Children of God. A series on 1 John, Part 5 (1 John 2:28 - 3:10)

 


Read 1 John 2:28 – 3:10 and Romans 6:1 – 14

When you meet someone, how do you identify yourself? Do you say, “I’m a mom of…” or “I’m so and so’s wife…” How do you define yourself? Do you ever say, “I’m a child of God”? For, as John says in 1 John 3:1, “that is what we are!” We are children of God! But how is that possible? We are lawless sinners, but Jesus came to take our sin away (1 John 3: 5). Because He is sinless, we too, are made sinless in God’s eyes. John isn’t saying that the believer’s life is sinless in and of themselves, but rather, the believer’s life is made distinctive by doing what is right. In Christ we have the Holy Spirit who helps us. Satan cannot control believers but will be overcome and destroyed by Christ’s work. Sin is of the devil and Jesus came to destroy “the devil’s work” (1 John 3: 8). As God’s children, we are “born of God” and therefore have His seed (1 John 3:9). Just as children inherit the traits of their parents, so, we too will be like our Heavenly Father, without sin. Those who sin like the devil are children of the devil. As God’s family we are marked by holy living. We must strive to be sinless and righteous as He is. We must strive to be like Him and not be led astray (1 John 3: 6-7). But how? How can we who are sinful become sinless? Romans 6: 2 tells us that if we have died to sin, we cannot continue to live in it. Who of us could bear the punishment for sin? Who of us could bear this death? Certainly not us! By grace we have been baptized into Christ, His death, and His resurrection so that “we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6: 4). Our old self was crucified with Him; that is Christ Jesus, so that we will no longer be enslaved to sin. Jesus’ death set us free from sin (Romans 6: 6-7). Christ conquered death so we are dead to sin and alive in God (Romans 6: 8-10). Sin will no longer reign over us as we are no longer under the law, but under grace. By God’s grace we are no longer seen as sinners (Romans 6: 11-14). In order to have victory over sin we must die to sin with Christ and live to God, by faith in Christ, through the working of the Holy Spirit. We must refuse to let sin reign over our lives, but instead, offer ourselves to God. All of this should make us obviously different than the world. And just as the world didn’t know Jesus, so it will not know us (1 John 3:1). So, live with faith in Jesus Christ and let His redeeming work shine brightly in your life. Turn from sin and seek God. Strive to be His child; dead to sin and alive in Christ, because with Christ, we are heirs to eternal life!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Desiring Children Part 1

Image
Read Genesis 16, and Genesis 18:1-15 The desire for children is something many struggle with. Some struggle to get pregnant, some struggle with the loss of pregnancies, and some struggle with the lack of control over having children. These are not new difficulties but have been the struggles of many women dating all the way back to Biblical times. While I personally never struggled with getting pregnant, I wrestled with the desire for and the loss of children. I know the constant anxiety of wondering if each month was the one I'd get pregnant in; many times, I cried out to God to let me have a child to hold and keep. Nine times I prayed that God would let each child live. Nine times I was denied, and my child was called to our heavenly home. The desire for children is something most people eventually feel at some point but most take for granted that it will all go as they expect. We simply don't think of all that can go wrong, until it does. You're not alone in your strugg
Read more

Slaves and masters. A series on Ephesians Part 12 (Ephesians 6:5-9)

Image
Read Ephesians 6: 5-9 Today's text is a difficult subject. Slavery was not part of God's intended design, so why do we see it in the Bible? Paul does not condone slavery; however, because of the socioeconomic situation of the Roman occupation, it was an embedded institution. The Christians Paul wrote to were subject to Roman laws, and therefore, many Jews were either slaves or masters.  Paul wrote a lot about our attitudes and how we should live our lives in the various roles we are placed in. This is why he wrote to slaves and masters. As with so many of his instructions, Paul addresses both perspectives and points them to God. No matter your station or status in this life, we are equal, in Christ, before God. Although we do not have slavery in our society here now, we can compare this relationship to that of an employer and employee. We can look at what Paul instructs and use it in whatever our job is here and now. What, then, should we ascertain from today's passage? Thr
Read more

Cleanse me, oh God!

Image
As a child, I often liked to play outside. Like many kids, I liked making mud pies and playing with dirt. There's several ways children will play; some get right down on their hands and knees or even sit right in the mud. They're not afraid to get dirty. Some, like me, liked to play with the mud but didn't really want to get filthy. I would crouch down and use sticks and occasionally use my hands. I wanted to have fun but didn't really want to get messy. Then, there are still other children who don't want to play with mud or have anything to do with getting dirty. But you can never truly avoid all puddles, especially when it's raining. In a way, you can compare the mud to sin. Some people wallow in their sin, loving every minute and not caring how dirty they get. Others want to have the fun and pleasure sin can bring but don't want to get too dirty. It's just a little fun. And then there are those who, by God's grace, strive to live a life apart from
Read more