Sermon Central
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Thank God, I Am A Child Of God Series
Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Aug 2, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: John’s letter contains instructions, warnings, assurances and promises; however, the greatest thing he does is to affirm Christians’ uniqueness in Jesus. John writes in such a way that the confidence of God’s children is affirmed. John has highlighted several confidence builders in his letter:
We are a miracle of love! There are many things in life that cannot be explained apart from a loving creative God. One day, while walking around your beautiful, landscaped yard you observe something. First, you discover that something has been eating on some of your plants. Then you stand in curious amazement as you observe something unique. You watch a caterpillar, probably the one that has destroyed your beautiful plant, hanging upside down spinning a silky cocoon around itself. Each day you come to this spot in your yard. You sit and watch as the transformed caterpillar begins to exit the cocoon as a butterfly. In amazement you realize that God can transform everyone; he has created each to be transformed into his image.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14
John, the beloved pastor, understood something else unique about the believers. Those who had professed Jesus as Savior and Lord were born again; we would say they had had a life changing experience.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
Yes, John’s letter contains instructions, warnings, assurances and promises; however, the greatest thing he does is to affirm Christians’ uniqueness in Jesus. Listen to the words of Jesus as he prayed for the disciples.
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:20-26
In I John the Spirit of God leads John to write in such a way that the confidence of God’s children is affirmed. He sensed that the situations they were facing, both in their secular environment and in the church, could be used by Satan to intimidate them.
John has highlighted several confidence builders in his letter:
1. We are to walk in the light, the path of forgiveness.
2. We know Him by keeping his commandments.
3. Love God’s standard for living life—instead of purely humanistic standards.
4. Avoid teachings that lead persons away from Scripture and Christ.
5. Abide in Christ–A term that appears 23 times in his letter.
6. Let the Word live in you.
7. Draw strength from the church.
John writes so the believers will glory in their status as children of God. He will call their attention to the fact that they will never reach ultimate maturity on earth. They will in the future.
What is our life to be like in this “last hour”? Let us look at scripture.
1 John 3:1-18 (The Message)
I. CHILDREN OF GOD HAVE CLOSE COMMUNION WITH GOD
The rich language of “abiding in Christ” makes it clear that believers are privileged in their ability to communion with God. John draws a contrast; he has set the Christians apart from the world. How easy it would be for them to feel forgotten and alone during their time of uncertainty.
A small boy is playing in a village in Rwanda. Suddenly he hears screams and sees people running. Frantically, he turns, looking for a familiar face. All he sees is angry, shouting men, running toward him wildly waving machetes. He begins to run and hides under a basket his mother has just finished.
