2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
We all know that there is something very unique about the relationship between a parent and his children. A bond is in place that can never be broken. Sadly, of course, there are some human parents who are abusive, neglectful, and irresponsible. Most parents are loving, generous, wise, and kind toward their children. But, there is one Parent Who is a perfect Parent; that is God, our loving Abba. To be a child of God is a definite privilege, one that is only extended to those who don’t reject Jehovah and what He teaches. The first part of today’s passage, 1JN 3: 1-3, deals with being God’s child. The second part, 1JN 3: 4-6, takes up the issue of sin. 1JN 3: 1-3, “See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children-and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God. My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He really is. Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.”
I have written about the issue of adoption as God’s children before, but feel it bears review. In our culture, when we think of adoption, we think of the legal act of taking in a child not physically born to us with the commitment that we will be responsible for all that child’s needs just as if he was. In the ancient Jewish culture, the context in which the Scriptures are written, adoption has a different meaning. It signifies being accepted as an adult in the faith. In Judaism, that “adoption” is symbolized in the rites of Bar Mitzvah for males and Bas (or Bat) Mitzvah for females at the age of 13. Paul discusses adoption in RO 8: 12-17 and 29. “So then, my brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. Those who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children, and by the Spirits power we cry out to God, ‘ Abba! My Abba!’ God’s Spirit joins Himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children. Since we are His children, we will possess the blessings He keeps for His people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for Him; for it we share Christ’s suffering, we will also share His glory.” This is further elucidated in (29), “Those whom God has already chosen He also set apart to become like His Son, so that the Son would be the first among many brothers.” All of this Romans passage has huge implications for us. When we come to faith in Christ and live “in Christ,” we are set apart for a very different outcome than those who reject Christ. Becoming God’s children enables us to have the hope of the resurrection, to believe we will be glorified just as Christ was, to become joint-heirs with Him to God’s Kingdom.
John also addressed himself to the issue of becoming God’s children in JN 1: 12, “Some, however, did receive Him [Christ] and believed in Him; so He gave them the right to become God’s children.” In this, we can see that God has given Christ the authority to judge in cases of “adoption.” For a more detailed discussion of the process of resurrection, let me refer you to 1 COR 15: 35-58, which I hope you will read.
The author of 1JN looks at the issue of sin in 1JN 3: 4-6, the second part of today’s passage. “Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s law, because sin is a breaking of the law. You know that Christ appeared in order to take away sins, and that there is no sin in Him. So everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen Him or known Him.” If I go back to the definition of sin, this principle becomes clearer. Sin is defined as separation from God. I have spoken many times about how righteousness is imputed to our accounts when we repent and have faith in Christ. For the first time in our existence, we are freed from bondage to sin, from the lack of a choice where sinning is concerned, once we accept Christ as the Savior and Lord of our lives [see RO 6: 6 and GAL 2: 20]. Christ lives within the believer when one is said to be “in Christ.” JN 1: 29 further clarifies Christ’s role in the life of a believer. “The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world!” RO 12: 2 gives us insight into the mechanism that God uses to bring about our successful adoption. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by the renewal of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God-what is pleasing to Him and is perfect.”
RO 8: 28 allows the pragmatic and faithful human to see a pressing reason to allow God to transform us by the renewal of his mind. “We know that in all things God works for the good with those who love Him, those whom He has called according to His purpose.” I believe that living “in Christ” is the only way we can have the kind of success in our lives that transcends the grave. That is the only way to true and everlasting happiness. 2 COR 5: 17, “When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new creation; the old one is gone, the new one has come.” Hallelujah!
PRAYER: O Lord, You are such a loving Parent that You were willing to take us under Your wing, nurture us, and adopt us even when we were still Your enemies. You made us more than just friends, You became our loving Abba Who blesses us, guides us, disciplines us, cares for us, and supplies us with our needs. You saw to our salvation with the sacrifice of Your Son on the cross. You imputed righteousness to our accounts, justifying us, when we came to faith in Him. Now, You toil over our sanctification, always in the hope that we will respond to Your sovereignty by making the changes You require of us to advance us toward perfection and conformation with the model set by Jesus Christ. You grant us the hope of the resurrection by letting us know that He is the “first among many brothers.” We eagerly await the day of our glorification and dedicate ourselves to demonstrating that Your love for us is not in vain. We continue in our efforts to expunge sin from our lives and offer You our humble thanks, adoration, and worship. To You belongs all the glory! In Christ’s holy name, amen.
Tomorrow, we will look at the relationship between God and the adversary as it relates to the issue of sin. That is revealed in 1JN 3: 7-10.
Grace Be with You,
Lynn