1 John 3: Perspective through the Law of Assumption

The power of assumption—the belief that your desired state is already true—is central to Neville Goddard’s teachings. By assuming the feelings of the wish fulfilled, you align yourself with your desired reality. In this post, we will explore 1 John 3 through the lens of the Law of Assumption, discovering how these timeless verses illuminate our capacity to create a life in harmony with our divine nature.

Verse 1

“See what great love the Father has given to us, that we are named children of God; and so we are...”
To call yourself a child of God is to assume the I AM within you is divine. This is not about begging for life’s blessings; it’s about recognising your power as a conscious creator. The world may not recognise you, but your inner identity shift—your assumption—creates reality, not the facts of your surroundings.

Verse 2

“...it is not clear what we will be: but we are certain that at His revelation we will be like Him; because we will see Him as He is.”
What you shall be depends on what you assume. When you see God as imagination (as He is), you become that likeness: creative, powerful, and unlimited. The revelation is the moment you realise imagination is God in action, and thus, you align yourself with divine creative power.

Verse 3

“And everyone who has this hope in Him makes himself holy, even as He is holy.”
To live in the assumption of your wish fulfilled is to “purify” yourself—breaking free from the old self and stepping into the new. Holiness is not an external pursuit but an inner state, sustained by the conviction of your assumed identity.

Verses 4-6

“Everyone who is a sinner goes against the law... anyone who is in Him does no sin.”
To sin is to miss the mark—to assume unworthy, negative states. When you abide in “Him” (the assumed state of the wish fulfilled), you cannot sin because your thoughts, beliefs, and actions align with the highest version of yourself.

Verses 7-8

“He who does righteousness is righteous... The Son of God was seen on earth so that he might put an end to the works of the Evil One.”
Righteousness is right assumption—it is the living out of your ideal state. The “Evil One” represents doubt, fear, and the reactive, outer-oriented mind. The “Son of God” is your assumed identity in action, ending the cycle of limiting beliefs by asserting your creative power.

Verse 9

“Anyone who is a child of God does no sin, because God’s seed is in him...”
Once a new assumption is planted (the seed), it rewrites your self-concept. You cannot continue to sin (live in unworthy states) when you know who you truly are. The seed of divine consciousness transforms you from the inside out.

Verses 10-12

“It is clear who are the children of God and who are the children of the Evil One...”
The difference lies in what you assume. Do you dwell in love, abundance, and creativity (God)? Or in fear, limitation, and separation (the Evil One)? Cain represents the old consciousness—he “kills” Abel (the imagination) by assuming the limitations of the physical world. This happens every time we choose doubt over faith.

Verses 13-15

“Do not be surprised... if the world has no love for you.”
When you assume the wish fulfilled, you may encounter opposition. The world does not recognise the unseen, and people may not understand your new state of mind. To hate your brother is to deny their potential for greatness. We “kill” one another by imagining failure for others.

Verses 16-18

“Let us not have love in word... but in deed and in good faith.”
Love is not just a feeling; it’s a creative act of imagination. True love is seeing others as they wish to be, not as they appear. Use your imagination to lift others, and assume the best for them. It is through loving assumption that we elevate our reality.

Verses 19-21

“...God is greater than our heart, and has knowledge of all things.”
Even when your heart condemns you (through guilt, fear, or old assumptions), the Law of Assumption transcends all. The I AM within you is greater than any past mistake. You can revise your assumptions, forgive yourself, and step into a new state of being. When you cease condemning yourself, the flow of assumption becomes free and unimpeded.

Verses 22-24

“And He gives us all our requests, because we keep his laws and do the things which are pleasing in his eyes...”
The Law is simple: assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Faith in the Son (your imagined self in the fulfilled state) and love (the imaginative grace towards all) are the guiding principles. When you align with these principles, everything you desire must manifest according to your assumption.