5.7.46 10.9.2022 1 John 3.1-10 Children of the Father (2)
Belonging to the Believing Community • Sermon • Submitted
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1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Entice: Again, and again John returns to the same topics and reinforces the same truths.
The first lessons we learn as Christians are essential.
We apply many of them every day of the
renewed,
redeemed life we are now living.
Engage:
When people look at you can they see your parentage as a child of God?
When people look at you can they see your parentage as a child of God?
The best racing stallions tend to mark their progeny. They may be similarly colored. They may have the same size, head carriage, and walk.
As comforting as those "marks" are, the really important attribute is this does the sire pass on speed, intelligence, and stamina.
Racing is about more than looks, or reputation. Results matter. Does the progeny reflect the most important attributes of the parent?
Expand: John knew individuals who had left the Church. They may have claimed to still adhere to the Biblical faith--to be children of God--but when it came to real, identifying marks of the new birth that is what was lacking.
We are not just called
to talk the talk,
to talk the talk,
but also
to walk the walk.
to walk the walk.
Excite: It is an honor to be called God's child. It is exhilarating to be born again. It is a privilege to be His Child. To really know that we are a saved sibling of the Savior we must renew that commitment to regenerated living every day.
Explore:
If we claim to be children of God, let's act like it!
If we claim to be children of God, let's act like it!
Explain: John teaches us three markers of those who believe and behave like Children of God.
Body of Sermon: First of all, we will
1. Acknowledge our new nature
1. Acknowledge our new nature
1.1 Truth and Consequences.
1.1 Truth and Consequences.
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
The truth of the Gospel is that God calls us His Children...
The Consequence is the world will reject us as it rejected Jesus.
1.2 Reality.
1.2 Reality.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
We are His children here and now
and
live knowing that our future reality will fully reveal our new nature as we behold Him.
1.3 Hope.
1.3 Hope.
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Next, we behave like Children of God when we
2. Accept our new nature.
2. Accept our new nature.
2.1 The difference is clear.
2.1 The difference is clear.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
John knows that we will occasionally sin. His concern is our habits of thought and action. Not a single sin…but a practice of sinning.
John then reminds us that
2.2 The Master has provided.
2.2 The Master has provided.
5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
The mission and purpose of Jesus was to take away sin. He is the perfect sacrifice that provides the capacity we need to accept and relish our new, redeemed, reborn nature.
So
2.3 Our response must be constant.
2.3 Our response must be constant.
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
Knowing Him means going beyond a sinful lifestyle.
Abiding in means that we stop doing sin.
The last marker of children of God, we must
3. Act our new nature .
3. Act our new nature .
3.1 Be careful.
3.1 Be careful.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
Be watchful. Be wary. Don’t be deceived. Jesus was righteous.
Righteous is as righteous does.
3.2 Be informed.
3.2 Be informed.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to free us from the works of the devil which imprison us.
He did this by His death/burial/and resurrection. We are no longer obligated to follow the sinful patterns of the fall.
3.3 Be certain.
3.3 Be certain.
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.
This just reinforces what John has been saying…if you are reborn, you have God’s “genetic imprint” in your life, you are born of Him. Don’t go on sinning.
3.4 Be righteous
3.4 Be righteous
10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Love your brother.
Shut Down:
John does not say anything new or different than Paul, or Peter, or James, or even Jesus. The new birth, unlike our original birth requires our participation--ongoing participation. If we are not careful, and do not act in accordance with our new status as children of God then we risk the benefits of the birth we receive through Jesus.
Our actions will be determined by our nature. Our nature is determined by our birth. We may occasionally sin, but John reminds us to not make it a practice or a habit which would indicate that we still partake in the old nature.
There is never a point where any of us does not need to hear and rehear the saving Gospel of Jesus and to be reminded of the new birth we have through Him.
Who are you?
Who are you?
To Whom do you belong?
To Whom do you belong?
Who's your daddy?
Who's your daddy?