Children of God
Series
in 1, 2 & 3 John. 6th in the series.
As
presented by Rev. Jonathan Mills, Pastor at Kanata Baptist Church.
2008-10-12
Subject:
Sermon
Outline
Children of God
Scriptures:
1 John 2:28 –
3:10
Thanksgiving
Introduction
A) We Are God's Children.
Children of God
The Royal
Bloodline
B) John's Double-Take on Sin
Children of God Do
Not Sin
But ... We Do Sin
The Nuance of
Language
C) The Fatherhood of God. 7-10
Who is Righteous?
Who is a Child of God?
Family
resemblance.
Conclusion
Additional
Scripture References:
Scriptures:
1 John 2:28 – 3:10
God's Children and Sin
28 And now, dear children,
continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and
unashamed before him at his coming.
29 If you know that
he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has
been born of him.
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason
the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear
friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet
been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be
like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in
him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin
is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take
away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps
on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known
him.
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you
astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is
righteous. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because
the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of
God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 Those who are born of
God will not continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them;
they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children
of the devil are: Those who do not do what is right are not God's
children; nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.
Introduction
Today, we continue our study in 1 John. Today we are getting into
the first 10 verses in Chapter 3.
// I want you to think for a moment – imagine that you are a
television executive. You have total control over the programming and
you are always looking for the next big thing. You have money to
invest in new programs, but you've got to be pretty certain that they
are worth the investment before you write the cheque.
So, now that you are in character – today you have a visit
from a man with an idea. He's come up with the concept for a new
program and he would like you to fund the pilot.
He wants to hire a handful of antique appraisers from places like
Sotheby's and Christies, rent convention centers in a handful of
cities, and invite John and Jane Public to bring their knickknacks,
collectibles and attic treasures in for appraisal. And the real
exciting part is the fact that the appraisals will be captured on
film.
What would you think? Can you imagine anything more boring than
watching a stuffy old expert pontificate on the “provenance”
of Aunt Maude's late Victorian armoire? Who in his right mind would
buy such a show?
Of course, someone at the BBC did, and The Antiques Roadshow was
born. And, I can well imagine that many of you have watched it ...
and watched it with fascination and interest.
In the US, the Antiques Roadshow is the most watched show on PBS.
Millions of folks tune in week after week to watch people just like
you and me discover that the bowl Aunt Bessie gave them for their
wedding or the picture they bought at a flea market is a rarity worth
hundreds ... or even thousands of dollars.
The appraisers are a wealth of information, and that is
interesting. But the real thrill is when someone discovers that the
piece that has been collecting dust on the mantle all these years is
really worth more than they could have imagined.
A) We Are God's Children.
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should
be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the
world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends,
now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made
known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify
themselves, just as he is pure.
Children of God
Today's reading starts with an appraisal of sorts. It's a comment
about our value in God's eyes—and one that we can never tire of
hearing.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that
we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
That's the greatest provenance there is!
“Who are you?” “I'm a child of God.”
“Who are you?” “I'm a child of God.”
The Royal Bloodline
I was struck by something as I was studying this week – and
I promise that this will be my very last comment on the Da Vinci
Code.
The so-called startling discovery of Dan Brown's book is that
Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a baby—and this child went on to
establish a royal blood line through the Mirovingian Kings of France.
The Holy Grail is supposed to point us to the Royal Blood.
The truth is far more startling than fiction!
There is a royal bloodline – God is the King, and he has his
Kingdom. And into his kingdom he invites people of every race,
nation, language and tongue to come and come.
And when we enter in – we become adopted into the family.
Gal. 4:4-7 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law,
that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his
sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer
slaves, but God's children; and since you are his children, he has
made you also heirs.
No longer slaves ... but God's children ....
Since we are children ... he has made you also heirs.
What do you call a King's heir?
If it's a son, he's called what? A Prince.
If she's a daughter, she's called what? A Princess.
Not only are you a child of God – you're a Prince! Or a
Princess!
I'm telling you ... we're off to a great start this morning!
If ever you're feeling down about life and you are having trouble
counting your blessings ... here's a good place to start.
No wonder John is so expressive about this wonderful reality in
the life of the believer:
1 Jn 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
God has loved us so much – we are the Children of God!!
B) John's Double-Take on Sin
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin
is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take
away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps
on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known
him.
9 Those who are born of God will not continue to sin, because
God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they
have been born of God.
Children of God Do Not Sin
Now, before this all goes to your heads ... remember that we are
“Blessed to be a Blessing.” God's blessing of Abraham was
in order to bless others. In the same way, we are blessed by God –
not so that it all goes to our heads, but so that we can pass it
along to others.
But there's a little catch
here in 1 John that requires us to take a closer look ...
Let's turn to Chapter 4, starting at verse four ...
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5
But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.
And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No
one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
9 Those who are born of God will not continue to sin, because
God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they
have been born of God.
If you have been born of God ... according to John you will not
sin – in fact, you cannot sin.
But ... We Do Sin
Now, I don't know about you, but these verses are hard to
reconcile with daily living. In my heart, I want to obey God's laws
and live a consistent Christian life, full of integrity. But it's
difficult ... and sin never seems far away ....
There was a preacher who moved to a new Church. This particular
church didn't have a lawn mower so he was looking for someone to
either mow the lawn or sell him a used lawnmower. One day he saw a
young man going by pushing a lawnmower. So the preacher asked him,
“Hey, looking for a job?”
The young man said, “Sure.” It turned out that he was
mowing yards and trying to earn enough money to buy a bicycle.
The preacher didn't mind mowing the yard himself, so he told the
young man, “Look, I've got a 10 speed bicycle that I never ride
any more. What do you say we trade the bicycle for the lawnmower.”
“Sure!” he said enthusiastically. They swapped and the
young man took off to try out his new bicycle. After a while he came
back and found the preacher standing in the same place wiping sweat
off his brow. He waved the boy over and said, “Hey, I've pulled
on the rope a half a dozen times and this lawn mower just won't
start.”
The young man replied, “Oh yeah. I forgot to tell you. It's
a unique lawn mower because I can never seem to get it started until
I swear at it.”
The preacher looked at him and said, “Well, I've been in the
ministry so long ... I don't think I can remember how to swear.”
The young man grinned and said, “Pull on the rope some more.
It'll come back to you.”
// Our experience shows us that, despite our best efforts,
believers do fall into sin.
In fact, in the first chapter of John's letter, he says very clearly
that all Christians sin; 8If we claim to be without sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we
make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Clearly, John has said that we all sin. We have a gracious saviour
who forgives us – who restores us again and again – but
it's a matter of record that we continue to struggle with sin in our
lives.
Yet here, in the first 10 verses of chapter 3, it looks like John
is saying the complete opposite: that if we are true children of God,
we will not sin at all – not ever.
How can this be?
The Nuance of Language
I have to tell you that there are volumes of books written on this
subject – and among scholars there are numerous different
solutions suggested to resolve this knundrum.
One solution is to look at a nuance of meaning in the way these
words are used.
1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will
not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the
Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
That use of the word sin, in this passage denotes a particular and
definite act (3rd Person Aorist Active Subjunctive
Singular). Clearly, the Christian is to refrain from individual acts
of sin – but when we do, we have a Saviour who forgives us.
In these verses in chapter 3, the verb is in the Perfect
tense—which denotes ongoing action (3rd Person
Present Active Indicative Singular). Action which is, presumably, a
part of the individual's normal everyday way of living – or way
of being.
(NIV; they
cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God)
When we act inappropriately and commit a sin—we are forgiven
by humbly confessing our sin to God through Christ.
But we do not live in a state of perpetual sin. We have been
redeemed. We are children of God.
C) The Fatherhood of God. 7-10
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who
does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one
who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been
sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work. 9 Those who are born of God will not
continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go
on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we
know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil
are: Those who do not do what is right are not God's children; nor
are those who do not love their brothers and sisters.
Well that's one solution to reconcile these passages of scripture.
Scholars have proposed several other ways to explain these verses
in context. I'll try to list as many as I can in the sermon notes
that will posted on the church web page later this week.
Who is Righteous? Who is a Child of God?
It seems to me that there may well have been some confusion about
sin and righteousness in the church John was writing to. He does say:
“do not let anyone lead you astray.”
7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who
does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one
who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been
sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil's work. 9 Those who are born of God will not
continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go
on sinning, because they have been born of God.
We know from other passages of scripture that people had some
strange ideas about what was right and what was wrong.
It is quite likely that the false teachers were also sowing the seeds
of confusion among the Christians in John's church in Ephesus
Here in these verses, it's quite clear: there are two ways of
living. vs. 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil / vs. 9
Those who are born of God will not continue to sin, because God's
seed remains in them
It comes back to being children of God.
We may not have the same physical features as God does – but
there is one way that we do show a 'family resemblance' and that is
in the way we live.
While we may not be perfect now ... there will come a day when we
shall meet him face to face, and on that day our redemption will be
complete.
In the mean time, we purify ourselves in anticipation of Christ's
return (2:28). Because when he comes, then we will be ushered into
the fullness of who we have always been meant to be. Then, we will
behold him face to face.
At that time, our lives will perfectly reflect the fullness of his
holiness and goodness—without the slightest taint or corruption
of sin.
Family resemblance.
Some you will remember that on the Labour Day weekend, I was
absent because our family went to St. Giles Presbyterian church to
listen to my Mom's last Sunday as organist/choir director there.
We celebrated a wonderful career which started when she was just
13 years old – and which spanned 60 years.
My Mother's final postlude was Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D
Minor. My Brother and I both love that piece on the organ.
As Mom began to play, it started to sink in. this was it. 60 years
of music—and today the career ends ... with this song, her
career ends. And so, my brother and I both stood there in the pew,
inspired and awed by the wonderful music – and emotionally
ruined by the momentous nature of the moment. We both hid behind our
cameras trying to choke back the tears ... but neither of us was
particularly successful.
Rather than being embarrassed by this, I was actually quite proud
... because it pointed out a more important recognition that day;
Andrew and I were very much like our father ... A couple of
tender-hearted softies.
When I was the Pastor of the church in Mississauga, whenever my
Dad wasn't preaching here in Ottawa, he would drive down to Toronto
so he could worship with us. And my Dad would sit in the service –
and while I was preaching ... he would cry.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep focused on a sermon
when your father is sitting out there in the congregation crying?!!
I don't think it was because I was doing a terrible job ... he was
just very proud ... and very emotional about it.
So, tears are a part of the Mills heritage.
My Dad gave me the gift of tenderness.
And when someone says to me: “You are a lot like your
father,” I gladly welcome the comment. ... and don't be
surprised if I cry.
Conclusion
Similarly, John reminds us of our family heritage – that our
Heavenly Father loves us, and has adopted us into his family. But
whereas normally an adopted child may not look like his/her parents,
God's adoption ensures that we become like him—maybe not in
appearance, but definitely in character, in holiness and in love.
Right now, we are already participating in the Kingdom of God,
however imperfectly or tentatively ... but one day, when Christ
returns, we will see his full glory revealed and on that day all will
be made complete.
We will be made perfect and finally be done with sin, once and for
all. And we will all become the man or woman each of us was meant to
be. And we will reign with the King.
Additional Scripture References:
Romans 8:18-27
18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with
the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager
expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation
was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will
of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will
be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious
freedom of the children of God.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains
of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we
ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as
we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no
hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for
what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26In the
same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we
ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with
groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the
saints in accordance with God's will.
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