Like Father – Like Son
1John 2:29-3:3
Review
The first two chapters of John’s letter focus on the God of light. John passed on the message He heard from Christ that was still reverberating in his ears and heart – God is light with any speck of darkness. God is pure, God is perfect, God is truth, God is eternal life. John touched on a number of implications for those who long to connect with Him. He used words like “fellowship”, “abide in”, “be in”,
John touched on just a few requirements for intimate fellowship with the God of light.
1. Live in purity (Walk in the light)
2. Confess sin
3. Go to Christ as an advocate
4. Give attention to His instructions
5. Love His kids
6. Keep growing deeper
7. Stop preferring the world and its stuff over God
8. Avoid deception by the antichrist by letting the word abide in you and you abide in Christ
8. Beware of the Antichrist 2:18-28
a) The prophesied antichrist has already appeared 2:18-19
b) Every believer has a special anointing 2:20-21
c) The antichrist opposes the true nature of Christ 2:22-23
d) Every believer has protection against the Antichrist 2:24-28
(1) Allow the truth to abide in you (anointing) 2:24
When we allow the truth to firmly imbed itself in our life and thinking it motivates us to draw closer and firmly connect to the author of that truth.
As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2:24
(2) Abide in the Father and the Son 2:26-28
Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 1 John 2:28
Not only does continual connection with Christ protect us from the deception of the antichrist but it will result in confidence when He physically returns rather than shame because we failed to cultivate our connection with Him in His absence through the available avenues of connection like phone calls (prayer), reading His letters (the Word), writing letters to Him (journaling). John used the term “abiding” extensively in His writing because Jesus impacted John with the same concept.
Jesus clearly taught the necessity of “abiding” connecting with Him. The basic meaning of the word "abide" has to do with remaining, to stay, dwell, live, last, keep on, persevere. The term finds it greatest significance by what or who it's connected to. In this case we are commanded to abide "in Christ" or "in God". John employed three simple words to express one monumental concept.
What does it mean to abide "in him"? When you think “abide” – think connect; think intimate relationship. Jesus used the term to express His own cherished relationship with the Father.
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. John 14:10-11
Jesus expanded the concept of abiding in John 15
1. Jesus as the true grape vine and source of fruitfulness.
2. The Father as the master gardener or vinedresser who cultivates the vineyard.
3. The connected branch destined for fruitfulness (no fruit, fruit, more fruit, much fruit).
4. The disconnected branch destined for destruction
I. Jesus: the True Vine source of fruituflness15:1a
II. The Father: the Master Gardener stimulator of fruitfulness 15:1b
III. The connected branches destined for fruitfulness
A. The Father’s encouragement produces fruit from no fruit 15:2a
B. The Father’s cleansing produces more fruit from fruit 15:2b
C. Good Connection (abiding) produces much fruit 15:4-5
IV. The disconnected branches: the dried up and fruitless ones 15:6
V. The results of connection 15:5, 8-11
A. Much Fruit 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
B. Answered prayer 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
If we are firmly connected to Jesus and His words take root in our heart, what we wish will be what He wishes and what we ask will He wishes will be done through our asking.
C. Glorification of the Father 15:8
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
The disciples of Jesus were recognized as “having been with Jesus” because of their life.
Who does our behavior connect us to? Does our behavior glorify God or vilify our Father?
Do we draw positive attention or negative attention to our Father? Firm connection produces abundant fruit resulting in praise to our Father.
D. Deepening love relationship with God 15:9-10
Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
E. Fullness of joy 15:11
These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
How do I deepen my connection with Christ?
It comes from reading His letters to us.
It comes from phone conversations with Him. (Prayer)
It comes from writing letters to Him.
It comes from meditation on Him.
John shifted the focus of his letter from the God of light and our response to Him to the children of light and His work in us.
I. The God of light 1:1-2:28
II. The Children of light 2:29-4:6
A. The “Likeness” factor
The 29th verse of chapter two bridges the thoughts of the last section and the next.
If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:29
John reminded them that the anointing they received at their conversion results in an intuitive knowledge of certain spiritual realities. In this case, John reminds them that if, or could be translated “since”, you know intuitively that God is a righteous God (perfect tense verb indicates the enlightenment at particular time that still remains) then that knowledge enables an experience understanding that all those habitually live righteously demonstrate their connection to Him. In other words, like Father, like son. It is the same concept, different analogy.
Jesus, in John 15, used the vine and branch analogy to communicate CONNECTION.
Here, John used the Father and son analogy. These four verses answer five basic questions.
The answers to these questions give us five things we need to know.
• How can you distinguish God’s children?
• How do we become God’s children?
• Why aren’t God’s children recognized as special on this earth?
• When will we actually be like Christ?
• What is my responsibility as a Child of God?
1. Know the children of a righteous God live righteously.
Every truly converted “anointed” believer realizes the “righteousness” of God. To be righteous indicates conformity to a standard. A righteous citizen is one who conforms or obeys the laws or standard of the land. A spiritually righteous person conforms to God’s spiritual standards.
Of course God perfectly and continually conforms to His own moral law.
God is RIGHTEOUS. God is absolutely righteous. It follows then that the children born of a righteous God will also practice righteous. The spiritual DNA of the Father passes to the children. This is the “likeness” factor. Like Father – like children.
If you intuitively know that God is righteous then understand the natural conclusion that those born of Him will live righteously. The second “know” is either a statement of fact or a command to understand the fact.
If you know God is righteous, it follows that you will understand the kids will live righteously.
OR
If you know God is righteous, understand that the kids will live righteously.
How do you distinguish God’s children? They act like Him!
That leads to the second question. How do we become God’s children?
2. Know that we are God’s children by His loving calling and conversion
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.
The word translated “see” or “behold” is actually the same word for “to know intuitively.”
This is an imperative or a command. John instructed his readers to “know”, “be aware”, “perceive”, “understand”, “take to heart”, “consider”, “notice”, “behold”, “contemplate”.
What were they to contemplate? They were to consider “what manner of love the Father bestowed on them” “bestowed” = give, bring forth, grant, offer.
They were to consider just how awesome God’s gift of love is. It was a love showered on them and still remained (perfect tense verb). God manifests His love in numerous ways. Here John focused on the act of calling us as His children.
“That we would be called children of God”
The word “called” (kaleo) = to summon, name, designate, call.
“Wait until you name is “called.” “We will “call” you when it is your turn. “Call me when dinner is ready.”
This is a point time passive verb = an action done to us (passive) at a particular point in time.
It is interesting the word translated “church” in many passages is the word “ek” (out) kaleo (call) which equals “called out ones”.
John instructed his readers to contemplate the wonder and nature of a love that would take the initiative to reach down to an infinitely inferior, hostile, stubborn, sinful, ungrateful, stiff-necked, proud and rebellious being and invite them to become part of His family by adoption (legal connection) and birth (genetic connection).
I love John’s next phrase that multiplies the wonder even more. “and we ARE!” We are children of God not only by calling but in actuality. Know that all the children of God live righteously. Know that you become children by the Father’s loving invitation and regeneration.
When God calls us, He renews us, regenerates our life, and transforms us with His eternal life.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
2 Peter 1:4
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
Whatever you call yourself, God calls you His child. You are His child no matter what you may feel. You have a family connection. Think about it. Contemplate it. Meditate on its significance.
Reflect on the implications.
Same nature
Full inheritance
Unconditional love & acceptance
Constant care
Guidance
This naturally leads to another question.
If we children of the God of the universe why don’t we get the recognition we deserve?
3. Know the world won’t acknowledge you because it didn’t acknowledge Him. 3:1b
For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1
For this reason or “therefore”. For what reason? The fact that we are spiritually and genetically transformed and connected. The fallen world system or those connected to us don’t know the significance of our connection to the Most High God because it did not even recognize Jesus.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:9-13
That fact will not always be the case however.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col 3:4
4. Know you will be like Him when He appears
John anticipated another question that was sure to arise out of this discussion of Sonship.
I look around and I look within and I don’t feel like I live like Him and those around me sure don’t always act like Jesus. When will this complete transformation kick in? When will I actually be like Him? When will my destiny come to fulfillment?
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 1 John 3:2
John employed his fatherly tone on behalf of our Heavenly Father. “Beloved” dearly loved ones. Then he presented three basic statements to support his point.
a) We are “henceforth” (now and form this point on) children of God
b) Our full likeness has not yet come about
c) We have the assurance (we know) that we will fully be like Him when He returns and we see Him as He is and experience full connection.
5. Those realizing their destiny – pursue their destiny 3:3
And everyone having this hope upon Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
What hope? This is not an “I hope so” hope. Biblical hope has to do with confidence based on God’s promise. It expresses confidence and firm assurance of a future event based on a sure promise.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30
This passage seems to indicate that if we totally understand this assurance of future complete transformation motivates our attention to our present spiritual condition.
We will be constantly seeking to live like Christ and deal with the areas that don’t reflect Him.
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." 1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, having these promises (being God’s children), beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1
The best AND worst PR for a family is the kids. Some of the best and worst PR for Christianity is the kids. God called us to demonstrate the fruit of Christ’s character so that God will be glorified. Remember that God initiates his purification process to bring about more fruit.
What in your life today does not reflect the character of Christ?
Thoughts, attitudes, words, actions, habits
What is blocking a good connection to the source of fruit?
• Know that the children of a righteous Father live righteously.
• Know that God called us as His children and made us His children because of the greatness of His love for us.
• Know that the significance of your sonship won’t be recognized by the world (for now).
• Know that we will become like Him fully when we see Him at His return.
• Know that assurance of future transformation motivates present personal purification.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:10-11
