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:
- Virtually all people have some “hope” for surviving death. It is virtually unthinkable that at some point we will simple “no longer be.” We are so complex, and our lives are so rich and full, that we simply cannot exist for a few years of futility and insignificance, and then be lost and gone forever.
- We know, from God’s Holy Word, that God has created us this way, and that He guarantees the continued existence of all human souls. We are the crown of His creation, the object of His eternal love. Not even sin can destroy God’s love for humanity. He sent His Son to be our Savior, and He suffered bitter death and torment to atone for all human sin.
- In this sense, every single human being is a “child of God.” Everyone has been created specially by God, “knit together” in a mother’s womb. And God’s love is for all, the whole world, for “God wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [1 Tim. 2:4]
- But it is the nature of our sinful condition that we deny such relationship with God, and seek to be free and clear from God. And as Jesus taught, “broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter by it.” And though the way which leads to life is narrow, there are some who enter eternal life by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. It is these “children of God” that John writes about in our text.
- Such faith in Jesus Christ includes a huge and enduring hope, one that motivates and empowers our new life as Christians. That hope is eternal life – when we die physically; and eternal resurrected life when Jesus appears again. It is as the apostle Paul wrote: “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
- Again, these are the “children of God” – His redeemed and eternal family of believers in Christ – that John writes about in our text. And we who are believers in Christ, as well as all other believers in Christ, are described in this Word of God. For:
I. We Are Children Of God By His Gracious Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, And Calling To Faith
1 John 2:2 “He is the blood atonement for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Eph. 2:8 “By grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
1 Cor. 12:3 “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
Rom. 8:29,30 “Those whom God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.”
Statement: This is “the kind of love that the Father has bestowed upon us.” He Himself has called us “children of God.” And you know about His Word, that it is always fully true and accurate, in that it creates what it declares! This is our hope in this life – especially as we confront accidents, injuries, illnesses, aging, physical and mental demise, and death. It is also our comfort in regard to our loved ones who have died in the faith. Even now they are among the great throng in heaven, praising God, for “they have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Application: This does not mean that we have hope only for the life which is to come. But this reality, of the greater blessings to come after death, or when Christ returns in glory, provides us with great comfort and strength, and it also conditions and determines how we view our lives here and now. We know our life here is temporary, we know that we can take nothing with us when we die, we know that our earthly status will ultimately pass away. And so we do not “lay up treasures for ourselves here on earth,” but rather we “lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven.” Ultimately, our entire life is invested in “heaven” – and this is a great blessing for those around us. For our “heavenly investments” are made whenever we love and care for one another, for “the least of Jesus’ brothers.”
Transition: However, John makes clear that:
II. Our True Nature Is Not Yet Fully Apparent – So That Those Who Do Not Know God Cannot Recognize Us
Text: “So we are the children of God. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, even now we are God’s children, and what we will be has not yet appeared.”
Statement: The world – those who do not know God – cannot know the children of God. This is quite important! For those who do know God should surely be able to recognize His children, our brothers and sisters. And how does one recognize a believer, a child of God? Does he/she live in repentance, confessing sin rather than justifying and remaining in commitment to evil? Does he/she know and believe God’s love, His gracious mercy, His perfect forgiveness? Does he/she have a commitment and orientation of love, toward everything that is good and right? All of this is the gift of God, the very nature of Christian faith and life. The unbeliever sees all of these things as of very little significance or importance. In fact, often unbelievers level the charge of hypocrisy against God’s dear children, simply because “what we will be has not yet appeared.”
Application: We cannot allow this to deter us, nor can we allow their false, arrogant, and malicious judgment to destroy our faith, our hope, our joy, and our love for what is good! In addition, we dare not judge our fellow believers, our brothers and sisters in the faith, as the ignorant and malicious world does. If we do – then we fail to know God’s children – and then WE are still “of the world.” God forbid!
So yes, we are surely aware of the sins and foibles of our fellow believers, but we love and cherish them as children of God, as together we confess our sins, take comfort in God’s forgiveness, strengthen our hope in God’s promises, and live our lives in love!
Transition: For while in this life it does not yet appear what we shall be:
III. Our Destiny Is Christ’s Perfection And Glory – And This Hope Moves Us To Pursue Purity
Text: “But we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself even as He is pure.”
Statement: The final outcome is sure and certain: we shall be like Him! However, in this life we continue to struggle with sin; and so we are compelled to “purify” ourselves. We do so precisely through repentance and absolution and faith in Christ. We do so not to gain something heavenly, but because all of the blessings of heaven are already ours in Christ! We do so because our orientation and commitment has been changed: away from sin and selfishness, and toward love, goodness, service, compassion, and care. This is our destiny – and we can see all of this in our fellow children of God!
Application: This is the blessedness our departed loved ones even now enjoy, if they are in fact “children of God.” This is also their greatest desire for us, that we too would be family forever, children of God within His kingdom. This also is our greatest desire for our children and loved ones, and for all of our fellow Christians! It is also our greatest desire for those who are yet to know Christ – that they might submit to His will that all be saved and come to know the truth, and allow God to reclaim them as His dear children!
Conclusion: None of this detracts from your “newness of life” in this world, and the importance of what you do in this lifetime! Just the opposite: it informs us, moves us, compels us, excites us, humbles us, and empowers us to a new way of life, a life of love and service to others, and to the goals of God’s kingdom!
This is “the kind of love that the Father has lavished upon us” in making us His dear children! And so we are – thanks and praise be to God forever! 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.