onto them by virtue of a combination of the DNA from both myself and my wife. But there are also environmental influences that have determined their development as well. Some examples of this would be how we loved them, what life experiences they had, how their friends influenced them, etc.
When we begin to realize that every person on the planet has the same divine origin (nature) because we were all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), we can appreciate the words found in James 3:9-10... 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. NIV
Because every person on planet earth is an image bearer of Almighty God, each one of us deserve the dignity and respect of being made in God's likeness. And since we all in varying degrees, reflect in our humanity, the One who created us, we all have tremendous potential for good. This is what makes the entire human race fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) because we were all fathered by God Himself when He knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)
While humanity has a tremendous potential for good by virtue of us being made in God's image (nature), we also have a tremendous potential for evil as well, because of the demonic influences that are in the world today (nurture). All we have to do is turn on the news and we can see the devastation that is caused every day by broken, hurting people all around the world. Ephesians 2:2 describes our adversary as... the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, NKJV
That is why we all need a new birth (John 3:3), where we are changed from the inside out. I believe this is where we go from being God's offspring through creation (Acts 17:28) to being God's children and heirs through redemption (Romans 8:15-17).
For though we were created in God's image and are indeed His offspring, the Father's eternal plan from before the foundation of the world was to give us a new heart, place His own Spirit within us and restore us to the royal position of being His sons and daughters in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-10).
And through this salvation transformation, the Holy Spirit nurtures us and loves us and leads us in the ways of everlasting life as we grow in our sonship (Romans 8:14).
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NIV
Even the remotest idea that the enemy of our souls could possibly be at the root of our origin is absolutely diabolical to me. For he is a created being and cannot create anything. So what is John actually saying when he makes this statement? I believe John is not speaking about people's actual creation origin, but about the external influences that cause them to be the way they are.
A few verses earlier in 1 John 3:7-8, John unpacks this a little more... 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. NIV
Jesus makes a similar point in John 8:41-44 when he is talking to the religious leaders of the day about who the predominant influence in their life was...
41 You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. NIV
Again, at first glance, this might appear that Jesus is actually telling these leaders that their father of origin is the devil. But when we begin to see was actually saying, He was speaking about what the predominant influence in their life was... Not who their father of origin was. Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God". So in essence, if God's fathering influence would have guided their hearts, their actions would have lined up with His heart. But since they wanted to kill Jesus, their actions lined up with the father of lies.
If you look at the Greek word for 'father', it is 'pater' which typically means father or parent. And that is the description used to describe God as Father. But it can also mean... 'the originator of transmitter of anything' or 'one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds' or 'one who stands in a father's place'. I believe these last 3 definitions of the word 'pater' could actually describe the devil's masquerading influence as a counterfeit father.
Though some believers might have the idea that the devil is actually a father based on these Scriptures, this is definitely not the case. The only ability the devil has is to deceive people. Jesus said that when he lies, he speaks his native language.
This is where the psychological study of 'nature versus nurture' is helpful for us to understand the difference between our genetic connections and our external influences. There are elements of our being that come from our biological connection with our parents and they are called 'nature'. And then there are external environmental elements that affect us after we are born that are called 'nurture'. We are all a product of a combination of both of these influences in our lives.
For example, our 3 children have genetic traits that have been passed onto them by virtue of a combination of the DNA from both myself and my wife. But there are also environmental influences that have determined their development as well. Some examples of this would be how we loved them, what life experiences they had, how their friends influenced them, etc.
When we begin to realize that every person on the planet has the same divine origin (nature) because we were all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), we can appreciate the words found in James 3:9-10... 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. NIV
Because every person on planet earth is an image bearer of Almighty God, each one of us deserve the dignity and respect of being made in God's likeness. And since we all in varying degrees, reflect in our humanity, the One who created us, we all have tremendous potential for good. This is what makes the entire human race fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) because we were all fathered by God Himself when He knit us together in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)
While humanity has a tremendous potential for good by virtue of us being made in God's image (nature), we also have a tremendous potential for evil as well, because of the demonic influences that are in the world today (nurture). All we have to do is turn on the news and we can see the devastation that is caused every day by broken, hurting people all around the world. Ephesians 2:2 describes our adversary as... the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, NKJV
That is why we all need a new birth (John 3:3), where we are changed from the inside out. I believe this is where we go from being God's offspring through creation (Acts 17:28) to being God's children and heirs through redemption (Romans 8:15-17).
For though we were created in God's image and are indeed His offspring, the Father's eternal plan from before the foundation of the world was to give us a new heart, place His own Spirit within us and restore us to the royal position of being His sons and daughters in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-10).
And through this salvation transformation, the Holy Spirit nurtures us and loves us and leads us in the ways of everlasting life as we grow in our sonship (Romans 8:14).
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NIV