Introduction:
Turn with me in your Bibles to 1 John 3. As you’re turning there and by way of introduction, I want us to look at the opening statement/command that John gives to us in verse 1. He starts chapter 3 by imploring the listener/hearer to see the greatness of the Father’s love. We have previously seen the love that the Father has for the Son. This morning I want us to see the love that the Father has for us. It is a special love.
The how (in how God gives this love) is a specific declaration delivered to or about a specific person. Therefore, the Father’s love is directed to us! Luke 1:29 is the encounter between the angel who would deliver the news about the Holy Spirit bringing forth Christ in Mary’s womb. She pondered the angel’s welcome, “Greetings, favored one!” The greeting that she pondered was given directly to her and no one else. The case in Luke 7:39 tells us about the woman who had come to our Lord and was anointing His feet with her hair and with perfume. This woman is defined as someone who has sins “which are many” (Luke. 7:47). The ‘how’ in verse 1 of 1 John 3, is attributed to the love of God that is given to sinners. It is a great love that John is talking about. A love that can only come from and be said of God. It is not possessed by human beings. Hence, John’s singular attribution of God’s great love. It is declared of God and is only of God. Matthew 8:27 is another example, this time about Jesus. The disciples marvel that the winds and the seas obey Christ when He commands them to calm down and stop raging. They ponder the power in Jesus and that is why they say, “what kind of man is this?” This was said to and about Jesus and Jesus alone.
Do you know a love like this? Is there a love on earth that comes close to this type of love? This type of love that is given means that a request has been granted. This is not a mushy love that we see on earth. It is not a sentimental love. John 17:24 helps us to see this love is unique in that it is the request given by Jesus on our behalf. “Father, I desire, that they also, also whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” In 1 John 3:1, this request is granted by the Father. God the Father has given His Son those (that is believers) who would receive Him (Jn. 1:12).
I want us to work through these verses in the form of a sentence. In verse 1, I want us to see that the Father’s love is so great, that We are called children of God, verse 2 We will be like Christ, and verse 3, therefore, we walk as He walked. Simply put, my hope this morning is that we see the Father’s love as so great because ‘We are called children of God who will be like Christ and therefore, we walk as He walked.’
- We are called children of God (v.1)
Look with me at verse 1. Notice the first effect of the Father’s love. That is, that we are children of God. John states that clearly. As we have seen previously, the audience to whom John writes to he has referred to them as ‘children’ many times. I want us to see that this verse is different. This verse is not focused on John writing to believers. This verse is focused on the declaration that the people of God are the children of God. What does it mean to be ‘called?’ To be called is a general statement that promotes an invitation to something. In Matthew 22.3-4, 8-9, the slaves are sent out to call people to the wedding feast that had been prepared. The first time out, no one came to the feast, so they were sent out again to all places to find those who would come. In the parable, we see that those who were invited first were, most likely, high, and mighty. The reason for this thought is that the second time the slaves are sent out, they go to the main highways where there are large swaths of people. There are many that are called, but few are chosen. Remember that verse? In the same way, we are called by God, and by His mercy and grace we are grafted in as those who have surrendered and submitted to the Father’s will. We are those who are by the highway in Matthew 22. We were not of noble status, we were not of high acclaim, we were not famous, we were not sought after by another. No! God takes the foolish things of the world and trips of the rich and intellectually smart ones with the truth of the gospel that he uses us to proclaim.
I want us to see the magnitude of being called children of God. This is not something that we can just pass over quickly and move on to the next topic or verse. Brothers, we have seen over and over, the many marks that distinguish a Christian from the rest of the world. Here is another. We are called children of God. Is this calling given to the entire world? No, it is not. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 confirms this, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
This is a good time to shed some light on the sometimes-controversial subject of the “U” in TULIP also known as the Doctrines of Grace given by John Calvin, that is “unconditional election.” There are some Christians that have a hard time grappling this topic. There are many people out there that are 4-point Calvinists. They believe in Total Depravity, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints, but the one on election is the one that trips them up. My hope in going down this road is to see the joy that we have in God’s sovereign election. The question we must ask is, “how have we become children of God?” Did we do something to be so lovable to God? Are we charming in some way? Have we done a lot of good deeds that pleased God? Was it because we grew up in church? Is it because we have a good track record of obeying our parents? If you were to answer no to all the questions I just asked, what are you left with? Well, you are left with the reality that you and I have done NOTHING to earn the title “children of God.” I want to share with you the BFC’s answer to this question. You will find it in the Articles of Faith, article 11. Here is what it says. “Election is a free act of the sovereign God in which from eternity, for reasons known only to Himself, and apart from any foreseen faith and/or goodness found in man, He graciously chose from among the fallen mankind a people unto salvation, that they might by conformed to Christ’s image. Those so chosen He redeemed by His Son, and seals by His Spirit.”
Do you see why the doctrine of election is such a joyous one? We have done nothing to deserve being in the family of God, yet He has called us His children.
John duly emphasizes this point in verse 1. After telling us that we would be called children of God, he puts the exclamation mark that we are children of God. See we are not just called like those in the wedding feast, but we actually are. We have had God’s grace bestowed upon us in so choosing us to be His children. Seeing that ‘we’ refers to believers, we get a better connection about who we are in the Father’s love. The ‘are’ in this verse goes along with the confidence that we have in Christ. The only hope that we have is that everything that Christ said is true. It is in Him that we have “our being” and our “hope” and we see that in the expressed love of the Father. The “we are” is a declarative statement. This is definitive. This is absolute. This is perfect. This is unwavering. This is unquestionable. This is ‘all’ that we need. Those who are in Christ and under the love of the Father are “children of God.” We are not just ‘called’ the children of God, but we are God’s children. Let us rejoice in the work that God has done, a work that we could not do ourselves.
There is, yet another way that we are set apart as the children of God. Look at the end of verse 1. John tells us that the reason that the world does not know us is because it first did not know Him. Again, we see this close relational connection that we have with God. Now, the world knows who we are by name don’t they? I mean if anyone were to look up Zionsville Bible Fellowship Church, very quickly they would see that we are a church. Maybe by social media posts, people can ‘know’ where we stand. But the world does not know us, in that, we are children of God in whom they do not know. The world does not know why we live the way we do, why we live selflessly, why we are not caught in gossip, why we do not rely on social programs and government, why we do not submit to climate change, why we do not bend the knee to the social agenda, why we are not staunch republicans or democrats, why do we not love the everyone equally? The world does not know why we are calm and collected when things in the world are going crazy. It is the lives that are centered and focused on God, His Word, and the spread of the gospel that the world does not know.
Further, what is the main reason for the world not knowing us? It is because the world does not know God. The world is blinded, and therefore, unable to know who God is. In both instances of the word ‘know’ it is important to note that because the world is unable to know God in mind, it cannot know God in the heart. This is not to say that God must be known intellectually before He is known in the heart. The opposite is true. Because the hearts of those of the world have not been opened to see the love and truth that is found in Christ, they are unable to grasp Him in a logical sense. All things start in the heart and what is found their pre-conversion is not pleasing to God (Jer. 17.9). The Creation proves the existence of God and, yet, because of the stubbornness of sin, man is unable to know God.
Praise be to God, that out of His kindness, mercy, and love, He has chosen us to be His children.
- We will be like Christ (v.2)
Let us move on to verse 2 and see how the love of the Father is bestowed upon us in the future, when ‘We will be like Christ.’ Since John has established the reality that we are children of God, the question could be asked, why are we still in our current state? He tells us that “it has not been manifested as yet what we will be.” The answer that John gives is that we have a job to do on this earth. He has been writing about this throughout this epistle. What we will see in the third point is that we are to walk as He walked, most specifically living pure lives as he is pure. But before John gets to that point, he does not leave out the reality that “we will be like Him.”
This is important for us to think about this morning. As we have looked before at the purpose for our lives, the reason that we live and why we are here on this earth, we have a better glimpse of why we are here and not yet like Christ in this verse. John tells us three things in verse 2, 1. We know that He is coming back, 2. We will be like Him, and 3. We will see Christ as He is.
What does John mean when he says that “We know” in the middle of verse 2? To know, in this verse, connotes a definitive statement. As it has been said before, Jesus will be manifested again. Not that He will be manifested as a different being, but He will return in His incarnate state. John, the apostles, and all believers in Christ know that He will come back again. In the same way, verse 1 uses the word ‘to know’ to relate a cognitive fact that is known. And where do we have this kind of fact? Where would we find it? May I point you to Isaiah 56:5 which promises “To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, and a name better that that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off.” Do you notice the definitive language that Isaiah uses? He says these things completely convinced that they are true. He knows it for a fact, and so must we.
What does it mean that “we will be like Him?” Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:36-38 and let’s get the answer to this question. Paul tells the Corinthians that we do not know what our resurrected bodies will look like, but that God will take the barest part and make a body as He so chooses. In short order, whatever God determines us to be/look like will be at His divine prerogative. Let’s get a misconception out of the way. This does not mean that we will be/look exactly like Jesus. As I noted previously, we will be similar to Jesus. Jesus will still be God in heaven. We will never be God in heaven. We are redeemed creatures living with the glorious Creator in heaven. We are still under Christ’s jurisdiction and authority. Revelation 18.18 uses a similar phrase saying, “What is like the great city (Babylon)?” There is no city quite like Babylon that is described in Revelation 18. In the same way it is said of Christ, that there is no one like Him. Turn back to 1 John 3.
How will we see Christ as He is? This takes place at Christ’s second coming, we will see Him as He is. Further emphasis is placed on the reality that believers will see Christ as He is. The hope that we hold onto in Christ will be revealed in Christ. Therefore, the Christian does not possess an empty hope. Our hope will be satisfied at the end of the age in the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we consider one verse to help us in our understanding. It comes from Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Those of us who are pure in heart, not of their own doing, but through the work of God on their behalf, they will see God. In other words, we will see God because He will permit us to see Him.
That which we are to look like in the heavenly places for eternity has not been revealed to us this side of heaven. As children of God on earth who have human qualities, we will look different possessing greater spiritual qualities in heaven. We will not resemble our humanness in sin, disease, or any deformity. Although we do not know what we will be like in heaven (the glorified body), John takes comfort knowing that we are, currently, children of God. The glorified bodies and the perfect unadulterated union with Christ are what we look forward to. What John and we take rest in is knowing that what we see now is not what we will see for eternity, but Christ has prepared that which is better, for we will see Him as He is. What great love the Father has for us, that we have the privilege to see Christ as He is.
- Therefore, we walk as He walked (v.3)
Now we finish up with verse 3. This is the “now what” of these verses. We have been given a solid foundation for believing the things that have been said of Christ. We have seen how we are children of God and that we are carried along by God through the Holy Spirit. It is at this moment that we take all the theological truths and take them to our daily lives. A constant theme we have seen with John is that he desires greatly to take the theological truths and apply them to Christian living. It is like blending Romans and James together. Orthodoxy that leads to orthopraxy.
Look with me in the beginning of verse 3. John dedicates this verse to believers. Don’t miss this. He says, “everyone who has their hope fixed on Him.” We know this to be believers in Christ, for we are the only ones who would have our hope fixed on Christ.
John is bringing forth an action that will come due to the hope that Christians have. The hope is fixed on Christ is not to remain inside of us, but to go forth to all the nations (Matt. 28.19). To have this hope is not possessive only, but a hope that is shown in manner and behavior. What hope do we have according to John? The hope is that Christ will come back again, and we will see Him as He is, and He will do so as a conquering King and not a sacrificial lamb. 1 Peter 1.20-21 tells us that Christ has appeared in His incarnate form that was foreknown before the world was created. Therefore, because Christ has fulfilled the prophecy of His first coming, we can rest in the hope that Christ will come again. This is the ‘everyone’ who possesses this hope. This is what launches us to action as believers. We are set on mission as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Might I make note that the ‘him’ in this verse is not found in the original language. One commentator said that this is quite difficult to translate into English. For our consideration this morning, I want us to see that the implication is obvious. Again, if our hope is not fixed on Him what would drive us to live pure lives as He is pure? Therefore, the implication that our hope is fixated on Christ is obvious when we see the rest of the verse in context. I say all this to say that just because a word here and there is not found in the original manuscript does not make it any less inspired. The Holy Spirit wants us to know who God is that we would be saved and then grow in our sanctification. Thus, these words like fixed are for our benefit to see the verse more clearly. Romans 15:12 helps bring this implication into focus, “And again Isaiah says, “There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.” Who is the ‘He’ and the ‘Him’ in this verse? It is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ! See, the Bible interpreting itself shows us clarity. It is Christ who is our fixated hope today and who was in the days of the prophets. The Bible is centered on Christ, both in fact and implication.
So, what is the action? Where do we go from having our hope fixated on Christ? Look again at verse 3. John tells us that those of us who have hope in Christ ‘purifies himself.’ John is not alone in telling us this. Paul said similar words in 2 Corinthians. After listing and detailing the multitude of promises that are given by God, Paul writes in 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Peter writes similarly as well to those who are looking to the new heavens and new earth. He encourages us as we wait to “Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Pt. 3:14).
It is not enough for us to have our eyes fixated on Christ alone. As James says, “faith without works is dead.” This brings our verse into sharper precision. We, as believers in Christ are to take our fixation and turn it into pure lives. As John had said before, we are those whom the world does not know. The greatest way that we can live lives that reflect our trust in Christ is to live purely in a world that grows more and more impure by the day. The Greek tells us that the impurity is directly of oneself. So, John is speaking to the whole of Christian believers. Yet, he is speaking to the individual Christian as well. You and me, we are to live lives that are pure. The individual Christian who lives pure, is a part of the greater body of Christ who live pure as Christ’s pure and undefiled bride.
Why do we do this? Look at the end of verse 3. We do this because “Christ is pure.” The Father’s love is so great that He has given us His Son as the ultimate role model for godly living. There are many that have gone before us and were known for the lives that they lived on earth. However, Christ surpasses them all. He is the only One who is truly pure. As Hebrews 7:26 says, “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.” Praise be to the Father that in His lovingkindness, He has provided us the perfect High Priest. It is this Jesus, our High Priest, who is perfectly pure in whom we seek to live following in His footsteps.
Conclusion:
This is love unlike any love we have ever seen. This is a love that does not exist on this planet. It is complete and perfect love, one that is unstained. There are no ulterior motives, there are no hidden agendas, there is love, pure and undefiled. This is the love of the Father. A love that is completely undeserved. There is nothing that we can do to merit this love. We are unlovable creatures. We are depraved wretches who only deserve the wrath of God. This is why the Father’s love is so great. He loves unlovable and depraved people. As we ponder on the Father’s love, I leave you with a few things to consider.
- Because we are loved so greatly, we emulate the love that we have received and share that love with other people. Thus, we must not hold grudges in our hearts. For God the Father has every reason to hold grudges and anger toward us. Yet, He does not. Neither should we.
- Our love must be unconditional. This is because the Father’s love is unconditional. He loves us in spite of who we are. It must never be said of any of us that we love because we get a benefit out of it, or we love to show how lovable we are or to put on a front toward others. Our love must reflect the love that has been bestowed upon us.
- Finally, our love must be pure love. Our love is to be sincere; it is to be compassionate, not overrun by emotions, but a love that sticks around. Our love must remain the same even during those times it is hard to love someone. This is God’s love toward us. Therefore, we must show pure love to one another.
Might the world see the love that we have for one another, and might it cause hearts to run to the unconditional love that is only found in God the Father and in His Son Jesus Christ.
