View Video Blog Right Click Link: I John 3:1
See what kind of love
the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God;
and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not
know him.
THE STUDY:
John does not say “the Father loves
us.” If so, he would be describing a condition. Instead, he writes, “the Father has
lavished [his love] on us” and thus portrays an action and the extent of God’s
love. John has chosen the word Father
purposely. That word implies the Father-child relationship. However, God did
not become Father when he adopted us as children. God’s fatherhood is eternal.
He is eternally the Father of Jesus Christ and through Jesus he is our Father.
Through Jesus we receive the Father’s love and are called “children of God.”[1]
The love of
the God is not based on a condition; if we love him, only then, will He love
us. God loved us from the very beginning as we were thought of and created by
Him. It was all about love!
A good way to
comprehend this thought of God’s love for us: Being a parent to our children. I
do not display love for my children only when they are good or do nice things
for me. My love for them started at the very moment I knew of their existence.
I have loved them in spite of their faults, mishaps and disobedience. I don’t
condone their sin but I love them regardless of it.
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH ….
- This morning I hope we walk away with the understanding that God’s love is not a conditional love but a love that is extended out to each and every one of us. It is up to us to receive it and live in it!
- Just as we love our children in spite of all their faults, shortcomings, and sins, God loves us. He doesn’t condone our sins but he loves us in spite of them. As sinners, we must repent and accept the grace God extends to us because of His love for “His Children.”
CONCLUSION:
Charles Spurgeon preached a great sermon from
a very short text. The text consisted of only four words: “If children, then heirs.” (Rom. 8:17). The truth and force of those
words came through as Spurgeon stripped them of what they did not say.
The words did not say, if
creatures, then heirs. Many people think that we are automatically in the
family of God, but the Bible does not say that we are heirs just because we are
His creation. Neither does the text say, if children of Abraham, then heirs.
That is what many Israelites believed. They thought they were automatically
children of God because they were children of Abraham. However, to some of
them, Jesus said, “Ye are of your father,
the devil.” (John 8:44).
The text also ruled out baptism,
church membership, confirmation, and other works and rites. We must be
spiritually born into God’s family. If children, even “the poor of this world (are) … heirs of the kingdom.” (Jas. 2:5).
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament
commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament
Commentary (292–294). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
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