Children of God, Part Five: Loving Each Other (1 John 3-5) and Concluding Remarks

The concluding post for this series.

And now we come to one of the more convicting passages that I’ve come across. We’re going to take a look at 1 John 3-5, specifically chapter 3, with select verses from 4 and 5.

First of all 3:1-3.  God’s love is so amazing. He loved us so much He not only died for us, redeeming us from our slavery to sin, and granting us new birth by the Spirit, He adopts us and calls us His children. And we are His children. Our rebirth and adoption occur at the same time. We are both reborn and adopted. We have new life spiritually and we become members of God’s family. As we are children of God, we have the hope that we will become like Him. We are children now, but there will come a time, when Jesus returns, when we’ll see Him in His glory, and we ourselves will be glorified. And this hope should play itself out in our lives. We are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and in doing so we will purify ourselves (that is, we will seek to live out a pure and holy life, in imitation of Him.

3:4-12. The continual practice of sin is lawlessness, and sin is itself lawlessness; that is, rebellion to God’s law and authority. Jesus took away our sins. He was the only one who never sinned. And since we abide in Him, we will not live a life of sin. The Greek for the verb “sins” in verse 6 implies a continual aspect, such that “No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning/continually sins.” As such a believer’s life is not characterized by sin.

John goes on to say that we shouldn’t be deceived (just as Paul warned us in Ephesians 5). Only those who have been adopted into God’s family, been spiritually reborn, can practice righteousness, because we partake of Jesus’ righteousness as part of the privilege of being in God’s family. Those who keep on practicing sin are of the devil (John 8:44). And Jesus came to destroy the devil’s work.

In verse 9, we see that those born of God keeps on practicing sin, because His seed is in us. Indeed we cannot keep on sinning, because we have been born of God, that is born again. Verse 10, makes a clear distinction between the sons of God and the sons of the devil. Righteousness can only be practiced by the children of God. And those who do not love their brothers are also not of God.

3:13-24.  Verse 14 makes it clear that our love for each other is a mark by which we know that we have been born again. And our example for love, as seen in verse 16, is Jesus Himself and His sacrifice for us (echoing Eph 5:2).  As such our lives should be sacrificed for each other.  And this love is not merely something we say or talk about, saying “I love you,” but rather it is to be lived out and should be sincere, flowing from our hearts (v.17-18).

In verse 23 and 24, we see reflections of what Jesus Himself said. We are told that He commanded us this – to believe in the name of Jesus as the Son of God, and to love one another. And we will do what He has told us to do if He truly abides in us. And we can be sure that he is in us, because the Spirit is in us. And what does the Spirit do within us, He cries out and testifies that we indeed are children of God, and He enables us to live in the power of God, as we have access to our Father through Christ, in the Spirit (Eph 2:18).

4:7-14, selected verses. Beloved – basically “You who have been loved” – love one another. Love is a gift from God, and true love (as Jesus loved) is born of God. As such, the Spirit is within us and we know God, as He reveals Himself to us by the Spirit and by His Word. Verse 8 tells us that God is love; love is one of the basic characteristics of God. Not that all love is God, or even that to love is to know God. But those that truly love can only be born of God, and as we imitate Him (Eph 5:1), we will act like Him. Verse 11 points out that if God so loved us, we should love each other, for His love is perfected, is being made complete, in us (v.12).

5:1-4. We see here that being born of God is through faith in Jesus. And if we love Him, we will love His children. And we know we love the children when we obey Him. For we know that we love Him, when we keep His commandments. And they are easy. What does He tell us to do: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

And because we are born of God, we can overcome the world, overcome sin in our lives, because, we have faith. Faith in Jesus (v.5).

5:18-20. John returns once again to application. No one born of God continues to sin. Jesus, the only begotten of God, keeps us, and the devil cannot touch us. A Christian cannot say “the devil made me do it.” He can’t touch you, unless you yourself give in to sin, and allow him too. We are the children of God, adopted by Him; we share in His family’s legal rights. The world does not, and is in submission to the devil.

Verse 20 tells us that Jesus has come and given us understanding that we might know Jesus Himself, whom we are in. And Jesus is the true God and eternal life.

Conclusion:

We are born into God’s family when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. At that same moment to, God ordained that we would be adopted into His family, receiving His familial and legal rights. His Spirit is in us, and testifies to this, that we are reconciled to God our Father. And since we are part of God’s family, we are His children, He will discipline us in His great love. We will also strive to imitate Him, as children do their parents. In doing so we will love one another as Christ has loved us.

Books Consulted:

Allen, David. Hebrews. The New American Commentary. Volume 35. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2010.

Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

Bickel, Bruce and Stan Jantz. John: Encountering Christ in a Life-Changing Way. Christianity 101 Bible Studies. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2003.

Comfort, Philip W. and Wendell C. Hawley. Opening John’s Gospel and Epistles. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Reference, 2003.

Lightner, Robert. The Epistles of First, Second, & Third John & Jude: Forgiveness, Love, and Courage. Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2003.

McGee, J. Vernon. Ephesians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 47. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Galatians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 46. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Matthew through Romans. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volumes 1 and 2. Colorado Spring: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001.

Children of God, Part Four: Imitating God

This is a continuation of a series developed from a Sunday School lesson taught on Nov. 6, 2011

Now that we’ve looked at God’s fatherly discipline as part of being His children, let us turn to Ephesians 5:1-10. Here were going to look at some select verses to see how we are to live out being children of God. We are told in verse 1 to be imitators of God, as beloved children. Now what does this mean? This means that we will act like our Father. We will, as verse 2 says, walk in love, imitating Christ’s love for us. We are to avoid sin, and not be deceived into living a life of sin. What did we learn earlier? We are no longer slaves, but His children, and being adopted into His family, we are no longer bound to our former lives, but rather we are in Him. As such, we imitate Him. Jesus is the Light of the world, right. We are in His family now, and thus we are children of light (v.8), and this is seen in how we live our lives, seen in verse 9 – goodness, righteousness and truth. We will try to do what we can to please God, our Father, much like children try to please their parents.

Children of God, Part Three: Being His Children Means We Will Be Disciplined

The first passage we’ll look at in this section is Hebrews 12:7-11.

This passage takes a look at the idea of discipline in the life of the believer. We see here that God deals with us as sons, and if He does so, then he is going to discipline us. If we are not being disciplined, then we are not true sons, but rather illegitimate children.

Wiersbe, “All true children of God receive His chastening. All other who claim to be saved, but who escape chastening, are nothing but counterfeits – illegitimate children.”[1]

And the word for “illegitimate children” is nothoi; it occurs only here in the New Testament, and indicates “those who lack the privileges of family and the protection of a father." [2]

Our Father who disciplines us truly does if for our good (v 10). And that good is that we might share in His holiness. Both His set apart nature, as well as His morality. And His discipline produces that righteousness in us: that is, we live as God would have us live, in a manner that pleases Him.

Notes:
[1] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volumes 2. Colorado Spring: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001.

[2] Allen, David. Hebrews. The New American Commentary. Volume 35. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2010.

Books Consulted:

Allen, David. Hebrews. The New American Commentary. Volume 35. Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2010.

Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

Bickel, Bruce and Stan Jantz. John: Encountering Christ in a Life-Changing Way. Christianity 101 Bible Studies. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2003.

Comfort, Philip W. and Wendell C. Hawley. Opening John’s Gospel and Epistles. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Reference, 2003.

Lightner, Robert. The Epistles of First, Second, & Third John & Jude: Forgiveness, Love, and Courage. Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series. Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2003.

McGee, J. Vernon. Ephesians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 47. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Galatians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 46. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Matthew through Romans. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volumes 1 and 2. Colorado Spring: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001.

Children of God, Part 2: Being Adopted into God's Family

This series of posts was developed as a Sunday School lesson that I taught on November 6, 2011.

As we have seen, belief, that is faith, in Jesus is the only means by which we become children of God. There are some verses that go into more detail as to the process, if you will, by which that happens.

Romans 8:12-17; Galatians 4:1-7; and Ephesians 1:3-6

In Romans 8, verse 14, we’re told that those that the Spirit leads are sons of God, and that the Spirit testifies that we are children of God, and thus heirs with Christ, and will be glorified with Him.

It is by the spirit that we are adopted into God’s family. Adoption here has the idea of “being placed as an adult son.” As soon as we are born into God’s family by the Spirit, we are also made “adult sons,” and as such we can draw on the spiritual wealth of God because we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

In Galatians, we see a similar passage. In verse 5 of chapter 4 we see that Jesus came, became God in the flesh, in order that He might redeem us from under the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons. And we see again that the Spirit testifies, cries out in our hearts, “Abba! Father!” We are no longer slaves but sons and heirs.  As Wiersbe note’s “we enter God’s family by regeneration [being born again], but we enjoy God’s family by adoption.”[1]

In Ephesians, we see that our adoption as sons comes through Jesus Christ and our adoption is to Him as well, and it was done this way according to God’s good pleasure.

Before we move on, I think that it is important to understand what we mean when we use the word “adoption.” In the Roman world, there were two types of adoption. One was where a man and those under his authority (his family and household) were adopted into another family, and ceased to be considered a separate entity, but rather part of their adopted family. The second type was where a man or a boy was adopted by another. He no longer belonged to his biological father’s household and he legally became the child of his adopter. A will was often drawn up as part of this adoption ceremony. Adoption was connected with not just the legal and familial status of the adoptee, but also with inheritance rights. In applying this system to us, God is the authority over His adopted children and we find our identity in Him. [2]

Notes:
[1] Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volumes 1. Colorado Spring: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001. p 705

[2] "Adoption in the Roman World." Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005. p.1849.

Books Consulted:
Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Reference, 2003.

McGee, J. Vernon. Ephesians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 47. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Galatians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 46. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Matthew through Romans. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volumes 1 and 2. Colorado Spring: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001.

Children of God, Part 1: Becoming a Child of God

This series of posts was developed as a Sunday School lesson that I taught on November 6, 2011.

Introduction:

The doctrines of our faith, right teaching, are essential to the believer’s life. They inform our thoughts and behaviors. They help keep us in the “love of God” (Jude 20-21). They have given us a foundation upon which we can understand God, and ourselves, better. Right teaching also enables us to live our lives in a manner that is pleasing to God. Some topics tend to be more what I call “high theology.” Other topics are much more personal: such as “who are we?” Those who believe in Jesus as their Lord are called several different things in Scripture. One such name for believers is “the children of God,” and that is what we’re going to take a look at over the next few posts.

Becoming a Child of God:

Our first Scripture passage we’re going to look at is John 1:11-13.

Verse 12 says that as many as received Him [that is Jesus, the Light of the world], He [Jesus] gave the right [that is, the authority] to become children of God. – Receiving here is believing in His name. And this is not accomplished by any natural means, nor under our own power, but it is rather by the power of God that we are born of God. In John 3, we see that we have to be “born again” to enter God’s kingdom. And this birth is accomplished by the Holy Spirit (3:8).

Verse 11 shows us that there were those who rejected Jesus. The difference between them and those who are the “children of God” is that the ones who are born of God have received Jesus (that is welcomed and accepted Jesus) and believed in Him, not just as a teacher or a miracle worker, but rather as the Son of God, the one whom reconciles men to Himself, to God.

Paul echoes this in his letter to the Galatians (Galatians 3:26).

We see here that Christians are sons of God only through faith in Jesus. Jesus being the “only begotten” Son of God (John 3:16), is the Eternal Son. He has always been with God and is Himself God (John 1:1). It is amazing that we can be considered sons of God, along with Jesus Christ. And how does this take place? Through faith, that is by means of faith, by believing in Jesus Christ, as we saw in John 1:12. If we have placed our faith in Jesus, we are sons of God.

As J. Vernon McGee so aptly said, “…neither your prayers, your fundamental separation, your gifts, nor your baptism will ever make you a son of God. Only faith in Christ can make you a son of God.” [1]

We'll take a look at what it means to be adopted into God's family next time.

Notes:

[1] - McGee, J. Vernon. Galatians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 46. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991, p 64.

Books Consulted:

Bickel, Bruce and Stan Jantz. John: Encountering Christ in a Life-Changing Way. Christianity 101 Bible Studies. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2003.

Comfort, Philip W. and Wendell C. Hawley. Opening John’s Gospel and Epistles. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: Holman Reference, 2003

McGee, J. Vernon. Galatians. Through the Bible Commentary Series: The Epistles. Vol. 46. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible: Volume IV: Matthew through Romans. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament Volumes 1. Colorado Spring: Cook Communications Ministries, 2001.