Our Position - “We Shall Be Like Him” (1John 3:1-3)

Chosen by the Father (Eph.1:5)

1.                  God predestined us to adoption as sons (Eph.1:5).

a)                  The elements of forming the body of Christ.

(1)                 The method - election (v.4): "Chose" - This word means to pick out or select for oneself

(2)                 The time - before the foundation of the world (v4): It was then that our inheritance in God’s kingdom was determined.

Jesus said "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" (Matthew 25:34, NKJV)

Our names as believers were “written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain” (Rev. 13:8; cf. 17:8).

(3)                 The purpose - Holiness, without blame (v.4): blameless literally means without blemish, or spotless.  Paul is talking about our position not our practice.  Because Jesus Christ gave Himself for us as “a lamb unblemished and spotless” (1 Pet. 1:19), we have been given His own unblemished and spotless nature.

(4)                 The motive - In Love (v.4): Just as He chose Israel to be His special people, He also chose the church, family of God. 

In Deuteronomy 7:7-8 we read "The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:7-8, NKJV)

Biblical agapē love is not an emotion but a disposition of the heart to seek the welfare and meet the needs of others.  Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  And that is exactly what Jesus Himself did on behalf of those God has chosen to be saved.

(5)                 The result – adoption as sons (v.5): and that is why John says in 1 John Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us! 

KEEP YOU’RE FINGER HERE, WE WILL COME BACK TO EPHESIANS

2.                  ‘Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us…’  (v.1a).

a)                  The Love of God is “unique”

(1)                 Why does John describe God's love as "what manner of love"? Perhaps he tried to call it super, colossal, stupendous, or unbelievable, but eventually gave up.  

(2)                 To be called a child of God was more wonderful that John could imagine.  Hebrews 2:11 says Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brothers. 

(3)                 The phrase translated "what manner" in classical Greek referred to a country, race, or tribe. It refers to something foreign.  So John is saying, "What kind of foreign love did God bestow on us to make us His sons?" The love of God is foreign to the human race. It is other-worldly. It belongs in a different dimension. 

The disciples had a small problem--a storm on the sea: "And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He (Jesus) was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be (or - What manner of man is this), that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”" (Matthew 8:24-27, NKJV)

(4)                 Peter uses it as well in (2 Peter 3:10-11)

!!!! b)                  Loves origin is from “The Father”

(1)                 Human love is object orientated – God's love for us is not object-oriented, but human love often is. Human love discriminates on the basis of the object's attraction. 

(2)                 God's love has nothing to do with the object – God is love (1Jn.4:8, 16).  His love is indiscriminate--it is based on His nature. God loved the apostle John not because John was such a great person, but because it was His nature to love.

(3)                 Love is not caused by us (He demonstrated His love Rom.5:8; 1Jn.4:8-10, 19)

c)                  Love’s objects, is “On us”

(1)                 I cannot merit it (Eph.2:8-9) – “Its by God’s grace, through faith, not of ourselves, a gift of God, not or works, let I should boast”

(2)                 It is amazing that God even thinks of me:

The Psalmist said "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him…?" and he goes on to say "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand."  (Psalm 8:4; 139:17-18)

d)                  Love’s characteristics in John’s epistle.

(1)                 It is an obedient love (1 John 2:5)

(2)                 It is a love that demonstrates (1 John 3:16)

(3)                 It is an unselfish love (1 John 3:17)

(4)                 It is a love which demonstrates that we are born of God and know Him (1 John 4:7)

(5)                 It is the badge worn by the true Christian (1 John 4:8, 16).  Without it, at the final day of judgmemt, the Son of Man will say, “Depart from Me, I never knew you” (Matt.7:23).

(6)                 It is a sacrificial love that resulted in Jesus Christ’s shedding of His blood to bring about our reconciliation with God (1 John 4:9-10; 2Cor.5:17-21).

(7)                 It is a love that reveals God’s character to others through Christians (1John 4:12)

(8)                 It is a source of courage in the Day of Judgment (1 John 4:17-18).

(9)                 It is a love that delights to do God’s will (1 John 5:3)

3.                  ‘…That we should be called children of God…! (v.1b).

a)                  We were rebels, aliens, children of wrath (Eph.2:1-3, 4-7)

(1)                 If you were to adopt a child, would you adopt one that was a rebel & even hated you?  That’s what God did!  God's love resulted in our being called the children of God.

(2)                 It's exciting to realize that God is my Father. I can go to Him as I can to my human father. If I ask Him for bread, He won't give me a stone because He loves me (Matt.7:9).

(3)                 Romans 8:17 says we are joint heirs with Christ. God is going to allow us to share in everything He has prepared for Christ.

4.                  ‘…now we are children of God…’  (1Jn.3:1, 2a).

a)                  God is not finished with us – We are a work in progress.

(1)                 When did you become a child of God? The minute you believed. If you are a believer, you are a child of God now, although you may be somewhat disappointed in what God has produced so far.

(2)                 We are like a sculpture that God continues to chisel as more and more of our form emerges.    

(3)                 We have been transformed, not reformed (2Cor.5:17), being born a second time (Jn.3:3)

(4)                 I have “received a spirit of adoption” (Rom.8:15), God is no longer my judge but my Father

(5)                 I now come to Him with confidence (Heb.4:14-16), knowing He will here my prayers (Jn.11:42)

(6)                 John has emphasized that we are God’s children right now. This brings me to say that our salvation is in three tenses:

b)                  The Word Salvation is used in Scripture 3 different ways:

(1)                 I have been saved – The once-for-all experience of salvation – (John 5:24; Luke 7:50 cf. Eph.2:8; 2Tim1:9): saved from the condemnation of sin, death, & hell.

The Lord Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." (John 5:24, NKJV)

(a)                 The moment you trust Christ you receive everlasting life, and you will never be any more saved than you are at the moment you trust Him. You are born again, born into the family of God.

(b)                John is addressing God’s children. He says, “What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us.” Why?  Because we are His children.  He has bestowed His love upon His children, and they respond to that love by obedience unto Him and by living a life that is well pleasing to Him.

(2)                 I am being saved – The continuous experience of salvation (1Cor.1:18): being saved from the dominion of sin.  Progressive sanctification. 

Paul says "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18, NKJV)

He also says in Philippians 2 that we are to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, NKJV)

If we are children of God, we are going to be obedient, grow and develop as we go on in the Christian faith "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18, NKJV)

(3)                 The redemptive experience in the future (Rom.13:11): will be saved from the very presence of sin in heaven forever (Rom.5:9-10)

To those in Rome Paul said "And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11, NKJV)

And in chapter 5 he says "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:9-10, NKJV)

Hated by the World (v.1)

1.                  ‘…The world does not know us, because is it did not know Him…’  (v.1c see 1Jn.3:13).

a)                  The world hated Jesus therefore it will hate us (1Jn.3:13; Jn.15:18-21).

(1)                 If the world loves you something is wrong!  Jesus said "Woe to you when all men speak well of you."  (Luke 6:26, NKJV)

(2)                 The world will do these things because it has not known the Father nor Jesus (Jn.16:3)

(a)                 Before Paul knew Jesus, In Acts 8, he was ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison. 

(b)                Philippians 3:6 Paul thought he was offering God service (Gal.1:13).

(3)                 The man born blind in John 9 was reviled and even cast out because of his testimony of Jesus.

Speaking about affliction, Paul said "for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this."  (1 Thessalonians 3:3, NKJV)

Peter said that we are to "rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”  (1 Peter 4:12-13, NKJV)

Our Potential – 3:2

Anticipation…  “It has not yet been revealed” (v.2b)

1.                  “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be…”  (v.2b).

a)                  The anticipation of a completed work.

(1)                 God has begun a work and will complete it (Phil.1:6).

(2)                 Right now we are children of God but because of sin we lack perfection.  One day our salvation will become full reality.

(3)                 Now we “look into a glass dimly” but one day we will see fully.

b)                  The anticipation of a resurrected body (Col.3:4) – the nature of the resurrection body.

(1)                 Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor.15:50)

(a)                 Our bodies must be specially suited for the eternal state of existence

(b)                Our present bodies are not suited for the eternal existence.

(c)                 Our present bodies will cease and the needs of it in the life to come.

(d)                Our bodies after the resurrection will retain human form

(i)                   John 20:27—the wounds from his crucifixion were still visible

(ii)                 Luke 24:39—He was not a phantom—He looked human in every regard

(iii)                Luke 24:13-18—the disciples never questioned His humanity after His resurrection

(iv)               Luke 24:42-43—He ate real, earthly food

(v)                 John 20:19-28—Yet-His body could pass through solid walls

(vi)               Luke 24:36—He could suddenly appear out of no where

(vii)              Luke 25:41; Acts 1:9—He could ascend directly into heaven in bodily form

(viii)            Philippians 3:21—Our bodies will be like that—“Christ will transform our body that it may be conformed to His”

(2)                 Our bodies will be a glorified likeness of what it was on earth

(3)                 We will not only recognize our friends, but, without introduction, the prophets, apostles, confessors, and martyrs of whom we have read or heard about while on earth.

(a)                 Moses and Elija were recognized by the disciples (Matt.17:4)

(b)                We are to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in heaven (Matt.8:11)

(4)                 Our Future bodies will be incorruptible never to decay (1Cor.15:42)

(5)                 Our future bodies will be a resurrected body of glory & power (1Cor.15:43)

2.                  Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

B.                Completed…“when He is reveled…”  (v.2c).

1.                  ‘When He is revealed, we shall be like Him (v.2c).

a)                  To be conformed into the image of God’s Son means (Romans 8:29):

(1)                 Glorification in body (Phil.3:20-21)

(2)                 to be adopted as a son of God (Eph.1:5).

(3)                 to be holy and without blame before Him (Eph.1:4; 4:24).

(4)                 to bear the image of the heavenly: which is an incorruptible, immortal body (1Cor.15:49-54; cp. 1Cor.15:42-44).

(5)                 to possess a perfect body and being (1Cor.15:51-57)

(6)                 to be recreated just like Him (1 John 3:2-3).

This means that blind people will see Him, lame people will walk, deaf people will hear, those who are mute will talk.

There will be no deficiency, no disease, no death, in our new heavenly bodies.

!!! 2.                  ‘For we shall see Him as He is…’  (v.2d).

a)                  Men at war long to see their children, not through pictures, but face to face one day.

(1)                 We have never seen Jesus, but God has given us pictures of Him in the four gospels.

(2)                 Some day our faith will turn to sight (1Peter 1:8)

(3)                 One day we will see Him face to face (1Cor.13:12)

(4)                 Matt.5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Our Practice – 3:3

Who Is Our Hope?

1.                  “Everyone who has this hope in him” (v.3a).

a)                  The hope for those who believe.

(1)                 Our Hope is in God:

The Psalmist said "Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him." (Psalm 43:5, NKJV)

(2)                 Hope is a gift from God:

Paul said "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace," (2 Thessalonians 2:16, NKJV)

(3)                 Hope comes from Scripture:

To those in Rome Paul said "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."  (Romans 15:4, NKJV)

(4)                 Hope is secured by Christ's resurrection:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"  (1 Peter 1:3)

b)                  The hope for those who do not believe.

(1)                 Without Christ… having no hope and without God in the world (Eph.2:12)

(2)                 Results of not having God in your life (Romans 1:18-32) is standing before God in judgment.

How Should Christ Imminent Return Affect Our Living?

1.                  ‘Purifies himself, just as He is pure…’  (v.3b).

a)                  Motivate us to be godly, watchful pursuers of righteousness (2Tim.2:22).

(1)                 One day we will stand before His judgment seat (2Cor.5:9-10).

(2)                 Therefore, we should want to meet the Lord with joyful assurance (1Jn.2:28), knowing that a divine reward awaits those who look for His second coming (2Tim.4:8; cf. Phil.3:14; 1Jn.3:2-3).

b)                  Motivate us to be ready (Matt.24:42-44)

(1)                 Our Lord warned us of the importance of being ready to stand before Him.

(2)                 Jesus promised that He will serve those disciples who have been watchful & ready (Lk.12:37)

c)                  Motivate us to be men and women of prayer (Luke 21:36 cf. 2Thess.1:11)

(1)                 Be serious & watchful in your prayers (1Pet.4:7)

(a)                 Because we act according to the way we think (Prov.23:7), believers must guard their minds and keep them clear and fixed on spiritual things (Col.3:2), (Phil.4:8; Col.3:16; Titus 2:11-12)

(b)                Making our minds captive to Christ (2Cor.10:5), and His Word (Joshua 1:8) keeps them safe and allows us to see things from God’s perspective.

Our Position – 3:1

Chosen by the Father (Eph.1:5)

B. Hated by the World (v.1)

Our Potential – 3:2

!1 Anticipation…  “It has not yet been revealed” (v.2b)

B. Completed…“when He is reveled…”  (v.2c).

Our Practice – 3:3

A. Who Is Our Hope?

B. How Should Christ Imminent Return Affect Our Living?