Our Privilege, Prospect and Practice
As seen in I John 3:1-3
1 How great is the 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 he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
I OUR PRIVILEGE
What We Are – ‘Children Of God’
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
a. CHILDREN OF GOD BY RECEIVING HIM
John 1:12 to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
b. CHILDREN OF GOD RESPONDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Romans 8:14 Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
c. CHILDREN OF GOD REFLECTING HIM IN THE WORLD
Philippians 2:15 Show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, [AMP]
II OUR PROSPECT
What We Shall Be – ‘Like 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 he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
a. CHRIST-LIKENESS IS CONFORMING TOGOD’S PLAN
Romans 8:29 God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [NLT]
b. CHRIST-LIKENESS COMES THROUGH HIS GLORY
II Corinthians 3:18 All of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendour and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. [AMP]
c. CHRIST-LIKENESS IS COMPLETE AT THE RAPTURE
I John 3:2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. [NLT]
III OUR PRACTICE
What We Should Be – ‘Pure’
3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
a. PURITY IN OUR THOUGHTS
Philippians 4:8 Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. [NLT]
b. PURITY IN OUR WORDS
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
c. PURITY IN OUR DEEDS
I Timothy 5:22 Don’t sin because others do, but stay close to God.
[CEV]
Do not share or participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure. [AMP]
