Children of God

1 John 3:1-10

What is a relationship like with a father usually look like? For me, my dad cares for me and encourages me when I need it.

John talks about being a child of God, what does it mean to ya’ll to be a “Child of God”? And as a child of God, what kind of love does he have for you?

Being a child of God means that you have been brought into the household of Christ! That we have been chosen and adopted into his holy kingdom. That God’s righteousness has now been placed on us. Not because we did anything but because he is perfect and just. And this love is great! It is not just regular love but it is a great love!

Romans 8:38–39 “38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What must we do to become children of God?

Read John 1:11–13 “11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

This passage says all we have to do is to is believe in him! To trust in him, and then we have the right to be children of God.

John says we are God’s children now, then why do we still mess up? Why aren’t we perfect if we are God’s children?

Even though we are God’s adopted children, we are not perfect people, that’s why God’s redemption is necessary in our lives. It says in verse 2 that what we WILL be has not been revealed yet. And that when he appears, we will be like him! This is a promise that when we see God, when he has returned, we will be holy and blameless.

In light of verse 2 and 3, what should we do now?? Rely on God to purify us! We should set our hope and trust in christ, not in ourselves but in his righteousness.

What does John say that sin is, in verse 4? It is Lawlessness! What does John mean in verse 6? What is the difference between habitual sin and making sinful mistakes?

In verse six john says that anyone who remains in christ does not sin. This does not mean that any of us who are saved will never sin again, we are imperfect people. But as long as we remain in him we will always be forgiven for those sinful mistakes that we make! Now the difference between someone who is habitually choosing sin instead of abiding in christ is living in sin. John says the one who sins has not seen God or known him. If we claim to “know” christ but we actively choose sin over relationship with him, then maybe we don’t truly know who Jesus is.

John says this again in the beginning of verse 8, what does he say about someone who practices sin? They are of the devil! I think that is the last thing any of us truly want. It says the devil has sinned from the beginning of time. Even farther then we can even imagine, the devil has been working to oppose christ in everything.

What did Jesus come to do?? Verse 8. He came to destroy the works of the devil! Christ was revealed to directly oppose the devil. So really if we are choosing sin, choosing relationship with the devil, and we are of the devil, then there will be separation between us and Jesus.

Verse 9 says that everyone who has been born of God does not sin. What two reasons does John give to support this? 1) God’s seed remains in him. 2) Because he has been born of God. God’s seed refers to God’s nature in us. When we are saved, when we believe and trust in Christ. God’s nature is imparted into us. Just like a son or daughter takes after their father in many ways, we should be taking after our heavenly father! If we take after God, God is unable to sin, which in part, it should hurt us or we should feel it when we make mistakes or are living in sin.

Does this mean that we will be perfect people and never sin???

NO! We won’t be perfect until we are glorified with the father in heaven! But this does mean that if we are followers of Christ, then our desire would be to flee from sin and run towards Christ in all things.

What two kind of children are there in this world according to John in verse 10?

Children of the devil and children of God. Stark contrast, black and white. How can you tell these two apart??

Knowing that God loves us so much that he would sacrifice his only son in order to save us. As well as the God of the universe stepping down in flesh to take on that punishment should spur us on to worship throughout our lives.

If we really consider this passage, are we living for the devil or are we living for Jesus?? Do we often choose sin over Jesus and what he has for us? I think the answer tends to be yes, but this is why God is gracious and we need his continuous forgiveness.