A Look At God's Family - 1 John 3a

1 John 2:29-3:3

Families are special to people. Today I want to consider God's Family. 3 points. Appreciate What We Are, Anticipate What We Will Be, and Appropriate What We Should Be.

1. Appreciate What We Are

a. A New Birth - 1 John 2:29-3:1: If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

Firstly, believers appreciate a new birth. After Sandy and I had been married for about seven years we received great news. We learnt from the doctor that Sandy was expecting our first baby. Well we were excited and gladly told our family and friends the good news. We planned and prepared for the arrival of our first baby. We loved the child so much even before they were born. Soon there would be a new member in our family. She would be our own flesh and blood and would resemble us in some way. And that is exactly what happened when our daughter was born.

Born Into God's Family

In the same way God through His Spirit has given us a new birth. We are born again; this time into the family of God. God is now our Father and we are His children. He loves us and provides for us so that we will grow and become healthy adults in His family. But as in any family it starts with the birth. God does not have any grandchildren, He only has children. If you haven’t been born into God's family through the new birth, then you do not belong to His family. You won't receive the wonderful blessings the Father has freely given. Have you been born again? You can be. You only need to believe in Jesus Christ who died for you. Simply ask Him to save you from your sin. Will you accept His salvation today? It’s a gift.

b. A New Nature

Secondly, Christians appreciate a new nature. When Lauren first came home from hospital she was so small and needed so much care. We had to change her nappies often and feed her at all hours of the night. In those first few weeks she did not look much like either of us. But as she has grown over the years there are things that she does and says that reflect her parent's characteristics. At times you can see certain features that look like us. As Lauren grows she will continue to resemble us in many ways because she has our nature.

In verse 29 we read that those who practice righteousness have been born of Him. After the Holy Spirit gives us new life through the second birth He begins to shape us after the image of Jesus Christ. We start out as babes in Christ and feed upon God's word. As we grow we start to walk like Christ and talk about Him. This doesn't mean that we don't fail and stumble sometimes. But the process of growth begins and God's nature becomes more and more a part of our lives. Our new birth means the development of a new nature. Of course this is God's nature. Are you showing your Father's nature to those around you?

c. A New Name.

1 John 3:1: Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

Thirdly, believers appreciate a new name. When our daughter was born we named her Lauren Rebekah Caswell. She is our child and carries our name Caswell. No matter where she goes she will always be our daughter. She is our daughter and nothing can change that. She will always be a family member who bears our name and one day will inherit our belongings. The same is true of God's children. When we were born into God's family we were given a new name. We bear His name, the name Christian or Christ's one. God has a wonderful inheritance kept for us in heaven. Do you wear Christ’s name with pride? Do you tell others about your heavenly Father? I trust you don't bring shame on God's name!

2. Anticipate What We Shall Be

3:2: 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.

a. A New Hope

Firstly, God's children anticipate Christ's return. Then we will see our Saviour face to face. We will see the Father and spend eternity with Him. Faith will be turned into sight when Jesus Christ returns. The hope of God's children rests in the return of Christ. Jesus Christ will come back in power and glory. He will be majestic and His glory will not be veiled as it was during His time on earth. This will fulfil Christ's prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. John 17:24 says: Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; Our hope rests in Christ's return!

b. A New Body

Secondly, we anticipate receiving a new body. Lauren is still growing and is fast becoming a young lady. We have enjoyed seeing her grow up. We have shared wonderful times together so far. We have great hopes for her future. But she still has a lot further to go before she is an adult. She is not fully grown and we look forward to the day when she will be. The Apostle John says and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but when He shall appear we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. We don't know what our resurrection body will look like now. But even so we are encouraged by the promise that God will change us. John says we shall be like Him. Christ will give us a new body like His own.

1 Corinthians 15:50-51: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

When Christ comes back for His church He will change us. This is when we take on the fullness of our new nature. We will be given new glorious bodies. Bodies that are Sinless, bodies that are Immortal, bodies that are Incorruptible. Bodies like Christ's glorious body.

Illustration of a Caterpillar that Becomes a Butterfly

When we were kids we used to collect caterpillars and keep them in a box. We would feed them a certain kind of leaves each day and watch them grow. These little grubs would grow bigger and bigger. Then one day they would start to spin a cocoon. It would take them hours and hours to make it. Then nothing would happen for a while. But then at the right time the caterpillar would come out of the cocoon. But it was no longer a caterpillar; it had become the most beautiful butterfly. Then it flew away into the sky.

Well believers are a lot like those caterpillars. Some of us are more grub like than others. But this isn’t the end of the story. One day Jesus Christ will come back and change us. He will transform us into glorious new people with sinless, perfect, glorified bodies like His own. Our appearance now is only a shadow of our future appearance.

Thirdly because we anticipate spending eternity with Christ with new bodies, we have: A New Purpose

3. Appropriate What We Should Be.

It is at this point That John makes it all very practical. 1 John 3: 3 says: And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Here the Apostle tells us what we should be now. We are told to purify ourselves. This verb is in the present tense and requires our constant attention. John also gives us the reason for this in verse 3. God is holy and we should want to please Him since we will spend eternity with Him. Basically, to be holy means that we are set apart for God’s service!

1. It is because we have the Blessed Hope we should seek to live holy lives. It is Because we have the assurance that we will see spend eternity with God

2. It is because God has bestowed so much love upon us. We have become God's children and been made part of His family. We have an inheritance kept for us in heaven.

3. It is because we have the sure hope of being changed and given glorious new bodies like Christ's glorious body. God's goodness to us should motivate us to live for Him.

1 John 2:28 states why we should live holy lives: And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

Are you a member of God's family? Have you been born again? If not, you can be today! Do you look forward to Christ's return? Are you living a holy life for Him? It is only as we live holy lives that we can have confidence when He appears. Amen

Benediction

Numbers 6:24-26: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.