Children of God

Introduction

Hook: Something I think about often in this season of life, is different parenting strategies and how we want to disciple Heidi according to the Wrod. I’m not a pastor’s kid…Lexi is…but at some point it dawned on me that my kids are gonna be pastor’s kids. A pk. I don’t want them to have this strange immunity to a life built around the Gospel simply because her dad is in “church work”.

Children and behavior are topics that go hand in hand. And what they do is important because in the normal circumstance, children make daily decisions on whether or not they will be obedient to parents, or teachers, or whomever.

God views you as his child. And your obedience matters to him. WHat you do for him, and what you don’t do against him, are deeply important. As a follower of Christ, we have his Word to lead us and guide us in how we should live our lives…in obedience OR sin.

Proposition: I want you as a child of God to not be overcome by sin, but live in obedience to Christ.

Read

Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Pray

Context

Reality: We are God’s Children. And I want you to understand how he feels about you.

Illustration: Judi Moon last week saying, this makes you understand how God feels about you right? Absolutely.

Explanation: You are a part of the family of God. This personal, deep relationship that you share with the Father. His love, verse three, that is displayed to you because your sonship to him.

And as God’s children, he goes in by describing the effects of sin on those in Christ, who are children of God, and those outside of Christ, who are notmom and . I want to share three truths with you today about sin.

Three Truths about Sin

I - Outside of Christ...Sin is Rooted. (4, 8)

Explanation: Look at the life of someone that is outside of Christ. It says that those who practice sin, practice lawlessness. And then in verse eight, that whoever practices sin is of the devil. Therefore, sin is instrinsically a part of who people are outside of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Its rooted within them, and the overflow is this practice sin, this lifestyle of sin.

Illustration:

Application: You have to recognize your condition if you are here and outside of Christ.

II - Because of Christ...Sin is Defeated. (5, 8)

Explanation: Notice what Christ has done. He came to take away sin (verse 5). He came to destroy the works of the devil (verse 8). He is the one who defeated sin.

Illustration: I think we know this truth, but sometimes are actions are the opposite. Its as we are in a battle, a battle with sin itself. And the only way out is by victory by our own efforts. And so we build as much discipline, effort, strategy, motivation, etc. And while we may feel like we make progres, in the end we still lose. Why? (next point)

Application: You don’t defeat sin. Christ does. You are not the conqueror, Christ is.

III- Through Christ...Sin is Overcome. (6, 9)

Explanation: Now there is a clear distinction I want to make with this. Christ is the one who defeats sin. And now that he has saved us, its by abiding in him that Sin is overcome in our lives every day. He defeated once and for all. He overcomes it in our lives daily.

And he is clear to point out, that those who are in Christ do not have a practice of sinning, because God’s seed abides in them.

Illustration: When someone receives a lung or heart transplant, their life dramatically changes. They now can breathe, they can move in such a way that they couldnt’ when their organs were deficient. When Christ saves you, everything changes about your actions. It doesn’t stay the same.

Application: Abide in Christ. Remain in him. And you will move further and further away from sin and closer and closer to Jesus.

You don’t live in submission to sin anymore. Don’t give the devil more credit than he deserves, but lean into the Father, who is growing you daily.

Final Walking Point

Your obedience to Christ is the overflow of your new life from Christ. Abide in him, and instead of trying to run from sin, you will be fixated on running to him instead. And the defeat of sin will be the effect of your desire for God.

Conclusion

Christ can defeat the sin in your life. WIll you have faith in him and allow him to come in?

Announcements:

Sunday Night prayer tonight IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL. 6 PM.

Montana Statum joined TWC.

Easter Sunday - April 4th

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