Three Little Letters

Here is a link to last week’s series, Three Little Letters.

See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.

1 John 3:1

The children of God! How do you articulate all that means? Only a true believer can even barely begin to comprehend such love. God’s Hesed love that reveals to our own heart when we are right with Him.

We are saved when we accept the kind invitation of the Spirit as He ministers to us and leads us to realize that we are separated from God. Our sin nature can’t touch His holiness. But He provided His Son, Jesus as a remedy.

God knew how feeble and weak our trust would be. He knew our knees would be shaky and our fears would be deep.

His salvation would remain sure if we were really His own, but He knew that we would have trouble in this old world. And He knew that it would be enough to make us quake and doubt.

We can never lose our salvation. But we can have moments of despair that make us feel empty and without God.

I have experienced those moments. They are often driven by feelings and emotions. In those times, fear usually takes hold of me instead of God’s Word and His promises.

So, look at our key verse. God’s love is big. It is sufficient. We belong to Him as only sons and daughters can. We know Him, and He knows us.

This verse makes me think of something special that my mom and sister related after a trip they took to Israel. They remembered being in the city and hearing children call out to their dads. They use the word “abba” for dad or papa, which was a tender expression for the name that Jesus used for His Father.

This is the same kind of relationship He wants believers to have. But only true believers can understand it, because only true believers really know God.

The world does not have that conviction. They cannot falsify it. Not only that, but they don’t know us because they don’t know God.

Also, true believers who walk closely with God can see each other spiritually when they walk in close fellowship with God. They recognize the fruits of the Spirit.

This is one more proof from John so that you can know that you have Jesus living in your heart.

One day, when we are in Heaven, we will finally be relieved to be free from this sinful tug of the world. We will be like Him. What a wonderful joy to look forward to. But we can strive for that now. We can strive to pull away from the lures of our own sin nature and lean into the righteousness of Jesus.

Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is.

1 John 3:2

John helps us understand that as true believers we know that sin is incompatible with a life walking with Christ. If you are walking outside of the nature of Christ Jesus, then you need to examine your faith.

Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:3

In the next verse John points out that those who live in habitual sin are living apart from God’s moral law and are living in rebellion against Him. They are lost. True believers may sin, but they are grieved by their sin and still pursue God, they don’t pursue unrighteousness as a lifestyle.

Now that is not to say that some believers don’t struggle with nagging sins. Some struggle with addictions and habits. But no true believer is satisfied to stay there. True believers have remorse and fight against the sin that sets them back. They are growing as they learn more about the Savior and God’s Word.

Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 

1 John 3:4

What word comes to mind when you hear the word lawless? Do you think of rebellion? That lifestyle suits the adversary of every believer and of our Savior. Living in habitual sin is open rebellion to God. If you can easily live in that way, then you need to re-examine yourself and be sure that you have given your heart to Jesus. For more context on this read the words of our Savior in Matthew chapters 7, 23, and 24. He answers this question with straightforward conviction.

The Gospel only sounds harsh to those who hate it. John knew this. His three little letters, each inspired by the Holy Spirit are as relevant for us today as they were from the beginning. The Gospel is kind. It points the way to eternal life with God. The real cruelty would be keeping this truth from lost people.

Share the Gospel in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful are the feet of those who share the Good News!

Isaiah 52:7 (Paraphrased)

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.