Wayfaring Strangers

1 John 3:1-3

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Sermon Outline: Living as Sojourners (1 John 3:1)

Verse 1:

See (NASB)/Behold (KJV) - Strong’s Definition: †ὁράω horáō, hor-ah'-o; properly, to stare at (compare G3700), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear:—behold, perceive, see, take heed.

Here we see John’s expression of amazement and awe at the Love of God given to us, bestowed upon us - by Grace according, to mercy - this Love is undeserved on our part, nor was God obligated to save us, it was because of his tender mercy and forbearance.

Amazement and Awe at God’s Love

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 5:8 “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Psalm 8:4 “what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him?”

Love Bestowed by Grace and Mercy

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Titus 3:5 “he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

Lamentations 3:22–23 “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!”

Undeserved Love and God’s Tender Mercy

Romans 9:15–16 “For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then, it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.”

Micah 7:18 “Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”

Does the Love of God still Amaze You???

Do you understand the immensity of God’s Love???

John then cites this as the reason that the world does not know us. Why?

Because it did not know him!

John 1:10 “He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.”

John 14:17 “He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”

John 15:18–19 ““If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.”

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.”

Does the world recognize you???

We are to live as sojourners, exiles, pilgrims, strangers in this world.

John 17:14–16 “I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

Ephesians 2:19 “So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,”

Philippians 3:20 “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hebrews 11:9 “By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.”

Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.”

Stop living like you are part of this world!

Stop living like you are just part of the crowd!

Verse 2:

We are not what we will be, this is not an excuse for complacency or for a lack of holiness or sanctification!

This is meant to give the believer hope that one day we will be made whole, one day we will be changed to be like him.

What will it be like to be like him?

Verse 3:

This hope should actually fuel your desire to: be rid of the world, to be rid of the old man, the old nature, old habits, old sins, old thoughts, old desires, old attitudes that are not part of who you will be!

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Ephesians 4:22–24 “to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.”

Philippians 3:13–14 “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:5–10 “Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.”

Titus 2:11–12 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,”

Concluding Thoughts

We need to marvel at God’s Love for us! The love of God is not only immense but transformative. It sets believers apart, making them children of God, strangers to the world. This truth should inspire awe, gratitude, and worship as we reflect on His undeserved mercy and grace.

We ought to live our lives with purpose! Recognizing that we are sojourners should shape how we live. Our citizenship is in heaven, and our hope in Christ motivates us to reject worldly values and embrace sanctification. We are called to represent Him faithfully, even in a world that does not understand us.

Application

Pursue Holiness: Let the hope of being like Christ fuel your desire to leave behind the old nature—old habits, attitudes, and sins—and embrace the new self in righteousness and truth (Ephesians 4:22-24). Consider practical steps to renew your mind and live distinctively, demonstrating your heavenly citizenship.

Embrace Your Pilgrimage: As spiritual wayfarers, live with a heavenly perspective. Focus on eternal goals rather than temporary pleasures. Seek opportunities to serve and love others as an expression of Christ’s sacrificial love (Philippians 3:13-14; Titus 2:11-12).