Photo credit: Martijn Rutgers
This is the manuscript for the eighth in a series of messages from John’s first epistle “The Counsel of a Spiritual Father to His Children.”
1 John 3:2 NIV “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”
When we are born again, we receive new life—not biological life, but spiritual life. Just as our biological life is “programmed” into our genes, our spiritual life is predetermined by God to produce certain characteristics. However, just as in the physical growth process certain things such as illness or injury can change development, so in the spiritual realm disobedience and sin can cause us to slow down or even abort the spiritual growth that God wants us to experience. Throughout the New Testament, we find many passages that remind us of the spiritual family traits we should develop in our lives.
1 John 3:2 NIV “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”
When we are born again, we receive new life—not biological life, but spiritual life. Just as our biological life is “programmed” into our genes, our spiritual life is predetermined by God to produce certain characteristics. However, just as in the physical growth process certain things such as illness or injury can change development, so in the spiritual realm disobedience and sin can cause us to slow down or even abort the spiritual growth that God wants us to experience. Throughout the New Testament, we find many passages that remind us of the spiritual family traits we should develop in our lives.
Scripture Reading:
1 John 3:1-10 NIV See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 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. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 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.
Text:
1 John 3:2 NIV “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”
Introduction
In our text, John was talking about spiritual family traits. When we are born again, we receive new life—not biological life, but spiritual life.
Jesus told Nicodemus;
John 3:3-8 NIV Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Everyone who is born again is spiritually a new creature like it says in:
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
And just as our biological life is “programmed” into our genes, our spiritual life is predetermined by God to produce certain characteristics.
For example, here's what Paul said in Romans 8:28-29. We know this but it's important to be reminded.
Romans 8:28-29 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
However, just as in the physical growth process certain things such as illness or injury can change development, so in the spiritual realm disobedience and sin can cause us to slow down or even abort the spiritual growth that God wants us to experience.
Throughout the New Testament, we find many passages that remind us of the spiritual family traits we should develop in our lives.
I believe that all these family traits are all wrapped up in the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control….
These are the family traits of those who have been born again into the family of God.
John revealed four things about these spiritual family traits that God programmed into us when we were born again.
- We are children of God.
- We will become more like Jesus
- We will avoid sin
- We will provide evidence that we are children of God
- We are children of God.
1 John 3:1 NIV See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
A. John was amazed by what God has done for sinful humanity.
“What great love the Father has lavished on us” (NIV). he said.
In other words, John was saying that nothing else in human life even faintly resembles the love that God has shown to humankind.
B. What is it about this love that so astounded John?
It's astonishing that the Creator of the universe loves us so much “That we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV).
The word “called” here literally means “styled or fashioned.” When we are born again because of God’s great love, the Holy Spirit begins to style us so that day by day we look less like children of the world. and more like Jesus.
Romans 12:1-2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2. #1 We are children #2 we will become more like Jesus. not Jesus, but like Jesus.
1 John 3:2-3 NIV Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like His Son, Jesus.
In the very beginning;
Genesis 1:26 NIV Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Ephesians 4:20-24 NIV That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
A. Now John did used a hint of caution in these verses.
He says you will be, not that you are.
1 John 3:2 NIV Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known…
It is almost like saying “Now Christians, a wonderful thing has happened as a result of God’s amazing love. But we have not arrived yet! Many rough edges need to be smoothed out, many attitudes and ideas need to be altered.”
B. We know that we are getting there by using God’s word as our spiritual mirror.
We are never flattered, we don't really look too good when we see ourselves in relationship to God’s Word
Isaiah 64:6 NIV All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
But the positive note in this experience is that we are becoming more like our Lord every day. We have no idea what the finished product is going to be, but we do know that we will be like Jesus!
C. John said that we are continually cleansed when we have this hope that we will be like Jesus.
1 John 1:5-7 NIV This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
John says something amazing here. He says that not only can we have fellowship with God, but He can have fellowship with us because through Christ’s sacrifice we have been cleansed of sin which is what separates us from God!
1 John 1:9 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We are not to get down on ourselves or to believe that we will be lost because they have sinned.
Philippians 1:6 NIV ...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God is going to complete His work of salvation in you. This knowledge and hope within us purifies our hearts and, we are brought closer and closer to that state of purity that is required to stand in God’s presence.
3. #1 John said that we are children of God, #2 we will become more like Jesus #3 is that as children of God we should avoid sin.
1 John 3:4-9 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 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. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
I'll give you a hint of what John says we should avoid. He used the words sin, sins, sinning, or sinful 8 times in these 5 verses.
A. Here's another list for you John outlined four things about sin in these verses.
1. He explained what sin is,
Sin is lawlessness
1 John 3:4 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
When you sin you disobey God.
2. He explained what sin does,
Sin leads you astray
1 John 3:7 NIV Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
3. He explained why sin exist
It is of the devil
1 John 3:8 NIV 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.
4. And he explained where sin originates.
With the devil who has been sinning from the beginning
1 John 3:8 NIV 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.
Unless we properly understand what John was saying about sin, in these verses, this can be the most frightening passage in the Bible.
But we must remember that the difference between a believer who sins and an unbeliever who sins is that the unbeliever can sin without remorse. Unbelievers continue to sin because that is their unredeemed nature.
However Christians, because we have a new nature, cannot sin without feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7-8 NKJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Christians may temporarily step into darkness, but because of our new nature, we are miserable until we confess and return to the light.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
B. John now gives us a word of triumph.
I John 3:8 NKJV He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, (now here's the word of triumph) that He might destroy the works of the devil.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work, because we are not strong enough to fight against sin by ourselves
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. #1 John said that we are children of God, #2 we will become more like Jesus #3 is that as children of God we should avoid sin. #4 is that we must demonstrate or reflect that we are children of God.
I John 3:10 NKJV 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.
So to show evidence that we are children of God we can't manifest the same things that the children of the devil manifest.
D. How do we truly show that we are children of God and not the devil?
The children of the devil do not practice righteousness. So we must do what is right. We reflect a joyful, spontaneous relationship with Christ demonstrated by the “good works” we perform in Christ’s name.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
E. Second, we provide evidence of our kinship to God as His children by loving one another.
The children of the devil do not love one another and God's children show that they are by loving one another.
John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Now this is not just affection for others; it is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.
Mark 12:28-31 ESV And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
This kind of love has a redeeming quality; it seeks to lift others up and heal their heartache and pain.
1 John 4:7-12 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
Jesus Christ came to earth as the supreme expression of God’s love for humankind.
John 3:16 ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Conclusion
Are the marks of Jesus Christ and the family of God on you? Are you daily reflecting Jesus by your good works and by your love for others?
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 3:4-9 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 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. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
I'll give you a hint of what John says we should avoid. He used the words sin, sins, sinning, or sinful 8 times in these 5 verses.
A. Here's another list for you John outlined four things about sin in these verses.
1. He explained what sin is,
Sin is lawlessness
1 John 3:4 NIV Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
When you sin you disobey God.
2. He explained what sin does,
Sin leads you astray
1 John 3:7 NIV Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
3. He explained why sin exist
It is of the devil
1 John 3:8 NIV 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.
4. And he explained where sin originates.
With the devil who has been sinning from the beginning
1 John 3:8 NIV 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.
Unless we properly understand what John was saying about sin, in these verses, this can be the most frightening passage in the Bible.
But we must remember that the difference between a believer who sins and an unbeliever who sins is that the unbeliever can sin without remorse. Unbelievers continue to sin because that is their unredeemed nature.
However Christians, because we have a new nature, cannot sin without feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7-8 NKJV Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Christians may temporarily step into darkness, but because of our new nature, we are miserable until we confess and return to the light.
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
B. John now gives us a word of triumph.
I John 3:8 NKJV He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, (now here's the word of triumph) that He might destroy the works of the devil.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work, because we are not strong enough to fight against sin by ourselves
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. #1 John said that we are children of God, #2 we will become more like Jesus #3 is that as children of God we should avoid sin. #4 is that we must demonstrate or reflect that we are children of God.
I John 3:10 NKJV 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.
So to show evidence that we are children of God we can't manifest the same things that the children of the devil manifest.
D. How do we truly show that we are children of God and not the devil?
The children of the devil do not practice righteousness. So we must do what is right. We reflect a joyful, spontaneous relationship with Christ demonstrated by the “good works” we perform in Christ’s name.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
E. Second, we provide evidence of our kinship to God as His children by loving one another.
The children of the devil do not love one another and God's children show that they are by loving one another.
John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Now this is not just affection for others; it is loving them in spite of who they are or what they have done.
Mark 12:28-31 ESV And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
This kind of love has a redeeming quality; it seeks to lift others up and heal their heartache and pain.
1 John 4:7-12 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
Jesus Christ came to earth as the supreme expression of God’s love for humankind.
John 3:16 ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Conclusion
Are the marks of Jesus Christ and the family of God on you? Are you daily reflecting Jesus by your good works and by your love for others?
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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