God's Amazing Love and Our Blessed Assurance

“God's Amazing Love and Our Blessed Assurance”

1 John 3:1–2 NLT

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Introduction:

A – Background

2. With the exception of the Song of Solomon, the most intimate of the inspired writings.

3. Christians addressed as little children. The Greek Word “teknia” is used her in I John, means “Little Children, born-ones,” referring to Believers as ones born of the Father.

4. John emphasizes the Believer’s nearness to God as one born to Him.

5. John writes of the Love relationship between Believers and God.

I- GOD’S LOVE FOR US IS BEYOND ALL REASON! ().

1 John 3:1 NLT

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

7. This morning we want to look at

1 Ἴδετε, ποταπὴν ἀγάπην δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ πατήρ, ἵνα τέκνα θεοῦ κληθῶμεν· καὶ ἐσμέν. διὰ τοῦτο ὁ κόσμος οὐ γινώσκει ἡμᾶς, ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνω αὐτόν.

A- God’s love is awe-inspiring.

“ See how very much our Father loves us..”

1- There are no words to describe God’s love for us.

a. John uses a phrase that expresses utter amazement. (Ἴδετε, ποταπὴν ἀγάπην δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ πατήρ).

(1) Ἴδετε, ποταπὴν ἀγάπην”= “behold, just look and see this other-worldly, astounding love.” in our vernacular, “Wow! how awesome, unfathomable this love is!!!”

(2) The word Ἴδετε” occurs only 7 times in scripture. (; (2×); ; ; ; and .) They always express an attitude of awe and wonder. (Translated “behold, see, look…)

Matthew 8:27 NLT

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

Mark 13:1 NLT

1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”

Luke 1:29 NLT

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

Luke 7:39 NLT

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”

2 Peter 3:11 NLT

11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

The word occurs only 7 times in scripture. (; (2×); ; ; ; and .)

1 John 3:1 NLT

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

(3) When we truly reflect on God’s love for us and all of its implications, it should arouse awe in our hearts!

331 Stott, Letters of John, 122.

B- God’s love is awe-inspiring because of he transforms us from enemies to children of God!

“...he calls us his children, and that is what we are!”

1- Our position before our conversion:

a. Without Christ and without hope. ()

Ephesians 2:12 NLT

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.

b. Enemies of God ()

Colossians 1:21 NLT

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.

2- Our position after conversion:

John states, “ἵνα τέκνα θεοῦ κληθῶμεν· καὶ ἐσμέν.” “he calls us his children (children of God), and that is what we are!”

a. Children through the new birth. ()

1 Peter 1:3–4 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

(1) τέκνα = children who are born into a family, natural heirs. ()

Ephesians 5:1 NLT

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

()

Romans 8:16 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

b. Children through adoption.

(1) Providing absolute security for us. ()

Galatians 4:4–6 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

C- God’s love is awe-inspiring because of its cost.

1- Love cost God His only son. (; )

John 3:16 NLT

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

Romans 5:6–10 NLT

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

D- God’s Awe-inspiring love is something the world can’t understand.

“But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.”

(διὰ τοῦτο ὁ κόσμος οὐ γινώσκει ἡμᾶς, ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνω αὐτόν.)

1- The world does not recognize who we are, because they can not understand God’s grace!

()

John 15:18–19 NLT

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

John 15:18 NLT

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

a. God’s grace and forgiveness are foreign concepts to the lost world.

b. The idea that our service to Christ is a grateful response to God’s love for us, rather than an attempt to earn salvation or a self-righteous, arrogant self-image, is beyond their understanding.

II- GOD’S LOVE FOR US TRANSFORMS OUR PRESENT REALITY AND OUR ULTIMATE OUTLOOK. ().

1 John 3:2 NLT

2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

2 ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμέν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν.

A- God’s love has transformed our present reality.

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children...” (ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμέν,)

1- The word translated “Dear friends” literally refers to someone who is held in heart with the deepest love. (beloved ones).

2- The position that Christ’s sacrifice has purchased for us is more than a future hope, it is a present reality!

a- We are already (now, immediately) (νῦν ) is used (a) of time, the immediate present.

b- God’s Children (τέκνα θεοῦ).

is used (a) of time, the immediate present

B- God’s love is going to transform our ultimate outlook.

“but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”

1- Even though our present position is amazing, our outlook (when Christ returns) is even better!

2- We will not only see the full manifestation of Jesus, but we will be made fully Christ-like!

a- Which is our ultimate goal! (; ; )

Romans 8:29 NLT

29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

(; ; )

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Philippians 3:20–21 NLT

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Illustration – “Twice Mine”

II. His Love as Demonstrated at the Place called Calvary

A. The Scene of the demonstration

1. Jesus beaten, salt put into wounds

2. The Crown of thorns

3. Beard plucked out

5. Jesus nailed to a rough wooden cross

6. Jesus and cross dropped into predug hole

7. Jesus’ intense suffering on the cross ()

B. All of this, Jesus endured for me and for you – The Song writer wrote “Alas and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head – for such a worm as I? Was it for crimes that I have done he groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity – Grace unknown, and Love beyond degree!”

1. –

2. ,

3.

IV. His love as demonstrated in the position He gives us

1.

2. How to receive this position

CONCLUSION:

Christian friend, this great love which God has demonstrated toward us should give us a burning desire to do his will. Have you been living as Jesus would have you too? Have you been witnessing to others around you, who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, about this great love of God?

Poland – 11/11/79

Bethany – 2/22/81

[1] Daniel L. Akin, 1, 2, 3 John, vol. 38, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001), 132–133.