Children of God

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Children of God

Date: Dec. 20, 2022

Passage

1 John 3:1-10 (ESV)

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. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:1

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.

We are greatly lavished with God’s love to be called the children of God! Lavished means to bestow upon extravagantly. In Christ, we are greatly lavished with God’s love; we have been bought with Jesus’ blood and reborn into God’s family. We must believe we are so loved!

John writes very personally, saying, “Dear friends, now we are children of God and what we will be has not yet been known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Naturally, we tend to copy modern styles, ideas, or people that seem right or desirable. But our real hope is to be like Jesus and reign forever as God’s children when he returns. This hope purifies us of false or lesser hopes and helps us to live on a higher plane.

Jesus sets us free from sin and the desire to sin. Those who keep on sinning have never truly met Jesus. Again, John writes, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.” John appeals personally to the church like his own children to watch out for the children of the devil who keep on sinning, do not love others, and lead us astray. We should not underestimate others’ influence on us.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for loving me and making me your child. I am weak. Purify my heart from sin.

One Word: One Word: Lavished with God’s love as his child

God’s Wrath and Justice

Revelation 6:1-17

Key Verse: 6:17

for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Today's Question

What does God require from us to escape His anger and curse, which we deserve for our sin?

See answer and references