The True Vine #7 -- 1 John 2:28-3:10 -- You Are God's Child
Introduction
On the sixth day of creation, God said:
"'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:26–27).
We were created to have dominion, God said. The idea was beautiful and simple. By His sovereign will, God created. He spoke things into existence. His Word divided water and land, the atmosphere and outer space, and the species. On the first six days of creation, God expressed His dominion and will.
Then, at the end of the sixth day, after creating land animals, He created the first man and woman. God's intention for them and their offspring was that they'd express His likeness by practicing dominion. With love, self-control, and faithfulness, they were to steward all God had created. They were to be in, not out, of control.
Unfortunately, when Adam sinned, chaos was unleashed on the earth. Because of sin, humanity's new way of living is this: not in dominion, but under it. We are born allegiant to the world system, the prince of this age, and our sinful impulses. And as life goes on, we become further enslaved to this manner of life.
But Jesus came along, offering a way of escape. Through faith in Him, we can become fundamentally new. He brings us back to glory (Hebrews 2:10). Once again, we can have dominion. We have been set free from the world system, the pull of Satan, and the demands of our sinful desires. The victory was His, so it is ours.
In John's day, however, it seems some were confused. They misunderstood Jesus, and in our last study together, John straightened out their erroneous views about Him. Jesus is God the Son, who died for our sins.
But they also misunderstood sin. Some of them thought it no big deal, something they could habitually engage in while claiming to belong to Christ. John loathed the idea, so he wrote.
In our passage today, John will teach us:
- Who we are (2:28-3:1)
- Who we'll become (3:2-6)
- Who we aren't (3:7-10)
Each section, dense with content, will urge us to a life of right living, a restored version of the dominion Adam and Eve should've had. Jesus brings us back to and beyond God's original desire for humanity. In fact, in John's mind, anything less is impossible for God's people. If we have confessed Christ, we have been fundamentally changed, and our behavior will follow the radical shift within. Dominion can be ours again.
Who We Are: God's Sons And Daughters (2:28-3:1)
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
Abiding: An Expanded Definition
Now, over the past few weeks, we've heard quite a bit about this concept of abiding. A few weeks ago, Pastor Josh taught us about abiding in Jesus like the branches abide in the vine (John 15:1-11). There, the focus of abiding was on continuing in obedient relationship to Jesus.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, John told us to let what we heard from the beginning abide in us (1 John 2:24) and to abide in Him (1 John 2:27). There, the focus was on continuing in a proper confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came to die for the sin of the world. We should continue to acknowledge Jesus as the incarnate Son.
Here though, John tells us to abide in Him (28) in a way that results in practicing righteousness (29). It seems he's shifted to the John 15 definition of abiding, a personal and ongoing relationship with and experience of Christ, which leads to wholesome moral consequences. In other words, walk with Jesus so you can live more like Jesus!
Taken together, we can see the biblical pattern.
- We first abide in the truth of who Jesus is, trusting in His atoning work on the cross.
- This confession leads us to be born of Him (29). We are given a new nature in Christ, born again into His family.
- Finally, we then abide in Him (28) by enjoying a daily relationship with Him, drawing on His strength, and living out the newness He's given to us by practicing righteousness (29).
Remember the order:
Belief and new birth, then righteous living.
Result: Confidence At Christ's Coming
And it's this righteous living John seeks to emphasize here. In his mind, such a life leads to confidence when Jesus returns. He says, So that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming (28).
The Greek word John uses is parousia, which was used in that era to describe the visit of a King or Emporer. Even today, when a president or significant leader comes to a community, there is preparation for their arrival.
John had a vision of King Jesus returning for His bride. And not long after writing this letter, John would receive the Revelation of Jesus Christ, where God would show him a vision of the future coming of Christ (see Revelation 19:11-16).
The King Of Kings is coming! So, with the firm belief Jesus will return, John urged us on towards lives which lead to confidence, rather than shame, at His coming.
It's not hard to imagine how easily we could beat ourselves up at this point. I don't know any Christians who feel they've obeyed Jesus without error. We often see ourselves as failures in our attempts to follow Christ.
We might imagine His return as time to report all our deeds. Some deeds will shame us, others will give us confidence (28), but every work will be revealed on that day. To many of us, this sounds like a terrible event. Sins of omission and commission litter our lives, and we all wish we'd done more for Jesus. I, for one, have never felt I've done enough to ready myself for Christ's return.
But if this is all we see, we've missed the point of John's appeal. The thing he says will give us confidence on the day our King returns is a history of abiding in Him. And to abide is part obedience, but also part holding fast to our original confession and enjoying an ongoing relationship with Him.
If Jesus is only a returning King or conquering general, it would be easy to think He's only looking for allegiance. But He is also our brother, our Savior, the champion of our souls, and the gracious husband of the church who laid down His life for us. And His return marks a major step in His massive goal of bringing His people back to glory (Hebrews 2:10). He is gracious and merciful. He delights when we abide in Him. He is pleased to have us continue to believe in His work on the cross and enjoy a personal relationship with Him.
That said, John makes it clear: some will shrink from Him in shame at His coming (28). This shame could come from an apostate denial of Christ, a lack of personal engagement with Jesus, or ongoing disobedience. Though the levels of shame might be different for each, it is shame nonetheless.
John's Confidence
But John isn't too worried about such a possibility for God's people. John seems to think the practice of righteousness (29) will flow from who we are. At conversion, he says, we are born of Him (29). Since God is righteous (29), and believers are in His family, John expects our new birth to lead to the practice of right living.
To him, righteous conduct is not a condition for rebirth, but a consequence of it.
For better or worse, we receive attributes from our parents. For example, I know I sound like my dad. He's not a tenor, and neither am I. He passed the bass on to me. Some have told me they could close their eyes, and it feels like they are listening to a teaching from Pastor Bill.
And just as we pass on our genetics from one generation to another, God passes on His nature to His children. So John isn't surprised God's kids would practice righteousness like their righteous Father in heaven.
This point, by the way, was critical in John's day. The false teachers thought 'secret knowledge' was the principal mark of regeneration. But John plainly shows us a significant mark of conversion is not secret knowledge, but public obedience.
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.
The Magnitude Of God's Love
The fact of the new birth leads John to pause in celebration for the kind of love the Father has given to us (1). He was amazed that we should be called children of God (1). Then, as if he stopped and looked into his own soul for a moment, he said, and so we are (1).
What is happening here? John was moved by the love of God. This aged and mature believer, more experienced in God than any of us today, was overwhelmed by God's love.
Isn't this the way it often is for us? I get a front row seat to this all the time. People will share with me a significant truth God has shown them. "Pastor," they say, "God has been teaching me some amazing things lately." I wait for the details. I wonder if they've gotten some sophisticated biblical insight. Perhaps they've discovered who wrote Hebrews, or think they know the identity of the Antichrist, or have memorized Romans. Then they say something like, "God is showing me how much He loves me."
Why is this a common occurrence? This basic truth is also the biggest truth and the best truth. Unfortunately, it is also the one we so often forget, partly because the enemy of our souls wants to convince us it isn't true.
And the part of God's love John was amazed at was that we should be called children of God (1). John says we must see this love (1). He also says God has given -- past tense -- this love to us already (1). He has loved us so much He made us into His children.
And so we are (1). Right now, immediately at conversion, we become God's kids. He becomes our Father. Not the kind who shames or discourages or abandons us. Not the type who wounds or abuses or belittles us. But the kind who builds up His children. He encourages and protects and teaches us. He loves and guides and, when needed, disciplines us towards holiness. He is our good Father.
Look, we must understand God is our loving Father. And we are His sons and daughters. He loves and cares for us.
Sometimes I meet people who only ever hear conviction from their Father in heaven. As for myself, I have gone through many phases like this. Where the only word I ever get from God is one where I see things I want to work on, areas I'd like to gain victory.
And you should hear words of conviction, by the Spirit, from your Father in heaven. Not vague condemnation or a nebulous sense of guilt, but specific areas of conviction (Romans 8;1). Still, if you only ever hear convicting things from God, you probably aren't hearing everything your Father is trying to say. He wants you to hear His delight as well.
An Incompatibility
John was also sure to mention another side effect of becoming a child of God. If the first was the inevitable practice of righteousness (29), the second is the inevitable inability of the world to know them (1). The world does not know God, so they won't know God's children (1).
But how is this helpful for us to realize? Well, God's children need to know they are incompatible with the world. We have already discovered how the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life are of the world and not of the Father (2:15-17).
For the believer, the approval of the world is something to be feared, not desired.
So, believers of all ages need to know who they are. We are God's sons and daughters. He has caused all believers in Jesus Christ to be born of Him. We are new. And our relationship with Him is new. God is our loving and benevolent and grace-filled Father. We are His. This is who we are.
But who will we become?
Who We'll Become: Like God's Son (3:2-6)
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.
We Will Be Like Him
The thought is astounding. One day, God's children will be like Jesus when He appears (2).
This incredible fact follows John's logic well. If believers are born into God's family, it makes sense that our full transformation would make us like God's Son. As God's kids, we will one day be like the Son of God.
The Bible drives us toward this glorious hope. Remember the sixth day of creation I spoke about earlier? God expressed His dominion and told us to have dominion. Like God, we were to be fruitful and multiply, stewarding all He made.
But our sin robbed us of dominion. Rather than live in self-controlled service to our world, we began living in out of control self-worship. Sin kept us from being who God intended.
But the cross of Christ provides the only way for us back to glory, back to dominion, because one day we'll be like Jesus. Paul said it this way:
"For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29).
How We'll Be Like Him
But how will we be like Him? How will we be "conformed to the image of His Son"?
Again, remember the Genesis passage. We were made in God's image, but that didn't mean we could create something from nothing. There are still many ways we are unlike God. We aren't infinite and all-knowing and all-powerful. But we were to be like Him as we named the animals, stewarded the existing material of the planet, and subdued the earth.
And when Jesus comes, we will be like Him. This doesn't mean we'll become saviors or deity or eternally preexistent. Instead, it means His nature and character and goodness and holiness will be our practical experience.
The word for this is "glory." We were instantaneously justified by Christ, but one day we'll be glorified with Him. As Paul said:
"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:4).
This is the glorious announcement of Scripture: all the shortcomings and frailties and weaknesses you endure today will be gone tomorrow. They will be swallowed up by the life of Christ, the Last Adam consuming the First (Romans 5:18-19).
In another place, Paul said:
"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:49).
Look, I know how we're often taught the importance of self-acceptance. We're told we mustn't have a poor self-image. To like ourselves. But, in the back of our minds, we know it's a farce. No matter how hard we try to accept them, there are glaring flaws we know we'd be better off without.
For this, Scripture gives us the gospel. The good news of God's grace and Christ's cross is that God accepts us by the blood of the Son. We can have a high self-image because God places His value on us. He declares us as worthy.
And then Scripture tells us, in places like this one, that one day all our imperfections will melt away in His glorious presence and we'll forever be like Jesus.
We will still be ourselves, recognizable, and with the personalities God has given us. But it will be the glorified version of the self. What will the glorified Nate Holdridge be like, not just in body, but in mind and heart and soul?
As the years pass by, we might become discouraged by the slow progress we've shown in the Christian life. Age gets us all. This last weekend, I did a little teaching at my alma-mater, Calvary Chapel Bible College. For the first time, I had a handful of students tell me they were pretty sure I attended there along with their parents! Time waits for no man. And, as the river of time flows past us, we might grow disheartened by the slowness of our sanctification.
Perhaps you started with great hope in all Christ would do in you, but that hope has given way to pessimism. Don't lose hope! One day, you will be like Jesus! And so will every believer you know! All of us will make it to glory. Christlikeness will be ours.
Because We'll See Him
Before moving on, notice why John says we will be like Jesus: because we shall see Him as He is (2). In other words, when we see Jesus' full splendor and glory, it will change us. His appearing is the event that marks our ultimate transformation into glory. And if He didn't glorify us at that moment, we couldn't see Him anyways, for our current bodies could not handle the majesty emanating from Him.
But if seeing Jesus leads to our glorification then, seeing Jesus leads to our sanctification now. He'll change us then, but He can change us now if we'll spend time seeing Him.
"And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, Amplified Version)
So keep looking into the Word and up in prayer so you can discover Jesus. The Spirit will change you as you look. But, remember, one day, you'll no longer look as in a mirror, which for them meant a blurred image. One day, you'll see Jesus clearly and become like Him! Rejoice.
And what should this knowledge do to us?
3 And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.
Result: Not Lawlessness
Let's look at the latter half of the paragraph first. John tells us a knowledge of our future glorification (when we see Jesus) will not lead us to lawlessness. Glorification tomorrow does not lead to rebellion today.
John cannot imagine it because he knew Jesus appeared in order to take away sins (5), meaning Jesus' whole mission was to destroy sin. Further, John cannot imagine it because he knew in Jesus there is no sin (5), meaning His whole nature is void of sin. How could someone who interacts with Jesus keep on sinning (6)?
John cannot imagine it. To him, it's impossible. If you've seen or known Jesus, you cannot keep on sinning (6).
The definition John uses for ongoing sin in this passage is helpful though. Notice, he calls it the practice of lawlessness.
Now, John already made it clear that a Christian will sin. It would be wrong for us to say we have no sin, or to act like we've already matured past sin (1 John 1:8, 10). Instead, we should admit sin, let God's light shine upon it, and confess it to Him. When we do, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And, when we do sin, Jesus is our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). So what does he mean by those who keep on sinning?
This is where the word lawlessness (4) is helpful. It's more than a struggle with sin, but declaring you care nothing for God and His sovereign laws. You say they have no jurisdiction over you. You become your own law.
Recently, I heard someone arguing that a particular denomination should tolerate wildly varying doctrinal positions regarding human sexuality. She thought only God could weigh in on how people live, overlooking the fact the denomination is merely trying to interpret what God has said, not make it up for themselves.
Then she argued, "Live and let live, I say." Ha! So whose word is authoritative for her? Not God's. I say, she said. She lives by the authority of her own word. It had become her new Scripture.
This is a form of lawlessness. And it was likely the kind of message the false teachers in John's day communicated. Do you, they said. Whatever feels right, go for it.
They might as well have said, Put on a yoke of slavery again. Suffer. Be miserable. For what feels like freedom and license at first soon gives way to addiction and misery. Lawlessness does not lead to the dominion God has for us.
Result: Pursuit Of Purity
Instead, John writes, everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure (3). In other words, if you're looking forward to being like Jesus forever, you'll want to be like Jesus today. This desire will lead to the pursuit of purity right now.
But what does it mean to purify ourselves as Jesus is pure? Well, consider the people of Israel. Often, God said to them:
"Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:2, ESV).
And when we dream of the forever holiness of Christ and get a glimpse of it today, we begin longing for His holiness to be part of our lives right now. So we surrender ourselves on His altar, and ask Him to change us. We pursue purity, holiness.
Perhaps the Message version could help us here:
"All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus' life as a model for our own." (1 John 3:3, The Message).
Or Kenneth Wuest:
"And everyone who has this hope continually set on Him is constantly purifying himself just as that One is pure." (1 John 3:3, Wuest)
John has told us, in a few short verses, what we are (God's children), what we shall be (like Christ), and, now, what we should be (pure like Jesus). When a nonbeliever sins, it is against their Creator, but when believers sin, it is against a Loving Father. They sin against law, but we sin against love.
But once we know who we are, a pursuit of holiness will (or should) follow. Consider the words of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:
Why do we therefore fail so much in practice? Because our belief is defective; if only we really did see ourselves as we are depicted in the New Testament, the problem of conduct would immediately be solved. Of course the tendency is for people to argue like this: 'Ah,' they say, 'there is not much point in talking to us about doctrine; you have to remind people of their practical duty.' So holiness teaching frequently becomes a constant repetition of certain duties which we are to carry out. I agree that we do have to do these things, but I say that the ultimate way of carrying out these duties, and really practicing these things, is to have such a grasp and understanding of the doctrine that the practice becomes inevitable. And that is, of course, precisely what the New Testament always does. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones, D. M. Children of God)
So, know who you are, and who you'll become, and pursue holiness today. Don't do it by your own power and strength. Continue in the Spirit. He will help you (Galatians 3:3). But, please, pursue holiness!
Pursue holiness by putting ridding yourself of untrue speech (Ephesians 4:25). All around us, people struggle to know whom to trust. News agencies, elections, and people in power are often held in suspicion. Search engines and social media networks often become vehicles for lie perpetuation. Friends betray. Deception abounds, so the church can model the beautiful counter-cultural art of truth-telling.
Pursue holiness by ridding yourself of anger (Ephesians 4:26-27). Don't let anger turn into enslaving sin. Don't allow the devil to dismantle you with unrighteous anger.
Pursue holiness by ridding yourself of laziness (Ephesians 4:28). Put off thieving and put on honest work. The Proverbs teach that "lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes" (Proverbs 10:26, NLT). Christians are to become hardworking people.
Pursue holiness by ridding yourself of corrupting speech (Ephesians 4:29-30). We are to put on speech which builds up and imparts grace. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit; encourage people.
Pursue holiness by ridding yourself of bitterness and wrath and slander (Ephesians 4:31-32). They are like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. You are hurting yourself as you participate in them.
And, in case you thought these exhortations were too intrusive, too strong, you should know I've lifted them straight from Ephesians 4. Like John, Paul tells us who were are, who we'll become, and who we should be today. The New Testament is filled with beautiful exhortations like these. They help us pursue holiness.
Who We Aren't: With God's Enemies (3:7-10)
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
The False Teachers
Apparently, the false teachers tried to deceive the church into thinking righteous people could somehow practice unrighteousness (7). John didn't want any of his little children led astray by such teaching (7).
The Prince Of The Age
So John was clear: whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning (8). From the beginning of the devil's rebellion against God, whenever it occurred, he sinned and kept on sinning. It's what he's about. He's a sin machine. The devil: messing things up from the beginning of time.
Jesus Came To Destroy His Works
But Jesus came to blast his brains out, to destroy the works of the devil (8). All the pain and hurt and deception and agony that little punk is causing and has caused, Jesus came to destroy it. Jesus will destroy tears. He will destroy death forever, throwing Satan into an eternal lake of fire Jesus has prepared for him, where he will be tormented forever (Matthew 25:41, Revelations 20:10).
John is communicating something straightforward here. If you know who you are (God's child), know who'll you'll become (like Christ), and who you want to be (holy), then you also know who you aren't. You aren't with God's enemies. Jesus came to destroy the devil and his sinful plans for humanity. Why would we join him?
John continues in this thought with a recap:
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Children Of God vs. Children Of The Devil
This is some strong coffee right here. Boldly, forcefully, and clearly, John declares no one born of God (God's children) makes a practice of sinning (9). We will sin. We will succumb to temptation. But if God's seed abides in us (9), we won't persist in rebellion against God. It's just not in our wiring, our DNA. Eventually, we'll turn.
But others won't. John calls them children of the devil (10). That's strong. I can only tell you John is one of the most tender and loving figures the Bible offers. In his early years, he was a fire and brimstone kind of guy. But he'd set that aside and become the apostle of love. And from his posture of love, he announced some are children of the devil. I think his hope was the truth would set people free.
So We Practice Righteousness And Love
Instead, John expects to find two attributes in God's kids. One flows to the other. First, he expected to find the practice of righteousness (10). He talked about this in the section we've covered today. Second, he expected to find love for our brother (or sister) in Christ (10). He talked about this in a previous section we already covered (1 John 2:3-11).
And isn't this our prayer for believers who've gone astray? We want them to return to righteousness and love for their church family. We want who they genuinely are to break through to the surface. We want them to walk with God. So we wait, in prayer, to see if that glorious day arrives, knowing all the while only the Lord knows who are His.
Applications
So, in recap, we've seen our confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for the sin of the world births us into God's family, which fundamentally changes our behavior as we have God's seed in us. One day, when Jesus comes again, we will become like Him, so life today should be filled with a desire for purity, not lawlessness. When someone lives in habitual sin, they are following the works of the devil, works Jesus came to destroy. Instead, God's children live righteously and love one another. In this way, we live out the dominion God has planned for us.