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:
- It is good to focus from time to time on the “outcome” of our faith and trust in Jesus – the blessings promised to us at the end, when all is said and done. Much of the time we focus on our earthly lives, the blessings that strengthen and sustain us here and now and the guidance and direction for our discipleship provided in Holy Scripture. This is good, but we need also to remember the big picture, what is to come when this earthly life is over and when Christ comes again in glory.
- Our theme for today is “THE GLORY OF GOD’S CHILDREN.” Our text focuses on two things, the “glory” that God’s children already have in the here and now, and also on the much greater glory which is to come “when He appears.” We have no way of knowing exactly what that glory is going to be, and we tend to ignore and overlook the glory that already adheres to children of God in this world. That is a shame – for this detracts from our joy and fellowship with one another, and also our encouragement and commitment to growing in purity and discipleship.
- So this morning we want to consider both of these things – as our first lesson focused on the glories of God’s children in heaven, and as in our Gospel Lesson Jesus describes the glory of God’s children, their “blessedness,” even in this life! And the most important thing for us to keep in mind is that:
I. The Glory Of God’s Children Is Always Based In His Great Love For Us In Christ Jesus
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: It is God’s love that reclaims us and makes us “children of God.” “By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Eph. 2:8,9] All human blessedness, all human goodness and glory, is based in the gracious love, mercy, forgiveness and blessing of God. We do not make ourselves children of God; He has called us to faith, to the knowledge of His love and salvation in Christ Jesus.
Application: We do not always properly appreciate this graciousness we have received from God. We focus on our own decisions, our own choices, our own commitment. But if any of these are line with the will of God, if any of these are actually in accord with what is good and blessed for us, all of this is the gracious and loving work of God in our hearts.
Transition: Likewise, we tend to think that if we are to have any glory it must be based in things which distinguish us from other human beings, things we do to elevate ourselves above others. But in reality:
II. The Glory Of God’s Children Is Based In What He Has Made Us, What We Are Even Now – The Children Of God
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: Do you think you should boast that you are a “child of God”? If so, you should think again – “By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Eph. 2:8,9] It is indeed a glorious thing to be a child of God, but all of this is by God’s grace, what He has given to us and made us – so that all glory belongs to Him.
Application: Again, our thinking is so centered in “self-determination” and our evaluating so based in personal “merit,” that it is difficult for us to even contemplate the “grace” of God and the “kind of love the Father has given to us.” And if we think honestly, we recognize that there is little in us to truly boast about – so that rather than seeing the “glory” that is ours because of what God has made us, we instead rut around in our own fallen-ness and sin. Perhaps even worse, we do the same to other Christians, other “children of God.” We see clearly their weakness – so much so that we are blinded to their glory, the glory God has bestowed upon them as His dearly loved children!
So we must come to grasp “what kind of love the Father has given to us” – that we may properly value His love, and properly value the glory He has imbued us with as His dear children. And in the same way we should properly value the glory He has imbued our fellow believers with – so that we cherish them and rejoice in them!
Transition: But all of this glory is really very little in comparison to what is coming, for:
III. The Glory Of God’s Children Is Also Based In What God Has Promised Is Coming, What We Shall Certainly Be – And That Is “Like Him”
Text: “The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 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.”
Statement: In this life we “see dimly as through a mirror” [1 Cor. 13:12], but the time is coming when “we shall see Him as He is” – and this will completely transform and refine us so that we will be like Him. What a glorious thing this shall be! And again, this is not by our “determining” or by our merit, but rather by the grace, mercy, and love of God our Savior!
Application: But this is our sure and certain destiny as “children of God” – and we should acknowledge this, and embrace it, and allow it even now to have its renewing and reforming effect! But this will never happen so long as we undervalue the love of God and the glory that He has bestowed upon us by making us His dear children! So let us look up from our sin and darkness and rejoice even now in the glory that shall be ours!
Transition: And this is of great practical importance for us even now in our earthly lives, for:
IV. So It Is Our Glory As Children Of God To Seek To Be Pure
Text: “And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself even as He is pure.”
Statement: But if we have no grasp of His great love and the glory that is ours as children of God we have little hope and little impetus to “purify” ourselves – to seek to live to the honor of God’s Name. Rather, we focus on earthly things, earthly pursuits, and if necessary earthly ways. In this, we have “lost” our way, lost our “hope in Him.” There is no need for this! And this does not help us!
Application: So let us “see what kind of love the Father has given us,” the glory that is ours here and now and the glory that is coming, so that we have great hope and joy “in Him.” Then we too will rejoice to be “purifying” our lives even here and now – doing what we can to prepare for the glory soon to be revealed in us!
Conclusion: Jesus describes the blessedness and glory of His dear children of faith, the “poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted.” We see these children of God here and now. We are among them, and if we have “seen” His love, we too are even now His dear children!
May He grant such blessedness and glory to each of us – as we live our lives on the way to ever greater glory, honor, and blessedness! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the truth faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.