This week’s sermon continues in the book of 1 John. If you want to start at the beginning of the book go here and start from the beginning of our sermon series. Here we go into chapter 3…
1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 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. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3 ESV
The word ‘given’ in this passage is translated as ‘lavished’ in the NIV and ‘bestowed’ in the KJV. By trying to be ‘modern’ I feel like we’ve lost something. Given seems so ordinary. Bestowed feels more majestic, it’s a measure of God’s love. That seems special. The love that God has lavished on us is anything but ordinary. It’s a one-sided love that we’ve done nothing to deserve. We don’t deserve it, but it’s something he has lavished on us anyway!
We may ask ourselves, “Am I enough”? Satan wants us to have these doubts.
“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member”.
Groucho Marx
I think many people feel the same way about being a Christian. If I can join the club as I am, what makes it so special?
What is it that makes us so slow to believe the love of God?
- Sometimes it’s pride: thinking we have to prove ourselves before we can receive it.
- Sometimes it’s unbelief: not being able to trust the love of God when we see the pain and hurt of daily life.
- And sometimes it just takes time for us to understand who God is and the greatness of his love.
Many think of God as a judge who will discipline them for what they’ve done wrong. But they fail to see who the Father really is. He is more than someone who feels pity for his creation. God goes far beyond that by calling us his children and by doing more than just saving us from hell. God loves each of us and desires to have a relationship with us. God is not ashamed of us and has proclaimed to his angels we are his children.
Adam was God’s first creation. But he didn’t have Jesus Christ. Being called a child of God is something different here than it was for Adam. Redemption is so much more than what Adam had.
God’s love gives Jesus for the redemption of all. So, shouldn’t we be a reflection of God?
The world knows believers for what we hate than what we love. And that’s a real shame! We want to fit in, but we’re made to stand apart.
1 John 3:1-3 gives hope for those who struggle against sin. But, we are children of God right now! These verses give us a glimpse into the future we can have in God. We can overcome the darkness in this world. We are going to struggle and have pain on this earth but there is hope in the future that we can have in Jesus.
Because God loves me I am his child. Someday I will see his face and I will be like him. But what do you do in the meantime? Commit yourself to him, learn more about his character and what he wants for your future. Talk to him on a continual basis through prayer and read his Word.
What is keeping you from receiving that love? What’s keeping you from accepting the love that is yours? Don’t let pride or the doubts of others keep you from your prize. You can have it right now!
This blog post is written from notes taken during Pastor Jon Porter’s sermon at Milan Christian Church on 7/31/22. I can’t express how much I’ve grown closer to God through his sermons and leadership. I encourage you to get into a church where you have opportunities to get involved with the people and serve in different ministries that allow you time spent with other Christians. Find a Bible study that you can be involved in and read the Bible on your own. Study it and commit key scriptures to memory. Journal your prayer life so that you can see how God has answered prayers over time. There is a life of rich blessings in front of you. Find it!
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 