Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 John 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We have an identity problem within the church. It stems from the reality of sin being in the world, and also from the renewal of our nature as Christians. Scripture clearly identifies this problem. “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” [1 John 1:8] But also, “If anyone is in Christ Jesus he is a new creation.” [2 Cor. 5:17]
- Lutheran theologians use a Latin phrase to label this problem: “simul justus et peccator.” It means: “we are at the same time both saint and sinner.” We can clearly see this reality in ourselves and in others. People surely give appearance to be Christians, and we accept that they are, but then along comes some sin and travesty. We surely see this in our children, and our children surely see this in us.
- We’d like to simplify, and would prefer that it be one way or the other, and the devil capitalizes on this ambiguity in our lives. Personally, he drives us either to despair in view of our sin, or he compels us to think of ourselves as being without sin, or with only a little bit of sin. With other people he generally drives us to see their sin and to judge them harshly, perhaps even as hypocrites and unbelievers. And of course, other people join the devil in his efforts and also plague us – both in condemning us, and also in recruiting us to gossip and slander others.
- The reality of our identity crisis is also discussed by John, in our text. And in that we are celebrating “ALL SAINTS SUNDAY,” it would be a good thing for us to get a proper grasp of all of this. First, John takes care to assure us that “WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD,” but:
I. We Are Children Of God By God’s Gracious Love Alone – Which We Must Behold As Christians
Text: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
Statement: No Christian would dare say that he is a Christian because of his goodness, piety, saintliness, or perfection. Even the saints in heaven are described as having “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” [Epist.] The same apostle John, in this same Epistle, wrote: “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” This and this alone is what makes one a child of God – God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and love.
Application: This is why we begin worship with confession and the absolution or forgiveness which Christ has commanded His servants to pronounce, so that at the very outset of worship we “see what kind of love the Father has given to us,” what makes us children of God. This is why the whole liturgy centers in celebration of God’s gracious love to us. And every proper Christian sermon begs us to “see what kind of love the Father has given to us.” And of course Christ’s Sacrament – His body and blood, “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” reveals and proclaims to us “what kind of love the Father has given to us.”
Transition: This, and this alone makes one a child of God, and John emphasizes this – “Beloved, even now we are children of God.” But:
II. Though We Are Even Now Children Of God, This Is Not Always Obvious Or Visible
A. The World Does Not Know Us Or Acknowledge Us For What We Are
Text: “The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”
B. And The Truth Is Clearly Stated That What We Will Be Has Not Yet Appeared
Text: “And what we will be has not yet appeared.”
Statement: Note that it is “the world” that does not know or acknowledge us for who and what we are – and the cause of this ignorance is an ignorance of God, especially of His great love, mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. So it should not surprise us that we have an “identity problem” with unbelievers. And we need to find ways to manage this; it actually gives us great opportunities to express and explain the hope that is in us, and the peace and comfort of living in God’s gracious mercy and love.
Application: However, for those who do know Christ, this problem with identity should not exist. We understand that our place as children of God is solely based in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness – so we must not allow our sins to give us too great of alarm. We also understand that our fellow believers suffer the same weakness and affliction of sin; it should not surprise us when we see it surface in them, in their behavior. We understand that they are children of God by His mercy just as we are. We also understand that just as God extends mercy to them [and also to us], so also we are to extend the same mercy to them.
When this does not happen, what are we to surmise? Well, whenever we do not exercise mercy and forgiveness to one another we demonstrate an ignorance of God which is symptomatic of the unbelief of the world around us. If we are unable to identify the children of God, in their repentance, humility, and dependence upon God’s gracious mercy and love, it is only because we ourselves do not know God. This is a warning to us, and if we are afflicted with this malady, then perhaps we should re-invest ourselves in coming to know God – by deeper and more genuine repentance ourselves!
Transition: So while the world will always look with scorn upon the church, because it cannot recognize God’s children, our text assures us that:
III. Things Will Get Much Better For The Children Of God
A. When Christ Returns In Glory We Will Be Like Him
Text: “But we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.”
B. It Is Because Of This, The Assurance Of His Mercy And Forgiveness In This Life, And The Glorious Destiny That Is Ours, That We Strive For Purity Even Now – Although This Means Struggling Against Our Sinful Nature
Text: “And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself even as He is pure.”
Statement: Again, people of the world who are ignorant of God’s love in Christ Jesus do not understand our striving for purity. They assume that it has to do with elevating ourselves and making them feel bad about themselves. And sadly, there are many hypocrites in the church who do just this – strive to feel that they are pure so that they can condemn others even in the church whose sin they can point out. But again, just as genuine children of God can recognize fellow children of God, we are also able to identify such hypocrites. And though it grates horribly on our sinful nature, we must forgive them. At the same time we must oppose them – for the sake of the church, for the sake of those who are true humble believers in Christ.
Application: But this is where it gets somewhat tricky for us. Not everyone who is critical is hypocritical. We need encouragement to continue striving for purity, and we need correction. And so do others around us. So, humbly, gently, but firmly we continue to encourage one another to be growing in purity. First and foremost this involves interaction with the Word of God, whereby we grow in repentance and most importantly our faith in Jesus and God’s gracious mercy. Then God’s Word will also instruct and compel us in the ways of love. It is in this way that the statements of Jesus in our Gospel Lesson become descriptive of us also – though the world will still not recognize us.
Conclusion: So there is need for caution and wisdom in all of this – in judging, in seeking purity as children of God, and also in encouraging and admonishing one another in love. This is because of the problematic dynamic of “simul justus et peccator” in Christians.
Although there will be painful experiences that we have even within the life of the church – whether we are being called to repentance and greater humility, or being condemned and rejected by hypocrites – there is much greater joy. We know the kind of love the Father has given to us in Christ Jesus, that our sins are all forgiven. We know that what we will be has not yet appeared. But we know what is coming. And so we rejoice to continue pursuing purity – even though we know how difficult and painful this is.
In reality, we do not have an identity problem when we understand God’s great love, and His promises. It is others – the world, and unbelievers – who have a problem identifying the children of God. And we must take care when looking at others that we see them through the lens of God’s love – so that we too may have the joy of seeing our fellow believers and having fellowship with them. This is a joy and pleasure that only gets better, and that will last forever.
God grant us great joy in His love and within the fellowship of His church! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.