Children of God

1 John 3:1-3

 

 

1 John 3:1 (NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!

 

Let’s just glory in this for a minute! “How great the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure!” Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

 

God has bestowed such great love and treasure on us, but the world does not know us because it did not know Him. In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verses 10 and 11, it says:

John 1:10-11 (NKJV) 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

 

Since the world did not receive our Lord, we cannot expect the world to receive us. Too often, we seek the approval and applause of the world, yet it is this world that preferred to put Jesus to death rather than acknowledge their need for Him. However, some did receive Him. Some, like us, do receive Him, and John tells us in verse 12 of the first chapter of his gospel:

John 1:12 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

 

Here we see that we are back to the fact that we who believe are children of God. How should we then live? If we are God’s children, how should we be in this world?

 

Well, since Jesus is the firstborn, He is our example. As He is in the world, so should we be. As a matter of fact, 1 John 4:17 says:

1 John 4:17 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

 

Well, from all appearances, love has not been perfected in me yet, because I fall far short of this standard. Our passage today acknowledges this when it says:

1 John 3:2 (NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

 

Our perfection in love is a work in progress, and none of us has seen what we shall be, but we know we shall be like Him. Beloved, even though we are God’s children, we are not perfect yet. However, we have hope as God’s children. Look at what Philippians 1:6 tells us.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

Do you see the promise here? It is God who is at work in our lives, and it is He who will complete the work. 1 John 3:3 tells us that we who have this hope purify ourselves. But here is my conundrum: my heart condemns me because I know that I still sin. I fall short. I miss the mark. I am not there yet.

 

1 John 3:20 addresses the heart’s condemnation of oneself.

1 John 3:20 (NKJV) For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

 

God is greater than our heart. Let me explain how this helps.

 

We all know that we have sin. 1 John 1:8 says:

1 John 1:8 (NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

 

And then, if we look down at verse 10, it says:

1 John 1:10 (NKJV) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

When I read the Word of God, I cannot help but agree with these statements, because the Word is a mirror that shows me myself. My heart is dismayed when I read verses like 1 John 3:7-9.

1 John 3:7-9 (NKJV) 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

 

Let’s focus on verse 9, where it says, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin.”

 

Now, my heart condemns me, because I know I sin. As I just pointed out, 1 John 1:8 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This seems to directly contradict what chapter 3, verse 9, says. How can I be a child of God if I still sin?

 

We need to clarify a couple of things here so that we can understand. First, this verse that says, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin,” uses a verb form that means to be doing something continually. This means a habitual, purposeful ignoring of God’s law. So, the child of God can acknowledge that they sin, but also know that the habitual, intentional practice of sin cannot continue in their life.

 

Let’s now clarify another thing about habitual sin. A child of God can struggle with addiction. Let’s look again at 1 John 3:9.

1 John 3:9 (NKJV) 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

 

Look carefully at this phrase: “for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin.” On the surface, this seems outrageous. What does He mean, “he cannot sin?” We all sin. Did He not give us Paul's example of struggling with sin in Romans 7? I see myself in Romans 7:15.

Romans 7:15 (NKJV) For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

 

Actually, 1 John is talking about this very thing. I do not want to sin because the seed of God, the Holy Spirit, is within me, because I have been born of God. Remember Philippians 1:6. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

 

Many Scriptures address what is going on here. For example, consider Hebrews 12.

Hebrews 12:5-8 (NKJV) 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

 

This is what 1 John means when it says we cannot go on sinning because God’s seed remains in us. God deals with our sin. He is not cruel. He is not vindictive. Some of us had parents who were not perfect. Some of us have been parents who were not perfect. And sometimes, we might not have corrected our children the right way. Just maybe a little anger, vindictiveness, or a need to control might have crept in. But this never happens with God. His love and His correction are perfect, and we can rely on Him 100% to deal with our sin. This is why John says God is greater than our heart. We have absolute confidence that our sin is not beyond God’s ability to correct. And thus we know that we will be like Him.

 

I want to share with you part of this truth that breaks our hearts.

 

I want to point you to John chapter 15. Jesus is telling us, His disciples, that He is the vine and we are the branches. He explains that apart from Him, we can do nothing. And, in this, He speaks of the discipline that God works in our lives. He says:

John 15:2 (NKJV) “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every [branch] that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

 

Read that again, carefully. What does He mean, “Takes away?”

 

Look now at 1 Corinthians 11, where we will find an example.

1 Corinthians 11:30-32 (NKJV) 30 For this reason many [are] weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

 

In Corinth, as in the USA, some of God’s children would not be corrected. So, God removed them. They died. Now, please, please take special note of what the Word says in 1 Corinthians 11:32. When a child of God dies because of sin, they go home to be with the Lord. It says we are chastened so that we may not be condemned. He takes us home to save us. Now, here is a glorious truth. We all will die (except those of us who are alive and remain when Jesus returns). None of us will reach sinless perfection this side of seeing Jesus.

 

However, some of us will be taken home early because of sin that controls us and keeps us from being fruitful. Please, please, please be careful here. When you or somebody you know is sick or suffering, do not think that you are sinning more than anybody else, or that God is punishing you. He is pruning you to make you more fruitful, and know that He loves you and is working for your good. James 1:2-4 tells us how to view our suffering.

James 1:2-4 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 

Jesus taught a lesson about thinking that someone is being chastened because of sin. Luke 13:1-5 tells us:

Luke 13:1-5 (NKJV) 1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all [other] Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all [other] men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

 

People are not singled out because they are worse sinners. You are not being singled out because you are worse than anyone else. Even though I shared with you some scary thoughts about how sin can affect our lives, my purpose is to encourage you. God is greater than our heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves. We can absolutely trust Him to deal with our sin. We need to focus on the fact that the Father loves us and has given us the right to be called Children of God because that is what we are. The Holy Spirit within you will say, “You are my child, and I love you. Trust Me.”

 

The accuser, the devil, will constantly try to tell you. “You are a sinner. You can’t possibly be a child of God.” If you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised Him from the dead. You are saved. You are a child of God. Even if your heart condemns you, remember, God is greater than your heart. You can have confidence before Him, because the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. When the devil tries to tell you that you are hopeless and you’ll never be free, you have an answer. “I am still here.” If God has not taken you home, He is still working, and you are not beyond His ability to heal.

 

Do you remember I shared with you from Romans 7 how Paul struggled with sin? Let’s close by looking at the conclusion that Paul comes to.

Romans 7:24-25 (NKJV) 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

God will deliver you. Call upon Him. Ask Him to deliver you.