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Title: Two Good Questions
I. When are we children of God?
There is something deeply theological and immensely important in what John says in verse 2. I could attempt to wax poetic about it all day, but let me instead, turn to a man much greater than myself, and let us listen to the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, arguably, the greatest Baptist preacher of all time:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” That is easy to read; but it is not so easy to feel. “Now are we the sons of God.” How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow and suffering? “Now are you a son of God.” Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? “Beloved, now are you a son of God.” Does your faith almost fail you? and are your graces like a candle well nigh blown out by the wind! Fear not, beloved; it is not your graces, it is not your frames, it is not your feelings, on which you are to live: you must live simply by naked faith on Christ. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God.” With all these things against us, with the foot of the devil on our neck, and the sword in his hand ready to slay us—beloved now in the very depths of our sorrow, wherever we may be—now, as much in the valley as on the mountain, as much in the dungeon as in the palace, as much when broken on the wheel of suffering as when exalted on the wings of triumph—”beloved, now are we the sons of God.”
Q: When are we children of God?
A: Now.
Q: When does one become a child of God?
A: The moment of their surrender.
Q: Theologically, why is this important?
A: It signifies that the origin, work, and completion of our salvation is God’s, from beginning to end.
Put another way: If the moment of our surrender is not also the moment of our assurance in Christ, then what steps must take place between now and then? Some would say things like: confirmation, first communion, and baptism.
And my question then is, and what if one dies having accepted Christ, but not been baptized? Not having taken communion? Not becoming a member of a church? What then?
Friends, is it not simpler, not more biblical, to understand what Spurgeon tells us, what John is saying? John is not speaking to people who have necessarily been confirmed, or taken communion, or been baptized. He is, however speaking to professing believers, those who proclaim they’ve surrendered their life to Christ.
My Point: Scripture clearly teaches that you become a child of God the MOMENT you surrender your life to Christ.(Salvation) The process of becoming more Christ like (sanctification) takes a lifetime.
II. When do we become like Christ?
(Read 2-3)
So the next logical observation is for us to say: I don’t always feel like a child of God. I don’t always look like a child of God. I don’t always act like a child of God, so how then, can this be?
Fortunately, Spurgeon anticipates this reaction and addresses it accordingly:
“Ah!” but you say, “see how I am arrayed! my graces are not bright; my righteousness does not shine with apparent glory.” But read the next: “It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him.” We are not so much like him now, but we have some more refining process to undergo, and death itself, that best of all friends, is yet to wash us clean. “We know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Q: What is the thing that blocks our vision of Christ?
A: Sin.
Q: Only two event will lift the blinders of sin to let us see Christ clearly. What are they?
A: Our death, or the rapture.
And let us take note of the last part of this passage in verse 3. John reminds us, ever so gently that everyone, not some, not most, but everyone who shares in this hope “purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Essentially, a great evaluation tool for ourselves is to ask two simple questions:
1. Am I becoming more Christlike?
2. Do I desire to become more Christlike?
The first question is a test of faith, it is a test of discipline. Are you making the effort, are you trying to be pure. Are you eradicating your life of things that are potential pitfalls in your walk? Are you dealing ruthlessly with sin? (Ben and Showtime channels)
The second question is much tougher, because it is a question of the heart. Can you honestly say you want purity. When you give up sin, do you find joy in obedience? Do you avoid sin because it’s pleasure isn’t as great as being right with God?
Tough questions, worthy of discussion.
Q/A