Our Union with Christ

1 John 3:1-6

I have the good fortune of being descended from good, honorable people who’s good name goes before me. My mother is a successful and well known realtor in our area and often I find myself introducing myself as Jennifer Jopko’s son. Obviously here, my grandparents Bill and Sandy Koch have a reputation for their faithful service, kindness, and hospitality. I have no illusions that my grandfather’s reputation has played no small part in my acceptance by this congregation. Human beings have a tendency to assume the character of a particular people or person on the basis of their familial reputation, ethnic identity, appearance, political allegiance, and countless other means. We call this stereotyping. For example, how many of us, while talking about the martial prowess of certain nations (Americans love to bring up our military superiority at every chance we get!), invariably, somebody will bring up the fact that the French are notorious cowards and incompetent soldiers who will surrender at the slightest provocation. This is of course, historically inaccurate as the French people have always fought valiantly in war, even after being overrun and occupied by Germany for instance during WWII. When it comes to personal reputation, we may assume that a particular person is good, bad, lazy, hard working, intelligent, stupid, what-have-you, simply because of the reputation of their family. In some cases, a person’s familial reputation may cause them to work extremely hard to shed that reputation if it happens to be negative. Conversely, some people may find that living up to the expectations placed on them by that reputation are simply too much to bear and will reject that reputation and refuse to try to live up to it. Then there is a third option, those who desire to live up to the good name that their family has. I find myself in all three of these categories from time to time. I have certain aspects of my family that I would prefer not to pass on to my children as they are not healthy, ethical, or God honoring. I also have certain aspects of my family dynamic and character that I absolutely wish to pass on to my children. My Grandparents and parents all had and have a strong work ethic and I want my children to do the tasks and responsibilities given to them in a way that brings glory to God and reflects well upon them.

The truth is, that in family there is good and bad, just as in any person their is virtue and vice. We are creatures created in the image of God and therefore have an innate sense of morality, justice, beauty, goodness, and truth. We are also creatures born under the curse and dominion of sin and therefore are attracted and enticed by transgression. We love some things that are good and beautiful, as well as some things which are wicked and detestable. But the Bible says that we have been born again, not by natural means, but by water and Spirit; that is, buried with Christ in our baptism and raised with Him to new life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Apostle Paul asserts, “I no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” and elsewhere, “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation—the old has gone, the new has come.” And yet, we also see the Apostles writing about our continued struggle and war with our flesh, with sin, and with the devil. Paul says that he knows what is good, and yet he cannot carry it out. He does what he does not want to do despite himself. Jesus says of the Apostles, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

But if we are in Christ, why do we continue to have this struggle? Why does the Lord not simply purify our conscience all at once upon our regeneration?

I. While we are now united to Christ, we are not yet like Him in every way.

II. When Christ returns we will be made to be like Him.

a. God became man so that man might become “gods” (theoi). This is what is known as theosis—the process by which a person is transformed into the image of Christ.

i. to answer the question of how we will become as He is, we must first ask, “in what way?” Is John referring to our morality? or our mortality? our essence? our being? Jesus is the unique Son from the Father, how can I be like Him?

b. We will be as he is, partakers of the divine nature! does this mean that we will cease to be human? does this mean that we will become God/ gods? Not at all. Human beings were made in the image and likeness of God.

III. It is God’s will that we should continually cling to and place our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are indeed, purified by our faith as it is through Spirit wrought faith that we are made righteous. But our faith does not only accomplish for us forensic justification (that is, the fact of our being justified), but it is a means by which God continually purifies us and conforms us into the image of Christ. This is actually a clue into an aspect of Christ’s own righteousness and holiness which helps to answer in what manner we will be made like Him.