Relation to Our Outlook, Purity - Bible Study

Relation to Our Outlook, Purity

Characteristics Of Fellowship

1 John 3:1-3; 2:28-29

The Divine birth, the family likeness: The first verses of the third chapter are to be viewed as inseparable from the last verse of the second. It is that verse which starts the new line of thought; our "knowing that God is righteous, and doing righteousness accordingly," in virtue of our "being born of Him." Born of Him! That is what awakens John's grateful surprise.

      I.           In every view that can be taken of it, our being called the sons of God is A WONDERFUL INSTANCE OF THE FATHER'S LOVE.

    II.           AND WE ARE HIS CHILDREN: "Beloved, now are we children of God." Our being called children of God is a reality; our being born of God makes it so. The world may not know us in that character, for "it knows not God," and has never known Him. Let us lay our account with having to judge and act on principles which the world cannot understand. Let us be God's children indeed; though on that very account the world that has not known God should not know us.

 III.           FOR WHATEVER THE WORLD MAY THINK OR SAY, "WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD," His dear children; sharers of His Divine nature; the objects of His fatherly love. It concerns us to bear this in mind, to feel it to be true. It is our safety to do so. It is what is due to ourselves; it is what God expects, and has a right to expect from us. Let us stay ourselves on the conviction that our being God's children is not a matter of opinion, dependent on the world's vote, but a matter of fact, flowing from the amazing manner of love which the Father hath bestowed upon us. And let us be put, as the saying is, upon our mettle, to make good our claim to be God's children by such a manifestation of our oneness of nature with Him of whom we are born as may, by God's blessing, overcome some of the world's ignorant unbelief, and lead some of the world's children to try that manner of love for themselves, to taste and see how good the Lord is.

 IV.           AND WE ARE TO DO SO ALL THE RATHER BECAUSE THESE DRAWBACKS AND DISADVANTAGES WILL NOT LAST LONG. We are only at the beginning of our life as God's children.

1. What is set before us as matter of hope in the future life is not something different from what is to be attained, enjoyed, and improved by us, as matter of faith, and of the experience of faith in the present life.

2. When it does appear what we are to be, when that is no more hidden but disclosed, we shall be like God whose children we are as being born of Him: "for we shall see Him as He is." The full light of all His perfection as the righteous God will open upon our view; we shall know the righteous Father as the Son knows Him. Is not this a hope "full of glory"? And is it not a hope full of holiness too?

God's adoptive love:

I. First, we are arrested by the manner in which the apostle opens the subject, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us." It is the language of adoration and wonder. Our astonishment might well be excited that God had created us that He preserved us, notwithstanding our unworthiness. But that He should adopt sinners was condescension which might well prompt the exclamation, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us." What, then, is the manner of this love? It passeth knowledge. It was everlasting love, gratuitous love, and at the same time costly love. And then how rich the blessings procured by such love.

2. "We are called the sons of God." It is clear this statement must be understood in a restricted sense. All are the sons of God by creation, also by providence. The text refers to a sonship peculiar to those who are the objects of redeeming love. Adoption into the family of God is singled out as evidence and effect of His love. Nor can we wonder at this selection. Think of the work that is done when the sinner is made a son of God. It is a new birth unto righteousness. The sinner is made alive unto God. Think, again, of the change that is affected in such a work. Think of the privileges of sonship. Think, finally, of the inheritance in store for them. "If children then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ."

3. The estimate formed of the privilege of sonship by the world. "Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." It might have been supposed that all men would applaud them as the happiest and most excellent of the children of men. But, alas! it is very different. The world does not know the sons of God. The world both disapproves and dislikes the peculiarity of the sons of God. The reason is suggested in the text. "Therefore," saith the apostle. He had only said it was a blessed thing to be called the sons of God. Can it be, then, this is that which the world dislikes? This is clearly his meaning. Worldly men do not understand the doctrine of sonship. It is too spiritual for their perception. They scorn it as the offspring of spiritual pride. Unhappily, however, for their hot displeasure, there is an indisputable fact to prove this enmity of the world to the sons of God. It is quoted by the apostle. It is the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says of the world and of Him, "it knew Him not." This accords with the history, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Ought this, then, to offend them? Certainly not. It ought to profit them. It should put them on their guard, that they may give no unnecessary offence. It should make them thankful they are not of the same spirit.

4. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." How carefully the views of the apostle are balanced in this passage. When he set forth sonship and its high privileges, he annexed a caution, "the world knoweth us not," lest any might be disappointed and injured. So again, after he had given that caution, he reassures them of the reality and continuance of their blessedness, "Now are we the sons of God." This might be rendered necessary by the dark suspicions of their own minds. They found much within them contrary to what they could desire or might expect. Let them not be cast down. Or it might be rendered necessary by the conduct of others towards them. They might find themselves suspected and evil entreated. Through it all let them remember they are still the sons of God. Nor should they forget what was required of them as such. "Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ." "Walk worthy of your high vocation." So living they might enjoy the sweet consciousness that, let the world do or say as they might, they could appropriate the assuring words, "Now are we the sons of God."

5. Their thoughts are directed to the future. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be."

6. "Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself even as He is pure."