1 John 3:1-3 — God's Promise
God Promises to Make Us Like Jesus
This sermon examines God's promise to transform believers into the likeness of Jesus upon His return. When Jesus appears, we will see Him as He truly is and become fully like Him—a hope that inspires present commitment to purity and Christlikeness.
Introduction
A. I learned very early in life that when my parents made a promise it was going to happen. I’m sure there were times that a promise wasn’t fulfilled but I remember the ones that were far more than any that were not. I remember my mother promising me a spanking and an hour later I got one. I remember my dad promising me to never give me money for something that I needed to work for and he has kept that promise. I remember my parents promising to support me as I went through challenging times and they have kept that promise.
B. I also came to realize much more about their mindset as I became an adult and raised children of my own. Things that I didn’t understand as a child became more understandable as I raised my own children. The words ring in my memory “some day you will understand” and they were right. I’m sure I conveyed the same words to my own children and trust that they will understand more as they go further in life. It is amazing isn’t it, how smart parents become the older we get? But my parents always promised to love me and they have never failed in that way even if they failed in a specific instance.
C. A spiritual reality is that there is much we do not understand now, but one day we will. We do not understand pain, hurt and suffering but God promises to use all of that for our good. We do not understand the feelings of isolation and loneliness that may come but God promises to never leave us. We do not understand the unholy desires that occupy us at times but God has promised to forgive as we confess our sins. We do not understand many of the cares and things which produce fear, but God promises peace when we ask. We do not understand how things work in this world, but God promises to give us wisdom. Today we continue our study as we look at God’s promise to make us like Jesus. The text helps us to focus on the reality that there is much we do not understand but the day is coming when we will know more than we know now. And when that day comes we will see Jesus in a new way. Let’s praise the God who will allow us to see Jesus.
Children of God
A. A baby is born and it isn’t long before the question is asked “who does the baby look like?” We think in terms that the baby is to look like a mother or father or combination of the two. There are times it is easy to tell and then other times it isn’t. In 1 John 2:29, John makes the point that those who belong to God carry the same genetic DNA of the Father. God is righteous and his children do what is right. The spiritual genetic material gets passed on to those who are children of God. Last Saturday we were at the restaurant where Maria is General Manager. We walked in and she introduced us to a couple of people standing around. One of the employees said, “you are a good mix of them both.” You can see the genetic resemblance. In the same way, our lives are to reflect the spiritual genetic inheritance that we received from God.
B. But to ensure that we take no credit for our spiritual DNA, John reminds us in verse 1 that it is Father’s great love that allows us to be known as his children. In John’s day, the love of the father was at best capricious or unpredictable. A child born to a 1st century father could be accepted or rejected and if rejected, the child could be killed or given to someone else. While there were father’s who loved, as a general rule love from a father was fickle. But not God. John has a hard time putting into words the type of love that God as Father has given to us his children. The reason I know he has a hard time is that he uses two words which are non-descriptive to make his point. The NIV helps us out to know something about this love by translating one word as “great” and the other as “lavished.” So let’s make sure we get the point—God’s love is indescribable. It is deeper, wider, and longer than we can imagine. And the outcome of his love is that we are children of God. I’m a child of my parents just as you are, but what greater title to be given than child of God. What an honor it is to be called such.
C. John says being God’s children doesn’t get a good reception in this world. The world may give us the cold shoulder. We may be ridiculed and mocked and our values and desire to honor God may be called intolerant and narrow minded but look at verse 2. Children of God now, but more later. Two promises follow. The day is coming when Jesus will appear and when he appears, we shall be like him and second, we shall see him as he really is.
Two Promises
A. Children of God now, but when Jesus appears made like Jesus. What is it that you want to be when you grow up is more than a question to be asked of children. With God’s spiritual DNA inside of us, don’t we long to be more of what God made us to be? Isn’t there a driving desire to be more like Jesus? Isn’t there this internal part that wants more and longs for more—not stuff; not material things; but to pant for God as a deer pants for water? We are waiting for the day when we will finally be like Jesus. This is what we as God’s children long for; wait for; anticipate; dream of. We want to be like Jesus. When hurt by the words of others; we want to love like Jesus. When surrounded by grief and pain, we want to heal troubled souls like Jesus. When unsure of the future, we want to have full confidence in Father like Jesus did. John says the honor of being God’s children now but the day when we will be like Jesus.
B. But not just to be like Jesus but to see him as he really is. There are great characters in history that intrigue us. Great individuals of science, medicine, law, politics, and philosophers. But none measure up to Jesus. Every time we read the gospels we are challenged all over again. Just as much as we want to be like him, we long for the time when we will finally see him in all his glory and then and only then will things make sense. Perhaps part of eternity will be spent asking questions and receiving answers. But John tells us that when Jesus appears we will see him as he really is. We shall see him in ways that we can only now talk about him. We shall see his love as we only now talk about it. We shall see his wisdom as we only now try to understand it. We shall see his compassion in ways that we only now have platitudes to describe. We shall see him in his fullness and glory. Truth, light, and reality will forever be seen in a way that now is limited. And that day John says is what keeps us going.
C. Verse 3. We commit ourselves to purity because of the day that is coming. Because of the reality that Jesus will return; because of this hope, we give our lives to purity. God is pure and his children want to look like him. Purity in conduct; purity in word; purity in motive; purity in life. Perfection? No. But the desire of our heart is to be a reflection of God. After Ashley visited our house for the first time, Spenser called us and told us about Ashley’s reaction to her visit. The thing that stuck with me is this “I now understand some things.” People are to see our Father in us. Our lives are to be pure as he is pure and we look forward to the day that Jesus will return. Invitation.
Follow Jesus
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