Demostration of God's Love

1 John 3:1-3

1 John 3:1–3 (NASB95)

Children of God Love One Another

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Pray

Isn't interesting that Jesus mentioned that He will always be among us?

Moments before He ascended into the heavens He gave His disciples a foundation of hope. Jesus declared to them in Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This is the Love of God. That He loves us and He chooses not to leave us absent of His presence. Do you know, that if you have a personal relationship with God, it is sealed by the Holy Spirit. John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” Look at what the apostle Paul says by the hands of God: Romans 8:9 “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

I read these verses to let you know that God is with us. Both believers and non believers, God is with us. Non believers are blessed because of God sovereign mercy, and believers are seal with the sign of redemption; which is the Holy Spirit.

But John wants us to grasp three key points in these powerful verses.

The privilege of God’s love: we are called children of God (v.1). I love the scene when Jesus and His disciples where approached by some children. After His disciples attempted to rebuke the children and the adults that brought them; Jesus said, Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” In other words, God’s children can always come to Him. Despite the apostles efforts and outward hostility, we as God’s children, can always come back to Him. Remember the words of Christ after being asked about who’s the greatest. Matthew 18:3–6 (and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; Jesus didn't reject these little children because this was the purpose of Him coming in the likeness of His creation. That he may reconcile man unto Himself. And in this we may come to him as His children. Isn't good to know that God has received you. Regardless of your faults, God has accepted you. He took your sins upon Himself, and yet, accepts you. This is the first privilege of being called a child of God.

This is the privilege of adoption

We must understand: No one is considered worthy by there works.

No, Man has chosen to go his own way, to do his own thing apart from God. If your having a conversation about our times and our circumstances. You can sit all day and gossip about how bad the days are; but, bring in God. Better yet, bring Jesus into the conversation, and watch how fast people scatter. They either considers you a bible thumped or they consider you a fool. But this is the foolishness of those who are lost. Because they are trying to look at the world through blind eyes. This is why the world curses God. They curse God because this world doesn't make sense apart from God. So if the world doesn't make sense, they how can salvation make sense apart from God. So they best answer the world can come u with is, there is no life after this one. But we all know that is foolish. Romans 1:18–20 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

But In contrast, scripture declares that God does the work of salvation,

I don’t know about you, but I need to have assurance that God has done for me. That God is responsible for salvation, that God is in total and complete control. Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” , Acts 15:11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

Grace:

To be a child of God is to be a lover of God’s grace.

Remember John gives us the contrast. stating that “The world did not know Him.” Grace is understanding that salvation is a gift from God. Grace is understanding that worship can only come from God bring light to our dead and dark souls. Grace is the understanding that we seek to serve God out of the strength that He has granted us, and out of this we seek to glorify His holy name. Man apart from God, wants nothing to do with God. This is why Jesus spoke of those who are children of Satan Matthew 15:14 .. they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Yet Jesus declared to be the light and the sight for the blind. Luke 4:18 (18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed.” Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

Now this is the great hope and mystery of God’s love: eternal transformation (v. 2).

The only way that I can explain this awesome phenomenon is to use God’s Word. The Apostle Paul wanted the Corinthian church to have confidence in a life in Christ after death. 1 Corinthians 15:52–54 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Imperishable: this is the hope of our transformation. That we will no longer be in this broken body. Body that needs medicine. This body that grows weaker and slower by the day. a Body that needs redemption.

This is why we keep our eyes fixed on Christ’s return. Because that when He returns we will be made like Him (Phil. 3:20-21). This means, of course, that they will have new, glorified bodies, suited to heaven.

But lastly, God has not raptured His Church yet. I believe it is because there is work to be done before He returns. There are lives that need to be cultivated . Jesus gave the parable of the seed and soil, it was when the soul was prepared, that the seed took root. God want to be light and salt to this dark and tasteless world. This is the point John makes in verse 3. The incentive of God’s love: to live a life of purity (v. 3).

You might be asking, how can I live a purified life. All I can say is this. Who do you serve. Do you serve Christ, because if you serve Christ, you will seek opportunities to try and glorify His name. It might be in the way you carry yourself at work. Avoiding the gossip. Maybe it is showing forgiveness to someone who has wronged you. Maybe it’s loving your spouse even when they don't reciprocate that same love back to you. Because the flesh seek revenge. The flesh gets even, the flesh finds it’s source in me, my, and I. The flesh says, what have you done for me, lately. This is the sad expression of a lost soul. What have you done for me lately?

Well God does and God will, if you surrender to Him as Lord. Heres the beautiful thing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power unto God for salvation.

John 3:16 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. , Romans 8:31–32 “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? , Romans 4:25 “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” ,Romans 5:18 “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Come to Him while there is day!. Come to Christ today. Call on Him while you have breath. Because there will be a day when your name will be sealed. Where will it be. I pray beloved, that it will be in the Lamb’s book of Life. accept God’s love.

Who gives this great Love?

Why is this Love not understandable to some?

What is the believers great hope?

is purity possible?