Giving back differently than what you receive.

Persecution & Love

1 John 3:1–3 NKJV

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

We are not part of the world

When all is revealed we should appear that we belong to Him.

Purity

Verse one tells us what we are, verse two expresses what we shall be. and verse three explains what we should be- Weirsbe

We all will face a form of persecution at some point for our faith. John 15:18 John 15:21

John 16:3 NKJV

3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.

Verse two:

Isa 56:5

Romans 8:15 NKJV

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:16 NKJV

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Romans 8:18–23 NKJV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

We shall be like him: Romans 8:29

2 Peter 1:4 NKJV

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We shall see him as he is: Psa 16:11

1 John 4:17 NKJV

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Just as He is, we are to be like Him in this world.

Sending a message of love, one that corrects, teaches, and edifies.

Challenge: Moving forward how will you improve this model of living that John lays out in the text we have studied since January first?