The Transforming of Jesus' Return

1 John 3:2–3“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. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

P.O.P.

The Christian's current identity and future hope call for a life of purity as we await the return of Jesus for His people.

Kids

While Christians wait for Jesus, we are called to fight against sin in our lives.

I. The Christian’s status.

1 John 3:1–2 “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. Beloved, we are God’s children now...”

John is speaking to encourage Christians: those who are worried about aposticizing, those who are facing a hostile world, and those who are struggling with their sin.

The love of God and the ability to call him Father is an act of grace and an offer of confidence.

Do not worry that the world hates you, this is not a sign that you are under the judgment of God.

Those who have experienced the love of the Father in their salvation have the confidence to be known as children of God.

The Christians status has changed from wretched sinner to child of God.

Encouragment: If you today have placed your faith in Jesus, as the Savior, Christ, and Lord we have spoken about throughout Advent, then you are living in the love of our gracious and mercial Lord who you may call Father!

Challenge: You are no longer living for your self.

Your status has changed and you, with all your struggles and complexities and insecurities, are a child of God.

“We shall never be more the children of God than we are now.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

You may be like many and struggle with what that is supposed to mean in your life. You may struggle with joy quickly fleeting when the world becomes too much for you.

II. The Christian’s future hope.

1 John 3:2 “...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.”

Now, the wording of this phrasing is a little decieving. As John proclaims in these verses: While these are future hopes we hold on to, they are as good as present realities in our lives.

John makes 3 positive statements concerning the reality of the Christian:

We are God’s children now.

We know what we will become in the future.

We know this change will happen when Jesus returns.

One little word occurs here in the ESV that could cause us to misunderstand these statements.

ESV 1 John 3:2 “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.”

NASB 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

This one word can make it seem as if John is present two statements with a negative statement in between. If we are honest we can feel as if waiting for the future reality of our salvation is this way.

We often will treat our situations as if there is no joy to be found now but, begrundingly, we will remind ourselves of the joy that will be experienced in the future.

OR

We will counsel people to just get through this season and joy can be found when Jesus returns.

John is actually trying to encourage the Christians, joy may be found in the Christian life, even as we wait, because all the future promises are as if they are realities now. We may not fully experience the joy awaiting us, but joy is found in that fact that:

We are God’s children now.

We will be glorified in the future.

When Jesus returns, we will not merely be known by him but we will be like him.

Void of all sin

Void of all effects of sin

1 John 3:2 “…and what we will be has not yet appeared...”

How easy is it for us to get frustrated with our battle with sin or maybe with our weak flesh that so often is disappointing. The good news for Christians is that the battle and the struggle to fight for joy, contentment, and satisfaction will not be our eternal reality. We will one day be glorified. While we do know what that will mean - absence of sin - we do not know what that will feel like.

However, John speaks of this in anticipation. He speaks of this not as one who is uncertain but trying to motivate a sad people. He speaks as one who has great certainty.

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, you are struggling in this world and worrying about what is happing around you but what we will be has not yet appeared. Glory is coming!”

Even take into considereation that word “appeared” (φανερόω - phaneroo). The word can also be used for something to be revealed or manifested. John is not intending to say you have nothing yet but you do not have the fullness of it yet.

Your job may offer you bonus’ sometimes. There is inititial excitment in the announcment of that bonus. However, the fullness of that joy is not yet experienced. Why? Because you do not have that bonus yet. Here is the thing, you may know that legally they are going to give you that bonus. You may can even explain to your spouse why you are being given that bonus. Once that bonus arrives though, fullness of joy will finally be experienced because you will have that bonus. Are you void of any joy, or contemplation, or planning, or effect upon your life before you recieve it? No, you will plan for it, have an explanation for what you will do with it, have a plan for how it will change something about your life.

John is encouraging Christians in the same manner, while fullness of joy will be experienced later, for now, enjoy the reality of this promised future. Talk about, explain it to others, plan for it, let your thoughts be filled with the wonder of this future, and let it effect the way you live now - though it will be received in the future.

1 John 3:2 “…we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

How can John say “…we know...”?

John is rooting our knowledge - and confidence - in the truth of 1 John 3:1

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

Romans 8:35-39

John does not mence words or cast doubt into the mind of the Christian:

“We know”

“When” - this is not a matter of when but a known fact to all Christians that WHEN Christ appears, we will be glorified.

The focus on the Gospel is not to make my life better, easier, more enjoyable…the focus is to be like Christ!

“…we know that when he appears we shall be like him...”

The reality of this all is focused on Jesus (6 times “he/him”) and the purpose of our salvation is to conform us to the image of Christ:

1 Corinthians 15:50–57“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:28–30“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

What is this “...like him...” - While we may not know fully we do know at minimum we will be resurrected and glorified. Alive, rescued from sin, and in the presence of our Father, Savior, and Helper.

The presence of God ought to be the greatest joy of the Christian.

Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

Revelation 22:3–4“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

While we may not know exactly what this sight will be, we do know for sure it will be the greatest joy we will experience and it will be the highest goal of our pursuit until then.

“…All our unhappiness is ultimately to be traced back to this, that we are looking at the things that are happening to us, instead of looking at this vision that is held there before us. It is because we do not see ourselves as the children of God and going through this life and world in the way that this text indicates; that is why our unhappiness tends to get us down. We do not relate it to the whole; we do not put it in its context; we live too much with the things that are immediately in front of us instead of putting everything into the context of our standing and of our destiny.”

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

This pursuit of the presence of God is not merely a brain excercise but an exercise of righteousness as well.

III. The Christian’s progressive purity.

1 John 3:3 “And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

If you search and study the New Testament, you will find that at every point of practical instruction is first established by truth. Doctrine, done rightly, leads to righteousness, when applied.

John, now that he is instructed us in the truths of our identity and the accomplished work of Jesus, now says that all those who hope, all Christians, will pursue holiness.

Hoping in Jesus’ return is not sitting and waiting. Hoping in Jesus’ return is a call to action of right living because the truths of the future are as sure as the first coming of Christ.

If we are Christians, we are so sustained with truth and hope that we can pursue righteousness - even if the world hates us, even if our sin seems so strong, even if our earthly life is not going as planned - we may rejoice and we may pursue righteousness in full force!

The word “purifies” (ἁγνίζει - hagnizei) is a present active indicative.

“present active indicative shows that the action happens in the present time, that the subject carries out the action, and that it is a true statement.”

Psalm 11:7 “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.”

Psalm 17:15 “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”

How might one have confidence they are child of God?

Identity as a child of God.

Recognition and reliance upon Christ as Savior.

Desire and pursuit of holiness.

Matthew 5:8 ““Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Those who pursue holiness will not ultimately be met with sorrow but with eternal exuding joy!

Changed from glory into glory

Till in heaven we take our place

Till we cast our crowns before Him,

Lost in wonder, love and praise.

Charles Wesley - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

When we set out to replant, we worked through the Gospel According to John, and my concern - generally - was that we know Jesus culturally but may not know him biblically. Prayerfully, Christ is proclaimed biblically every Sunday in The Rock. The question for us now is this: As we serve our community, will they see cultural Christians or biblical Christians?

We can declare all day “Jesus saves!” but if our lives continue indulging in those things he saved us from, we offer the world nothing but empty words.

Those who are children of God have great hope while they pursue holiness until Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”