Whose child are you really?

Main Point:

Continue in our 10 Hard Question w/ Honest Answers [Slide]

Before I read the passage I would like to make sure everyone has a Bible who would like one to follow along. We have Bibles available. If you raise your hand an usher will bring you one. We are in 2 John 2 which is page 715.

Before I read let me give your statement that I think will help summarize our study today. (If you are teenager whose family discusses the sermon later today - this might be the statement you blurt out before your siblings answer before you.

Major Premise: Whose child you are shows in your desire for closeness with God, your war against sin, and the way you love people.

1 John 2:28–3:10 (KJV)

28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Outline [Slides]

1. God’s children stay near. Because we have seen His love as better (2:28–3:3)

2. God’s children make war on sin. Because we treasure Christ more (3:4–7)

3. God’s children love others. Because we have learned of the love of God (3:8–10)

SERMON INTRODUCTION

In John 8:39–44, Jesus told the Pharisees, “Ye are of your father the devil.” They claimed Abraham’s name but carried another nature. They said Abraham was their father, but their actions—lies, pride, and hatred of truth—showed they were reflecting another father entirely.

The Apostle John picks up that same theme in his first letter.

He gives three marks of genuine faith:

Right belief — what we believe about Jesus.

Right behavior — how we live in obedience.

Right love — how we treat others.

The passage before us focuses on the last two.

So this isn’t asking, “Are you religious?”

It’s asking, “Have you been born again?” — because the way you live shows whose child you are.

In John’s day, false teachers called Gnostics claimed it didn’t matter how you lived. They said the body was just a shell, so you could sin freely without it touching your soul. But John says the exact opposite: your everyday choices reveal your spiritual family. The way you live in your body shows whose child you really are.

1. God’s children stay near because we have seen His love as better (2:28–3:3)

A. A child of God builds confidence in life by remaining close to Christ.

1 John 2:28 “28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

Confidence is the quiet assurance that when Christ returns, we won’t shrink back in shame but we’ll stand before Him as beloved children, not fearful strangers.

Confidence today means living like you’ll be glad to see Jesus tomorrow.

Notice confidence comes from abiding, not performance.

To abide means to make your home in Christ, to live near His presence every day, not merely visit on Sundays.

What we have is not arrogance; it’s assurance.

A mark of a true disciple is we want to hear from God. John 6:67–68 “67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

That’s the reason the children of God stay near is we have nowhere else to go that compares.

They stay near because they’ve seen His love as better; better than sin’s promises, better than the world’s approval, better than life itself. Psalm 63:3 “3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”

B. A child of God stands in awe of being adopted.

1 John 3:1 “1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

Adoption (should be called the sons of God) in Scripture is not sentimental—it is legal. When a judge declares a child adopted, the old life is canceled and a new identity is given. [SLIDE]

Through Christ, God has legally declared us His sons and daughters.

We are no longer outsiders; we bear His name, enjoy His rights, and live under His care.

This is exemplified for us in the story of the prodigal son, get him a robe, shoes, and a ring.

We are allowed to be identified with the family.

Romans 8:15 “15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Adoption is the highest privilege of the gospel, the traiter is forgiven, brought in for supper, and given the family name.

A child of God should not be surprised when the world does not understand him.

Just as Christ was misunderstood and rejected, so His children will often be. But rejection from the world is confirmation of relationship with the Father.

Our identity is not validated by the world’s approval but by the Father’s declaration.

C. A child of God is sanctified as we long to see our Father’s face.

1 John 3:3 “3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Hope in Christ’s return is not just wishful thinking, it is sanctifying.

Selah loves to go places. Where? Anywhere. A few years back she told me she was homesick as she sat in the living room. I asked her what she meant. She said she was “sick of being at home.” Have you ever experienced home sickness. I have travelled when some of you - on the day we are headed back everything about your is oriented toward home.

Holiness is the natural result of homesickness for heaven — when your heart longs to see the Father’s face, you start living like you belong in His house.

As I look over this point in my notes. I do no only consider that I will stand on Sunday before you and give an account of what I have done with my time this week, but someday I will stand before our Heavenly Father and give an account on my time. This is extremely sobering. We are in constant need of being sobered.

Transition: Those who abide in Christ aren’t just staying near Him we are fighting everything that would pull us away. That’s where John takes us next.

2. God’s children make war on sin.

Because we treasure Christ more (3:4–7)

A. Sin is not just breaking a rule—it’s betraying a relationship.

1 John 3:4 “4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Sin is treason, not a blunder. It is saying, “Father, I know what better for me than you ever will.”

David understood this when he prayed, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.” (Psalm 51:4)

Sin not only calls into question the law, but the law giver.

B. Jesus came to destroy sin’s power so we could enjoy His presence.

1 John 3:5 “5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

The word manifested reminds us that His appearing was purposeful. He entered our world not as a spectator but as a Savior on mission—to destroy what destroys us.

Grace is not only pardon for sin—it’s power that makes war on it.

The cross didn’t make sin safe; it made holiness possible.

Each sin agrees with the devil’s agenda; each act of trust and obedience to God is defiance to rules of this broken world.

C. The true child of God cannot be comfortable living live outside of God’s will.

1 John 3:6 “6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”

This speaks of pattern, not perfection.

A believer may stumble, but he cannot settle in sin.

The difference between a child of God and a child of the devil is not the absence of sin—it’s the attitude toward sin.

Sin may visit his life, but it can’t make itself at home there.

Sin has no more dominion in our lives. (mother in law visiting, not a mother in law suite)

When Peter denied Christ, he went out and wept bitterly—his grief proved he belonged to God.

Judas sinned and hid; Peter sinned and came home.

Their attitude toward sin revealed their family.

We don’t make war on sin to earn the Father’s love— we make war because we already have it.

Every temptation whispers, “God isn’t enough.”

When we fight sin, we’re shouting back, “Yes, He is.”

Transition: Children resemble their Father. If our Father hates sin, we can’t make peace with it. But if our Father is love, then we can’t help but show it. John moves from the war we fight internally to the love we display externally

3.God’s children love others.

Because they’ve learned of the love of God (3:8–10)

A. The gospel didn’t just forgive us; it enlisted us in the overthrow of evil.

1 John 3:8 “8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

1. Jesus overthrew Satan’s work by defeating sin at the cross.

Colossians 2:15 “15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

At Calvary, the enemy’s greatest weapon—sin and death—was broken.

What Satan meant for eternal ruin, Jesus turned into redemption.

2. Every time a believer chooses forgiveness over bitterness or truth over deceit, Christ’s victory is displayed again in this world.

Joseph understood this when he told his brothers, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” (Genesis 50:20)

Love triumphed over revenge because the Father’s heart beat in him.

3. One day Jesus will destroy Satan completely.

Romans 16:20 “20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”

The war is already won, but the final defeat is coming soon.

B. The new birth implants a new nature that hates what kills love.

1 John 3:9 “9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

The child of God no longer lives in sin comfortably because something new has been planted inside—God’s own life, His “seed.”

The man or woman who is God’s child does not practice sin, for God’s nature is in them.

Paul confessed this battle: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:19)

Even in failure, his heart longed for holiness.

This means sin is now foreign to our new nature.

A true child of God doesn’t live in a pattern of sin, because sin no longer fits the family they belong to.

John cannot mean believers never sin—he already said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.” (1 John 1:8)

He is describing not a moment of failure but a way of life.

Children reflect their father’s nature. The child of the devil sins comfortably because it’s his nature; the child of God cannot stay there, because he’s been given a new one.

Sin may knock on the door, but it can’t live here anymore — not in a house where grace has taken up residence. Romans 6:14 “14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (it may visit but we do not build a mother-in-law suite for it)

C. The children of God display their lineage through love that costs something.

1 John 3:10 “10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

John draws a clear line: the family resemblance of God’s children is love and righteousness.

Love is not the condition of salvation; it is the consequence of it.

Our love reveals our lineage—just as sin shows the devil’s nature, love shows the Father’s.

The absence of love isn’t a weakness; it’s evidence of spiritual death.

Genuine love is never cheap—it costs something.

“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (1 John 3:14)

Love is proof of life—it gives even when it’s not returned.

Love that looks like Christ will often hurt like Christ’s; it bears, forgives, and endures.

The cross defines the kind of love God’s children display.

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.” (1 John 3:16

You can’t look long at Calvary and still look down on your brother.

Being in the family longer, should teach us more about love

It should become easier it to love those who don’t deserve it—because we know that is how we are loved.

Do you recognize that your unwillingness to forgive is going againt your new nature?

Are your uncomfortable with your bitterness because you know this is not how our family is to love?

Closing Challenge – Examine the Family Traits

John does not write to destroy assurance but to deepen it. True believers are not sinless—they are sensitive to sin.

The difference between a child of God and a child of the devil is not the absence of sin—it’s the attitude toward sin.

Let us ask God to help us as we know respond individually and as a church to what we have learned today.

As John says, “The children of God are manifest.” The marks of our spiritual family show up in everyday life. So let’s look in the mirror and ask — what family traits are showing up in us?

Teenagers: If your pursuit of fun is only limited by opportunity or not wanting your parents to find out, ask — do you truly know the God of heaven?

Young Adults: If your goals revolve around success, image, or relationships that pull you from Christ, remember — ambition without surrender becomes idolatry.

Parents: Are we showing our children what it means to make war with sin, or are there areas where they see we’ve signed a peace treaty with it?

Senior Adults: If you’ve begun to excuse bitterness or pride because “you’ve lived long enough to know better,” remember — holiness has no retirement age.

Unbelievers If sin doesn’t bother you because you’ve never turned from it, this passage isn’t meant just to shame you — it’s meant to invite you home.

The Bible says sin isn’t just what we do—it’s what owns us.

“Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34)

But Jesus promised freedom: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

You don’t have to stay a slave to sin—Jesus bore your guilt and broke sin’s power.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:12)

At the cross, He paid the price so you could be called a child of God.

Today you can trade slavery for sonship, shame for forgiveness, and distance for adoption.

The Father isn’t waiting to scold you—He’s waiting to save you.

Turn from sin and trust in the Savior who came to destroy its power.

He died for your sins, rose again, and is ready to call you His own. today.